100 Day Project 2021

Friday, October 17, 2014

Finding Stillness


I had things I needed to be doing. I was supposed to be dropping books off at the library and going to the post office and picking up Halloween cards for the grandsons and buying groceries, but instead I skipped all the chores and went to Wildwood Park. I blame it on the car, it just wouldn't go where it should. It somehow knew what I needed: peace, quiet, stillness, alone time. It also knew I needed some comfort food to take along and pulled right into a bakery where I found this delicious Italian Cream cupcake.


This is the one place I know I can always find quiet. Usually I'm alone at the park, but this time there were gardeners working in the rock garden, an older couple strolling by the lake, and a lady walking her black Cocker Spaniel.  We nodded, we smiled, we spoke a greeting as we passed, but mostly we were all just enjoying the cool morning and the quiet. 


I enjoyed the walk along the leaf strewn pathways where I found treasures from nature.  I enjoyed sitting in the rock garden watching the dragonflies and writing in my journal. I enjoyed the breezes blowing through the trees. I enjoyed watching the sun sparkling on the rippling water of the lake, but most of all I enjoyed the swans. As I walked alone the pathway near the lake they swam right beside me. One time when I was taking pictures of a heron across the lake I looked down and one of the swans had walked right up the bank and stood beside me. I'm a little leery of them, as I know they can be aggressive and they are really big when they stand up and reach out their neck.  These two just seemed to want some company. Maybe they were lonely or maybe it was near their feeding time. I don't know, I'm just thankful that they were near and didn't mind me taking their picture.


I spent most of the the day there. I even left, bought some lunch, and came back for a picnic. The company was nice and the time was enjoyable. So what did I find besides the cupcake? Peace, stillness, quietness, and a couple of new friends.

Linking with Kim Klassen's Friday Finds.

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17 comments:

  1. What a lovely place to be to seek peace and tranquility! Not bad either to take a little comfort food along! How nice to befriend a swan. This one looks young, there's something about his feathers! Love your seasonal mosaic, especially the asters!

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  2. Great story of not doing what maybe needed to be done but instead you took care of yourself. Every body should do that more often. Love the story Cathy and the images.

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  3. Good for you for ditching the chores and taking a day for yourself. And such beautiful results in your captured images - they radiate peace and calm and delight in the small treasured moments.

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  4. sounds like you had the perfect day spent with perfect "friends" ... lovely!

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  5. You found some wonderful 'treasures'. Spending some quiet time in nature is a treasure in and of itself. Looks like it was a beautiful day.

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  6. Wonderful Swan photo, they never come that close usually. Sounds like you had a lovely peaceful time.

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  7. Lovely, so lovely!! The swan is so beautiful, and your finds...stillness, peace, so much to be thankful for! Thank you for sharing!

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  8. Oh, what an amazing day that must have been and it sounds like you needed it. Hope you left feeling revitalized ... lovely images, and that swan ... you know, I'm not sure if I've ever seen one ...

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  9. Good for you Cathy! You knew what you needed and you found it in a beautiful park. What lovely images you captured, I especially like the first one. Any water feature appeals to me. Have a great weekend!

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  10. What a lovely way to spend a fall day! Cathy, your photos just keep getting better and better. I love them all - the cupcake posed against the tranquil lake, the lovely collage of found things, and the wonderful closeup portrait of the swan. I'm glad you treated yourself (and the rest of us) to that day at the park.

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  11. A perfect me day. I think we all need one at least once a week. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  12. I live on the beach and often find myself walking there instead of doing my chores. Fabulous image of the swan.

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  13. What a beautiful post. You were just where you needed to be. The swan photo is lovely. Pass a cupcake, please!

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  14. Sounds and looks like a very pleasant day. That cupcake looked way to delicious. How nice that the swans seem to want company. I liked your nature finds.

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  15. So glad you ditched the chores and listened to your inner voice - or at least let the car take over. We all need days just like the one you described - and your images are healing in every way.

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  16. Good for you!!! So essential in this fast-paced world. Glad you had such a perfect place to spend the day and shared it with us. The photos are exquisite.

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Thanks so much for stopping by!!