+ Her Barefoot Heart

snow

snowthroughwindow.jpg

it snowed here last night.

just a dusting, really.

not enough for even one bowl of snow ice cream

but enough to cause the roads to be icy

and treacherous.

phoebeseessnow.jpg

we spent most of the morning

with our noses to the window

taking in the beauty of the freshly-articulated trees

wondering if we can make it up and down the hills

on our daily walk.

snowbluelight.jpg

i love the quiet stillness

the snow brings

and the blue air.

there are those who will explain

the hue and stillness

with great authority

using numbers and

formulas

and studies.

but they’re only theories, really.

educated guesses, really, that make some feel better about the world and themselves

but

sometimes we don’t need to know why

we just need to enjoy and revel in

what is

while it is.

woodsinthesnow.jpg

58 Comments

  1. Lindsey

    When everything in your life is uncertain, there’s nothing quite like the clarity and precision of fresh snow and blue sky. (Pam Houston)

    Think that pretty much says it – at least for me.
    Thank you for your lovely poetic words and beautiful images.

    • whollyjeanne

      that’s a beautiful quote, lindsey. yes, there is a clarity and precision that comes with snow. makes me wish i lived in a colder climate where it snows more.

  2. Lindsey

    When everything in your life is uncertain, there’s nothing quite like the clarity and precision of fresh snow and blue sky. (Pam Houston)

    Think that pretty much says it – at least for me.
    Thank you for your lovely poetic words and beautiful images.

    • whollyjeanne

      that’s a beautiful quote, lindsey. yes, there is a clarity and precision that comes with snow. makes me wish i lived in a colder climate where it snows more.

  3. Cathy Ross

    Jeanne,

    Great post. I especially love the last 4 lines about reveling in what is, while it is. It’s all about living in the moment, cuz really, that’s all we ever have. Your dog looks like a real sweetie pie 🙂

    Cheers,

    Cathy

    • whollyjeanne

      does reveling have 2 l’s? i dunno. her name is phoebe, and she is such a sweetie pie. i’ll tell her you said so, too.

  4. Cathy Ross

    Jeanne,

    Great post. I especially love the last 4 lines about reveling in what is, while it is. It’s all about living in the moment, cuz really, that’s all we ever have. Your dog looks like a real sweetie pie 🙂

    Cheers,

    Cathy

    • whollyjeanne

      does reveling have 2 l’s? i dunno. her name is phoebe, and she is such a sweetie pie. i’ll tell her you said so, too.

  5. Dian Reid

    beautiful words. my friend.

    makes me wish for snow in long beach. not tonight. but one day when i’m ready for snow on the beach. maybe tomorrow.

  6. Dian Reid

    beautiful words. my friend.

    makes me wish for snow in long beach. not tonight. but one day when i’m ready for snow on the beach. maybe tomorrow.

  7. Nicola

    I love all those trees you have – so close by. That’s one of my dreams. To live somewhere with trees like that on my doorstep.

    • whollyjeanne

      i’ve gotta have my trees. there’s just something about being in the woods that appeals to me. once, my mother went to work and left her daddy at the house to meet the fellas who were coming to cut TWO TREES. 2. t-w-o. granddaddy was there just to show them which two trees. but instead, granddaddy (a farmer before he turned sheriff to whom an open field represented endless possibilities) went rogue and had them chop down EVERY tree in the yard. though she loved her daddy to a crisp, mother never got over that.

  8. Nicola

    I love all those trees you have – so close by. That’s one of my dreams. To live somewhere with trees like that on my doorstep.

    • whollyjeanne

      i’ve gotta have my trees. there’s just something about being in the woods that appeals to me. once, my mother went to work and left her daddy at the house to meet the fellas who were coming to cut TWO TREES. 2. t-w-o. granddaddy was there just to show them which two trees. but instead, granddaddy (a farmer before he turned sheriff to whom an open field represented endless possibilities) went rogue and had them chop down EVERY tree in the yard. though she loved her daddy to a crisp, mother never got over that.

