I took a small hike today to see how some of my old friends fared with the snow. The friends I am referencing are some of my favorite trees that I see on my rambles and hikes. It may seem odd to refer to a tree as a friend; however this is how I feel. I believe if I were to waltz through the woods and find one of them gone that I would mourn. I remember when I first began to feel this sort of connection to nature and I think sometime soon I will share it with y'all.

Now here are two of my favorite trees and the start of the path to the various trails at Blue Hills. The snow made everything seem enchanted. Enchantment on top of enchantment...what a phenomenal day of beauty. 

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of having a dear friend accompany me on my Sunday hike. I love my Sunday strolls very much and it was a pleasure to be able to share it with another person. We met in graduate school three years ago and essentially sometimes it seems went through war together. I finished school last May and she will be done shortly. As we hiked I remembered how totally consumed by school and work I was for so long and how much I missed doing simple things that served no higher goal than bringing myself some peace. I am filled with gratitude for my ability to obtain an education and even more so to be done and to be able to focus on other dreams and passions. 

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."  -John Muir

This picture doesn't even begin to capture how extraordinarily lovely this was. From the previous freeze there were still places frozen over; however there was runoff that was trickling beneath the ice. It was simply breathtaking to look at closely.

You know someone is your friend when you both see the same random shapes in the same random place. You didn't know that a Rorschach test was a part of measuring true friendship did you? Now you do. What do you see in this picture?  

On the walk home I stumbled on to this. I had been feeling a little peeved as I had just picked up a ton of litter and was feeling like the forsaken mother of the neighborhood. As I stood up from taking this picture I saw a sign one of my neighbors had made and placed on their porch- "Faith, Hope, Love for Newton". I felt a lot of positive energy restored. But seriously y'all- litter really bums me out.                                                                           

AND then this- a beautiful can of PBR. Wait- what? This is a shout out to my friends. I asked them to make snowflakes at our Party at the End of the World. They worked so hard to create very unique glittery snowflakes. A lot of beer was consumed, a lot of fun was had, many a snowflake was made and my thankfulness for having kind people in my life was multiplied a million times over. 

"It always seems impossible until it's done"
 -Nelson Mandela 

An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
       -Henry David Thoreau 

 
This has been a difficult last few days. As a humanity we are all struggling to understand the events that unfolded on Friday. There are many important conversations that need to be had . These conversations are ones that we ought to have had long before; however here we are again. It is hard to find beauty in moments like these and that is why I felt it even more important to go on my Sunday hike and to search throughout my day for the beautiful. There are many stories of kindness and love I have heard the last few days as well. I encourage us all to remember all those stories and the small beauties of the world that make life so worth living. If you have any such stories, thoughts, quotes, or pictures that have helped you, I encourage you to submit them. As a community we can rebuild some hope, faith, and in general goodness.

 "We are collectively better than the sum of our parts. One person can destroy the work of thousands, but the fact that thousands will continue to build, no matter what, is what keeps me breathing at times like this."

Some of the most beautiful physical things I saw this week came from my own neighborhood....and yet I am sure many people might be surprised by this. I live in the 'hood. There is no way around it. People hear 'Dorchester' and more often or not there is a tiny scrunch of their nose that tells it all. I love my neighborhood though. I love its diversity. I love the movement. And I hate how quickly people are to dismiss it and other such neighborhoods. When we do that we dismiss the people that make up these communities as well. This picture to me so represents what I see when I think of my neighborhood- beauty growing even amidst hardship.

 My walk to the train often leaves me in awe. There are many little things to notice. Often I stop and snap photos all the while knowing that doing so will more than likely cost me catching the train. As the spring flowers take their last breaths before their Winter slumber, there are some truly gorgeous demonstrations of aging beauty. If only we all aged so gracefully.  

 There were few photos on today's hike as there was snow all around. The trails were nearly empty due to the cold and the snow and that made for a sometimes haunted feel. I took a new trail today and it was literally a hike...uphill and rocky. At one point I was very much considering turning around. I was that interesting combination of feeling hot yet absolutely freezing. Thankfully I forged on because at the top of the trail was an observation deck that led me to this view. As I looked around me I was conscious of each and every icy breath as it pushed through my warm lungs. Sometimes when I think of just the miracle of breathing that alone is the greatest blessing in the world....

As I said, the trail often seemed haunted.....

 “I don't suppose you have to believe in ghosts to know that we are all haunted, all of us, by things we can see and feel and guess at, and many more things that we can't.” 

“It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”

                                                  -Anne Frank

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” 

― Roald Dahl

This weekend I was blessed with the opportunity to help a friend find her wedding dress. I'm not much into fancy parties or weddings; however I never mind them because they are (ideally) such an expression of love. It is beautiful to see two people express their love and hope to one another and it is equally beautiful to see friends and family come together to create a cocoon of love around the couple. Watching my friend put on the dress of dreams, I felt encouraged. Not because of the fancy feathers, but more so because when I looked at her happy tears I knew it was less about finding the perfect dress and more about finding the perfect love....

What a way to follow wedding dress shopping- a punk rock concert. My group of friends and I headed over to Lower Allston to throw some love to some other friends playing a show (their cd release actually- if you like some raging rock music you might try Zip Tie Handcuffs. I am more of a Fleet Foxes girl, but I always love their shows. They are just a really fun and very talented group). LA is not known for its beauty. In fact, if anything, LA is known for its punk scene, Hooker Street (right?), and the need to watch where you step because at least once you will likely have to side step vomit. But sometimes the most lovely things pop up in the most unexpected places. I found this tree full of berries growing in a parking lot next to a chain link fence. In the winter light it was especially stunning. I liked the juxtaposition of the car repair light behind it as well.

My weekly trip to Blue Hills was cut a wee bit short due to needing to me home in time to go Christmas Tree shopping...this was most definitely a sacrifice I was willing to make (and please do expect pictures to follow shortly). I was able to hike a few miles nonetheless and the woods were especially woodsy and mysterious as they were still dewy from the previous day's rain. This tree is off a trail to Houghton Pond. I loved the way it was shaped and how it seemed bright against the starkness of the other trees.

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And then this....as I walked up the trail and I looked forward I felt certain as I crossed over I would enter a magical place...perhaps Neverland...and then I remembered that there was already magic all around me. 

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy,

if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you,

if the simple things in nature have a message you understand,

Rejoice, for your soul is alive.

- Eleanora Duse 

I feel rather as I am cheating as these photos are from Sunday; however I hadn't had a chance till now to share. These are from the Blue Hills, which has become my Sunday spot. I will happily return this weekend. I find that I take many photos at the starts of my hikes, but by the end I am so lost in the beauty I forget wholly about my camera and become absorbed in adventure. Sometime tomorrow or Sunday I will also have some more shots from within the actual city. I am traveling over towards Simmons and I have found that a consistent source of loveliness.

I love graveyards. To me they are the imagination's playground- places full of stories, mysteries, dreams, and ghosts. I suppose some might find my love of graveyard treks rather dark and macabre; however I doubt anyone could travel to Forest Hills Cemetery and not find some sense of beauty. From the pond full of frolicking ducks, to the knotted trees, to the random art tucked into corners- there are so many things to appreciate beyond the graves (Hmmm...didn't mean to have a pun here, but...). If you are interested in the graves though it is rather interesting to drive throughout the grounds and see the different styles of tombstones. I am interested in learning more about old burial customs so if anyone knows any good books on that I would be most appreciative.