Yesterday morning was the winter solstice. I rose early, let the dogs out, layered up, grabbed my binoculars and camera and set off to watch the sunrise. The dogs stayed near the house as I hiked up to the south east pasture where deer spend their nights now and again. With a slight breeze out of the north and the frost crunching under my feet I knew the deer would be long gone before I arrived. The clouds painted softly across the anticipating sky. I was followed by one of our barn cats, whenever I stopped to listen she rubbed herself on my ankles. I dared not scratch her head as she gets carried away and will climb up your leg if there are no fence posts nearby. The only birds I could hear were crows in the distance.
Then on cue as the winter sun began to return other birds began to sing, first some sparrows, a cardinal, then several ducks and geese over on the pond, and of course the crows continued their celebration of crowness. The sun begins its journey back today, it will march across this tree line and by June rise in the far left of the scene. Today is my wife's mothers birthday. I know which trees it will rise over on June 21st, the summer solstice, my mothers birthday, and I know where it will rise on the morning my father passed away. Its comforting to know some things will always return.
Back at home I headed in past a sign my wife painted when we first moved here. Some folks greet the sun with a prayer or a song. I really like the Navajo way, I'm not real sure if I have it right I heard it once long ago:Beauty before me
Beauty behind me
Beauty all around me
I walk in Beauty.
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