Dear Barbara, I can't believe someone understands me! You put into writing the way I've always looked at my surroundings. And I first noticed this kind of understanding a few years ago when I read Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Nature' essay because it hit me that what Emerson wrote describes exactly the way I personally experience my own surroundings every day.
I always felt an underlying sense of being misunderstood when I would admire such detailed visuals in nature but the people around me wouldn't see things the same way--it doesn't catch their attention and they aren't moved by the same things as I. I always wonder, how could you NOT just get filled with peace and appreciation and a flow of emotions inside when you see those giant cotton candy clouds glowing at sunset, hear an owl whoo-ing somewhere outside your window, when you walk beneath Aspen tree leaves fluttering like yellow medallions in the Fall, when you notice the moon setting on the horizon as a gigantic dark orange sliver...?
You putting your experiences into words and sharing them is what goes through my head that I didn't know other people saw things in the same way. Thank you always, for sharing!! It brings even more appreciation to me!
Dear Violet, When I moved my blog to Substack, I decided that I wasn't going to hold back, and instead, I was going to share some of the stories that, as you say, can be easily misunderstood. And, what has happened when I've let go and am just fully, authentically myself, animal spirit stories and all, people like you have appeared.
Thank you for this absolutely beautiful comment. I'm going to hold it in my 💚 all day long.
Dear Maureen. Talk about touching MY soul. Thank you so much for your kind words. So many of the stories I write are about me, and I always hope that something in them will resonate with the people who read them. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to leave this comment. You made my day, for sure. 💚
Hello Barbara. Thank you for your kindness of reply. A dear friend used to call me the Pink One. We bonded the first night we met over our mutual love for the songwriter and musician, Joni Mitchell. We spoke about how much of life is about souls touching souls. Both my friend, Bruce and his lovely wife have passed away in recent years. And, I was so “soul touched” in reading your column about your experiences with the color, pink.
I found much comfort in a flood of memories of my dear friends - our early years of friendship, the color pink and it’s meaning in my life :) Thank you for sharing stories of your experiences with us - with me. They resonate and ripple throughout my day in such a joyful and meaningful way. Surely, your writings have touched my soul, here. And, I am so grateful to you!
Ahhh, another Pink connection. :) How precious to have someone call you the Pink One. 💗 I love Joni Mitchell, too. I just had another Pink synchronicity while writing a post. They seem just to keep coming. :) I'm grateful to have met you here, Maureen. Thank you for reading! xo
You are definitely springing forward. Thank you for the inspiration. The photos are stunning, and I can imagine the warm sunshine pouring through the windows.
💞 Dearest Barbara, this is such a powerful podcast! I feel so much love, hope, and appreciation for what you are sharing! Thank you dear heart! Always I choose to hear your feelings coming through your voice...Incredible stories and photos shared, timely, and so meaningful! Love and blessings, Gigi
Going with the flow is all I can do.... its taking everything I have in me. Hanging on by a thread... with a grateful spirit 🤎💚🤎 ..... I would love to see more of that farmers market. Xoxo coziest thing ever !!!!
I Love that you have a Spring to get your water, Barbara! You gave me a great idea to melt some snow and give to my houseplants, we have plenty of that here in Michigan 😂. I feel like we’re living parallel lives… I just started studying Astrology too, Vedic Astrology and I’m LOVING it! Looking forward to more Astrology references!
Hi Amy! Have you ever checked to see if there's a spring near you? You can do it online. I am super blessed, for sure. I've had Vedic Astrology readings. You would think with my love of Ayurveda that I would be more focused on that, but strangely, none of the readings I've had resonated. IDK why. Looking forward to hearing about your experience studying it! xoxo B
The talking and singing does matter, Barbara, very much. I veered off a trail in the woods today and followed the deer tracks. I feel similar things in nature. I long to go where the animals go. I talk to the trees and thank the Spring where I get me water, as well. So very much to be grateful for. 🙏
And I'm so excited about Matt Roeske's videos, now I have a go-to for JOY and good ideas of how to respond... I decided a while back that I would take up a new motto, or philosophy, or resolution... whatever, lol... "Resist Not Evil-- Work Around It."
