I Hope You Dance ...

“I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’
Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it's worth makin’
Don’t let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin’ out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance …”

               ~ “I Hope You Dance”

     ~Written by Tia Sillers & Mark Sanders

               ~ Recorded by LeeAnn Womack

                            ~2000                                               

The light of sunset dances on a beautiful mute swan spreading its wings on the chilly waters of Lake Muhlenberg on a November evening at Cedar Creek Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The Magic Of Winterberry Days ...

“The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.

O, the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flowr’
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our dear Saviour.

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good.

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as the gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.

The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.”

                                   ~ “The Holly & The Ivy”

                           ~ Traditional British Folk Carol

Beautiful Winterberry Holly is a magical bright burst of red coloring a gray December day at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, just in time for Christmas!

In the shadow of the Kittatiny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain, The Lehigh Gap in Slatington, Pennsylvania, is a crossroads where the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s trails connect two historic trails – the Appalachian Trail and the Delaware and Lehigh Heritage Corridor Trail (D&L Trail). 

The Appalachian Trail, a foot path, follows the ridge on both sides of the Lehigh Gap, running 1,245 miles south to Georgia and 930 miles north to Maine. Running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, the D&L Trail passes through the Lehigh and Delaware rivers and their canals in Pennsylvania.

Frost Fire ...

“If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars.”

                  ~ Rabindranath Tagore

                                     ~ 1861-1941

The brilliance of a fiery February sunset glimmers across a frozen Leaser Lake in the shadow of the northern Blue Mountain Ridge, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania.

I captured this shot of shimmering winter beauty on a quiet, chilly evening at the lake.

Leaser Lake’s namesake is Frederick Leaser, who in September 1777 with his farm team hauled The Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown where it was concealed in Zion Reformed Church. His homestead is located one mile north of the lake.