Holy Night

Yes, O' Holy Night!

It's shortly after one o'clock in the morning, and I've
just returned from a late night walk. What an
experience! Except for the shadows from trees, the
old gravel road is bathed in the full moon's light.

At one point, the moon was directly in front of me,
framed between tall spruce and maple trees lining
both sides of the road. I stood there, struck by the
beauty of the scene. I stared at the moon, then
closed my eyes, and inhaled several deep breaths,
visualizing the light filling every part of my body.

I wish some of you could have been with me tonight,
as you would have been amazed by the experience.
And, imagine this, it's free! That's a good thing, as it's
impossible to place a dollar value on such things.

Tomorrow evening is the Sweet Grass session. But,
rest assured, I'll be taking a late night walk, yet again.

My best wishes to everyone,
Laurie

A Summer's Night

I went walking at about 11:15 last night. It was
quite hazy and partially overcast. The moon was
very orange -- both the haziness and colour of
the moon were no doubt a result of the hot day
we had just experienced.

There were bright flashes of heat lightning in the
sky, especially to the northwest. The temperature
had cooled down to about 15 Celsius. Frogs were
croaking in a cove along the shore of Minamkeak
Lake.

I walked at a relaxed, steady pace. An animal
stirred in the bushes to my right. I stopped to listen.
It kept moving about, snapping small twigs. It may
have been a porcupine. The sound seemed to
imply that it was an animal the size of a raccoon
or porcupine.

I often hear loons in the lake, but this time the frogs
were singing by themselves.

Returning home, I had a good view of the moon
towards the south, southwest. Twice, it came out
from under the clouds, to throw its light on me and
the surrounding landscape. Those were beautiful
moments.

Have a good day!
Laurie

Nature Writing Notes

As I walked alone the road tonight, I got thinking
about nature writing, and what makes it so special.
Of course, there are many things to consider, but
what stands out for me is the opportunity it presents
to express nature and the natural landscape in a
way that inspires the reader, or in a way that touches
the heart of a reader.

You know, a lot of nature writing or naturalist writing
gets bogged down with describing nature in scientific
terms. But, nature is also art, and is soul inspiring to
many of us. I'm happy to see more writers approaching
the subject from a literary perspective, and not just
from a scientific perspective.

Oh, by the way, I had a nice walk. The moon was under
heavy cloud cover, but did manage to peek through on
several occasions. When it did, things become much
brighter, which added a nice touch to my walking
experience.

Well, I must go for now. Tomorrow's Monday -- have
a good week, everybody!

Bye now,
Laurie

River Note

Hi,

You know, there is something special about every
aspect or facet of nature. Rivers are no exception.

When you visit a river, you can get lost in the flow
of the water, or, in the ripples that the water makes
as it flows around rocks or passes over shallow
places. If you close your eyes and listen carefully,
you can hear the song of the river. Be careful, if
you follow the song, you may not return.

Then, again, if you watch carefully, you may see
a fish jump, or perhaps you may find a family of
water bugs playing in a pool of water, near your feet.
If I were you, I would also watch the sky; if you're
lucky, an eagle will fly over the river and circle high
in the air until it disppears behind a cloud.

Yes, rivers are wonderful. They have many gifts.
What do you see in a river?

All the best,
Laurie

The Leipsigaek Gold Fields

On occasion, I'll take a trip into the Leipsigaek Gold
Fields. It's a magical place, where many things are
possible. I have deep roots in that place. My grandfather,
John Lacey, who was a prospector, travelled that country
a hundred years ago -- I found a rock alone the shore of
Leipsigaek Lake, with his named carved in it.

My grandfather discovered the famous Rose Lead, which
no one else has located to this day. Later, my uncle Harold,
and my father, Borden Lacey, travelled that country, as
hunters and trappers. They were also prospectors, and
worked in the gold mining operations that once existed
there.

So, my family has deep roots in the gold fields, and I have
made a conscious effort to foster those roots.

Soon, I will visit that country, again. I will pack a lunch,
and place it in my knapsack, along with a bottle of cold
water. Then, I'll go there, without a watch or a time of return.
The day will be mine, and perhaps the night, as well. It's
been years since I've spent the night in the gold fields.

Well, I felt like reminiscing today, and thinking about
my roots. It's wonderful how the landscape and other
characteristics of an area, can help to shape who we
are as individuals.

Bye now,
Laurie

Summer Feelings

Hi,

As I walked along the old gravel road, tonight, I was
surprised at the light that was available, even though
the sky was overcast, with only a few stars peeking
through the clouds. I also noticed that there is a feeling
of summer in the atmosphere.

When I mention "a feeling of summer," I realize that
I'm being very subjective, and that I might be the only
person who noticed it this evening. However, I doubt
this, because I think there are many people who
recognize what I'm talking about.

This feeling of summer is probably due to a combination
of things, including the warmth in the air, the sounds
of nature, the humidity, and the dark, thunder-like
clouds, I saw in the sky near dusk.

And, now, I can hear a soft summer rain falling against
my porch roof. It's quite nice. Later tonight, I plan to
take my tea to the porch and enjoy a rainy moment.
Just snap your fingers and join me! There will be a full
pot of tea and plenty of chairs in the porch.

All the best!
Laurie:)