I think it's not about FIGHTING anything, it's about steady, fearless action coming from knowledge of The Way, and my Soul is dragging the rest of me, bitching and moaning half the time, into that Way, which feels Sooooo Riiiiight. ^_^
So I do absolutely understand your feelings about nature, and saying Thank You, and feeling that BLISS... The mountains here are simply AWESOME, in the truest sense of that word. I drive the way to work and home again, by the water and when it's clear... those amazing Olympic Mountains just take my breath away, and it never gets any less BA-BLAM, no matter how many times! I have to be careful not to veer out of my lane!
Gratitude: It's not just for breakfast anymore. ;)
PS Sent you some humor stories, Danger Dog! Hope you enjoy.
Claudia, I thought, "Did I say that?" :) Lately, these posts seem to write themselves so quickly, with barely any editing, that I forget what I've written. I love the term "small farmette" :). Sounds like a beautiful memory. Amen to "Such goodness for us to enjoy, not destroy."
Thanks for taking the time to read/listen. I'm glad it gave you some comfort. 💚
I will definitely try and find one!
Good luck! https://findaspring.com/ 💦
Dear Barbara, I can't believe someone understands me! You put into writing the way I've always looked at my surroundings. And I first noticed this kind of understanding a few years ago when I read Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Nature' essay because it hit me that what Emerson wrote describes exactly the way I personally experience my own surroundings every day.
I always felt an underlying sense of being misunderstood when I would admire such detailed visuals in nature but the people around me wouldn't see things the same way--it doesn't catch their attention and they aren't moved by the same things as I. I always wonder, how could you NOT just get filled with peace and appreciation and a flow of emotions inside when you see those giant cotton candy clouds glowing at sunset, hear an owl whoo-ing somewhere outside your window, when you walk beneath Aspen tree leaves fluttering like yellow medallions in the Fall, when you notice the moon setting on the horizon as a gigantic dark orange sliver...?
You putting your experiences into words and sharing them is what goes through my head that I didn't know other people saw things in the same way. Thank you always, for sharing!! It brings even more appreciation to me!
Dear Violet, When I moved my blog to Substack, I decided that I wasn't going to hold back, and instead, I was going to share some of the stories that, as you say, can be easily misunderstood. And, what has happened when I've let go and am just fully, authentically myself, animal spirit stories and all, people like you have appeared.
Thank you for this absolutely beautiful comment. I'm going to hold it in my 💚 all day long.
xo Barbara
I love everything about your blog. Your perspectives, your writings and your pictures.
Your deep and abiding respect for the natural world and every single living organism in it.
Your blog is becoming a touch stone in my day. It touches and soothes my soul. In the same way an eagle does while watching one take flight.
And, I just wanted to say. Thank you. Thank you so very much.
❤️🩹 - Maureen
Dear Maureen. Talk about touching MY soul. Thank you so much for your kind words. So many of the stories I write are about me, and I always hope that something in them will resonate with the people who read them. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to leave this comment. You made my day, for sure. 💚
Hello Barbara. Thank you for your kindness of reply. A dear friend used to call me the Pink One. We bonded the first night we met over our mutual love for the songwriter and musician, Joni Mitchell. We spoke about how much of life is about souls touching souls. Both my friend, Bruce and his lovely wife have passed away in recent years. And, I was so “soul touched” in reading your column about your experiences with the color, pink.
I found much comfort in a flood of memories of my dear friends - our early years of friendship, the color pink and it’s meaning in my life :) Thank you for sharing stories of your experiences with us - with me. They resonate and ripple throughout my day in such a joyful and meaningful way. Surely, your writings have touched my soul, here. And, I am so grateful to you!
