Serene pools created as the warming sun transformed winter snows, reflect the barren landscape of early spring, clothed in amber and gold, soon to join the fresh, lush hues of the evergreens
As these overflowing reservoirs spill out, carrying their replenishing waters to share with all living things along its journey across the land, streams of abundance flow, with laughter, singing a joyful song
Happy Spring to those of you here with me in the Northern hemisphere! Of course, the date on the calendar doesn’t necessarily always match whatever the weather is doing wherever one may be. Here in my area of Minnesota, we are having some beautiful weather at the moment – although that can change dramatically on any given day.
The above photo was taken on a lovely walk I went on the other day on a trail along Nine Mile Creek. It’s so hard to capture the full beauty of a place or a moment. One thing you probably can’t get the full effect of from the photo I snapped is the ‘serene pools’ I mention at the top of the poem. In the upper middle part of the photo you can just barely see it, but the calm waters so beautifully reflected the landscape there. It was the stream I was mostly trying to capture though, but the whole scene was so lovely. And the sound… gosh, it’s wonderful to hear flowing waters again after the long winter…
Hope you have beautiful sights and sounds to enjoy wherever you are on this first day of Spring! I’m off to take full advantage of our nice weather! Many blessings to you, my friends!
A simple nature mandala my sister and I made together last week with some randoms we found along the Net River while we were exploring Holyoke Park. It’s nothing fancy, just a little offering we left at the end of our time there.
You guys, this place is really special! It’s so untouched and uninhabited, I almost don’t want to share about it, lest it become more known and populated. It’s truly one of those hidden gem kind of places, and the vibes there feel almost sacred.
Here was what I saw immediately upon arrival…
So picturesque! And this was only about 50 feet from where we parked, so not far to go to get to experience the beauty of this area. Don’t get me wrong – the parking area was just as ‘hidden’ and if you didn’t plan to go here, you wouldn’t have even noticed the turn off the main road. The main road itself being actually a ‘back’ road.
I don’t know what the rest of the river is like, but this portion of the Net River at Holyoke Park is like just one continuous series of short waterfalls and rapids with a few pools along the way – only to pour over to create yet more falls. It’s so absolutely wonderful! And the waters are the color of frothy root beer. I don’t know what causes the color – my sister said she heard it had something to do with the Tamarack trees, but it’s very unique and beautiful.
Here you can get a better idea of the color of the water…
Frothy root beer amiright?
This particular spot along the river had some cool acoustics too. I’m not sure where it was coming from, but there was a drumming effect that had a rhythmic beat to it. It was so amazing! I tried recording it with my phone, but you couldn’t hear it. I know it wasn’t just my imagination, because my sister heard it too. I’m not able to upload videos directly to WordPress, so I’ll try uploading it onto YouTube to share it.
Here it is…
Yeah, you can’t hear the drumming sound at all, but it still sounds nice.
And while I’m in the mode of sharing videos, here is another one I took…
This was in one of my favorite spots where there were two falls. It was SO stunning! I wish I’d gotten a better video. Please excuse the jerking, there were mosquitoes trying to get me and I was repeatedly blowing them off my arm…
I took a couple vertical snapshots in this spot too…
I love this next one! I could have stood there for hours had the bugs not been an issue. As far as the bugs go though, they were pretty tame considering the wildness of the area in the height of summer. You can’t see in the photo, but there are 2 or 3 tiers of falls above in the background. It was so absolutely lovely…
I tried to take a wide angle shot to get both falls in the photo, but I’m still not familiar enough with that setting on my new phone, so it turned out looking a bit distorted. Still looks kinda cool…
I loved the moss and growth on that rock outcropping.
I don’t think I’ve mentioned yet what a gorgeous day it was. The weather was so perfect in the mid to upper 70’s and there was a most welcomed breeze.
We sat by the river and had our lunch and it was really nice. Well, except for the pesky wasp who was attracted to my food. I don’t know what the allure was, it was just a simple bagel. I pretty much ate while running around like a weirdo during lunch, but here’s a nice shot of some of the falls from when I was able to sit…
And here’s my beautiful big sissy sitting in another one of my favorite spots along the river…
What gorgeous setting!
I went over and joined her there and at some point snapped this selfie. Those lovely falls in the background though!
