Content

A Spring Rain falls from the clouds above

landing softly with a trickle-trickle sound as it travels through the downspout to the ground

Birds perched in the trees, chirp and rejoice as mother earth also welcomes the fresh water to nourish her parched parts beneath the lush green grass.

A Rain Day I’ll take it

We didn’t have snow days this winter not even one, the first ever in my 50+ years of living the Appalachian Mountains, this will have to do.

And I, like the birds, grass and trees, welcome the sounds with open ears and an open heart to be still and listen.

There’s an expression I’ve heard or read: “Wherever you find yourself, therein be content.”

Today I have found myself in my little corner room, window open to hear and enjoy the sounds from the rain and birds and experience the wind as it gently blows across my cheek.

In this moment, I find myself content.

©Anita Adams May 2023

Rain Circles and Pink Water Lily

Step Softly

Step Softly

Upon the grass

Over the rocks

Around the flowers

Spring is here

Small blooms appear in the most obscure places.

Take care to notice their presence.

Step Softly

Holy Week

is a time for walking with friends

for remembering the One(s) who gave their lives for us and asked only this– BELIEVE

Spring has sprung and with it the birds and their songs

New leaves on the Maple Tree

Forsythia, Daffodils, Tulips, Trillium, Bloodroot, Violets, Trout Lillys and so much more

Step softly

Listen

Nature in all her forms is celebrating their birthday

And we are gifted another breath and wonder

Step softly

©Anita Adams 4/03/23

Time Capsule Piece 2023

March 17, 2023 – St. Patrick’s Day Asheville NC

Red Bird lands atop the garden and tomato stake to view the latest morsels below for a scrumptious breakfast,

Daffodils dot the bank of grass in shades of yellow; while forsythia makes a show

Atop the pond, on a slab of granite, an Angel rests, hand on cheek carefully watching over the fish and fauna below,

It’s an overcast day with clouds gathering the 17th day of March, St. Patrick’s Day, and the grass is green,

With no Winter to speak of in 2023 in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina, one can’t help but wonder, if we will ever see snow again?

Grateful am I to have a computer and ability to gather my thoughts to articulate what is underneath,

Three years of COVID, Russia at war with Ukraine, Earthquakes in Turkey, Enormous amounts of Snow in the Northern USA, stories of water shortages to come associated with climate changes and a homeless population that continues to grow out of control, increased food, and gasoline prices. We recycle, plant trees, garden, have rain barrels to catch water from the roof to water the garden, pond as needed.

If we didn’t have faith, love, compassion, and a true sense of gratitude for those in our lives and those gifts provided to us by our Creator, we’d go mad.

This is why writing and recording the days, months, seasons or years helps me to put my life into perspective. This is why I am sharing a snippet of what’s good in my backyard and what I know about worldly events.

This piece may wind up in a time capsule at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church to be uncovered in another 100 years.

Know that I am Catholic, a member of St. Eugene’s Parish in Asheville, NC, God willing, I will be 63 in June, I am married to Steve Henry, the Facility Manager of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and my friend for more than 19 years. I have two children, Richard, and Alicia and three grandchildren, Grayson, Lincoln, and Saylor Marie. My parents are Bob and Peg Adams of Windsor Road, Asheville. My Dad is an amazing Golfer with 20 hole-in-ones, they are both 91+. I have four brothers, Michael, David, Mark, and Richard. My husband Steve has two brothers, Paul and David.

As I close this piece of history, I will add to my picturesque view of the backyard oasis to say that with the Red Bird, Cardinal, Mrs. Cardinal appeared along with a Squirrel, and a Titmouse who are all seeking the black sunflower seeds I placed in a birdfeeder which hangs from the pruned Cherry Tree.

May this snippet of one’s life on this day, St. Patrick’s Day 2023, and the times as I see them, find their way to the hands and hearts of loving Beings who are seeing a world better than what we are experiencing and/or predicted to see.

~ Anita Adams 3/17/2023

Yellow Forsythia in Bloom

Backyard Oasis – Pond, Trees, Chimenea, Pagoda, Light, Angel, St. Christopher, Birds

Yellow Daffodil dripping in Raindrops

Still here

in stillness I sit

bluebird comes to the bath outside my window

beautiful is she

daffodils are blooming on the bank and it’s February

pond is flowing with the sounds of trickle trickle

pines stand tall at the top of the hill, firmly rooted

Still here Still here

Life and all that’s in it isStill here

~Anita Adams 1/29/2023

New Year’s Wish

What have I learned? What have you learned? What would I like to learn?

