schlitz audubon - my nearby nature escape

Not much makes me feel more calm and happy than spending some quality time outdoors. I've been fortunate to have traveled to far off places - from secluded tropical beaches to awe inspiring mountain tops. But to have a destination that's a nearby nature escape, makes me feel truly grateful. And for me, this place is Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. It's not but five minutes from my home, so I can get there in no time flat. Whether I'm there for a little outing with my son or there for a run, I always feel a calmness transcend. 

Here are a few photos I snapped while at Schlitz for a run this morning. Regardless of the season, there is always beauty to be found!

Lake Michigan 

I love running on this path -
what a beautiful view!

Top of the tower vista

running - restoration in progress

Although it was drizzling and the temperature was cool, my run this morning was wonderful. I should preface this by noting that I just started running about a month ago, after get this - a 15 year hiatus! There were lots of reasons why I stopped running, but there are even more reasons why I started again. I'm not fast, and I try not to even think about my mile time. Instead, I think about my surroundings and the changing of the seasons that has happened right before my eyes, and find that these thoughts have been incredibly helpful in clearing my mind. Today I ran just about 6 miles, which for someone who never saw herself running "for fun" again is pretty amazing. Here are a few photos I snapped while out on my run this morning. 

how I feel when I run

a mighty oak - I love this tree

post-run and oh so happy!

a love sonnet by pablo neruda

This love sonnet by the Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, is some of the most beautiful writing I've read in a long time:

You will remember that leaping stream 

where sweet aromas rose and trembled,
and sometimes a bird, wearing water
and slowness, its winter feathers.
You will remember those gifts from the earth:
indelible scents, gold clay,
weeds in the thicket and crazy roots,
magical thorns like swords.
You'll remember the bouquet you picked,
shadows and silent water,
bouquet like a foam-covered stone.
That time was like never, and like always.
So we go there, where nothing is waiting;
we find everything waiting there.

winter weather is here!

There's no doubt that I'm a warm weather person, but I call Milwaukee home, and sooner or later cold weather always arrives. And arrived it did this weekend! It's cold again today, but it's a gorgeous, bright-blue sky kind of day. I'm determined not to let winter get the better of me this year. I went for my run this morning, and yes it was cold, but it was incredibly beautiful along the lakeshore. 

golden sunshine along
Lake Michigan

winter is here!

weekend exploring: Milwaukee

Winter weather arrived here in Milwaukee this weekend. We spent Saturday morning at the Milwaukee Public Museum and Sunday morning at Milwaukee's Discovery World. Both spots are fantastic destinations for an inquisitive three year old (and his parents!). We had friends visiting from Madison on Sunday, and their older daughter is Lucas's age. The two of them are buddies. It was a fun weekend taking in some indoor sights here in Milwaukee.

our little explorer at the
Milwaukee Public Museum

mesmerized at the
Discovery Center

flowerful friday

We've had incredibly warm weather this fall making for a unusually showy November garden. Colder weather is forecast for the weekend, and I *think* these are the last of this year's blooms. 

Summer colors even into November!

sunshine, tea, and a garden - a holy trinity

After being sick for a few days, this morning, I was able to sit out in the garden and enjoy a cup of tea. The sun was shining and the birds were singing, and everything felt right for a few moments.

sunshine, tea, and a garden -
a holy trinity, in my book

flowerful friday

We moved from Madison to the Milwaukee area almost 2 years ago. The first year in the house we didn't have a garden, and I felt like a huge piece of me was missing. So this year when I was able to get a garden going I was so thankful. 

We've had incredible weather this autumn so the growing season has been especially long. I just cut what I think are the last of my dahlias for the year. Bittersweet, but beautiful. 

from the garden -
red dahlias, blue borage, and orange nasturtiums 

pint sized

It's hard to believe that the little baby I wrote about in my last posts before taking a break from Inside the Pomegranate is now a inquisitive, active, and loving three year old. The time has gone so quickly, too quickly really. There have been so many times I wished there was an option to hit "pause," allowing me to freeze a moment so I could soak it in a little longer. 

Experiencing the world with my little boy is quite simply amazing. 

His imagination is inspiring! 

returning to inside the pomegranate

After a quite long hiatus, I've decided to resurrect Inside the Pomegranate. There's no doubt that my life is decidedly different than when I last posted, but I hope you join me on my new journey! We'll still be looking at those little things in life and holding them near and dear to our hearts. 

Running on the shore of Lake Michigan this morning -
What a beautiful way to start November!