Winter. It’s the season when stillness reigns supreme. It engulfs us in its familiar sights, earthy aromas and soothes us with its gentle hush.

February’s icy breath has claimed the last few shriveled leaves clinging to twigs and branches of the majestic oak tree pictured. Completely exposed, the oak tree stands gnarled and naked at the rear property line of Whispering Oaks Ridge.

The ranch is quiet as I wander the trails. Not a whisper is heard. Winter has silenced the singing oak trees. Time for them to tune in to the rhythm of the season. Nature requires these mighty giants bow to her bidding.

Lay dormant. Be still and renew.

I fix my gaze on this particular oak tree once more. It is one of many deciduous oaks growing in a higgledy-piggledy linear group, near the property fencing, yet this one is off by itself at the rear of the queue. It stands alone. It is also a standout.

I stride slowly towards the tree. The earth beneath my feet is hard and uneven. With each step a pungent smell wafts from the carpet of decaying leaves and mingles with a faint skunk odor from afar. It’s just that time of year!

Glancing downwards I see wide swaths of rich black soil, eye-catching against the lighter, straw-colored turf.  A thin frostiness shimmers in the cracks and disheveled crevices in the earth where deer, foxes and squirrels have foraged for acorns and other edibles.

The signs of Winter are stark and dark. Yet they are dramatic and beautiful, reminding me of the contrasting shades in black and white photography. Stunning!

This old tree oozes character. It has clearly stood the test of time and weathered many trials. It has lost limbs, leaving jagged outcroppings of thick bark. Its twisted, gnarled branches bear the scars of struggles and strife from fighting the elements. Yet its sturdy trunk is poised defiantly, securely entrenched with deep roots, and it proudly displays an intricate pattern of intertwined branches dressed in rugged, contorted bark. What an impressive sight!

Against the wintry grey sky its boughs loom upwards, dark and imposing, while the raised areas of bark sparkle a shimmering silver as they catch rays of fading light. Thousands of tiny twig clusters adorn the outline of the tree. This glimmering backlit effect is almost magical.

I stare in wonder at the beauty of this tree, a living testament to God’s creation and His faithfulness to all living things great and small. I marvel at Winter’s promise of rest and renewal. Oh my, how dependable are the seasons, and what wise lessons nature can teach us.

Perhaps it’s in the still, quiet moments, enjoying the simple gifts of daily life, that we find true joy.

My soul is grateful for the healing touch of Winter’s hush.

But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.
—Habakkuk 2:20 (NLT)

“The snow did not even whisper its way to earth, but seemed to salt the night with silence.” — Dean Koontz

What a joy to awaken to a sprinkling of freshly fallen snow at Whispering Oaks Ridge this morning. Its brilliance and sparkling flakes lured me into its white web of silence. To feel it, be part of it—to walk upon its softness and wonder at its beauty.

It’s what my soul needed. A oneness with nature.

A gentle healing touch from God.

 

Do you take some precious time between Christmas and the New Year to reflect on the past year?

This is when I set aside time to think deeply about my life. I ask myself lots of questions.

What did I accomplish this year?
Where did I fall short?
Would I have done anything differently, given the time back?

Then I look forward to the future. I think about what I want it to look like. I map it out and decide what my hopes are for 2025. I ask myself more questions.

🌟 How will I make my life count?
🌟 What do I most want to accomplish in the time I have?
🌟 What must I change internally and externally to achieve what I want?
🌟 What is my ‘one word’ that will resonate with me in the year ahead.
🌟 What scripture affirms my intentions?

2025 is an unknown entity. But I’m excited as I press on with my vision for the future. I will pursue my dreams with passion and high expectancy but I must also remember that God has a plan for me too and His plans often usurp mine!

So I will remain prayerful, watchful, open and obedient. I am full of hope for the future.

How about you? Are you taking time to reflect on the past and envision your hopes for the future?

Now is a good time to do this—it’s like getting a head start on the coming year. Establishing a mindset and attitude is good thing. ✨✨✨

#mysoulsingsforyou #getsuperhealthy #reflectonpast #plantheyear #dreambigdreams
#setgoals2020 #believeandachieve #beresilient #growbusiness #publishanotherbook #isleofskye #healthierthanever #makeadifference #dowhatmatters #laserfocus
#balancedlife

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, ‘go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.’” —Lewis Carroll

We’ve been exceptionally busy recently and It’s a while since I created a post. A few ‘stories’ but little else. Life has a way of interrupting our plans and I have had relatively no spare time to write or paint.

During such times, I’ve learned to go with the flow. The busyness has been good. Healthy. Joyful. Visits to the ranch, preparing for Christmas, attending to business, putting out some fires, and enjoying the company of friends—over coffee or dinner. Savoring moments with my love, catching up with family. It’s the little things that mean so much.

Yesterday, I shopped all day. Today, I painted this little winter scene. It was lovely to lose myself in watercolors. Peaceful. Renewing.

