a walk in the cold
wakes the senses up to life
buds wait in stillness
berries poised and plump
sustenance for winter birds
skirt a country road
woodpecker hammers
high beyond my line of sight
gives my steps rhythm
aim for contentment
not perfection or constant bliss
your heart and mind will not always follow
but you'll have direction
the courage to love your life
even when your dreams fall short of the target
to try again
Don't forget to share the love up close with I Heart Macro, the linky opens @ 7pm EST Saturday evening.
aim for contentment
ReplyDeletenot perfection or constant bliss ... and the courage to love your life... there's much beauty in this...
i think the cold does snap us awake a bit..its cool to get all that detail as well....love to listen to the music of the woodpecker and nature around you...
ReplyDeletelovely pics too.
Oh yes, indeed....a walk in the cold DEFINITELY wakes up a person's senses. I can vouch for this around here the past few days. Glad that the berries you photographed are still there for the winter birds!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots that looks very cold.
ReplyDeleteit was a fine tag along for me, the blessing of winter season, the season where less is more.
ReplyDeletei love the photos!!!
((hugs)) and remembering you....
Lovely...foto and words:)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Norway:))
I love being outside on a cold, snowy winter's day. I like your final quote. Definitely something to remember!
ReplyDeleteaim for contentment
ReplyDeletenot perfection or constant bliss... that is amazing... love the photos as well
What beautiful photos. But they make me feel cold. Burrrr. Glad we don't get those freezes here.
ReplyDeleteNice to strive for contentment. I'm lucky to feel that way much of the time.
I like to walk through the snow! I was born in winter :)
ReplyDeleteI see we have the same winter landscape ~ I love the theme, aim for contentment, not perfection ~
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful walk, Laura.......your poem really speaks to me, especially your closing lines. "the courage to love your life"......and try again!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty. And the phrasing of this captures me: "berries poised and plump"…but it must be said aloud to receive the full resonance, don't you think? :-) Also, did you realize in that first photo that there is a fishy swimming in the sky? :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely images, reminds me of my New England, especially the winterberries!
ReplyDelete"aim for contentment, not perfection…" Lovely words to live by too.
Good advice.
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura...for providing such a wondrous, inviting space to pause....and catch up with my self... to experience the Oneness with Nature. with immense gratitude...
ReplyDeleteAh, a lovely way to handle the cold - embrace it in all it's beauty! Refreshing start to 2014, a Happy One to you!
ReplyDeleteIf my "aim for contentment" is nearly so keen as your aiming of camera, I shall fear neither cold nor hot,
ReplyDeleteneither life or death,
in fact...fear NOT.
Thank you for Oh! beautifully descriptive words, phrases, and just awesome winter pictures. While they are REALLY great shots of much greater beauty, those photos do remind me why I moved to Naples FL 50 years ago.
PEACE and LIGHT, Laura.
The cold is good for the brain and for the camera! Lovely scenes you found in your cold world!
ReplyDeleteI do so enjoy and appreciate your wonderful photography and philosophy Laura.
ReplyDeleteThat does look cold! I feel the same about walking in the cold - it is so invigorating in many ways. Beautiful photos as always!! Love, Silke
ReplyDeleteI loved the walk, I saw what you saw, and I felt the cold!
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful photos, Laura! Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful cold walk!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a beautiful way with words and photography!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I like the idea not to aim for perfection but we tend to forget this, don't we?
ReplyDeleteYou are brave to go outside at all in that weather! The red berries are stunning against the snow. Your pictures make me long for a few days of real winter (until I remember how I hate having cold feet!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a hopeful and beautiful stroll you have taken us on here, Laura ! Precious joys.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday !
Definitely wonderful winter photos!
ReplyDeleteWonderful winter photos and words,Laura!Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures! Can feel the cold and my hands have been cold for days!!! [hard to type] Wishing you well!!! Cathy
ReplyDeleteThe red berries against the white show make for heavenly shots. I love you second poem. I need to write it down and hang it beside my bed. It is lovely and so meaningful. genie
ReplyDeleteYou always manage to bring warmth to an icy cold day. Lovely photos and sentiments, as always.
ReplyDeleteI love your thoughts. They speak to me in so many ways.
ReplyDelete"aim for contentment
ReplyDeletenot perfection or constant bliss
your heart and mind will not always follow
but you'll have direction
the courage to love your life
even when your dreams fall short of the target
to try again"
a thousand times YES!!!
Beautiful words of encouragement, Laura.
ReplyDeleteIn the cold steps, in the stillness of your photos, and the words of your haiku... the world around you came alive for me in the beat of the woodpecker... I aim each and every day, not because I have to hit the center of that target, but because I desire with all my heart, to practice the smallest of steps, of compassion, of humility to this task of being human. Thank you Laura, for sharing these gems of living with us. For sharing you. XO
ReplyDeleteYour post, so filled with the gifts of winter, brought me great joy! I see with your eyes! Thank you for this vision!
ReplyDelete{{ i don't know much about
ReplyDeletesnow
but i imagine
heaven
must have the same quiet & smoothness ... }}
Très bel envoi et puis les photos sont " divines ".
ReplyDeleteAmitiés.
Roger
C est magnifique mm si il doit faire extremement froid ;o)
ReplyDeleteI just love the macro on the red berries upon the snow : the contrast is amazing ! And I like very much your last picture too, with the painted aim on the tree, in black and white...
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week-end !
what a beautiful winter photos... nicely done...
ReplyDeleteThe B&W photo is great!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. I really like the black and white - it has so much strength.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful pictures. Cold, but beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreat collection. My favourites are the tree trunks and the interesting pattern they create.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots, Laura!
ReplyDeleteI finally got out on Wed. to get some foods and gas up the car when the weather was a bit warmer!
That really is some impressive snow.
ReplyDeleteMollyxxx
What a lovely collection of photos, so perfectly matched with your poems. I think you hit the bullseye of creativity this week! ;)
ReplyDeleteVery pretty magical forest!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty magical forest!
ReplyDeleteThe balance that you find and create through your eye of creativity and joy for nature and beauty brings me such comfort, Laura. Thank you for sharing your heart through image and word. ♥
ReplyDeletelovely photos, I love winter walks
ReplyDeleteLovely images, the trees and view down the road are beautiful. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteStunning winter shots.
ReplyDeleteWonderful serie of winter photos! Especially I like the B&W one!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so wonderful - no snow here. Have a nice Sunday, Inge
ReplyDeleteLovely post. I'll bring my amaryllis later on :)
ReplyDeletehave a wonderfull weekend :)
Nie zawsze się marzenia spełniają, ale życie nie traci sensu z tego powodu. Piekne zdjęcia ze spaceru. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteThere is always a dream come true, but life does not lose sense of reason. Beautiful pictures from the walk. Yours.
I am shivering from here.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDelete"aim for contentment
ReplyDeletenot perfection or constant bliss"
and the line about dreams falling short … really struck me. We often expect too much, I think - if OUR plans aren't met we are disappointed. I learned (or hope I have) that my plans were often just way off the mark…. Lovely image of the two plump red berries. I love finding a gem like that tucked away, while I am out walking too.