Carol A. Hand
Ah, here we are in the depths of winter
surrounded by a sea of snow and ice
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Taking my dog for neighborhood walks in not an option now
although he misses them and exploring would be nice
Still, he often has a chance to go outside
Gingerly traversing perilous paths
I watch him slip and slide
on sidewalks that just freeze over once again
despite hours of chipping ice and shoveling snow
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Balancing is a necessary skill in times like these
Gray skies and bleak news day after day
take their toll on hope for a kinder, peaceful future
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Yet my old cracked sorel boots augmented by yak trax
help give me footing in slippery times
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while moments of beauty and classes to prepare
help remind me why it’s even more important
to continue caring and creating anyway
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Wishing you all steady footing and creative focus
during challenging times…
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These lands were meant to remain wild and to be inhabited by wild and free people, not by Europeans and their ugly cities that more resemble jails than places to live in. When I lived in northern Canada I found the wilderness, despite being harsh, to be very seductive. But you had to adapt to her, she did not adapt to you. Simple rule which man should never have broken.
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What would we winter wanderers do without YAK TRAX… My grandkids think they’re cool because grandma doesn’t go out without them this time of year. May the new year bring you peace, love and joy, Carol! ❤
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Dear Bette, thank you so much for your delightful comments about yak trax and grandchildren. 🙂 Sending you blessings for the new year, too, along with apologies for my belated reply. ❤
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A beautiful reminder as we enter 2019 Carol. Keep warm and grounded and may you receive a year of abundance and love 💚💕✨
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Thank you so much for your lovely comments and blessings, Karen. Sending my best wishes to you. ❤
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Blessings of peace in this new year dear Carol. May you be warmed by the awareness of the difference you make in the lives of many. Spring will be here soon! 68 days! 😊💕
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Dear Carrie, I apologize for my belated reply to your lovely, thoughtful comments and beautiful blessings. Sending my best wishes to you, too, along with my gratitude for the wisdom you share with others. ❤
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No worries, dear Carol. I appreciate you. ❤️
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💜
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Your photos look more snowy than we are here, in Homer, Alaska, now. We’ve had some sun shine to melt a lot of the snow we had. Still ice. I do better duck walking than using the hardware. Do your fresh snow falls ever sparkle? Fresh snowfalls are pretty here.
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It’s always a gift to hear from you, Skywalker. I’m surprised to hear that you have so little snow, and enough warmth to melt snow in Alaska! Our weather has been quite unpredictable – a few above freezing days, followed by more snow, sleet, and freezing rain and then subzero temperatures. But I love to see the shape of snow flakes on my dark mittens, and the multi-colored sparkle that covers the earth on the rare days when the sun shines in winter here.
Sending my best wishes to you. ❤
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lovely boots.
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This is the 29th winter these boots have reliably served their purpose, Stolzy, although the treads are almost gone and the rubber sides have cracked. Perhaps they will see next winter as well… 🙂
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Thanks for reminding us of our positive thinking selves, Carol.
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Thank you for your always kind comments, Walt. Sending my best wishes to you. ❤
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There have been few times in the
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how did that happen?
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Just slippin’ and slidin’ away…
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Ah, Eddie, I love your creative comments. 🙂
Sending my gratitude and best wishes to you. ❤
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Thank you, sure need the sure footing. I love the way you impart gentle wisdom in autobiographical moments, great slice of life.
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Dear Paul, thank you so much for your thoughtful, lovely comments. I apologize for my belated reply – new course development and shoveling snow have kept me too busy.
Sending my best wishes to you! ❤
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No pressure, always nice to receive your thoughts when you have time. It would be 42 years since I had to shovel snow for my parents. These days I spend a short time maintaining the cooling system:) thank you Carol.
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Yak Trax..A first for me and I so wish I had had a pair when I was in the Uk( who)are never prepared for snow. It would have saved my posterior so many times from saying hello to the floor an icy one at that…haha
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Thank you so much for your comments and for sharing a bit of humor, Carol Cooks 2.
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A lovely meditation on balance and resilience Carol.
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Andrea. ❤
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Hi Carol, be careful on the ice, it looks treacherous. Take care. Bob
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This is truly a belated reply, dear fiend. The ice is still here but it’s buried under piles of snow. My yak trax boots are still getting a lot of use. 🙂
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Winter in Duluth – you are one strong woman!
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Ah yes, winter in Duluth is a bit challenging, but I’m not sure that Greenfield is easy this year, either, dear friend. Sending warm wishes to you and Herb. ❤
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When I see the weather maps I always think of you. We’re getting another blast in a few days and Herb calls them Lake Effect – of course he means Lake Superior. Love you!
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Love you back. ❤
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thanks for such kind wishes, Carol!
wishing you an extra
pair of warm socks 🙂
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Thank you for your never-ending kindness, David. ❤
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