Among the trees
“I am at two with nature.”
– Woody Allen
Can it be that September has come to the world so soon? I feel as though August has only just begun, yet Autumn lurks just beyond sight to claim the greens to golden, and frosty mornings soon will be upon us once more. The Summer of Two has been a wonderful and thrilling time for my lady fair, with all of the essential pieces in their place. Zoo trips, complete with merry-go-rounds. Playgrounds, tricycles, birthday parties, and pools. . .Along with such tasty treats as snowballs, watermelon, popsicles, and ice-cream. All of these have contributed to what I believe was a shining season in her world.
New experiences each have been embraced with all the intensity and thoughtlessness that only can be found in one so young. The summer has been full, and there still remains a week or two in which to squeeze a few more summertime moments before fall is upon us for true. . .Of all the adventures we’ve had this season, there remains one that she comes back to time and time again. One bold and bright favorite that stands alone in her mind as the very best thing to do on a sunshiny day. It comes for free, in ample supply, and we need only drive 3 minutes to find it. . .It is the simplest and most basic of them all. Nature.
Not a single day goes by in which T doesn’t ask if we can go for a walk in the forest, or go play in the river. We’ve been to our local woods so often this season that the trees know us by name. And if we get more than our fair share of mosquito bites, well thats okay too. . . because I agree wholeheartedly. Like my daughter, I also am of the opinion that the forest is the place to be. . . it doesn’t get any better than toes in the river and a picnic lunch.
These images capture a very special place. When I was small, my father brought me and my brother to these same woods often. It brings me great joy to have the opportunity to share this place with her. It is one of the few places that has remained virtually unchanged since my own childhood, and I am thrilled that she loves it every bit as much as I always have.
Being in the woodlands leaves me feeling breathless, small, and at peace. Nothing brings God so close for me than immersing myself in His creation. The day-to-day ceases to exist, and for a time we can play and breathe. . .and just be. And it is so good.
Huginn, Muninn, and me 