TToT – Preoccupied
I guess you could say I’ve been a bit preoccupied.
I’ve posted very little in this space in the last three weeks. I’m certain that I’m not keeping up with friends and fellow bloggers the way I’d like to, despite all the best intentions. I’ve been doing and thinking lately – a lot.
I’ve stared at this page for about an hour three hours already, not for lack of thankfulness, but for a lack of ability to concentrate, perhaps. Or at least a lack of ability to concentrate on anything but that with which my mind is currently preoccupied.
Here’s an example…earlier this evening, I realized that the headphones I was wearing weren’t plugged into the laptop. Nor was there anything running on the laptop that would require me to need them. I think I meant to do some work or listen to music or both…but clearly got distracted.
![20150712_022803[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20150712_0228031.jpg)
Still with me?
Let me do this because A) I hate being so late to put my TToT in place and 2) I kind of need to get back to my thoughts and things…
I am thankful for our CSA farm and for good, healthy food. I’ve been far less active sharing posts about our farm share and the great things we’ve been making with the veggies than I have been in other summers, but I can tell you it’s been awesome.
![20150620_000625[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20150620_0006251.jpg)
![20150620_000632[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20150620_0006321.jpg)
I’m thankful for days of beautiful – no, perfect – weather. We had one such day this Friday and we spent it at the mountain sanctuary we love. I am thankful for the peace I so often feel when I’m there. I am thankful that it is something the Hub, Zilla, and I can do together and has become very special for us.
![20150710_142642[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20150710_1426421.jpg)
![20150710_140326[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20150710_1403261.jpg)
This trip, we were fortunate to experience several close sightings of golden eagles and vultures. Awesome. I’m thankful that we were in just the right place at just the right moment. The photo here isn’t one of the closets sightings. I’m glad to say we didn’t get photos of those – we saw those through our own eyes, not the lens. Breathtaking. I do think the Hub caught some video, though, and if he did, I’ll upload it. Check back later.
![20150710_143600[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20150710_1436001-e1436681268453.jpg)
On the way to the CSA farm that afternoon, we saw a golden eagle swoop right in front of our car and into a corn field. That raptor was HUGE. Pretty sure he was coming in for dinner because on the way out of the farm property, we passed him again, but this time in the road with the remains of whatever he had caught for dinner. OK, kind of gross, sure, but to have seen that moment happen right in front of us? Amazing. Seeing the world in action is fascinating.
I count ten. So do the SGV. Now it’s your turn: what are you thankful for this week? What fascinates you about nature? You know the drill – share ’em or link ’em.
Your hosts
Join the Ten Things of Thankful Facebook Group
Love this? Share the love and tell someone!
34 Comments
Comments are closed.
Ooohhh…eagles! 🙂 I used to work on an airfield and would regularly spot kestrels hovering overhead. Birds of prey are so beautiful!
What is up with my site? I swear I answered this…it was something really profound like “they really are.”
Why are all my comment replies missing, eh?
everything about nature fascinates me. I am so grateful to live where I do … sometimes its the only thing that calms me. Im sorry youve been struggling. This time is going to be something you look back on one day as a time that made a difference to your direction in a positive way. I dont know who said it but I am trying to stay with the idea … “If there is no struggle there is no progress.” I always have to remember it wont necessarily happen on my timeline or quickly but it will happen if I continue… its tough …and distraction is part of that…. be easy on yourself… xo me
Comment reply take two…
The more time I spend around nature, the more I learn and the more fascinating it becomes. It’s a well-oiled machine, that’s for sure.
You are so right about looking back on times of difficulty and seeing how the dots connect and the picture becomes clear. But in the thick of it? It’s very hard to see what the final image might be. What you say about no struggle/no progress sounds much like my Mom – no Resurrection with out the Cross. All true. I struggle most with wanting things to happen on my timetable and I definitely lack patience most days, so that is frustrating. I promise I will remember self-compassion.
I never count ten — I’m a free baller 🙂
Never apologize for your space and the work you do or don’t do.
This is YOURS — YOUR journey and we are here for the ride. When you start freaking out and pressuring yourself to crank out words that’s when writing starts to not be fun. Write when your heart wants to — we will all be here 🙂
You are surrounded by some serious nature. I love it. Us? Not so much. We have some traveling to do to get that kind of scenery! Luckily in a few more weeks, we will be!!
Those veggies look so yummy! Our temperatures here have been so weird that my mom’s (yes, we steal my mom’s veggies) plants aren’t producing that quickly.
I’m sorry my comment got erased…just realized today that several are missing. Argh!
I do generally go with the uncounted list – I put what feels right, you know? That works. And you’re so right that when writing starts to be not fun, not enjoyable, it’s time for a rethink.
Thank you for the beautiful sunshine photos. We got to see the sun for about 4 hours yesterday before the clouds and pouring rain made their way back.
I’ve found myself unable to write, too, thanks to the thoughts and to-do lists running through my head. And the fact those things to do take a whole lot of energy. I have none left to write.
Nature is fascinating. Whether it’s birds or sea-life or the weather. It’s a real treat to see things in nature that we’ve only read about or seen photos of.
I’m glad you like the sunshine photos. And I know I answered this comment already over the weekend, but I have no idea why it disappeared – about six or seven of them did.
Anyway, you’re right that physical and mental processes take a large amount of energy. I think I forget that sometimes and then when I have a particularly hefty load on my mind, I’m surprised that I’m not working at full throttle.
