yosemite: "every rock in its walls seems to glow with life" {project film}

wouldn't it have been something to have run into john muir on a trail
back in the day?
he could tell us about how the valley lives in his scottish brogue...
about how he would climb to the top of a tree during a storm
just to see how the tree felt being blown about,
or how he first entered the valley with birds singing and flowers carpeting every inch.

at least this wonderful place has been preserved to a large extent
so we can enjoy it.
thank you, john muir, for advocating national parks.

the coldest days are the sunniest days...

i went for another morning walk with my cameras.
these walks literally save me.
i'm so lucky to have such beautiful scenery in my backyard!
enjoy!

i've always found it strange that the coldest days
of the year are the days the sun is out
and there's not a cloud in the sky...
yet another reason to love cloudy days!
{lucky me, it's cloudy again today!}

i will be busy indoors all day today,
so i'm grateful that i was able to get out
and about so much the past couple of days.

{i'm very excited because i get to play the piano
for a group of women ages 65-95 today while
they share christmas memories. love it!}

their songs never cease...

i went out early into the fog.

this is a bright spot for me.

oh, how i love the mystery and the stillness...

that quickly comes to life.

i'm quite sure this tree has a soul...you can see it, yes?

{of course, all trees have souls...this one is just so obvious}

{look closely}
a flock of geese flew overhead.

i heard them long before i ever saw them faintly in the fog.

i could hear their random, but consistent honking muffled by

the dewey air.

naturally, as they came nearer, their calls became louder and more distinct.

in an instant they became visible over my head,

the wind that they flapped as audible as a fan at your feet,

humming as its head turns back and forth.

next time,

you must come with me down this path.

we'll bring a blanket,

our notepads,

some hot tea,

and muffins wrapped in a bread sack.
it will take you to the river's banks,

which you cannot see until your toes

go over its edge.

{which is why it's a good idea to bring your wellies}

i used to think i might be alone, and, thus, crazy

in thinking that the trees were oh so alive.

but then i heard about a nineteenth-century

scottish immigrant.

{of course, you know my heritage hales from the same isles}

john muir.

"a few minutes ago every tree was excited,

bowing to the roaring storm,

waving, swirling, tossing their branches

in glorious enthusiasm like worship.

but though to the outer ear

these trees are now silent,

their songs never cease.

every hidden cell is throbbing with music and life,

every fiber thrilling with harp strings,

while incense is ever flowing from the

balsam bells and leaves."

i hope these photos brought a bit of awe to your day.

{all photos by me, except for the first one which was taken by cj}

{p.s. i tried to make a slide show of these with the perfect music. it wasn't as good as i hoped, but you can watch it here.}