Category: forest living
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Visit from Spirit Animal
We put a bird feeder right outside our sitting room window. I suppose watching the birds is a form of mediation for me. This has been a tough winter. Lots of snow. Lots of cold. I enjoy offering food to our winter residents–chickadees, nuthatches, titmouse, downy woodpeckers, and the occasional blue jays and cardinals. In…
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Keystone Plants
The term ‘keystone plant’ has been popping up in my reading and in my native plant research. Keystone plants are native plants that form the foundation of an ecosystem. These plants are essential for the lifecycle of many species. They support a high percentage of caterpillars, insects, and birds. Fourteen percent of native plants support…
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Wonder
In a moment of quiet as I gazed out the back window, the word ‘wonder’ came to me and the hymn: I wonder as I wander out under the sky And wonder is my word of the year. As a gardener, when I stop with my list of garden tasks and simply stand or sit…
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Winter Pays A Visit
A winter storm blew through last night and into this morning. The snow bands have moved on though the wind is still blowing. The treetops, and sometimes the entire tree trunk, sway as the wind blows past. I can hear the wind as it makes its way through the forest to get here then blow…
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Keeping Christmas
We are in a quieter season of life and we keep a quieter Christmas. We put up the tree, artificial now, and decorate with ornaments the kids made and with ornaments we’ve collected or we were gifted through the years. A wreath at the front door and a nativity scene above the fireplace. The house…
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Embracing Winter
Winter has begun. Though it has felt like winter since the end of November. A few feet of snow on the ground and below freezing temperatures. Winter began a bit early for me though I am happy I got most of the garden tucked in for winter. I added a horse manure/shavings mix to work…
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Golden Hour
It is that time of year when the light turns to gold. The sugar maples filter the sun and we are bathed in the soft light of autumn. The backyard is a tapestry of yellow, gold, and still some green. I was afraid we would lose a lot of color after a rainy and windy…
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That Rainy Day Feeling
I love those days when it is softly raining. Maybe a bit of thunder. I’ve been able to enjoy many of those days this summer since it has been wet. We’ve had all day rains. Spotty rain. And torrential rain. And living in a forest the rain is loud. I enjoy staying in on rainy…
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A Different Point of View
We went fishing with a friend early one morning. The stars were still out and Lake Michigan was glassy smooth. Heading out of the harbor, I leaned back and watched the blanket of stars move slowly overhead. I felt part of something much bigger. And at the same time, with the sound of the boat’s…
