Natural Inspiration: Share my World

We get this one life to enjoy the adventure: Come on out and share my world. Being willing to take a risk means overcoming the fear of change. Whether we like it or not, change happens everyday. We have excuses to not try. "Where's the money coming from/" "I don't have time in my schedule."  "I have responsibilities."
No matter what, there's another day coming. We can wait for the next one or we can live the moment we have right now.

Does it happen at the end of the rainbow?

 ​Is it in the light of a new day?

Maybe it's just below the surface of the ice.

Maybe it's just beyond this thicket of trees.

My Inspiration:

If I could maybe I'd give you my world

How can I when you won't take it from me

                                             - Fleetwood Mac "Go Your Own Way"

Shared Thoughts:

Life knocks every day, we just need to reach out, hang on and ride it to the end. We've been given this Earth and it's an amazing world, full of beauty with just enough thorns to remind us to enjoy those almost perfect moments when they happen.

                                             -- L. M-S.

Natural Inspiration - Flight

 A beautiful sunset leads to sweet dreams with complex layers of beauty.

Hummingbirds remind us of the joy in life and the lightness of being

Blue heron in the center of the picture was as surprised to see me this morning as I was to see it. Native American tribes see the heron as a symbol of curiosity and determination. - it reminds us to move forward, open doors and try new things.

When we yearn for freedom, we look to the sky -  Gulls have a complex and highly developed repertoire for communication which includes a range of vocalizations and body movements

Considered the "spirit of northern waters" - Common loons return to the same breeding ground every year and are believed to mate for life. Each year they renew the bond with a little romance - synchronized swimming, head posturing and diving.

My inspiration for the day -
The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.
                                         Samuel Johnson

Shared thought -
When the answer seems to be, "not yet,"  Patience along with perseverance will lead to the heart's desire. I look to those with power to overcome the force of gravity and my hopes no longer have to be earth-bound.
                                       

The End

Resolutions for Romance

Perhaps a resolution is  a simple desire to do something positive. For romance to flourish and grow, couples focus on the shared journey. Make it simple for this year.

• Say "I love you" often to remind you of the commitment you've made to share challenges, goals and finding happiness together.
• Talk and Act out of love. Communicate honestly and often even when the seemingly smallest issue comes up. Be truthful while staying sensitive to the other person's feelings.
• Bond - find activities you enjoy doing together and indulge in that time together at least once a week for "date time". Whether the fun is all about the Sunday afternoon "tailgate party" watching your favorite sport, cooking together, getting up early to catch the sunrise or fishing, spelunking, bird-watching  rock climbing  paragliding or lawn bowling in the back yard - always remember playtime.
• Dream about the future. Would you like a dream vacation in Belize? Do you want to start a business together? Interested in waterfront property or building a sustainable orchard? State your dreams. The simple act of saying out loud what you want helps to focus your energy and planning for the future.
• Kindle intimacy. Try something new and let your partner know what you like. Share your fantasies. Say, "I'd love to try (this passion) with you."
• Be socially and environmentally responsible together. Nothing says love quite like working together to make your little part of the world better.

Wishing you much love and joy in the coming year.

Be My Snow Angel

Cleaning up the yard after a storm can be especially romantic.

Snow is the perfect medium for artwork. Jump in, walk the path, fall backward and create angels. Let the kid inside out to play. Shoveling provides a nice workout when performed safely. The chill in the air makes cheeks rosy. Then head inside for warm drinks and snuggling.

THE END

Eagles and Courting

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) officially landed in the Endangered Species category in 1967 and conservation recovery efforts now have them soaring in our semi-wilderness playground. We spent our July Fourth late afternoon in the boat, floating along the far shoreline, watching for nesting pairs. We found four juvenile eagles and saw two adult pairs.

These eaglets have not yet developed the coloring of their parents. Just learning to fly, land on perches and beginning to hunt for food. They will reach maturity and start looking for a mate at age four or five.


Romantically speaking - eagles mate for life. The one that is left after one in the pair bond dies will accept a new mate. An eagle's lifespan in the wild is about 30 years, so, lots of time for many children and grandchildren.


A whirlwind romance perhaps, an eagle will perform for a potential mate by flying and swooping and  cartwheeling. Skydiving anyone? The male and female will soar high in the air, lock talons and go into freefall together, pulling up at the last minute to soar again into the air. Humans don't fall in love quite  the same way, but activities that release neurotransmitters (those chemicals that send messages throughout the body) do help with bonding. Consider the thrill of seeing eagles soaring together, the romance of a tandem skydive, or climbing a rock-face. The limit is the imagination and sense of self-preservation.  


Not into extreme sports try: holding hands, going to a movie, window-shopping together just for fun, going out for a special meal, moderate exercises like running or skating, and taking bubble baths.

The Bald Eagle was removed from the federal listing in 2007. Efforts continue to preserve their habitat and nesting areas. 

Watching eagles soar, spending time together and learning from other species - ROMANTIC.

Romancing the Rain

Light rain, fog and mist at a balmy 58 °F - only a romantic thinks the conditions are perfect to stand in the water to capture the perfect picture.

Ideas for spending a rainy day we could . . .

catch up on reading

play the Dream Game - "if only it wasn't raining we would be taking a three-mile walk."
     "if only it wasn't raining we would go to the little league game."
     "if only it wasn't raining we would fly a kite in the Sonoran Desert."
     "if only it wasn't raining we would yodel in the Swiss Alps"
   
See how the dream game works, consider it a no-dream-impossible mind-storming of adventures that are possible together. The relationship benefits with a vision of the future together.

snuggling

dancing

and somehow just starting the day right, creates a bright spot.

When strawberries are fresh and in-season, take a moment to savor nature's bounty!

Watching Wildlife

Wildlife watching opportunities might be in your neighborhood. At the lakeside retreat we can watch birds any time of day -  loons, American Bald Eagles, osprey, Merganser ducks along with Downy Woodpeckers and Hairy Woodpeckers on the suet feeder. Hummingbirds love the garden and the feeder.

This chipmunk was very patient with me getting close enough to take pictures. Of course, a quick chirp made by my sweetheart who was sitting across the lawn sent the chipmunk scurrying to the safety of a maple tree about three feet away.

To share the experiences we often call to each other to "Come look!" We watch the animals almost as closely as we watched our children while they were growing up. I think we have a better handle on being amused now though.

If wildlife watching opportunities are limited in your area. Live web-cam watching on the internet is just as amazing. Check out either the Audubon Society or NatureWatch from the USDA Forest Service.

Keep in mind to be respectful and not interfere with the birds and animals you are watching. Observing and sharing ideas about wildlife and the environment improves communication and bonding between two people. And paying attention to each other is pretty important too.