It’s unlikely we’ll see snow here in Austin over Christmas so no shoveling—that’s a blessing! However, I do love the English countryside, quilted in white, as Lewis Carroll writes so poetically! I was daydreaming of a magical snow scene and here it is—a little painting of a tiny village church surrounded by frosted evergreens. I can almost hear the bells pealing across that snowy field. Can you?

Ah, but such beautiful memories of bygone years, sprang to life with a spark of imagination, and a few splashes of paint! Warm wishes for a wonderful winter. 🤍

Glimmer, whether used as a noun or a verb, is such a descriptive word in the English language! Dictionaries define it as a faint or unsteady shining light—a twinkle, shimmer, or flicker.

A glimmer of light as dawn breaks.
The lamp shines a glimmer of hope. 

Nowadays, the word glimmer has acquired an even deeper meaning and often is used in plural. Glimmers will spark feelings of joy, calm and safety. They can be internal or external cues that ignite positive emotions. Light in the darkness. Hope in the future. Warm fuzzies.

Glimmers are everywhere if we will take time to seek and feel their magic. Beauty is all around us, even when we feel lost, afraid, alone, hopeless, or sad. To me, glimmers represent tiny flickers of God’s grace, whispers of His love and assurance that uplift our spirits and provide peace in what has become a noisy, chaotic world.

I wrote this poem today, inspired by some of my favorite glimmers. Hope you enjoy!

Glimmers from God

Blue skies and sunshine,

Green trees and quiet time,

Rolling hills and nature walks,

Special friends and long talks. 

These beautiful things are truly free!

Glimmers from God for you and me.

Ocean spray and wave swells,

Mountain trails and wooded dells, 

Babbling brooks and bird songs, 

Restore peace when the soul longs. 

These beautiful things are truly free!

Glimmers from God for you and me.

Fields of flowers and busy bees,

Butterflies flit in the gentle breeze,

Raindrop rivulets on window panes, 

Snowflake drifts in country lanes. 

These beautiful things are truly free, 

Glimmers from God for you and me. 

Kind words, the touch of a hand, 

A happy smile, footprints in sand,

Fiery sunsets, and a moonlit night,

Family love that shines so bright. 

These beautiful things are truly free, 

Glimmers from God for you and me. 

When life hits, and it’s hard to cope,

Glimmers renew our sense of hope. 

Sing grateful praise to God above.

Joy is born when we rest in His love. 

— a poem by Anthea

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. —Matthew 11:28-30

It’s mid week. Hump Day. Take a breather. Make room in your jam-packed schedule for some chill out time.

The intensity of living in drive-mode can overwhelm you with those self-imposed demands on your mind, body and soul. You can push yourself beyond your limit as you race through life day after day, striving to attain more, to be more, to do, do, do! You can become so busy doing you neglect to be—you forget YOU are a human BEING.

Living every day in a pressure cooker set on “high” is not healthy. It doesn’t build wellness or peace of mind. As you live a purpose-driven life and pursue lofty goals, remember to pace yourself, balance your activities, and refresh your soul. Your physical and mental body will thank you.

Your spirit will rejoice. Your soul will sing.

#mysoulsingsforyou #bestillandknow
#authorantheatripp #paceyourself #justbreathe #chillout #thewonderhabit2024

Meanwhile, back at the ranch …. she sat stoically on the winding stone wall along the ridge, watching us arrive and unpack supplies from the truck. There was a quiet calm about her statue-like pose which I interpreted as her acceptance of our presence, almost as if she knew our return was inevitable. She remained vigilant, her gaze unflinching as she contemplated our every move.  This grey fox displayed an unmistakable posture!

A silent sentinel, I thought.

It’s not unusual to see a fox at the ranch. We don’t know exactly how many adult foxes claim our property as their territory but we know for sure there are three! During this visit we witnessed all three together which is a first for us.

Sightings are a pretty common occurrence, almost daily, especially when we leave scraps out for them. They’ll gobble the food, ever watchful though, but when we approach they’ll turn tail and scamper off, keeping a safe distance.

The demeanor of this particular fox was different. She seemed more confident, allowing us to approach her with scraps of sausage without running away.  She seemed reluctant to leave at times, though I also sensed a certain air of defiance from her. She was determined to stand her ground.

A couple of days ago, around dinner time, we observed that same sentinel-like pose. This times she had situated herself a few feet from our deck, scrutinizing our movements in and around the house. Why didn’t we guess her true motives? Why didn’t we realize our fox was protecting something infinitely more precious than her territory. By now you have probably caught on!

Yes, once you know the backstory her behavior makes perfect sense. She is indeed a sentinel. A protector. This Mama Fox is guarding her babies. Her den (or one of them) is nestled under our deck. Late afternoon, on a couple of occasions, she and her adorable kits have emerged from their den to play in the sun beside the deck, while we looked on in delight.

Beautiful, untamed nature in the raw. What a joy to behold.

People have forgotten this truth,” the fox said, “But you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. From “The Little Prince”.