Fire Pit Shadow Dancers and Water Sprites – Photo: L. Weikel

Whimsical Sight

I managed to spend some extended time outside today and got some work done while sitting in the sun and gazing at our fire pit. Actually, I was staring off into space, not actually gazing at the fire pit, when I suddenly realized the whimsical sight coming into focus before my eyes. It was almost as if the Spirits of the Land were sharing a little bit of magic with me, kicking off the arrival of April and showing me how they celebrate.

The fire pit tends to be my easiest and most convenient gauge of how much rain we’ve had on any particular day. The last day it rained may have been Friday, and there were a couple of inches of rainwater still in the copper container. What caught my eye was the perfect placement of the shadows thrown by the sun’s rays filtering through the metal mesh designed to keep sparks from flying out of the pit when the flames are dancing.

Usually the figures on the fire pit top appear to be dancing in the flames. That’s pretty much the point of the design. It took me a moment to shift my perspective and really see what my eyes were resting upon but not fully comprehending. Suddenly, the fire sprites were actually arising from the water and both prancing and dancing on its surface.

Best Office Anywhere

What a joy to suddenly realize the playful scene evolving before my eyes! I love when the seasons change and the warm intimacy of watching snowfall from inside the house shifts to writing or editing on the porch. Having the opportunity to do what I love while spending time outside feels like such an indulgence.

And it is, I guess. I’ve worked in a fascinating array of offices over the years, from staid Bucks County law firms ensconced in buildings with some serious historical cred (a couple being over two hundred years old) to a bustling non-profit in downtown Philadelphia, to an office in a storage facility that, upon opening the office door, revealed a plant-filled nurturing haven of healing. But I have to say: working in the magical environs of my home, surrounded by nature, is a gift that’s irreplaceable.

(T-235)