Still Golden

I went back to my beloved Wolsfeld Woods again this morning, so that I could bask in the golden light again. It was amazing how in just 2 days the woods had changed yet again. Most of the leaves are either at full color or have fallen. It was even more golden than on Thursday. Soon the trees will be bare so I am hiking there as often as I can while it is

Sleeping in the Forest

I thought the earth remembered me,
she took me back so tenderly,
arranging her dark skirts, her pockets
full of lichens and seeds.
I slept as never before, a stone on the river bed,
nothing between me and the white fire of the stars
but my thoughts, and they floated light as moths
among the branches of the perfect trees.
All night I heard the small kingdoms
breathing around me, the insects,
and the birds who do their work in the darkness.
All night I rose and fell, as if in water,
grappling with a luminous doom. By morning
I had vanished at least a dozen times
into something better.

— Mary Oliver

There was a steady rain of leaves falling gently from the high tree tops as I hiked. I’ve always wanted to photograph leaves falling and so far I haven’t managed a photo that really shows them falling. But yesterday when I was out photographing trees across the street from our house I saw a maple leaf that was actually rising above the tree tops. Caught by a passing wind, it flew higher and higher and I managed to photograph it. Cool, huh?

Maple leaf flying up above the tree tops

I took a different trail today in Wolsfeld Woods, one that I haven’t hiked for 20 years (yes I’ve been hiking these woods for more than 20 years now—it’s hard to believe that it’s been that long). To get to the trail one must hike down a steep hill, cross a stream (fortunately dry this time of year) and then climb a very steep hill that lets you look out from up high on Wolsfeld Lake.

Wheeee….

Because the trail was so steep and full of loose rocks and acorns under the leaves I did something I hadn’t ever thought I would do. When it was time to return down the hill I sat down and scooted down on my butt.

It was fun. When I told Jon about being glad that there were no witnesses to my trip down the hill he laughed and said, “Well if you had come across someone you should have said WHEEEE as you scooted by.”

This was my view near the bottom of the hill. Note the pile of leaves I accumulated on the way down.

Lots of families were heading out on the trails as I hiked back to my car. I was thankful that I had gotten out to the woods early as I think these woods will see lots of visitors today. What a blessing it is to be able to hike in beautiful places like this.

Imagine, soon the woods will be silent and all of the branches bare. It will be six long months before the trees wake up and grow new leaves. Still most of the trees, squirrels and birds will survive the long cold winter to awaken again in the spring. Life is truly wondrous and full of ordinary miracles.

I hope you find time to hike under the trees while they are still golden. It’s magical!

May you walk in beauty.