I have just returned from slightly more than 2 weeks at a cottage 2 hours north of Toronto in the Muskoka area. The local people call it ‘God’s country’ or paradise. It feels very accurate. There is something to be said for an extended time away with no phone, email or internet at least at my finger tips especially amidst the township of Huntsville’s paradise of beautiful lakes, fragrant forests, and mother nature’s concert of wind, rain, and calm.
My big excitement was a deer who seemed to be on hand to greet me at the cottage when i first arrived. It was quite late and my headlights I suppose stunned her, as she appeared to be waiting for me to leave so she could continue her dinner in the flower garden. Another was taking the Parry Sound Festival cruise around the “SOUND” while listening to a fusion gypsy-Klezmer band from Montreal. The cruise started early in the evening and we were regaled not only with great music but the amazing scenery of Parry sound with the distinctive rock formations, evergreens and the water. Near the end of the 3 hour concert the boat seemed to turn a corner and as though mother nature turned out the lights, it was first pitch dark and then thoroughly illuminated by a full moon. It was spectacular.
There was a severe storm one day that brought down the power lines to all the nearby cottages including ours. It took nearly a day to restore, and in that time I could appreciate what it means to have things we take for granted very day – clean water, lights, phones, internet etc. In a contemplative moment while staring at the stars I felt a deep wave of appreciation for how much we have and take for granted in the city… and how mother nature herself can take it all away in a heartbeat.
It could be my imagination but i feel like I am hearing more, breathing more and that my peripheral vision has improved likely from constantly ‘looking’ for precious wild life that can stroll by unexpectedly. I feel repatterned by mother nature!
Here are few more snaps from my unplugged time away. I am using these for meditations and reminders when I need time away!
Enjoy
Carolyn
carolynwinter.org 