Life happens in the small moments. I sure don’t want to miss it!
Single blossom on the crabapple tree limb. Wes missed this one in his pruning. Thankfully.
Yesterday the sun shone, and toward late afternoon, it angled its way across my neighborhood and brushed the prettiest shades of color on the tree blossoms.
It was a don’t-stay-out-too-long-without-a-jacket, fresh air day. So I put one on, hung my camera strap on my wrist, and headed out the door. On foot.
The flowering trees only bloom for about two weeks every spring — some of them less than that. I often wish I could just hang onto their beauty and fragrance – but it’s not meant to be. They bloom and pour out their perfume… and then they are gone.
For me it’s a small moment. One that makes me richer though, if I pay attention to and appreciate it.
I Nearly Missed the Violets!
Across the street is a huge patch of violets, not visible unless I walk through it. Yesterday I did, nearly clapping my hands at the discovery! Weeds? Not the way I see it…
As a child I was allowed to pick the violets. I treasure them still.
As a child I used to make little cone-shaped baskets with handles from colored paper, and then fill them with violets to hang on my neighbors’ doors as gifts. (Then ring the bell and run.)
I treasure violets and the memories they open for me…
Traveling the Back Roads vs. the Highways
Traveling the highways gives us glimpses of the landscape; but it’s on the back roads that we see the pieces that make up the landscape. It’s here we can touch and appreciate those pieces.
It’s true of our lives as well. Travel the highways whenever time crunches. I get that. It’s necessary and we all do it.
But it’s on the back roads and in the small moments that we live and love and wonder and hug and listen and explore and discover and learn stuff.
It’s here that we experience, appreciate what we will accomplish in life.
It’s here’s that we get to know who we are becoming.
It’s here that we live.
I sure don’t want to miss mine. How about you? Do you live in your moments and recognize their significance?
Please help yourself to coffee and share your thoughts. Thank you so much for coming over.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post, Barbara. I always enjoy the blossom on our apple tree, but it is gone so quickly. Lovely time of the year though…
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Mandy Allen´s last blog ..Do you feel famous?
Hi Mandy. Yep — it’s a fleeting moment, these tree blossoms. And Lovely is the perfect word for it. The air even smells pretty.
Oh Barb —
Once again you have touched my heart!
We are lucky enough to have a next door neighbor who has 2 orange trees. I love walking out into our backyard — usually around 6 AM and just breathing in the wonderful smell of the oranges! With this being California it seems it flowers a lot. It will have tons of flowers and oranges all at the same time. Amara loves picking an orange off the branch that hangs over the fence. I will roll it for her to let the juice free and she will put a straw in that orange and have the best drink ever! OK, I’ve tasted it and it is really sour but don’t tell her!
And then I saw your picture of the violets. I love violets and I miss them so much. They were everywhere when I was a little girl in Michigan and I picked them as bouquets, too! I keep trying to get my sister who still lives back there to scoop some up – dirt and all, put them in a baggy and mail them to me!
While these memories are wonderful I do live in the moment. I often walk the 1 mile to see the kids, it is a great one mile. It crosses over the golf course with a river running through it. I can stop and see cranes and ducks and beautiful flowers. And along the way I stop and pick up pine cones for Amara. It may not be the countryside but it is my way of communing with nature. Thank you so much for sharing. ~Kc
Grandma Kc´s last blog ..Amaraisms
What a lovely story, Kc. Your walk to your granddaughter’s house sounds like a piece of heaven. My parents lived the last of their retired years on a golf course, and I loved walking the small paths around the perimeter early mornings and again in the evenings. These too are back roads. Just walking rather than riding gives us a different view of things, don’t you think?
I remember rolling the oranges and putting straws in them. (Only our oranges were sweet! haha) I often still roll them before cutting in half, to loosen the juices.
If I could, I’d send you violets — but alas, the property isn’t mine. Thank you for sharing your story.
Hi Barb.
You are SUCH a poet. Even though this was not a poem, it had that soothing effect that reading poems has on me. You have a way with adjectives; I was drawn in with your first sentence and from that point I was in the moment. It’s not easy to live every moment when I’m in a hurry to get to the next. Your analogy of driving the back roads is a perfect reminder. Thanks.
Davina´s last blog ..Are You With Relationship?
Thank you, Davina! Your comment is like cream in my coffee — just enriches what’s already there. Talk about poetry!
I agree it’s not always easy to live in the moment — but analyzing life, the moment is really all we have to live in, isn’t it? We can live for other moments and people and events and goals — but we pursue and relate to all of that in the moment.
Oh thank you for the big drink of water Barb, I finally made it back up to a mile walking and with the sunshine in the morning I was mighty thirsty.
My partner loves to bike ride the back roads so he just doesn’t miss so much of life and color (he could do without the chasing dogs) I just love my neighborhood walk to allow me time to think and discover the treasures now blooming too.
Today was a good day of no wind or driving rain – though that is on the way – and I was able to release some old anger that just needed cleaning out – let go…replacing that spot with lovely tulips and yes even some violet blooms.
Thank you for your lovely writing and I agree with Davina about the poetic moment to moment journey.
Patricia´s last blog ..A Quiet and Necessary Thank you Note
Hi Patricia. Walking is a favorite form of activity for me too — I can stay close to the ground and see the little things big. And even talk to myself. Haha!
