Into The Woods

Just behind our house is the forest.  The land drops off and we walk down, down, down to get to the bottom where we are surrounded by forest.

At the very bottom there is a small pond -- but the journey to get there is what its all about.  For there are any number of things to see if I look carefully.  The other day I came upon these red mushrooms -- a blast of color in a world of green and brown.

There is a bench there but sadly a southern forest in the summer is no place to stand or sit still. Things are crawling and buzzing and 'alive'.  Its better to keep moving.

Do you suppose the fairies dance in this bed of ferns?

Time to head back up the stairs and leave this deep forest in its mystery.

"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness." - John Muir

Another Pond

 [NOTE:  Debra   of "Moonie Bean Folkart is the winner of the first 'Whisper" doll.]  

This summer brings yet another small pond to the original pond outside my studio window.  Having a wetlands ecologist in the family is quite nice. 

Originally there was one pond where the frogs sat sunning themselves.  Then another smaller pond was added to let water fall into the original pond.

Now there is a third pond installed.  New plantings have been added and the sound of the water moving from one level to another is even more delightful.

This beautiful spot is perfect for practicing the following quotation.

"When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?" - Ralph Marston

Quietude

This is the quiet time.  Only a slight tune from the chimes by the front door will break the silence.

The croaking frogs are gone, or burrowed into the mud for the winter.  They didn't leave a forwarding address so I hope they find their way back to their pond this coming spring.

The trees are bare although they still stand tall and straight in the midst of the worst storms.

The only noise I hear on this back path is the sound of acorns crunching underneath -- which of course tells all the creatures in the woods that I am wandering around.

"You do not need to leave your room.  Remain sitting at your table and listen.  Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked,  it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet." - Franz Kafka

Spring is on the way

Do you know what you are seeing here?  This is a sure sign that Spring is coming -- soon.  These are LOTS of frogs eggs in the little pond outside my studio window.  Tadpoles will soon be swimming - frog croaks will soon drown out my studio music - and I will be ever so happy.

"Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes." - Carl Friedrich Gauss

Come Visit Me

 

 

Won't you come visit me - here in my little nest?  Our front door is always open but we could just as likely sit here and have a cup of tea together.

Or we could check out the pond which is just outside my studio.  Often the frogs are croaking there, or jumping into the pond as my footsteps get nearer.

There are lots of little niches here in this place.  Rocks and moss and all manner of green. 

So come on, let's sit and visit and share our lives together.

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." - Marcel Proust

Do You Believe in Fairies?

I do!!  They must be there, although I’ve never actually seen one.  Sadly I am left to try to make some sightings of my own.

When I walk on the edge of the woods I see this.  Is this not the perfect place for a fairy or two to hide out when I approach?

 

Do they come to the pond to look at their reflections?  I know my husband says that it’s only the frogs that I hear jumping back into the water when I arrive, but I’m not quite so sure.  If only those frogs could talk (other than the non-stop croaking they seem to be so fond of).

Isn’t this leafy, fern grotto just perfect for an afternoon romp – is that why the ferns seem to move at my approach – because the fairies are running for better cover as I arrive?

 

As evening comes my husband says “look at the fireflies”.  I look at those blinking lights darting here and there.  I’ve never seen a firefly up close (I tried unsuccessfully as a child to catch them in bottles) so I can’t absolutely vouch for the fact that those aren’t fairy lights.  If they must be fireflies then perhaps they are the carriers of the lanterns for the fairies?

Have I convinced you?  I hope so, because I think everyone ought to believe in something magical, mystical and beautiful.

"The fairies break their dances
And leave the printed lawn."

- A. E. Houseman

Promises

As we move into spring I'm relishing in the promise that this time of the year provides.  There is promise in this still unfurled fern.

There is promise in the brilliant, spring green of these grasses.

These azaleas have already completed their promise by blooming in great profusion.

And down at the pond the sun shines on the water while frogs plop loudly into the water at the sound of my footsteps (no matter how quietly I try to go).

I hope in your little corner of the world you are seeing signs of spring promises.

"Spring has returned.  The Earth is like a child that knows poems." - Rainer Maria Rilke

Goodbye Summer

Summer days – discovering a hidden waterfall by traveling up a ribbon of long and winding pavement. There was Shunkenwauken Falls, right along the road. The water pouring over the rocks making a warm summer day seem cool and tranquil.


Summer days - A multitude of frogs living in a small pond outside my studio window. My in-house biologist/ecologist contributed this picture of resident “Big Bubba”. DH has the knack of walking right up on the frogs whereas when I approach all I get are plop, plop, plop as they jump back in to the water.

And so I bid goodbye to summer by walking behind the waterfall at Bridal Veil Falls. There is nothing more welcome than a waterfall on a summer day.

Goodbye sweet summer and welcome fall!

"The summer song sings itself." - William Carlos Williams