The Daily Respite

1 day ago | dailyrespite.substack.com | Clara Parkes

Good morning!It’s Wednesday. Not too far from yesterday’s ephemeral mud puddle is an actual freshwater pond. No, not the pond (that’s a lake, that’s a pond) but a much smaller pond that our neighbors made at some point in the last, oh I don’t know, 40 years? You can’t see the pond from the road or from our house. I don’t think it’s even big enough for a stray goose to make an emergency landing.

2 days ago | dailyrespite.substack.com | Clara Parkes

Good morning!It’s Tuesday, and it’s Earth Day. Around the world, we honor the benevolent graciousness of our hostess and strive to be better houseguests. I thought it would be a good day to admire a mud puddle. Oh, but it’s much more than a mere mud puddle. We’re looking at one of many vernal pools (also called “ephemeral” pools, how beautiful is that?) that dot our woods.

3 days ago | dailyrespite.substack.com | Clara Parkes

Good morning!It’s Monday, and the daffodil bed is ready to burst at any minute. We’re all watching and waiting and trying not to make them nervous with all the attention. “Take your time,” I’ll say as I walk by. “No rush!” I’ll yell from the window, after checking them for the umpteenth time. I love how they’ve all turned their faces toward the sun, slowly warming until that magical moment when they finally wake up, burst open, and unfurl their ruffled chiffon gowns to the world.

4 days ago | dailyrespite.substack.com | Clara Parkes

Good morning!It’s Sunday, and we’ve come down to the water. There’s a light breeze coming off the bay. A hint of sparkle reassures us that the sun is, indeed, up there somewhere. She’s taking shelter behind a particularly dreamy fresco that the clouds have painted across the sky. But it’s the waves we’ve come to hear, each gentle swish and splash and lap and ripple leading us home. “Listen to the sound of waves within you.”—RumiOnwards,Clarap.s.—You can also watch today’s video via this link.

5 days ago | dailyrespite.substack.com | Clara Parkes

Good morning!It’s Saturday. Every spring when the ground thaws, Mother Nature presents us with glass shards, chunks of pottery, and a various assortment of nails. But this year, she reached especially deep into her pockets and pulled out a new surprise: a safety pin. Naturally, this raises many questions. To whom did this pin belong? What fabrics has it clasped, and was it missed? Not only that, but how long has Mother Nature been holding onto this, and what prompted her to surrender it now?