A Walk in the Woods

Off the beaten path on Dunroamin Farms. This photo was taken last fall. Our leaves haven't yet begun to change this year.

I have an admission to make. I'm not what you would call an "outdoors kinda girl". I love nature. I think it's beautiful. And somewhere in my most inner core I feel the tug of it quite often. And each and every time I have these feelings I tell myself I am going to start responding to them. But then I start to think of things like snakes and mosquitoes and sweat and I talk myself out of whatever outdoor adventure I was preparing to begin.

Today, John and John-Heath wanted to take a walk throughout part of the farm and they invited me to join them. I gave in. All my usual excuses were missing. There was a delightful chill in the air, which hung heavy with moisture. I figured it was a good day to walk through the woods and NOT see a snake, get bitten by fifteen mosquitoes or sweat. So I went. And I couldn't be happier that I did.

We walked on cleanly mowed paths through pastures and not so cleanly kept trails in the woods. The woods were especially lovely and I felt a certain amount of guilt that this was the first time I had ever walked through this particular section. I have lived on this farm for, give or take, 22 years.

John-Heath packed the front pocket of his hoodie with as many hickory nuts and acorns as it would hold, as he fearlessly led us along our journey. He also delighted in pointing out snake holes and snake caves to me any time there was a slight indentation in the ground.

When we finally made it back around to the pond closest to our house we sat on its bank eating some of the hickory nuts we had gathered along the way while watching John-Heath try his hand at skipping stones. It seems he prefers to just throw a whole handful in at once.

I'm looking forward to another little walk in the woods. So long as it's still too cool out for any cold-blooded animals.

Have a great week, everyone!