☼ Forest & Field Happenings ☼

Gardening and harvest is winding down... a bit.  I still have a pretty long list of things to do in these final days... some potatoes to still dig, garlic to plant, holding out until the last possible moment before calling it with the eggplants, peppers, beets, carrots, & leeks.  I don't really want to think about the firewood.  I have been so busy in the gardens and the kitchen that I haven't found time to slip into the woods...until today.  DH offered to chainsaw anything that might be obstructing my trails but, before he lugged the chainsaw into the woods I needed to make an exploratory walk and assess what was needed.  I knew this old pine needed to be cut and it is near the house.  I was sort of dreading what I might find as to the state of my trails.  I am not sure I will have time to maintain them this year but, I was pleasantly surprised!  I think I can get by with very little brush cutting before the snow flies!  Also, only 3 spots for chainsawing and not in the way back part of the trails.  So here is a little explore down the too long neglected woods...though I am sure "they" don't feel neglected, except for, maybe, the Ravens.

The Ravens have returned to our woods from wherever they go for the summer.  They have been croaking and swooping at me for the past week or so.  I grabbed a handful of duck food to leave them below their nest.  But, they better hurry since it looks like a squirrel is occupying the stump I use to leave offerings!

~~Pausing & Seeing~~~ small beauties along the way.  Oh how, I have missed the woods and the slowing it brings to my busy self.  This time of year is a mix of worn down life as well as brilliant beauty.

Autumn

BY GRACE PALEY

What is sometimes called a   

   tongue of flame

or an arm extended   burning

   is only the long

red and orange branch of

   a green maple

in early September   reaching   

   into the greenest field

out of the green woods   at the   

   edge of which the birch trees

appear a little tattered   tired

   of sustaining delicacy

all through the hot summer   re-

   minding everyone (in   

our family) of a Russian

   song   a story by

Chekhov or my father on

   his own lawn   standing   

beside his own wood in

   the United States of   

America   saying (in Russian)

   this birch is a lovely

tree   but among the others

   somehow superficial

“We depend on nature not only for our physical survival. We also need nature to show us the way home, the way out of the prison of our minds. We got lost in doing, thinking, remembering, anticipating; lost in a maze of complexity and a world of problems. We have forgotten what rocks, plants and animals still know. We have forgotten how to be – to be still, to be ourselves, to be where life is: here and now.” -Eckhart Tolle

Pause & See ~~~Gratitude Part II~~~

I have a confession to make.  First I have a cold so low on energy.  I was sort of at a loss for today's Gratitude being under weather and all.  Plus, I began to think that my readers might be sick of me gushing on about my love of winter and snow.  I really am grateful for Robert Lax...but I don't think I did him justice in my lack luster post. While writing that post this morning Runa was by my side begging for a walk.  So I thought I would take just a little one and not bother with the camera....then I saw...

I went back to the house, took off my snow shoes, went inside, and got my camera!  So, again, I am grateful for winter and I am grateful for Runa who must have her walk.  There is no way I would have ventured out today feeling the way I do. But, I am sooooo glad I did. Why?  Because...

Pause & See

Queen Anne's Lace

At the end of most walks Runa "gets her tail" and I give her a treat each time she does.  It is her happy dance!

My Happy Face!

Still sick but on the mend.

Day Before the Nor'easter

This is the view out my window right NOW!  Things are starting to wind up for a pretty big storm.  It has been awhile since we have had any snow at all this winter so it is welcomed.  We are on the fringe of the worst of what is predicted and we are also very well prepared for this kind of event.  So enjoying the blizzard is the business at hand!

So a little wandering through my day.....

I started the day with soup making.  I love soup!  But I will admit to not caring much for cooking.  Daily cooking is in line with laundry, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathroom...sorry all you foodies.  My friends know that my favorite meal is the one someone else cooks.  I do like to eat and since my guy works very long hours and it easier, at this point, to not include the teen I do the cooking.  I try to find efficiencies in my cooking methods and creativity to liven up the process.  Soup suits these desires.  So first I have my palette...the pantry...my efficiency...no measuring.  

The Soup of the Day~~~Lentil Barley Curry

I start by dumping into an 8 quart pot some hulled barley then twice as much-ish of green lentils.  Fill the pot 3/4 full with water.  Then add about 5 to 7 chopped carrots, 2 chopped onions, crumple in some seaweed, and 

3 HEADs of Garlic.

Now the seasonings~Starting at the upper left~Curry Powder, Cumin, Oregano, and a really good squirt of Braggs.  Top off with water and let it simmer on the cook stove all day.

My boots are warmed up ~ time for a walk!

Just a bit of sun and mighty cold.

Quiet in the Woods

Saw a Pileated Woodpecker!

And got a photo!!

Thought this would be a good before photo~~~we will see what the storm brings...I will post again tomorrow...unless we lose power...possible with the predicted winds.

Spent the rest of the day working on fiber art~~FUN~~Reiki space as Art Studio!

Think it is time now to have a wee glass of wine, turn off all the inside lights, turn on the outside lights, and 

BE in a Snow Globe!

By the way...the soup was excellent...everyone fed and pleased...with ease!

Path Work ~ Search and Surrender

Today's walk started on the woods trails. I built these trails.  Except for an occasional bit of chainsaw work the trails are my project.  I keep them open and occasionally expand the network.  The trails work began when my son started Kindergarten.  I found I had a bit of extra time and I wanted trails.  I love to be and work in the woods.  I tend to stay on the path.  Today I was thinking of the idea of path. Why is that we tend towards this order and ease. I crossed the path of deer.  They too seem to stick to their repeated track.  Staying on track, follow your path, the path of least resistance....

I came to the were the trail ended in the field and decided it was time to turn off the beaten track.  A little wandering was warranted on this lovely day.  The walking conditions were very good the bit of snow was well packed and frozen. A turn....

As I wandered so did my thoughts.  I had no destination in mind just whichever way I could get though.  I saw a few interesting sights...

 a yellow leaf cradling snow

a captured pine cone

Then a thought came to me.  A couple of years ago when I had wandered off the trails I had found the remnants of a fort built by my son.  Not really a fort.  It was a pallet and a rope hanging off a branch.  I was surprised to find it then.  I thought I had known of all his doings in the woods.  But this was a secret place.  Today I wanted to find it.  It was a strong desire.  A mini obsession.  I just wanted to see it.  I know it must still be there.

I went though brush and had tree branches whack me in the face.  I zigged and I zagged.  I went one way then doubled back.  I set up a search grid.  I just wanted to see that little creation.  I craved that remembrance.  I was yearning for yesterday...

   I climbed over stone walls and then back again.  I wasn't going to give up.  It had to be there.  The woods are so open right now...how could I miss it?  I continued to search...

I finally came near the house and I stopped.  Tears rolled down my cheeks.  I took a breath.  I felt my feet touching the earth and came back to the present.  My son is just 18. He will be graduating this spring.  The teen years have not been easy.  Not bad, but not easy.  Before puberty it was bliss between he and I.  It was the most wonderful time of my life.  I have been telling my self that I am healthily detached from his impending leaving and I will NOT have the empty nest feelings.  It is as it should be.  But today, how I felt in the woods, pointed me to another path that needs to be created.  It is a bittersweet byway of joy and grief as my one and only child goes his merry way.  So I surrendered my search.  I will let that place in the woods be among his many secrets.  I am content with the knowledge that time did exists.  It is now, it is now, it is now....

Happy Trails