into the forest I go

Hiking through forests without views used to be a means to an end with that end being popping out into a wide open meadow, or breaking out into a place with a view showing the trail leading to a mountain summit, or even exiting the forest to see a shimmering alpine lake.  I did not appreciate all that a long stretch of forest walking had to offer. Over the past few years my focus shifted! While I still enjoy the wide open meadows, mountain summits and shimmering alpine lakes, I now embrace being enveloped by a tree-lined trail where I can have that feeling of receiving a safe secure hug from nature.  My most recent watercolour painting above, shows my interpretation of "into the forest I go"!

John Muir the Naturalist says "into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul! 

Lately I enter the forest with my mind in chaos and exit with nothing but feeling cheerful clarity!

even when skating I can enter a forest

With that recent gigantic upswing in temperature, I went for what could possibly be my last skate of the season on local ice.  We will see what transpires in coming days at other locations.  On this day I made the most of my etching time while savouring every second.  The Ice Trail had not been swept nor flooded since the previous day or two yet it was still in great condition.    

The view while skating, of the shadows on the snow & ice, caught my attention!

Do you see what else also caught my attention?

look directly under the orange arrow

A Bald Eagle sat on the tree top for an extended period of time.  It remained there throughout many of my laps skating around The Ice Trail.  I was wishing I had my big camera with me. While I did have my jacket on with the faux fur lining the hood, I was not concerned this time like I was recently as I shared with you in my last post.

By the time I covered twelve kilometres, 

I had fully found my soul and my mind was filled with cheerful clarity! 

at Wyndham Carseland I can enter a forest

On this day, the road conditions driving southeast to Wyndham Carseland were summer-like yet the trails around The Provincial Park were winter-like and I was happy to see that. It had been ages since I visited this area, I was excited for what I might see on this birding outing.  

a male Downy Woodpecker

a White-breasted Nuthatch

a Black-capped Chickadee photobomb

a sweet surprise 

a Pileated Woodpecker

taking time to enjoy a hot beverage along with the sights & sounds

By the time I finished my beverage and two hours had passed, 

I had fully found my soul and my mind was filled with cheerful clarity! 

The dive home looked like this!

I live out there somewhere!

🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲

knitting

When I was not going into a forest, I worked on my cable knitting project!  I competed one slipper and after trying it on there was no doubt I would be keeping this pair.  Another hour is all that is needed to complete four more cable sections on the second slipper then bind off and stitch it up.  These slippers will come in handy this coming week.

Tease Time!

I strategically placed the yarn and one needle 

to cover the title, a word, and photo of my next project.  

Stay tuned!

Metaphorically speaking, 

when I am knitting and painting I am not going into a forest

 yet I am entering a place in my mind that turns chaos into cheerful clarity!