  9. Kerri

    Lovely post and So True! Every day is a blessing – whether is be snow or shine. I have been learning this lesson on a daily basis.

    • whollyjeanne

      yeah, it’s the kind of “duh” concept that i have to keep relearning.

  10. Kerri

    Lovely post and So True! Every day is a blessing – whether is be snow or shine. I have been learning this lesson on a daily basis.

    • whollyjeanne

      yeah, it’s the kind of “duh” concept that i have to keep relearning.

  11. emma

    Okay, I kinda (read: absolutely) burst into tear reading this. It’s so beautiful. The photos are stunning and haunting. And you… YOU are a guiding light. Thank you for sharing your heart, your art and your insight. I will hold this close today. xoxo

    • whollyjeanne

      well, sugar, you just need to come hide out in my woods for a while. that’s what you need to do. xox.

      • emma

        Don’t tempt me! You’ll find me on your doorstep in no time flat – lol.

  12. emma

    Okay, I kinda (read: absolutely) burst into tear reading this. It’s so beautiful. The photos are stunning and haunting. And you… YOU are a guiding light. Thank you for sharing your heart, your art and your insight. I will hold this close today. xoxo

    • whollyjeanne

      well, sugar, you just need to come hide out in my woods for a while. that’s what you need to do. xox.

      • emma

        Don’t tempt me! You’ll find me on your doorstep in no time flat – lol.

  13. Susan Reep

    A mention of no snow, and you have snow! The absolute stillness that comes with snow is magic. Yes, that is the wonderful ikea table you saw in my post. It’s irresistible, isn’t it? Because of ikea we could afford to furnish our cabin, and then I saw that table and I didn’t even care if we could fit it in. Love it.

    The covers on some of the sheet music are amazing. I may scan and post before I consider using them. I used some of it in one of the still life posts somewhere on my blog. But I loved your comment – music has so many uses.

    • whollyjeanne

      yeah, but only a dusting. barely enough to articulate the trees, but enough to bring us the blue and quiet. enough to shut the roads down for a few days.

  14. Susan Reep

    A mention of no snow, and you have snow! The absolute stillness that comes with snow is magic. Yes, that is the wonderful ikea table you saw in my post. It’s irresistible, isn’t it? Because of ikea we could afford to furnish our cabin, and then I saw that table and I didn’t even care if we could fit it in. Love it.

    The covers on some of the sheet music are amazing. I may scan and post before I consider using them. I used some of it in one of the still life posts somewhere on my blog. But I loved your comment – music has so many uses.

    • whollyjeanne

      yeah, but only a dusting. barely enough to articulate the trees, but enough to bring us the blue and quiet. enough to shut the roads down for a few days.

  15. Molly

    I couldn’t agree with you more. The stillness surrounded by a snowfall is so comforting to me.

    • whollyjeanne

      and you, my friend, you’ll soon be going to work AT YOUR NEW JOB!!! i can scarce imagine how lovely it would be to be surrounded by books day in/day out and by people who love books and love to read, and get paid to be there. yum, yum.

  16. Molly

    I couldn’t agree with you more. The stillness surrounded by a snowfall is so comforting to me.

    • whollyjeanne

      and you, my friend, you’ll soon be going to work AT YOUR NEW JOB!!! i can scarce imagine how lovely it would be to be surrounded by books day in/day out and by people who love books and love to read, and get paid to be there. yum, yum.

  17. Jennifer Prentice

    Nothing like a good Southern dusting…I mean snow. =) The lighting on these pictures is beautiful. Your saying “What is, while it is” resonates with me on so many levels. Snow, like life, is so delicate and fleeting and one of the many things in that world to be enjoyed “while it is.”

    • whollyjeanne

      you understand southern dustings, dontcha? did you eat snow ice cream, too? that’s a kinda varied-southern thing.

  18. Jennifer Prentice

    Nothing like a good Southern dusting…I mean snow. =) The lighting on these pictures is beautiful. Your saying “What is, while it is” resonates with me on so many levels. Snow, like life, is so delicate and fleeting and one of the many things in that world to be enjoyed “while it is.”

