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...
by kimqi | Jan 22, 2022 | YinYang, Seasons
“The world rests in the night. Trees, mountains, fields, and faces are released from the prison of shape and the burden of exposure. Each thing creeps back into its own nature within the shelter of the dark. Darkness is the ancient womb.” ~John O’Donohue...