We sat there together for a nice long while with our feet in the water. It was SO refreshing. I talked about how the water flowing over our feet was on a journey from somewhere to somewhere and that we were now a part of its experience on that journey. I can’t really explain what I mean by that, but it was a meaningful feeling and a sense of connectedness with the river and the Earth.
We found out later that the Net River empties into Lake Superior. Oooh take me with youuuu!
I blew my little love-tuner (a 528 Hz whistle of sorts) while we were sitting there and my sister happened to take a short video of it…
Hopefully as I continue to use it, my exhale will get longer so I can enjoy it’s tone for a longer duration. I got it as a meditation tool and I really love it!
Speaking of my little love-tuner, there were several areas during our exploring where I felt the need to stop and blow my love-tuner for a while. I can’t explain why, I know I’m weird. But here’s one of the places…
The vibes you guys. I’m telling you – there was something about these two trees. I wish I could make what I was feeling translate through the photo. But it was a special spot. It was really cool when a little flock of tiny birds alighted the branches of the tree right next to me and kept flitting about trying to get a closer look at what was making that sound. I could really sense their curiosity and inquisitiveness. Sweet little things. 🐦
This was another area where I stopped, and there was even a stronger sense to pause and soak it all in. It was truly magical…
There was a tall old Tamarack tree just to the right of this shot that was super cool. It was standing like an ancient sentinel right along the bank watching over the river. I tried to take a picture of it, but it didn’t turn out. I love old trees, they make me wonder about all they’ve seen throughout time, storms they’ve endured etc.
Here are a couple other angles I snapped in this same spot…
This is the view of from where we came through. We couldn’t really even tell from the other side if there was an actual path and hesitated whether we should push through. We were so glad we did, it was so lovely.
As hidden and untouched as it felt, you can see a definite path there, so it’s obviously used by people, but we had the entire area to ourselves, and we were there pretty much all day.
This interesting tree was literally standing on its tiptoes…
It felt more like a creature than a tree, and its bark had the coolest texture. I’m not sure why the lighting in this photo turned out so much brighter, as it was in the exact same spot as the ones above. I’ll chalk it up to how touchy my new phone’s camera is. I guess it’s not really that new anymore – I got it in mid May, but I’m still getting used to it.
I wish you could see the multiple tiers of the river in this next one, it was so very pretty, and the way the sunlight sparkled on the water made it all the more magical…
Here is a video my sister took of my love-tuner while we were in that spot…
My senses were really heightened and it was a wonderful feeling. I think nature liked listening to my little love-tuner. 🥰
With as much as that magnificent river draws your attention in Holyoke Park, I was really drawn to the trees. As usual. What can I say… I love trees!
Especially when they have so many interesting and unique features. This one really caught my EYE!
Maybe this is why I had the feeling that we were being watched. 👀
This beautiful lichen also caught my eye, and look a little closer… do you see anything else besides the lichen?
Moth! What great camouflage! Nature is so freaking amazing!
I’m not sure what’s going on with the bark on this next one, but I thought it looked interesting, so I snapped a photo of it…
And how can you not love trees when they drop such bright, colorful ‘flowers’ at your feet?
First autumn leaf of the season! Yay fall! 🍁🍂
Here is where I think we might have walked through some sort of portal – a truly enchanted forest lies just beyond these two rocks…
Now that I think about it, there were lots of twos on this adventure – two rocks, two trees, two falls, two sisters. 💕
I’m really grateful two my sister for bringing me to see this beautiful, magical place. And so grateful to have the time together frolicking in the wild.
Thanks so much for reading, I know this was a long one one. Happy Mandala Monday, I hope you all are well. Wishing you joy and beauty in the coming week…
Some of you may know that I live in the city of Minneapolis, and you may have heard what has been going on here over the past week. Some of it may now also be affecting your communities.
My heart has been so troubled… I can’t really even formulate the words to describe the range of emotions I’ve been experiencing, but grief, anger and fear have been at the forefront.
Grief over the death of George Floyd, grief and anger over the racism, hatred and injustice that exists in our world; and grief, anger and fear over all of the violence, chaos and devastation sweeping over my city right now.
I don’t have the answers or a solution of how to fix anything. But I do believe that our thoughts and emotions have energy that expands outside of ourselves and affects the world around us. So I want to take care with the type of energy and vibes I’m putting out. I don’t want my grief, anger and fear to add any fuel to the literal flames going on around me – I want to radiate peace and love out into my community, and out into the world.