Like I said to Ivy, Nature is amazing. There is so much to be learned about human existence from the close observation of Nature.
clearly it’s: sunspots (well, computers are subject to interference! and, maybethe sunspots cause subliminal programs to play on your laptop (‘…you are getting sleepy…sleepier…sleepiest!’) or it could be the humidity (in the air or in the Midwest’s air), or… I thought I had a longer (and, actually amusing ) list for this Comment… but, damn! I guess not!
still nice photos!
Most likely a combination of humidity and general lack of attention on my part. It is the norm, but much exacerbated lately because my mind is so many places.
Oh lisa that is so my brain. I do that kind of thing alllllll the time. L-thyamine helps just an FYI.
I adore birds of prey and even though its hard to see the circle of life being played out right in front of you. it is still pretty freaking cool too.
Those pictures make me ache for the mountains.
I’ll keep the L-thyamine in mind, Erin. 😀
I am always amazed at how all things in nature just fit together so perfectly. Those less pleasant aspects, though, are all part of aren’t they? Just like in human life. It all fits together and make sense somehow, even when certain parts seem disjointed or upsetting.
I’ll keep sharing mountain pics!
Sounds like the perfect mountain getaway.
🙂
Glad you could enjoy nature with those you love.
It’s pretty darn close to perfect, Kerry, yes. Our Daughter said at one point in the afternoon that as much as she loves being there, her favorite part is that we’re all there together. I love that.
I am SO in the same place mentally this summer. I figure I can get back to my blogging seriously when the weather cools off. It’s been perfect here too. Your mountain sanctuary looks absolutely breathtaking. How great to have such a place nearby. I hope you, Fab Hub and Zilla keep on loving your summer outdoors.
Thanks, Jen. Yup, I’m right there. And I refuse to beat myself up about it. It is so gorgeous there and it’s so nice to be able to take off and go – him working only three days a week in summer is a definite plus!
Love that pic of the three feet! What a photo to treasure.
We took it as an homage to the original three feet together picture we took on Zilla’s first trip there. Now we have two!
Lisa, living life and seeing things through your own lenses is better than documenting the experience with photos and words. Spending peaceful, rapturous (or raptorous, lol) time with those you love is fulfilling in its own. Enjoy every moment of your summer. Jen told me once that what is great about blogging is you can leave it and always go back to it.
It’s a delicate balance, isn’t it, Val? Wanting to be there, present, living in the moment, and wanting to capture it to preserve.
Jen’s right about that aspect of blogging and I am definitely in that place right now. I guess I’ll add that I’m thankful for stupid Facebook since it helps me maintain the connections with all of you even when I don’t manage to get anything up on the blog. 🙂
We’ve just started to see zucchini from the garden here and for us it’s the most important thing. Our favorite is to pick them when they are still quite small and grill them and it takes a lot of them for everyone to feel they’ve had enough.
I think I’d like to try them very small and grilled like that! I love zucchini – good thing, since there is always so much!
Oh you’ve remeinded me of a very special eagle sighting. My Uncle passed away in November. A few weeks ago another uncle and my brother and I spread his ashes at the foot of his home. Just as we were finishing up a monarch butterly landed on my sleeve and a bald eagle soared over head. They stayed for a minute or two and then flew off. Pure magic.
OH, I love things like that, Kelly. That is really amazing, isn’t it?
I am convinced the seagull that crapped on my Sister last summer was my Grandmother saying hello. (They always nailed her when she visited the shore.) And the first time I visited my Grandparents’ grave site after they both were gone, a pair of birds came right overhead…I’m sure it was them. Posted here: http://www.themeaningofme.com/headstones-and-homesteads/
I do love things like this! Did you see Under The Tuscan Sun? Her house offer has been rejected and then a bird craps on her and the owner sees that as a sign to accept. So good. Have you any other signs like this? My personal fave was the runaway xray machine in the hospital shortly after my husband died. He was an xray tech. Never saw a runaway machine before or since. It whipped down the hall and came to a halt inches from my toes.
I have seen Under The Tuscan Sun and I love that. The x-ray story is a great one. A bit creepy, maybe, but at the same time how cool! You can not convince me things like that are coincidence. NO way.
I loved seeing your pictures it reminded me of my time spent on a mountain top. I saw birds swooping down after my niece got married. I believed it to be her Grandparents saying hello on her wedding day. It was magical to witness that beauty and those angel messengers.
I definitely believe those things happen. I love the idea that it’s with purpose.
Golden Eagles! I wish we got to see such beautiful creatures here in Singapore. It’s been hard to focus for me too. But taking a deep breath and prayer always helps.
A deep breath and prayer are good things, Michelle. Always.
Oh, I relate to preoccupied, never more so than at the moment. I’ve just spent 3+ hours sat in front of the laptop ‘attempting’ to write something for this months #1000speak, and… nothing o_O
Your images are gorgeous… breathtaking.
Thanks, Kimmie! Every now and then I get a good photo or two.
Yeah, my 1000Speak…not so much finished, either. Right there with you!
I love hiking so much and miss doing it in Colorado. I don’t know why I don’t go here really. Oh except I do. Humidity and bugs. Sigh. That’s AWESOME you got to see an eagle in action. My mom is in MT and has bald eagles. They have to watch the dogs when they go outside. Really! Gorgeous and crazy and awesome (even when gross).
The humidity and bugs are a definite down side. But some days those things are minimal and it’s perfect! We’ve been a few eagles in the last year – trying to decide if there are more around or if we’re just noticing more often because we’ve been paying attention. Fascinating and gorgeous.