Thursday, or Thereabouts - June 4. 2015

Over the river and through the woods

We took the furry beast out for a hike in the forest this morning. It was a lovely tromp along the dirt paths, through the long grasses and by the streams. Truly an over the river and through the woods kind of trek, without the snow and sleigh of course. (Well I should ruddy well hope so - it is June)!

The play of light and shadow, the waft of warm and cool, the fragrance of earth and flower, all accompanied by birdsong was calming, restorative, and stimulating. In short, it was idyllic.
Even Sophie thought so.

Stop. Look. Listen.
Go take a hike!

©2015 April Hoeller

Monday Moanings - July 28, 2014

Oh Happy Day...

The night featured black and white snapshot-like images of dark trees set against flashes of bright sky. Window pane rattling, foundation shuddering thunder growled deep and long in the darkness. And it rained - oh my did it ever come pouring down, at times sounding like a great waterfall from the heavens. The sound and light show drew to a close in the wee hours, but the rain, no longer torrential, splashed right on through today's sunrise before running out of water.

By mid-morning all was past and Sophie was ready to celebrate. This is the same resident canine who spent much of the night cowering in our bathroom, when she wasn't whining at the bedside, hot doggie breath in my face, one paw on my arm, "Mummy, Mummy it's the end of the world..."

But of course it wasn't or if it was, we all survived it including Sophie. Big smiles, bigger whole body tail wagging and bouts of silly walks said it all: this was a day of jubilation. And what better way to celebrate than to go for a hike in the forest. If she could sing, more than howl, surely Sophie would pumping out "Oh Happy Day."

These next two photos are not from the forest but my garden where the tomatoes are ripening... .

 and the day lilies are singing...

Oh happy day...


©2014 April Hoeller

Thursday, or Thereabouts - October 17, 2013

Sophie's Choice

It's been a stunning Autumn so far. Many, many days of sunshine and warm temperatures lure me outside to meander through the forest and revel in the splendour of it all. I confess that I "left undone those things which I ought to have done" and fallen for Autumn's siren call - again, and again, and again. Woe is me.

Every morning all the "oughts" and "shoulds" line up to wag fingers of condemnation at me as they hector, "Today, today you must go to the gym. Today you must work."

Every morning I drink in remorse along with my cappuccino and I resolve to do better, to resist the temptation of the world outside my door, to get to the gym, then get back home to nail my backside to the chair and get to work on my book. But then the great day star rises above the trees, drenching my writing space in light. The world outside sparkles and Autumn quickens her step. I cap my pen, turn from the page for just a moment...




Our faithful canine Sophie stirs at my feet, stands and stretches then rests her chin on my lap. Her mismatched eyes - one blue,one brown - are as seductive as the season, "Let's go for a walk, mummy. Pleeeeeze." And I am undone. Camera and dog treats at the ready, we make good our escape into the forest.

Sophie wanted to go all the way to the stream yesterday, way at the far east end of the trail, a good 3 mile hike round trip. In fact when I tried to take the more usual path, she simply sat down and would not budge until I caved in. There had been quite a lot of rain overnight so the ground was soft and glistening. It was grand. And it was after all, Sophie's choice.

Text & photos ©2013 April Hoeller