Ahhh, another Pink connection. :) How precious to have someone call you the Pink One. 💗 I love Joni Mitchell, too. I just had another Pink synchronicity while writing a post. They seem just to keep coming. :) I'm grateful to have met you here, Maureen. Thank you for reading! xo
Wow!
You are definitely springing forward. Thank you for the inspiration. The photos are stunning, and I can imagine the warm sunshine pouring through the windows.
winter zoomed by! xoxo
Gotta let go of winter and embrace spring, right? Mud Season and all. I'm going to enjoy it until the you-know-whats show up! xoxo
Yay! Tho' I've seen a few of them here and there (a lil' early).
I look forward to the greenness. ♥️
💞 Dearest Barbara, this is such a powerful podcast! I feel so much love, hope, and appreciation for what you are sharing! Thank you dear heart! Always I choose to hear your feelings coming through your voice...Incredible stories and photos shared, timely, and so meaningful! Love and blessings, Gigi
Gigi! So nice to see your words here. I hope you are settled and well. Thank you for taking the time to read/listen. Much Love to you! 💗
Going with the flow is all I can do.... its taking everything I have in me. Hanging on by a thread... with a grateful spirit 🤎💚🤎 ..... I would love to see more of that farmers market. Xoxo coziest thing ever !!!!
One day at a time, right? Big hugs to you, my friend. You are always on my mind. Wish you lived closer. We could go to the market together.💗
THAT sounds so super dreamy!!
I Love that you have a Spring to get your water, Barbara! You gave me a great idea to melt some snow and give to my houseplants, we have plenty of that here in Michigan 😂. I feel like we’re living parallel lives… I just started studying Astrology too, Vedic Astrology and I’m LOVING it! Looking forward to more Astrology references!
Hi Amy! Have you ever checked to see if there's a spring near you? You can do it online. I am super blessed, for sure. I've had Vedic Astrology readings. You would think with my love of Ayurveda that I would be more focused on that, but strangely, none of the readings I've had resonated. IDK why. Looking forward to hearing about your experience studying it! xoxo B
The talking and singing does matter, Barbara, very much. I veered off a trail in the woods today and followed the deer tracks. I feel similar things in nature. I long to go where the animals go. I talk to the trees and thank the Spring where I get me water, as well. So very much to be grateful for. 🙏
And Tina, thank you for your support. It means a lot to me! 💚
Kindred Spirits, and a fellow friend named Robin. xoxo
Yay, I love your posts.
And I'm so excited about Matt Roeske's videos, now I have a go-to for JOY and good ideas of how to respond... I decided a while back that I would take up a new motto, or philosophy, or resolution... whatever, lol... "Resist Not Evil-- Work Around It."
I think it's not about FIGHTING anything, it's about steady, fearless action coming from knowledge of The Way, and my Soul is dragging the rest of me, bitching and moaning half the time, into that Way, which feels Sooooo Riiiiight. ^_^
So I do absolutely understand your feelings about nature, and saying Thank You, and feeling that BLISS... The mountains here are simply AWESOME, in the truest sense of that word. I drive the way to work and home again, by the water and when it's clear... those amazing Olympic Mountains just take my breath away, and it never gets any less BA-BLAM, no matter how many times! I have to be careful not to veer out of my lane!
Gratitude: It's not just for breakfast anymore. ;)
PS Sent you some humor stories, Danger Dog! Hope you enjoy.
Yes! I'm exploring some of his other videos now.
I've seen pics of those mountains! There's something about mountains that just take your breath away. Every single time. Much love to you, Jaan xoxo
Back atcha, Lovely. xo ^_^
Claudia, I thought, "Did I say that?" :) Lately, these posts seem to write themselves so quickly, with barely any editing, that I forget what I've written. I love the term "small farmette" :). Sounds like a beautiful memory. Amen to "Such goodness for us to enjoy, not destroy."
Thanks for taking the time to read/listen. I'm glad it gave you some comfort. 💚