That Time of Year

The stillness of the colder, darker months - that license to hunker - is a time to slow down and observe. Michelle Kirsch

Bessie's pine needles are starting to turn yellow so I'm keeping an eye on her...it's that time of year.

For those of you who are new to the blog...Bessie is a hackmatack tree I keep an eye on. Hackmatack...also known as tamarack...is one of the only pine trees that sheds its needles in the winter. And the needles are as soft as a baby brush.

I've only seen them in Downeast Maine....but I discovered one in a nearby neighborhood. I visit it often....and have named her Bessie after my grandmother. 

This is a charm I made a long long time ago where I sandwiched a photo of Bessie between two pieces of glass and soldered the edges.

  

Speaking of that time of year....I read a interesting essay in the New York Times over the weekend called Quality Time by Melissa Kirsch. She is the same author who wrote the article that inspired my web of interconnectedness post.

Melissa talked about how the ending of daylight savings time destabilizes us a bit...but can also be clarifying. 

Michelle goes on to talk about chronos...which is actual clock time....and kairos is more figurative....the right time, that sweet moment of opportunity. In order to recognize kairos, we have to be awake, aware, present. 

The stillness of the colder, darker months - that license to hunker - is a time to slow down and observe.

 It's that time of year!