It’s a BIG question.

My answer is this: to TRUST more .. LISTEN more to the soft Whisperer within (God/True Source) – to BELIEVE with my whole heart

Life is fleeting. I’ve endured much loss – friends, spouses, days and nights to worry or fright – only to realize shortly thereafter that there is no need to worry – no benefit – however, to TRUST, PRAY, LISTEN, OPEN my HEART to God/True Source’s guidance and BELIEVE all will be well , therein, I find my wish for ALL persons – CONTENTMENT

What does Contentment look like to me?

It’s realizing that ALL I need, ALL around me is ENOUGH and ENJOY every moment of…

  • Breath
  • Warm Water
  • Clean Water
  • Healthy food – my Green/Fruity/Nutty Shake in the mornings
  • ability to learn and practice Yoga
  • Legs that move and allow me to roam the Mountains I love so much
  • Conversing with the Trees
  • Taking Photographs of all that catches my eye
  • Enjoying the Light of sunrise and Moonrise
  • to listen and walk by the River’s edge
  • my Grandchildren
  • my Children
  • the gift of my spouse, Steve and his innate laughter and support
  • my Church family
  • my Alanon Family
  • my Telephone calls and walks with Friends
  • a Job with loving people
  • Moments found to create Art
  • the gift of my Parents, my Brothers, my Nieces and Nephews
  • Friends abroad, Friends on Facebook
  • Trees and Flowers of so many varieties in my back yard – and a Pond

Life is NOT all doom and gloom – it’s different

What I’m learning is to look with eyes open, ears and heart open, hands – open to what’s ALL around me and say Thank you!

As I said I’m learning – NOT perfect, nor, would I want to be.

Happy year of Contentment is my wish for ALL in this New Year!

~ Anita 12/30/22

Underlying Current

COVID–19

Mask On – Mask Off

Zoom – in-Person

Work from home – work at office


Take Out – Eat In

Wait in Car – Wait in Waiting Room

Wait for an appointment, Wait in the line, Wait in your car

Fly – Drive

Gatherings – a few or many

Outside or In


Winter – Cold – Isolated

Summer, Spring, Autumn – Sunny and Electric

Stay outside and play as long as you can – soak up the Vitamin D


How much life was taken for granted

How much we have to be grateful for

How many have left the planet – too many to count

Underlying Current.

~ Anita Adams 11/5/2022

Flying

As a child I dreamt of flying often

teaching people how to fly

the feeling of REAL freedom

freedom of thought, location, restraint, rules and a welcoming sense of

Peace, Acceptance, Love, Safety, Security and a DEEP Knowingness that ALL IS WELL

God is with me always, I need not fear any thing or any one

I have always believed that there is something I have to teach, to share, yet, I know I must learn more first, then, I can truly share my experience, strength and hope;

like the Oak Tree, my Prayers form with each root;

each utterance of this prayer is flown from the Birds and Butterflies who take them to the Heavens and are later turned into sunshine, rain or snow and fall back upon me softly to be absorbed, and the cycle continues

6/20/22

Reflective thoughts…

a Sunday afternoon

Grandchildren and Children 

A little girls’ laughter yesterday in the grocery store

Parents

the River

my Brothers 

gratitude for Walking 

a small garden

Friends here and so many gone

the morning light as it fills the bird feeders outside my window 

pond with frogs croaking and water lilies blooming

Breath and Spirit

Love and Mystery

Life in the present moment

Trees and their silent reverence

Surrender and Acceptance ♥️

Photo by Anita Adams of NCTreesPhotography.com

Window View

Cardinal in the cherry tree

sunlit green grass and spring leaves

Japanese maple tree – red and shimmering in the sun

pond reflections form waves of the sun’s lifeforce over the trees branches

soft wind blows the leaves of cherry and maple gently while the birds finish their morning hellos

robins fly busily while gathering pine needles and leaves left behind after winter has said goodbye to make a nest for their first born

pines stand tall at the top of the ridge swaying gently from side to side

nature’s invitation calls gently come walk with me and bask in this glorious day

Anita Adams 5/2/2022

A bird’s retreat
Robin’s nest and first egg!
St. Francis watches over the pond, trees, birds and fish.