Slowing down and feeling better, plus pictures!

When I realized I had missed Samhain by being busy and trying to run to catch up with stuff, I slowed down. Every morning, I made a list of stuff to be done that day, and started by crossing off the small things (after doing them, of course). That gave me a sense of accomplishment, and calm for the rest of the day. I sat a lot, and wrote a lot, and went for a walk every day. Sometimes I went into town to get stuff, other times I went into the woods and tried new paths around the area. I baked a lot - yes, I am that kind of girl whose Saturday night entertainment consists of baking muffins and watching Woody Allen movies while working on her papers. I wonder why anyone would ever want to be my friend. Most likely because of the muffins. ^^

Anyway, I baked some great stuff (Honey banana peanut butter muffins and beer bread) and tried some new dishes and took things slow. Cooking and especially baking are my emergency remedies: They help me organize myself and cheer me up, and the delicious food emerging (in most cases) is a nice bonus. ^^

The thing I missed about this year's Samhain - and most other holidays, to be honest - was that they do not simply come to you. You have to make time and space for them, you have to be willing to put yourself in the spirit of the season. If you are too busy doing what (you think) needs to be done, the holiday spirit may pass you by and decide to stay with other people who welcome him into their homes.

I didn't pick up the bunch of family pictures I intend to sort and put notes to (who's on them, when was the pic taken and such). I didn't work on our scrap book, which one day, I hope, may become something the next generations may remember us by. I did not read anything related to the seasons, or watch a single scary movie. Do you see how that could have led to missing the Samhain spirit?

At least tonight we will make up for it, a little bit. Some friends will come over and we will watch crappy horror movies (one promised to bring "Lesbian vampire killers" - can't wait to sit with a bunch of guys and watch that!). There will be fire and meat (last barbecue of the season, our balcony is rather protected from the weather), and drinks, and I will make sure to set up a space for passing spirits. Maybe I will also finally make time to read the other contributions for "31 nights of Halloween". And after today, it is really time to start preparing for winter, and Yule, and christmas!

Finally, the promised pictures. I do have this great DSLR camera the BF gave me when he upgraded to the next bigger one, but of course I did not take it with me on my walks. Hence sorry for the crappy mobile phone pictures!

 I went for a walk last Monday and decided to try a new path. It went downhill, and since I did not want to climb all the way back up again, I decided to try the next new path and see where it would lead me. A walk intended to be 30-45min ended up at more than two hours, and I was lost most of the time (but enjoying myself immensely).

 

I did what I like to do most and traveled "between the worlds" - not in the forest, not over the fields. The air was great and the pictures do not do the light justice.

Finally I saw the mountains I use for orientation again. Up close you could see two castles (one from the 19th century, the other a medieval ruin). I've been there before, another lovely hike. We can also see them from our livingroom window. And yes, that's the mountains where some stories took place that would later become famous as The Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm.


The next pictures were taken on Friday, on another walk.

 That's where I really could have used the good cam. Forget-me-nots, this late in the year. I don't know if you can see them, otherwise you will just have to trust me that they were there, and quite a bunch of them. Flowers to remember deceased loved ones by.

 Another flower which, at least in my memory, is connected to the dead - corn poppies. You can see they were standing in the middle of a bunch of forget-me-nots.

This is our "home forest" - five minutes walk from our place. This is where I used to go running when it was still warmer, and where I love to go to think and enjoy some fresh air. Do you see the difference in atmospere, compared to the pictures above taken on Monday? When going out and paying attention, it is clear that the seasons have changed and that the dark time of the year is almost upon us. I hope to enjoy some more of that brilliant autumn light and colors this week while discovering new paths, and if I remember to bring the big cam, there will be more pictures!