Message from the Mountain

Groundhogs Day means that we are now half way to spring. Only six weeks left. Each day I will celebrate a little more day light and a sun that is getting warmer and warmer as it climbs higher in the sky. Now is the time to dream of spring. Support the show

Finally we are turning the calendar page from January to February. It is a shorter month with much in it to celebrate, including Ground Hogs Day and Valentines Day. It is a wonderful time to turn the page on old negative habits as we focus on being halfway to spring. Support the show

I listened to the tractor purr as it sprang to life with my son in the driver’s seat. The frozen snow was cleared away in short time. I think of how long it would have taken to shovel it. It is possible to blend old fashioned integrity and new tools to help us find a productive path in life. Support the show

Finally the birds have returned to our feeders after we removed them last summer when they became prey to a hungry bear. It took a few weeks for them to find their way back. Nature provides many different opportunities to enjoy and be grateful for winter. Support the show

My intention is to find something every day that I am grateful for, and when I had the opportunity to play a concert with gifted family members in front of a full positive audience, it was just part of my daily routine. It can be habit forming. Support the show

I looked out the window and saw my tractor covered with snow, waiting for a driver to help clear it. As much as I wanted to be in that seat, I knew while my hip heals it was time to be grateful for others to step up. It is good to watch out for each other. Support the show

When I photograph Nature through my special round glass ball, I am seeing a world that is upside down. That is exactly the way many people are seeing and experiencing their world. Things have changed, but we have the ability to adjust. Support the show

It is almost impossible to find level ground in Nature unless the spot has been manipulated by man. Even the slightest variation can throw my hip off. A lot of nature trails have board walks or graded paths. Life balance can be affected by how we respond to our daily experiences. Support the show

The beast arrived as predicted, spreading chaos throughout the state with deep snow and many power outages. A lot of work to cleanup is required and yet the beautiful alpine glow with the fresh snow somehow made it all worthwhile. Life has a lot of beauty along with its challenges. Support the show

Most of the year we are able to carry out a fairly normal daily routine here in the foothills, but in the winter our routines usually change as we become mindful of snow conditions. We can easily get into a negative routine in life when we lose track of positivity and gratitude. Support the show

AVERAGING IT OUT – We were below the normal snow fall average for this time of year, but, with recent storms, that is changing. The verdict for the year will not be in until April. Life is full of ups and downs that usually average out. The key is trust and patience for the totals to be calculated.   To hear this podcast recording, go to: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2037649 or http://www.michaelhat...

The recent snowstorm has created a winter wonderland here in the mountains. Nature has provided scenes that are inspirations for pictures, postcards, and descriptions that could wind up in a song. It is not all perfect. We can admire or dismiss what we see. Support the show

Now that winter has taken over, many people are studying seed catalogues and travel brochures or using the internet to make plans for the upcoming seasons. It is a time to dream and then take action. The same applies to thinking about the next step along our soul’s path. Support the show

Now that we are two thirds of the way through January the wait for a nice fluffy snow fall is over. For snow enthusiasts it has been a long wait. Life is also filled with anticipation and often, when the miracle of the wait materializes, it comes without fanfare. Support the show

It seems like this winter we have been playing a waiting game watching for the next major snowstorm. Sometimes they come as predicted and sometimes they slide by us. We are also playing a waiting game as to when we can get back into the flow of life. All in good time. Support the show

Lately it seems as if there are many days when the forecast calls for intermittent weather. One needs to be prepared for both snow and sunny weather at the same time. Life also seems to have many days filled with stops and starts. The secret is to be prepared. Support the show

The winter landscape is constantly changing as the snow cover is affected by weather conditions. Rain on snow can create a puddle that makes an indentation called a pillow affect. Fresh snow of several inches can smooth the surface again. Positive belief can do the same in life. Support the show

I noticed as the setting sun turned the sky red that it did the same to the snow-covered landscape. It only lasted for a few moments before night began to overtake the sun. It was an illusion, something we experience in different ways along the path of our soul. Reality is not always what we think it is. Support the show

Nature has been providing spectacular sunrises and sunsets lately for people that take the time to pay attention. It is a wonderful way to finish up a busy day as you pause for a few minutes and feel gratitude in your heart and let your life slow down.   Support the show

This winter is sure full of ups and downs. We get some snow followed by rain and much of it melts making some people disappointed and others happy. Life has a lot of ups and downs. At least we can take control of these by our attitude. Not so with the weather. Support the show

Just about the only leaves left hanging onto the trees by mid-January are from the beech trees. It will take the new buds in the spring to dislodge them. Old paradigms hold on to us until we begin to grow and realize the old thoughts and actions that governed us no longer fit. Support the show

The bird feeders are back up for the first time since a hungry bear climbed the side of our house last summer. We are waiting for the birds to discover them. It seems as if we spend a good part of our lives waiting. I have come to the conclusion that when it is time, it is the right time. Support the show

When I looked out the window recently on a cold morning and saw two ice boats sailing on the little brook, my mind wanted to join them on a great adventure into the unknown waters on their way to the great ocean. Our minds often go on adventures, some filled with excitement and some with fear. Support the show

Now that the holidays have passed and we are a third of the way into January, here in the mountains the people and the wildlife are settling into winter. People settle into life in many different ways, including accepting situations that just don’t fit which they don’t need to accept. Support the show

A recent storm broke off several large tree limbs that landed on the edge of the driveway. My son dragged then onto the lawn where they will probably wait until spring before my hip is repaired and our truck is repaired. There are times in life when it is okay to wait. Support the show