I woke up to a snowstorm, unexpected and wet and heavy.
Winter is showing off her stuff this week; we’ve seen almost everything. The point of a week like this is to make me year for spring and experience the incredible beauty of the winter landscape.
St. Joseph, our saint of the weather, has called down another storm. He’s been chatting with Mother Nature and is trying to get our attention.
Please don’t be sucked in by the media or political hysteria over the Iowa Caucus. Our democracy is definitely under pressure, but I am a long way from believing Donald Trump will be our next President.
That he and Biden are tied at this point suggests good news for the other side.
To know Donald Trump is not to love him for moderates, women, newcomers, moderates, suburbanites, African-American immigrants, and the young. Very few people want either one of these men to be elected President.
That these are our only choices says much about our queasy, divided, and confused country. The Republican Party apparently needs at least one more thumping to get the message and move on.
The message is coming. Again.
Trump’s great accomplishment is losing election after election.
Ten months is a very long time in Presidential politics, and for Donald Trump, these months will be the toughest of his life. He is a master at turning victory into defeat, one way or another, and he is not a healthy person, in mind or body.
He is facing the fates and will lose again; that’s what all the polls and punditry tell me. Iowa is not America, blessedly. And the vote of Iowa evangelicals has little to do with Christianity or the love of people in need. The movement is fast becoming just another wing of the tortured and broken Republican Party.
It’s time for fearful people to look for grounding, not panic. The question for me is what I believe in, not what any politician believes. I’m looking forward to my life and every day of this year. My goal is to be a better human by the end of the year and to make the world a better place in the small ways I can.
I love the look of animals with snow on their back. They will spend the morning in the Pole Barn, but no animal gives up on food.
The donkeys care little about the snow. The sheep are in the barn getting dry, the donkeys are out eating every last bit of hay,
Bud has a beautiful set of eyes. They are full of feeling.
Jon,
Thank you once again for your calming words and stunning images to remind me of the beauty to be found in this chaotic world.
Living in Eastern Iowa, the thought that so many people in my city and the state would vote for this sad example of a human, truly is crushing. Our “Iowa nice” seems to be fueled with anger now, and I struggle to feel connected these days. Your words and beautiful animals are always helpful for me to see that glimmer of light and hope. Thank you. -Deb
Thanks Deb, it is a hard time, it’s hard to grasp it for me and I guess for you. I have great faith in Mr Trump’s self destructive skills, I believe this too shall pass. I thank you for your thoughtfull and touching note.
May I nominate Zip for President? He’s young and bold and alert, allows stillness and time in the midst of his constituents for them to observe him and make their own way forward to greeting and acceptance, works well with his congress of canines yet doesn’t need to be front and center of attention, instead making his way throughout his territory employing governance, answering the call (scrambling down from his ‘West Wing’) but brooking no nonsense from his Cabinet (especially if they are late for a meeting). He already has both the press and a worldwide public in his pocket. And Bud, as a pugnacious Defense Secretary, with his talent for getting under or around a barrier in pursuit of his enemies, could use Zinnia as a calming and ameliorating balance in bringing diverse personalities to agreement. (Who wouldn’t do anything for a Zinnia tail-wag?)
Who’s up for a write-in?
I’ll go for that.
Thank you for your beautiful pictures, but even more, thank you for your calm, measured words. I am purposely taking a break from most news about the election this year, because 2020 almost destroyed my mind. A friend sent me a link to your blog then, and I am sincere when I say you truly helped me get through a very dark time. Like you, I started meditating, and I started doing gentle yoga and practices to become more mindful, generous and filled with gratitude about all the good around me. I think this is going to be a very hard year in many ways. Let’s be the light for ourselves and others.
Sincerely want to believe in everything that you write concerning our decaying political system. Not sure I trust in the intelligence of the American voter sufficiently at this point in time. Nevertheless, your words are inspiring. As our your photos, and reminder’s that we all need to strive for greater connectivity with the world within our reach.
I’ll always love Bud. His hard past. His take charge attitude inside the house. He is so happy. Obviously Zip gives him a run for his money but Bud was first. I like cats but I’ll have a dog (or two) until I die. I love all your animals but Bud’s #1.
I needed to read this, Thank you! Also, I’m very jealous of your snow. I live in Minnesota and have 2 inches at most. Very sad. Love love winter.
Jon,Your photograph of the donkeys is absolutely stunning!! It has to be one of the most beautiful photos you’ve ever taken, It should defininately be considered for a note card. Or the December Photo for a calander. Or how about a Stamp!!