Mindful Wandering

03/31/2026

It has been a long time since I last posted. The deaths of my parents, one year apart, left me apathetic towards keeping up with social media, or my newsletters, as I once used to. I scaled back on offering walks, and paused selling my creatives. As anyone who’s lost a parent knows, grief is a personal thing that affects everyone uniquely. I have taken this time in the quiet to really take stock of my future. Though I face many years ahead without my parents, I also have many years to live life to the fullest. This means spending time with the people I love, making memories with my family, nourishing relationships new and old, paying attention to my mind and body when rest is needed, continuing time in nature, nourishing my creative self, and picking back up on unfulfilled dreams.
The biggest, scariest, and most exciting dream I’ve jumped into has been enrolling as a graduate student in the Master of Social Work program at UNH. It’s been nearly 30 years since getting my undergrad degree with the intent of someday getting to this point. Well, someday is finally here.
I’m only in my first year, so it’s hard to say where I will land just yet. My interest mainly lies in clinical work at the moment. I know for certain I would like to incorporate therapeutic expressive arts and mindful time outdoors into my counsel with clients, either one-on-one or in small groups. My background in fitness may also come into play, lending itself to helping people achieve their health goals. There are really many possibilities, and I’m open to all of them.

09/25/2025

Another trip 'round the sun, this makes 50. ☀️. Though I missed having Mom here to tell me my birth story (like ahe did every year) Dad singing to me, and my Aunt texting me--I am thankful for the people in my life who show me love and appreciation every day. Mom❤️ Dad ❤️Aunt Peggy❤️ Don

07/04/2025

Red, white and blue cake to celebrate what would have been Mom's 73rd birthday. Happy birthday in heaven, Mom. We love you. ❤️

06/22/2025

Had a blast making this bird feeder/ bird house while sipping a delicious blend of strawberry rhubarb cider at today! A big thank you to Kim Hanson of .studio for instructing this fun, relaxing, amazing workshop! 🙏⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ . It was a great way to be creative, connect with others, and be totally mindful. I'm excited to do another workshop or class again 😄

05/06/2025

Well, my friends, this past weekend was my first guided walk since my mother's passing 6 months ago. The invitation to co-guide again this year for the Milton NH Conservation Commission was exactly what I needed to begin the slow, gentle emergence from sequestered state of being. I am grateful to the Commission, to the participants, and to my co-guide Robin Schumaker for the opportunity to return to a practice that gives my life so much purpose. 🪶 I am grateful to the forest for taking me in, holding space for me. 🏞 I'm grateful to the rock that had stories to tell, and I'm even grateful for the light rain and breeze, that captivated our senses. 🌦
More to come, . 🫶

11/25/2024

My beautiful mother.

View Francine A. Cote's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

11/22/2024

It was one week ago today that my mom passed away after a 4 year battle with cancer. We are grateful that we had more time with her than we ever thought we would, and that she is no longer in pain. Mom knew where she was going and had made peace with that. The only thing she regretted was not being able to stay longer for us. I could fill a book, praising the virtues of this wonderful woman that call Mom, but I will keep it brief. Mom always had a smile and a kind word for everyone, and made an impact on everyone she encountered. She was a caregiver and an empath. She set the example of what it means to be a mother, and was the best grandma my boys could ever have had. Mom was an angel walking this earth, and I hit the jackpot, being born into my family, having her and my dad as my parents. She showed me so much love, so much care. So much of everything good. She was my first best friend in life.
Francine Adrignola Lawrence Cote. My mother. My mom. My friend. My guardian angel. My beautiful, beautiful mother. Beautiful inside and out.
💔

10/23/2024

There is something about the moon, isn't there? It's always there, even when we can't see it--either because of it's phase, or cloud cover. But it's there. Always moving through the sky. Always changing how it appears to our human eyes. When it reveals itself low in the sky, with such bright light and amber color, I am captivated. Enthralled, transfixed, I reach for my phone to try ro capture what I'm seeing. I could pull out the good camera, but it will take too long to get the settings just right. The moon moves too quickly, the color fades. So I take a few photos that don't nearly do justice to it's beauty, but at least I can capture some of what I'm seeing. I am simply grateful to see this. 🌗
🍁

06/24/2024

It’s been a little over 2 weeks since I returned from a 4 day retreat and workshop at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. I won’t say “life got in the way” of me writing this. Instead, life–my family–came first. Life *is* the way. And there’s also so much to share, where do I begin?

🌲I’ll start with what drew me to those 4 days at Kripalu; it was the workshop titled The Council of Water and Trees, led by the two most influential people in the forest therapy/forest bathing world. These two men are the celebrities (or “rock stars” as a friend calls them) of the field. M. Amos Clifford founded the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy programs back in 2012, and Micah Mortali founded the School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership in 2018. I’ve studied through both programs, and read their books: “Your Guide to Forest Bathing” by Amos and “Rewilding” by Micah. Meeting them and spending 4 days under their tutelage was a pretty big deal, to say the least!

🩵New friends were made, be they instructors, fellow guides, and those who want to deepen their connection to the natural world. That was our common bond. Where we lived, how old we were, where we are in life, where we are coming from, or where we are going, none of it mattered. We connected to each other simply through the mutual desire to cultivate and strengthen our individual relationships with the more-than-human world.

💞Leaving that group of people, and a place where no one looks at you funny if you hug a tree, it’s hard to describe the feeling of being held by an old orchard tree, and the connection I felt with that tree. How do I explain how those wide and low trunks, so easy to climb into and rest, reminded me of those who hold me most closely, and make me feel safe? Describing how I used my imaginal sense (in a very playful way), and piece of string, to converse with a mushroom might not be something that everyone will understand–and that’s totally OK.

🌟The experience left me reflective of a lot of things, most importantly, how important it is to carve out time for more reflection, introspection, community, and solitude. It’s self care. Self -care, with a smidge of growth that will hopefully flow into my guiding practice. I’ll wrap this up with a few of my favorite pics from those days!

06/18/2024

🌞The First Walk of Summer! 🌞
The next walk is being hosted by the Dover Public Library on Thursday, June 27th from 5:30—7:30 PM.
Registration is required, with a max of 15 participants, and is free! We will be in the woods for 2 hours without access to a bathroom. This program is for older teens and adults only. We will meet at Dover Community Trailhead located on Watson Road. Leave your pets at home. Bring a snack, a water bottle, and bug spray. *
UPDATE: Anyone can join! Dover Public Library card restriction lifted. Just 3 spots left as of this post edit:
https://dovernh.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/guided-forest-bathing-walk-with-aimee-dion-2/
See you there 😄

05/17/2024

: FREE Guided Forest Immersion Walk
Saturday, May 18, 2024 ; 10 am – noon
Casey Road Conservation Land, Milton
(at end of Casey Road off Governor’s Rd, near Rte 75 and Rt 16)
Optional: bring a portable chair or seat pad
Welcome: all who are comfortable in social silence
No pets please. Limited to 12 participants. To pre-register: email mcc@miltonnh-us.com
Sponsored by the Milton NH Conservation Commission