red canoe and yellow hammock

So much depends on a red canoe, tied to a tree by the river (knock off - WC Williams):

The river too cold for paddling, at least for these old bones. The hammock too wet for a lazy idle here in the first sun in three days. But I pace and do a small qigong practice:

Mary Oliver died today

Oh, what a poet, voice to our spirit, to our deep connection with this world -- Mary Oliver. Her poems, her presence, invite us to see as she sees in commune with the outside, the pond, the wild geese, the song bird. Oh, what a joy to read her words. Thank you, Mary Oliver. 

I woke this morning in a dream of Van, sharing poems - and I stretched in my warm cocoon of a bed with cat to my right and small white dog to my left and smiled. As if a parallel life that might have been, I seemed to have shifted into this possible story in the night - familiar (as if I have been there before). When I learned of Mary Oliver's death, I wondered if the dream was prescience.

Snow this afternoon.

2019 Here

Months hiatus. Have taken up paper journals - poor excuse. Why not both? Following the forecast for snow beginning tomorrow night; not as heavy a snow this time as in December when we had 14" here in the hollow.

Was lovely light snow. I left soon after for Houston to visit Ez and all before Christmas.

This time we may have some mix and ice accumulation; preparing for possible outage - tho certainly hoping power will stay. Nevertheless, Mr. Li and Katrina and I are ready as can be. Have 3 suet cages filled to hang tomorrow; raccoons have stolen two cages which I left out at night. Now I am retrieving them when I go to close the chickens. 

Pictures from Trinidad where Ez and family spent Christmas - lots of cousin-time, beautiful trio!

And beautiful pictures keep coming from Dominican Republic   where Baldwin and family have a kitten. Kitten they are convinced has soul of Alaska - they may bring him back to Virginia.

Have bundled through some pretty cold days, two days ago the high was 23 degrees. When Mr. Li and I walked down to river today through areas of heaved crunchy ground, I took pictures of ice covered puddles. But before the 20 degree high, there was a 60 degree blue sky joy of a day! Good puzzle time, good books. 

Nursing a wound, which I am focusing healing intention upon - have ticket to Dominican Republic towards end of January - and can't go with wound! Had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from just above ankle on right leg before Christmas. It looks good, was size of quarter and now more like nickel. Didn't realize that wounds below knee take twice as long to heal.

Happily still holding qigong classes twice a week; yet to renew habit of attending Robin's class in Blacksburg. Wonderful group of women, a delight. My week takes form from the two mornings assigned to class - then going into town for groceries and working at library for the children books sale. NAACP monthly meeting and MCDC meeting I attend - wanting to do more, but moving slow into a greater commitment. How did it become 2019??!!