Wind Storms, Cat Sitting, and Winter so far

Hey everyone! 

I’ve decided to start writing a blog to have a place to share my photography! I love taking photos of nature, so I made this space to share some of what I see on my walks in beautiful British Columbia. Along the way, you will see some photos I take of the nature that inspires my art, as well as anything else about life in the Pacific Northwest that I feel called to share. I have been taking a break from selling my wood burnings, so this feels like a good creative outlet for me in the meantime until I come back to it (which will hopefully be very soon). 

The last couple of months have been spent focused on getting through Winter and the colder, darker months. I’m usually someone who loves Autumn and Winter, so I was really looking forward to the cozy, peaceful energy. However, for some reason, this year I found myself missing the sun and longer days more than usual. Winter hit me hard. It was definitely strange for me, and navigating that has been an adjustment. I figured that doing what I usually do, which is getting outside and taking photos of nature, would be helpful, since I do love how the forest looks during these colder months. I love looking at the little details in the woods, like all the different types of mushrooms, ferns, and moss that grow here in the Pacific Northwest. Stopping and taking a moment to look closely at everything feels so special and helps me be in the present moment. Now, I feel much more settled in this season. I think the shift just came with time, and I can be more in the moment and enjoy. I find myself savouring the smell of the fresh, crisp, Winter air that I love so much. 

We had a few wind storms at the end of October and beginning of November here in coastal British Columbia. It was quite intense in various parts of the region, and we had a few power outages in our area. After one of the storms, when the winds had calmed, my husband and I went for a walk in the woods near our home and saw that a tree had snapped in half and fallen down! You can see it in the photo below, and my husband for scale to get an idea of how big the tree was. It was quite something to see, how strong the winds were to take the tree down. 

Something that brought me so much joy recently was cat-sitting for my dad. He has two cats, Esmarelda/Ezzy for short, and Misty, and they are so sweet. I have never met such well-mannered, well-behaved cats, they were such a joy to have around. My husband and I love animals, but do not currently have any pets of our own. We were both raised with animals growing up, and it felt so nice to have the cats in our home, even if it was for a short time. It made me realize how wonderful animals are, and how much I’ve been missing having them around. They really do bring so much warmth, joy, and laughter, and I’m sure a lot of you can relate to how wonderful it is. 

If you’d like to know more about me and my art, feel free to check out my About Me page! I hope to start selling my wood burnings again in March. And, if you want to get notified when I share a new blog, you can join my email list at the bottom of the webpage!

No matter if you live in a big city, or somewhere more quiet, connecting to nature is so beneficial for our well-being. I hope wherever you are, you are feeling some ease and calm, and taking care of yourself. The winter is still here, nature is taking it slow, so don’t worry if you need to as well. We are just as much a part of nature as everything else. Listen to your needs, and do everything at your own pace. 

Wishing you a wonderful week, and I hope you stay healthy, safe, and well!

- Sarah