    • whollyjeanne

      you understand southern dustings, dontcha? did you eat snow ice cream, too? that’s a kinda varied-southern thing.

  19. Julie

    Oh, Jeanne. This is so simple and so beautiful.
    “sometimes we don’t need to know why
    we just need to enjoy and revel in
    what is
    while it is.”
    I just love these words, your pictures and where they take me.
    Love this and love you.
    Julie

    • whollyjeanne

      seems to be something i need on a sticky note that’s tattooed to me. julie, sugar, i keep thinking about your post today and every time i do, i drop down into this deep quiet, anticipating more and awed by your clarity and courage.

  20. Julie

    Oh, Jeanne. This is so simple and so beautiful.
    “sometimes we don’t need to know why
    we just need to enjoy and revel in
    what is
    while it is.”
    I just love these words, your pictures and where they take me.
    Love this and love you.
    Julie

    • whollyjeanne

      seems to be something i need on a sticky note that’s tattooed to me. julie, sugar, i keep thinking about your post today and every time i do, i drop down into this deep quiet, anticipating more and awed by your clarity and courage.

  21. Alana

    Mmmm…thank you for bringing me peace on a day that started with tears. I’m with Dian – maybe snow on the beach tomorrow. Or a visit to my family before the spring thaw.

    • whollyjeanne

      snow’s okay for a day or two – like we get it here, but then i’m ready for it to completely melt and go water the plants in anticipation of spring. but when it’s here, even adults are as excited as a kid who hears of a santa sighting on 12/24.

  22. Alana

    Mmmm…thank you for bringing me peace on a day that started with tears. I’m with Dian – maybe snow on the beach tomorrow. Or a visit to my family before the spring thaw.

    • whollyjeanne

      snow’s okay for a day or two – like we get it here, but then i’m ready for it to completely melt and go water the plants in anticipation of spring. but when it’s here, even adults are as excited as a kid who hears of a santa sighting on 12/24.

  23. Kristen @ Motherese

    Just lovely.

    I was outside on Thursday with my son when the quality of the light changed on the snow – both of us were momentarily paralyzed by the power of “the hue and stillness” just as you describe.

    • whollyjeanne

      paralyzed. yes, that’s a good word to describe the mesmerizing effect it has. nice to see you, kirsten.

  24. Kristen @ Motherese

    Just lovely.

    I was outside on Thursday with my son when the quality of the light changed on the snow – both of us were momentarily paralyzed by the power of “the hue and stillness” just as you describe.

    • whollyjeanne

      paralyzed. yes, that’s a good word to describe the mesmerizing effect it has. nice to see you, kirsten.

  25. Gwen Bell

    What a beautiful story & photo journey, Jeanne. Thank you for sharing this.

    • whollyjeanne

      well, as i live and breath, if it isn’t gwen bell. appreciate you dropping by – especially when you could be drinking highly-decorated drinks from coconut shells.

  26. Gwen Bell

    What a beautiful story & photo journey, Jeanne. Thank you for sharing this.

    • whollyjeanne

      well, as i live and breath, if it isn’t gwen bell. appreciate you dropping by – especially when you could be drinking highly-decorated drinks from coconut shells.

  27. Bonnie

    RAC
    “I love the quiet stillness
    the snow brings
    and the blue air.”

    It’s that moment of breath after “brings” that brings it right to me.

    Beautiful!
    ~ Bonnie

    • whollyjeanne

      i thank you so much for letting me know which particular phrases (if any) that speak to you. warms my cockles. and listen, since i haven’t felt stupid today, will you please tell me what RAC stands for? you’re the second person to say that to me in 24 hours. xo

  28. Bonnie

    RAC
    “I love the quiet stillness
    the snow brings
    and the blue air.”

    It’s that moment of breath after “brings” that brings it right to me.

    Beautiful!
    ~ Bonnie

    • whollyjeanne

      i thank you so much for letting me know which particular phrases (if any) that speak to you. warms my cockles. and listen, since i haven’t felt stupid today, will you please tell me what RAC stands for? you’re the second person to say that to me in 24 hours. xo

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