Even though I feel very small and powerless to change anything, I have to believe it makes a difference somehow. I can shift my focus and take these actions…
“Lord make me an instrument of Your Peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow Love
Where there is injury, Pardon
Where there is doubt, Faith
Where there is despair, Hope
Where there is darkness, Light
Where there is sadness, Joy
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console
Not so much to be understood, as to understand
Not so much to be loved, as to love…”
That is what I was meditating on as I made this mandala ~ making it heart-shaped as my heart went out to my city. And making it with Bleeding Hearts felt pretty perfect…
My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of George Floyd. Peace and Love to all the people of my city, and in the world, who are hurting.
All the flowering trees are in bloom here right now and it’s so beautiful! 😍 And the weather is perfect too! Yesterday I was literally outside all day – almost from sun up to sun down. Gosh I’ve needed this. 🥰
One thing I didn’t mention in my long rambling post the other day is that my beloved phone died. It was old, as far as cell phones go, I got it in 2015, but it had a great little camera on it and took such beautiful pictures, so I’m really sad about it. Most of the newer phones don’t even have as nice of a camera, unless you want to spend a lot, which I don’t. But while I was talking with customer service, crying the blues about losing my nice camera on my phone, the rep told me about this one – the Samsung Galaxy A51, which I’ve fondly named Area51 (get it? cuz it’s called the A51 😉). What… you don’t name your phone? My last phone’s name was Tink, may she rest in peace. Anyway, this new one is nothing fancy, but it does have a 48 mp camera and 4 lenses, so hopefully it’ll take nice pictures.
I was disappointed with the majority of pictures I snapped of the flowering things with it yesterday, the quality that I was expecting just didn’t seem to be there. But hopefully as I get more acquainted with it that will improve. If not, I guess I’ll just have to deal with it. So if you notice that the pictures I share aren’t as nice as they used to be, that’s why. I did think the shot I shared above turned out pretty. It was gorgeous in person! 🌸
I’m heading outside for the day again today – gotta soak in all the loveliness that I can. I hope your weather is nice and that there are flowering things wherever you are today. Wishing you beauty and joy!
“I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”
~ Anne Frank
It is NOT barefoot weather here in Minnesota on this 1st day of spring, but sometimes your bare feet just really neeeeed to touch the earth… Well, mine do anyway, and I couldn’t relate more to Anne Frank’s sentiments above.
Wherever you are in the world today, I hope you can find a moment to connect with nature.
And remember to breathe deeply.
Wishing you solace. And sending out so much Love to all of you. Stay well my friends.
Originally I didn’t have a mandala to share for today’s Mandala Monday, but then I made this yesterday while out on a hike with my sister and thought I’d share…
If it looks crooked, that’s because it is. 🙃 The only reason I made a mandala on this stump was because it had a hole in it and for some reason I got the urge to arrange leaves around the hole…
But then I felt like it needed a leaf in its center and found a lovely red oak to place there. It’s nothing fancy, but it was fun making it.
We had a great time on our little hike. We went to Nerstrand State Park, about an hour away from the city, and hiked the short trail to Hidden Falls…
It’s not a very tall waterfall, but it was flowing real nicely and looked lovely with all the autumn beauty around it. The tree stump where I made the mandala was right next to the falls up at the top just to the left of the photo. I made it as we were leaving the falls area.
It was snowing off and on during our hike and got quite chilly at times. I think the temp was around 38 – 40. We both wore 2 jackets, but only I was wise enough to had remembered gloves. 😉 My sister resembled a creature walking with her hiking poles which were stuffed up into the sleeves of her jacket to help keep her hands covered. I snapped this picture of her as she went to investigate whether or not there was a way through a certain area to pick up another trail…
“Ancient astronaut theorists say ‘no’” was her answer hahahaha! 😂 I love my sister!
Here are a few other photos I snapped along the way…
Some areas of the park were a bit past peak for fall color, while others were still going strong or just starting. Either way, it was lovely – despite the cool temps and the periodic snow.
The sun is shining brightly this morning and for that I’m grateful. Hope you find things to be grateful for today too! Happy Mandala Monday, wishing you a wonderful week ahead!
I created this blog primarily just to express myself by writing about whatever random stuff happens to come to mind on any given day. Over time I suppose it may morph into something more specific, but for now it's just my various ramblings. Thank you so much for stopping by and wherever your day leads today ~ I hope it's to a happy place! :)
Ramblings From Jewels 