by kimqi | May 28, 2022 | Hiking, meditation, Nature, YinYang
“I had never heard of a Witness Tree, a tree that’s lived a very long time, standing silently, having witnessed a historical event. I would argue that each moment of every day is historical, and no one has to deem the day’s events worthy of remembering, so, from...
by kimqi | May 22, 2022 | Illinois, Nature
“I tucked my jeans into my socks and donned an old yellow rain slicker with a paperclip for a zipper pull. “What to keep in and what to keep out?” I wondered. Ticks and rain can stay out. Warmth is welcome. I chose Maramech Forest Preserve. I craved an old...
by kimqi | May 2, 2022 | Hiking, Illinois
I hiked in a new place and it was amazing! I knew it would be. I told a friend I was going to find treasure. The quest began as I wandered through a beautiful prairie that led to a Native American burial ground. There are approximately 27 mounds from the Late Woodland...
by kimqi | Apr 24, 2022 | YinYang
Life’s challenges come in waves. Maybe they lap at our feet or get our rolled-up jeans wet. Sometimes the cold water rises, striking our core. Once in a while, a big wave comes along, and I fear I will drown. I have experienced these waves literally and figuratively....
by kimqi | Apr 9, 2022 | Utah
“I woke to the familiar sound of a train in the distance. I find the sound soothing after fifteen years of living in a town divided by tracks. “What a weird dream,” I thought, not fully awake. I grappled momentarily with confusion. It wasn’t a dream and I wasn’t...
by kimqi | Apr 3, 2022 | Salt Lake City, Utah
“My kids and I stay downtown in “The Marmalade District” when we’re in Salt Lake City. It’s a beautiful small neighborhood with homes dating back to 1890 nestled in the side of a mountain overlooking the city. The name hints at the many fruit trees planted when...
by kimqi | Mar 14, 2022 | Big Rock, Hiking, Illinois, meditation
“Nature is a place to sort through ideas, to gather and arrange words. Sunday was no exception. I took my thoughts to a trail that circles a small lake, a muddy place for dogs, horses, and their humans. It was a clear day, and I walked with the sun on one...
by kimqi | Mar 6, 2022 | Starved Rock
“I knew Starved Rock would be chaotic. I went anyway. A forecasted high of 68 on March 5th is very unusual. That’s my sister’s birthday and I remember many snowy celebrations. The warmest temps would be late in the afternoon and I, like everyone else, wanted to...
by kimqi | Feb 28, 2022 | meditation, Nature
“Visiting Silver Springs this time of year is a reminder that Winter won’t last forever. I love the seasons and do my best to embrace each one, but by late February, I’ve grown weary and seeing green against the snow is like medicine. When I was studying herbs,...
by kimqi | Jan 23, 2022 | Starved Rock, Winter Hiking
The snow blew across the open fields. Sometimes I could see the yellow line as I maneuvered the back roads. As the sun moved higher in the sky, shadows fell long and dark. The lighting was spectacular on the barns and trees. I wanted to stop and take pictures but was...
