A Quiet Spot



Golden Leaves

I am still adjusting to the sounds of the city after moving from our quiet home nestled at the end of the street and flocked with trees on 2 sides of our property. It has the kind of quiet where you can hear your own breath catch when you look up at the night sky full of bright shining stars. Not as quiet as where my parents live in the country, but close.

Maple leaves lining the paths

The first few weeks of being in the city I found myself a little jumpy after my walks down the side walked streets full of cars zooming past, from the sirens of police cars and fire trucks and ambulances within close proximity and the population of winos that I occassionally ran into by the corner grocery. I wanted to experience the city but I also longed for a quiet spot amongst the spontaneous combustion of it all.   A place where I could go to experience nature in sight, sound, and smell.

Lovely Statues

The spot I found happens to be an old cemetery right across from our building and it is just lovely. Established in 1851, it is full of winding tree-lined lanes, ancient trees with presence and wisdom, statues, birdsong , and squirrels running around chasing each other. 





Hawk



 I was thrilled at seeing this magnificent hawk in the cemetery as well.  None of the pictures taken from my phone do him (or her) justice.  I watched him fly over to this leafless tree and followed him over there, all the time holding my breath and hoping he would not fly away.  He is definitely a city hawk because he let me get as close as I wanted, right under the limb he was on in fact and snap away with my camera phone. 

This is a blurry photo of him starring at me in wonder or perhaps annoyance.



Green in the Grey

Clover

Today the sky is the color of slate and there is a slow and steady drizzle falling.  The leaves that have been hanging on tightly to the trees are now coming down in droves but it was this patch of green clover that caught my eye this morning.  It reminds me of my brief trip to Washington State  and how the grey skies there made the greenery even more intense.

A Public Service Announcement of Sorts

Graffiti Painting- Fifth Street Underpass

This image stopped me in my tracks the other day as I walking along the sidewalk.  It gave me pause and inspiration. 

“Find the love you seek, by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place within you that is your true home.”
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar