I recently returned from a writing retreat in Old Forge, NY, in the midst of the Adirondacks. I hadn’t experienced this part of our country before. So serene and so beautiful. Nothing like a good ol’ outdoor sabbatical to get your soul moving. I captured this sunrise after hiking up a small mountain with my new friends Susan and Ray. The white stuff that looks like snow is actually fog lingering above the lake.

We paused on top of a rock, looking out at this splendor. And breathed.

Speaking of breathing, just as breathtaking were the loons. These amazing birds are excellent swimmers, divers, and even fliers. They typically go on land only to mate and incubate eggs. Later, they carry their babies on their backs to keep them warm. What’s most fascinating I think though, is these duck-like birds communicate across the lake waters with their eerie language. We would sit on the dock at night and catch their conversations. Take a listen and experience a piece of my soulful sojourn. Thank you Susan Kranz for your beautiful loon photography.