Monday, February 8, 2010

Landscape of the Soul

Lake Tahoe Winter by NaturesViews


Choosing a title from another blogger, 'Landscape of the Soul', I did some thinking. What Landscape gives my soul flight? Where would I feel right at home? I've actually lived in so many different places, where would I like to go back to or recreate? That's an easy question for me, although I should explain why.


I am a mountain girl. I love the trees, the solitude, the mountain views, the snow, the animals and birds, and even, at times, the insects. I do not feel comfortable in the flat lands. Once when I lived in the Texas high plateau, a friend said to me, "I just love the view." I said, "What view? Flat land as far as the eye can see and sky! No trees, no nothing!" My friends in the flat prairie lands love the openness. To me it feels exposed and lonely. I love the cover of the forest, the coziness of it. I love the scampering of a squirrel, the fluttering and chirping of the birds in the tree tops, and even the buzz of the insects, as long as they are not the biting kind. There seems to be so much more life in the mountain forests.


I really do not feel so much at home in the city either, I guess I am shy at heart and find it hard to socialize with people. Don't get me wrong, I like people, but have to work at the socializing bit. Just give me a hot cup of tea, and a good book outside in my Adirondack chair underneath the pines. Solitude with the buzzing, chirping and scampering "floats my boat" so to speak!


What landscape makes your soul fly to new heights?
PS . Please visit Pat Adams Etsy shop NaturesViews and you will see what I mean about the outdoors and mountains! She captures it!

9 comments:

CountryDreaming said...

The mountains hold a sense of mystery, romance, and adventure along with the cozyness of nature which you describe so well.

Myself, give me a winter landscape. Friends know me as the self-proclaimed Queen of Narnia. Reports of winter weather advisories make my heart beat faster as I rush outside to my carriage, camera in hand, into the full glory of the storm. Snow, ice, wind, cold all contain beauty which can vary in tone from ferocious to peaceful solitude.

Unknown said...

I'm a beach landscape... or is that seascape?

Erika said...

I feel the same way. I do enjoy the beach and the sound of the waves coming ashore but I much prefer the solitude and beauty of the forest.

storybeader said...

I'm pretty much of a loner too. When DH and I went out to find a house about 10 years ago, I picked the lot where you could hardly see the house through the trees. Over the years, three trees have fallen, but the flowering trees are still there.

Splendid Little Stars said...

Oh I love the mountains and forests. Sometimes I think I could hike forever! I love my current backyard because there are lots of trees. Our property backs up to a nature preserve of about 30 acres. There is even a very small creek in the back (which we can see only in the winter when the trees are bare). Ah, but I love the beach as well. I've always loved playing in the water. I grew up about 3 hours from the ocean in Maryland.
I should mention that I am a summer girl. Summer is my favorite season--the warmth, the sun, the plants, flowers, birds, creatures, insects even.
My husband and I have friends in Lake Tahoe area (Truckee) and have visited a few time--summer only, I might add.

Anonymous said...

I am completely,totally, heart, soul, and spirit with you and CountryDreaming! Totally makes my breathing, body, and face change, and I am so at peace. I feel like I must have had a past life as you describe and seek it again with patience as we will not be able to move out of Florida for approx. another 8 years.

When we lived on Cape Cod, I'd love to lay on the ground in the forest of whispering pines. The ground was covered with the trees soft needle droppings, the smell of the earth and air, the peaceful sound of the trees talking as a breeze passes. And night walks when it was snowing was a passion. To see it in the street light as we approached, and the peaceful quiet of the falling flakes...

Oh Lord, I so hope this type of atmosphere is in my not too distant future. Um, and is a stream on the land too much to ask for?

Becky said...

I agree, I'm living where you'r living! lol
I need forest, mountains, lakes and clearly defined seasons, even if winter could be shorter! ;)

Patti said...

What a thoughtful post! It is amazing how different we all are. Although I love all of nature, my favorite landscape is the desert, of all things, especially on a day like today when I look out the window at snowy white!

Kathleen said...

Oh, Patti - I am with you! I grew up in Phoenix and I still love the desert. I live in a 'high desert' now. I like rolling hills, but I am pretty much a 'flat lander', too.