We turned the clocks back last night. I woke up this morning with a case of the Sunday scaries. Which isn’t fair. Sunday scaries aren’t supposed to show up until about 3pm. I instinctively knew what to do, though. I opened up the Libby app on my phone and checked out some Mary Oliver digital books from the library. Then around 9:00 I drove to Beaver Marsh, one of the most visited and most beautiful parts of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The last time I was at Beaver Marsh was mid-August, I think. Wood ducks were everywhere. Red-winged blackbirds seemed to cling to every reed. Green herons, bullfrogs, muskrats abounded. Everything was green; water lilies were threatening to cover the entire marsh; turtles lined up on fallen logs to sun themselves.
Beaver Marsh on November 5 was a colder, quieter place. There were a dozen or so Canada geese, some mallard couples, one blue heron who decided to stay behind while the others migrated south. It felt a little empty and sad, but then I decided to pay attention to the beauty that was still there. Berries of all kinds were left on branches and vines. The colors were brilliant.
Later I went to the gym to do some strength training, took a nap, and raked the rest of the leaves in our yard with Chris. I read my Mary Oliver. The scaries went away, as they always do.
Nature. Movement. Poetry. Rinse and repeat.
I hope you have a wonderful week, friends.
Love,
Michelle xoxo