WHEN MOTHER NATURE SPEAKS, PAY ATTENTION

It was just an ordinary afternoon -- warm, breezy but it felt right for a walk. So I told my daughter to stop whatever it was she was doing in the kitchen and come with me. We dressed and put on our rubbers and hied off to our one hour of escape... she from her chores and me from my reading.

Out on the street to begin our first leg of the 'journey' we looked up at the sky as we would always do to check for rain. Oh but it was such a lovely sky -- the clearest of blue and cotton-like clouds traipsing across the wide azure expanse. We literally basked in its glorious beauty.

Then we walked. Finishing one block of our huge neighborhood and rounding the first corner we were met by two barking dogs trying to run us off like we had stepped on forbidden ground -- their ground. But we paid them no mind. My daughter herself said Hi! to one which apparently was caught by surprise and left bewildered. We both caught that expression and laughed with great amusement. I'll give it to her -- she knows dogs.

Then the walk took us to higher ground and thick foliage seen lining the right side of the road while opposite it were rows of houses. Nothing new there, seen them many times before in other walks.

But not when you see Mother Nature....

Exquisite flowers wild and free. A rust colored leaf softly drifting down from a tree. The new sound of birds' song filling the air. The interplay of light and shadow on leafy branches here and there. Or the grace of a clingy vine rising up the gnarled bark of an old majestic tree. Always she gives us new reason for falling in love with her again and again you'll agree.

And my daughter saw these with her eyes. She lost no time to record each discovery with her phone-cam taking countless pictures while I stood by watching. Then I thought if she can see and appreciate beauty from ordinary settings then I know that it won't be difficult for her to see good where good can be found whatever the circumstance. It is important for her to learn this.

As it was getting close to sunset we decided to head back to the house. It was at the last incline before walking down and back to our street that my daughter called my attention and excitedly pointed to a glorious sunset on the far horizon.

Ablaze with the brilliant colors of red-orange-yellow it was one of the loveliest sunsets I have ever seen. It took our breaths away standing there gazing enthralled at such a magnificent display. Until the sun finally bid adieu and made its graceful exit home. Thus the afternoon walk came to an end. With hearts full we walked back home content and happy..... and so in love with Mother Nature once again.

(Photo courtesy of my daughter and her digicam.)