Thanks for your encouraging words.
Barb, thanks so much for the reminder of how important these short moments of time are. Like the cactus that bloomed next door and was gone by the time I thought about getting the camera…now I must wait another year…sigh. Your articles always cause me to think, and today to be determined not to miss another moment.
Suzie´s last blog ..Retreat for all ages
Hi Suzie. Yep — don’t miss the moments. They never return, and can turn into those times we wish we could do over ’cause we missed them the first time around. Haha!
Beautiful, Barb. I’m definitely a back roads person. And stopping to drink in those moments requires me to remind myself each day how precious they are. Today you made that a little easier. Thank you!
Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Meaning Mondays: Life As A Quilt Edition
Hi Patty. I can tell you are a back roads gal — from just the title of your blog.
Thanks so much.
Another thoughtful post, thank you.
Sunday morning, I woke very early for me. The grandkids slept over, and I needed a few moments to myself before the cyclone of getting ready for church hit. I stood at the window, watching the early morning light on the new green of the trees and their reflections in the stillness of the river. It wasn’t long until the sun was higher, and the wind picked up, but that moment’s peace stayed with me most of the day.
I have always preferred the backroads to the hiways, a legacy from my Dad. Sometimes he took backroads because he knew and loved them, and sometimes new ones that hardly qualified for backroads because he wanted to know where they would go. Hiways are useful when you need them, but there’s always some discovery to make on the backroads!
Hi Patricia — a beautifully written piece. Thanks so much! It could be a post all by itself.
We used to take a back road (there were no highways leading in) to a University town 20 miles from home when I was a little girl. Sunday drives, and heading to Oxford meant ice cream. It also meant songs and ballads and just plain fun in our car of mom and dad and three girls.
Your story took me right back…
Hi Barbara
Reminded me of the John Lennon quote…
“Life is what happens whilst you’re busy making other plans.”
Looks as though you are making the same point, slow down and take a look at the detail – enjoy the small moments.
Thanks for the reminder.
Keith Davis´s last blog ..Flying in formation
Hi Barb – lovely meander through the back paths .. I love your patch of violets – what a wonder of delight. Spring springing is such a wonderful time of the year .. but for the last three years it has passed me by .. I’m grateful for the longer days and warmer weather!
Our bluebell walks are out now, and there were drifts of snowdrops earlier in the year in the woods, the celandines are glorious .. and the dandelions are resplendent this year!! Lovely differing verdant greens now.
Thanks – loved the apple tree blossom and the violet pictures .. good to see .. gladden the heart.
Enjoy your Spring weekend in the back woods .. Hilary
Hilary´s last blog ..Pevensey Castle, Normans Bay, smuggling and family remembrances … Part 1
Hi Barb,
Your words about the back roads remind me of when I was on a road trip and we got off of the freeway and took the time to see the Bridges of Madison County (in Iowa). Although at the time the weather was cold and blistery, the experience is one I won’t forget.
Mmmmmm! I’m enjoying the coffee. The house blend today is fabulous.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Comments -Why Some Aren’t Worth Reading
The violets, dandelions, trees in blossom, I love it all. My allergies don’t however.
My moments aren’t so great these days really, but I’m trying!
Anita
Sliloh´s last blog ..Mumford & Sons
I bet your baskets were great and you really made your neighbors’ days.
J.D. Meier´s last blog ..The Elephant and the Rider
Barb -
I love the blossom time. My street and the local park are packed with cheery trees and they look stunning. Makes my heart sing. It is great to take the backroads and get there more slowly – if you’re enjoying the journey then why rush? Great post.
Phil
Phil – Less Ordinary Living´s last blog ..The Five Secrets to Finding Work that Matters
Even on my ordinary routes I see trees that are suddenly lit with a blaze of blossom. Truly an exciting time of year!
Valerie Beeby´s last blog ..iPhone Portrait
Beautiful, Barb, simply beautiful. I agree with Davina; you’re a poet as well as an artist. This was my favourite part, the place where your soul and mine are old friends:
I’ve never seen a field of violets, but because of this post, I can almost smell them now. Thank you!
PS Sorry I’ve been AWOL; I got stranded abroad, computerless, due to the ash.
janice | Sharing the Journey´s last blog ..How to Write like Adam Lambert (revisited)
Hi Barb, you write so beautifully I always enjoy it so. the violets and little blooms are wonderful. I always forget to write about simple pretty things such as these on my blog. As you have noticed sometimes they are in large quanity LOL. Thanks for making this delightful
hugs
Annette
I agree that life happens in the smallest moments, in my own life I have found that the small moments really make my personal life much more successful and fuffilled.
Hi Barb,
thanks for sharing your spring, touch-feel-smell-watch trip
I find it also really important to find time to stop for a while, reflect, look at daisies. Such moments bring very often new fresh ideas and solutions.
Greetings
Justyna
Justyna Bizdra´s last blog ..Want your website to be different from the other ones? You might be curious about Favicon Generator
Very pretty pictures Barb! It is all the small things that can really make you appreciate life in general. It’s a shame more people don’t take the time to look for them and enjoy them! Spring is a beautiful time of year, but each season is in its own way. Thanks for the uplifting article!
Ryan Cowles´s last blog ..Taking a Train Across the Country – Part Two