Category Archives: Nature in All Its Glory

Thanksgiving

Posted on October 6, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

We are in the midst of Canadian Thanksgiving weekend and honouring Sabbath holds more meaning although maybe it should not. What if I were grateful and thankful each day-each moment?

Gratitude and thankfulness

Celebrate each moment

Turn to beloved others

Hold tight

Recognize worth

Share sacred

Moment by moment

Recognize extraordinary

Revealed in ordinary

What I take for granted

It is there

In each moment.

The rich bounty

Feel blessed.

That is Kathy standing on a rock right above Rearguard Falls on the Fraser River in Mount Robson Provincial Park. Two things I am grateful for.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged canadian thanksgiving, creativity, Mindful Practice, Mount Robson, mount robson provincial park, nature, poetry, robson provincial park, teacher as transformer, Thanksgiving. Bookmark the permalink.

October

Posted on October 2, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I am sitting and looking out the window at a hard rain coming down. I am really uncertain how I will make it to my car in my shorts and t-shirt. Despite that it is still 18 C⁰in Edmonton, but it is October and there is a risk of wet snow tonight. Early today, it was quite pleasant, sunny, and, as one student put it, it changed quite suddenly.

October arrives

Softly whispers reminders

Thank and share.

Harvest gathered

Bounty stored

The hearth calls.

Gather as one

Hands joined; heads bowed

Pray as one.

I out waited the rain. It has stopped momentarily

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Posted in Community, Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry and tagged community, Mindful Practice, nature, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Fall’s Sabbath Song

Posted on September 30, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Snow flurries and seasonal temperatures could arrive next week. Even today, we are about 5⁰C above seasonal. Fall is a wonderful time with colours changing and signaling nature’s dormancy, a time of rest.

As I walked the river valley, I noticed the smell of decay. It was rich and hastened in the unusual warmth of September, but with shortened days the dampness of dew stayed as well.

I walk slowly

Absorb the valley

It touches me in many ways.

Swaths of colour

Deftly applied

By unseen master artist.

Pungent decay

Fills the air

Feeds the soil.

Leaves gently descend

Listen close

A mere whisper.

Nature’s dormancy too quietly descends

A rest time

Prepare for the next planting.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry, Sabbath and tagged creativity, Mindful Practice, nature, photography, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

The Unplanned, yet Orchestrated

Posted on September 28, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I promised as I approached the school year:”I would experience the year and live it to the fullest with the students.” Today, this resolve was tested. Due to illnesses and other situations, the number of students dwindled to a handful. I decided to set lesson plans aside and just went with the flow this afternoon. It was an excellent choice. We enjoyed ourselves.

I used Kerpoof Studio, a site for reluctant writers. Students created stories as short animated films. At times, we were silent; while other times we shared and laughed. They helped each other with new technology and I learned right along with them. We had fun.

As I walked the river valley today, I reflected on the unplanned and the rewards offered in and by those moments.

Life–

What is it?

Moments separate;

Yet connected

Unplanned;

Yet orchestrated somehow

Beyond understanding.

Life–

An unmarked journey

Occasional missteps.

Hope against hope

Can I see around corners?

Over hills?

No,

So, accept faith

Feel, sense, rather than see

A gentle hand

A soft light illuminates each experience;

Each step in life.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry, Uncategorized and tagged community, education, learning, Mindful Practice, nature, photography, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Calm in Turbulence

Posted on September 26, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

As insight grows,

Clarity emerges

Wisdom revealed.

Enter life’s stream

Accept turbulence

Seek calm waters.

Drop labels

Cease judgment

Fall awake.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry and tagged creativity, crowsnest pass, Mindful Practice, mindfulness, nature, photography, poetry, Rocky Mountains, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

In the Greater Scheme

Posted on September 25, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

It was a tiring day. I sat and reminded myself of a time I felt less tired. I took this picture that day.

I sit

I walk.

In the greater scheme

What does it mean?

Sunlight warms face

Gentle breeze cools air.

Fresh morning;

Comfortable afternoon.

Feel one with Nature

Deep roots.

Supported by ground;

Enveloped by all around.

Afresh, like a beginner;

Feel that which was always there.

See the world;

Feel it for the first time.

I find a place;

A place at the table of life.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry and tagged creativity, Mindful Practice, mindfulness, nature, photography, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

A Half a Dragonfly Is Better than None

Posted on September 21, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I took this picture with my PDA at the retreat last weekend on one of my walks. This picture turned out better than the one I deleted. I took that one of the sidewalk. I had trouble with the sun over my shoulder; pretty good excuse. Initially, I was disappointed because this dragonfly posed and was cooperative, but, in retrospect, the title says it all.

The retreat was a great experience. I reminded my self that it is OK to be imperfect. I am human with that. The dragonfly showed up and shared a quiet moment with me and for that I am grateful.

He lit down oh so gently

He posed oh so perfectly.

I heard him say;

I really did!

“Take my picture please

My time almost done

This serves as my memorial.”

I took his picture

He stood so still

Posed gratefully.

Once done, he took his leave

Both our jobs nearly done.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry and tagged creativity, Mindful Practice, nature, photography, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

A Visitor

Posted on September 21, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I had just started on a conference call to Seattle last night and this fellow showed up on the back deck. He seemed curious and I took the picture with my PDA through the window. When I did open the door, he was gone before I even got open a crack. I think it is a western northern flicker woodpecker, but am not 100% sure. It is the first time I recall one showing up in my backyard. The ashtray served as a landing-place. It is not used for anything else.

Today, a visitor called

Briefly paused and rested on the stoop.

He seemed uneasy

Still, made himself to home.

Furtively, glanced about

Perhaps, hoping he would go unnoticed.

He seemed likeable

I moved to greet him

Suddenly, he slipped away

Gone, as quickly as arrived

I wish him well on his journey.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry and tagged creativity, Mindful Practice, nature, photography, poetry, teacher as transformer, woodpecker. Bookmark the permalink.

Retreat

Posted on September 14, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Kathy and I are attending a retreat this weekend, so I am off-line for the weekend. I will leave you with Mindful by Mary Oliver. This poem reminds me to keep all my senses open and welcome that which is around me into my heart and mind.

Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for –
to look, to listen,
to lose myself
inside this soft world –
to instruct myself
over and over
in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,
the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant –
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,
the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help
but grow wise
with such teachings
as these –
the untrimmable light
of the world,
the ocean’s shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?

Kathy took this picture of the frost on the Ponderosa Pine which sits in front of our house.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry and tagged Mary Oliver, mindful by mary oliver, Mindful Practice, nature, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

What If Nature Could Remember or Dream?

Posted on September 14, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

After I posted Open Heart; Open Mind, I recalled a Wendell Berry poem entitled In a Country Once Forested. I wondered what if nature really could remember? What would that be like? What if nature were a dreamer of dreams? I think Wendell Berry says it beautifully and wisely in this poem.

The young woodland remembers

the old, a dreamer dreaming

of an old holy book,

an old set of instructions,

and the soil under the grass

is dreaming of a young forest,

and under the pavement the soil

is dreaming of grass.

I think nature is can recall and able to dream dreams. It might look like this.