Desperately Seeking Soul Balm

Does anybody really like February and March? The twinkly lights are gone. Holiday bill residual hangs heavy. New Year’s resolutions pave the road to hell.

I know - we celebrate Valentine’s Day, Washington’s Birthday (thanks, Elizabeth), and Mardi Gras. We observe Ash Wednesday and Ramadan (this year), and we have St. Patrick’s Day coming. But…

These tedious months dry me out and put me in need of balm. The kind they don’t sell at the mall. I need the soul balm art and nature give.

So Mark, the wee-lads, and I did a brief soul-refresher in Poudre Canyon the other day. I’m sending pics and a video, but I haven’t figured out how to get the fresh mountain air to come through. Is there a smell-o-vision app yet?

Sound up for this video of the river. The water level is very low, which isn’t unusual for this time of year. What is unusual is the scant snow and ice on the river. But the song of the water and the wind in the trees was bliss.

Look at these cute miniature pinecones! But this isn’t a pine tree, obvi. My phone won’t tell me what kind of bush it is. Does anyone know?

Two intertwined pines tipped over in the wind, or maybe in the flood a few years ago. I was enthralled with all the rocks tangled in their roots.

A sunlit cliff rises from the river.

I hope you find your soul balm - indoors or out, urban, rural, alone or with your people.

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to share, like, and subscribe, too, if you haven’t already.