Living Now

Do not set aside your happiness. Do not wait to be happy in the future. The best time to be happy is always now ~ Roy T. Bennett

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  Our walk today

Life is no different than the weather. Not only is it unpredictable, but it shows us a new perspective of the world every day ~ Suzy Kassem

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Sometimes there is no next time, no time-outs, no second chances. Sometimes it’s now or never ~ Alan Bennett

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At any point in time you can always find something more pressing to do than that one vital but not immediately necessary task, and it’s only once it’s too late that you look back on your decisions and your mistake becomes painfully obvious. The trick is to substitute thinking ‘do I do this now or later?’ with ‘do I do this now or never?’, because all too often that’s the choice you actually end up making ~ Anonymous

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Since April we started exploring our surroundings. We go on walks/hikes almost everyday with some rare exceptions. For Lens artists photo challenge this week, Amy proposed the theme “Now and then“. I decided to stick to the first part “Now”. Sometimes I like to dwell on the past and check our travellings photos but for now let us enjoy the beauty of November. I hope Amy wouldn’t mind either.

I am listening this piece while working on the post:

Nurturing Thursday

Weekend 111: In the neighbourhood

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like ~ Lao Tzu

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  Beautiful morning!

Someone may find it strange but for us it’s quite natural, the skies are clear during sunrise or sunset and the rest of the day clouds accompany us in different shades. Anyways we try to take walks irrespective of weather.

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The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude ~ Oprah Winfrey

November is not like spring or summer or not even like autumn but still each day has it’s own significance.

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Don’t Just

Don’t just learn, experience.
Don’t just read, absorb.
Don’t just change, transform.
Don’t just relate, advocate.
Don’t just promise, prove.
Don’t just criticize, encourage.
Don’t just think, ponder.
Don’t just take, give.
Don’t just see, feel.
Don’t just dream, do.
Don’t just hear, listen.
Don’t just talk, act.
Don’t just tell, show.
Don’t just exist, live.
― Roy T. Bennett

( The Light in the Heart)

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  Time to go back home

Lens artists photo challenge

Sunday Trees

Weekend 110: A walk in the mist

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After one week we were back on one of our favourite trails. The actual weather decided to show significant difference from what the meterological institute had forecasted and I am glad. We had an amazing experience.

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky ~Rabindranath Tagore

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It is the uncertainty that charms one. A mist makes things wonderful ~ Oscar Wilde 

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We have forgotten what rocks, plants, and animals still know. We have forgotten how to be— to be still, to be ourselves, to be where life is: Here and Now ~ Eckhart Tolle (Stillness Speaks)

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There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

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We walked in the mist hiking up and also coming down. Needless to say, we were happy with our decision of going out.

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  Details about the distance and the elevation. The beauty of nature was boundless

No cloud is so dark that the sun can’t shine through ~ Unknown

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Friday Fun – still

Lens artisits photo challenge

Jo’s Monday walk

Weekend 106: Autumn walk

A delayed post.

Sunday was a sunny autumn day and we did what was expected. We had been on a walk/hike, covered 12 km distance and climbed 600m above sea level. I used 867 calories on the walk. The data may or may not be 100% precise as I use fitbit but gave immense satisfaction. Figures are good when they are in favour. 😜

For those hours we did not have pandemic on our mind, a good change. On our way we met people of different age groups. On this tour our topic of discussion was hindustani classical music. To make our climbing easy we always choose a topic and discuss it. It worked like a miracle, we were not out of breath after covering 6 km in 90 minutes.

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After the last chunck of steep hike we got a beautiful view. We rested on rocks and enjoyed it thoroughly, and yes we didn’t forget to write our names in the guest dairy.

The golden trees were not very close to the trail still I tried a golden close up shot.

The whole scenario was quite different when we hiked down hill. There were clouds and things looked so different. There was no chance of photography but I already had enough.

Jo’s Monday Walk

Dawn’s Festival of leaves: Week #2

Weekend 104: Just in time

Yesterday we went to see a day cabin on a local mountain. Such cabins are popular hiking destinations in the local areas. People can go into the cabin to rest, warm up and eat packed lunches, a day cabin does not have accomodation facilities. The hike was quite steep but not very long. We climbed upto 300 m above sea level while covering only 1.2 km distance.

The pass was through a farm which is currently occupied by a couple of calves ( though not new borns). I was bit scared as it was my first encounter with such a big animal. It went fine.

The first sign of the cabin

A family with kids was already there but there was plenty of space to keep social distancing  😀

Inside the cabin

Just a view

Dramatic clouds

We stayed there for sometime then continued towards another hike but after half an hour we gave up the idea and returned.  The next destination was at 600 moh and we didn’t have enough water and no snacks. My husband insisted to go back.

Sometimes weather decides to go against the forecast and it shows no mercy what so ever. It rained heavily for little more than half an hour.

Later in the evening around 9 pm

I believe the best way to begin reconnecting humanity’s heart, mind, and soul to nature is for us to share our individual stories.~J. Drew Lanham

Becca’s Sunday trees

Jo’s Monday Walk

 

 

Weekend 102: Hiking again

Exactly after 3 weeks, we decided to take a long hike again on a nearby mountain. A safe haven considering other tourist places in these difficult times. Due to the difficulty level we were sure of meeting less people on our way and even if we meet some they will most likely be locals.

The smell near the pine forest was very peculiar and inviting. We stepped into it to see the most popular of wild edible mushrooms, the Chanterelle. The above photo doesn’t do it justice as was highly magnified. The mixed aroma in that forest was just majestic. I don’t think we will get time during the week to go back and pick some chanterelle.

The red paints on two poles mark the trail

We took a very short break after reaching height around 600 moh. The last section was quite steep and the sun on our head was not very supporting. Yes it was a hike under the sun.  😎

After hiking for 3 hours and covering  9.6 km we reached our destination which was more than 900 meter above sea level.

Cherries from local farms are the best

You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.~ Maya Angelou

Covid 19 situation made me cancel at least 8 of my international trips (more for my husband) until now.  Instead of spending time on social media and covid news, we strictly follow the measures given by our health authorities. Ignoring extra covid information had put less pressure on our minds.

One step ahead we decided to make a routine for our daily walk. We don’t regret as we both have shed weight and increased muscle. Daily walk prepare us for long and steep hikes. Yesterday we covered around 19 km (according to google map).

Glacier lake

Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things brought together~ Vincent van Gogh

I am aware of the fact that the photo quality is not the best as I do not carry my camera on hikes. I hope you don’t mind either.

Sunday Trees

Jo’s Monday Walk

First entry for Creativity in the time of covid

 

Wordless Wild Wednesday

Sunday Trees

Nature offers more than my needs

 

Finding sanctuary in nature

And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul ~John Muir

In the woods, we saw many birds and a busy woodpecker. We were so busy observing his rhythm that I didn’t take photo.

It’s easier to climb up a mountain trail than coming down.

We are lucky that mountains exist; we are lucky that we have such beautiful sanctuaries on earth where we can enjoy utter silence and heavenly rise!~ Mehmet Murat ildan

Each positive thought is your refuge and your sanctuary, where in that thoughtful moment, you are safe.~ Bryant McGill (Simple Reminders: Inspiration for Living Your Best Life)

The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us. ~Ashley Montagu

Yesterday we challenged ourselves to try another place. We climbed 600 m above sea level and walked around 12.5 km. We were happy with results and the beautiful view from the top even though it was not exactly as per the original plan. I guess finding plan B is life  😎

Lens-artists-photo-challenge

Becca’s Sunday trees

Jo’s Monday walk