Tidepools and Wildflowers

Hello! My name is Gretchen. Welcome to my brand new blog. There’s that saying: “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” I’m going to go out on a limb (yeah, pun intended) and say the same is probably true for starting a blog. Also, it’s February 29th, so it feels like we’ve been given the gift of an extra day, and I reckon there’s no time like the present.

With thanks to Glennon Doyle and also Frozen 2 for the idea/mantra, I’m in the process of trying to do the “Next Right Thing”. This morning, that was going for a hike in the desert. After a little over 3 miles, I realized that this time last year, I was trying to overcome long haul covid, and I could barely manage two miles, very slowly, with breaks and generally a nap afterwards, so I’m incredibly thankful to be regaining my energy and stamina.

Wildflowers are beginning to bloom in the Sonoran Desert, and so are the Texas Mountain Laurels along the side of the road not far from where I’m currently living, The Texas Mountain Laurels smell a little like Grape Kool-Aid, but even better. Wherever you are, I hope you’re able to see or experience something beautiful on this Leap Day.

Texas Mountain Laurel