Being not quite in the forest in my new living space, I'm acutely aware of how much I soak up by returning to the trees. The last two days I've been called into unfamiliar places, but upon entering I remembered my belonging.
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The air shifts as the sun is filtered by leaves, trunks, and brush. It's cooler, more moist, and the smell is poignant. Perfumed with pine resin and warm summer loam, I breathe deeper in the forest. I feel my gait slow down and my senses sharpen. I being to notice details, like teeth on the leaves, and the shades of green dancing before me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9Ewhh_TQQnpAukXM51MnVIr6qe0IYH5LCvwofgbGOt9D4IIHdGeP46P6zUzQiAfp5HQZRLIdQ29FHAbDkQxZ9qKmUaIJKAt1-tM1tQoyidTyb7FykRr0XGfVWnxJN_skerxHRqApakVX/s320/100_4313.jpg)
I'm enchanted by the way the sun shines through the needles, as if today is the only day I'll see it shine just so.
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I'm teased by the shapes that could be wood or animal.
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I'm reminded of lineage at the rock walls.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiZEe5xHBEyxefM7nns1UeRFAy71ZWDQqT9KXeMsxVV_NkSodchFunnJmANfI1qy4fJbWB5E-KfQ1Rkb_0Pyn9JQ-RMu9jSNccoh9hKoAV6nPu3Ji8gXcnBszl1m3YVVLVBn-kAigholq/s320/100_4331.jpg)
I love everything about the forest. The smell, the mystery, the trees, bushes and forest floor plants. Everything right down to the dirt, cones, and litter.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDlmsEbJ-GQC-yzH_UX-OIK4NTF95L3Li-reEtDWcUsDR9qPkWqWq2CftIFfb0vcSD0rtPNLsV85PItFT6qG4W_LYTHrlajKfHhFh5-tlkouDuu4u11gbs69Z-Mg7ZBHxv8ZedXkzvujb/s320/100_4334.jpg)
The conifers are two-toned right now, as they don their shiny new tips. These white pine tips are excellent browsing for the wayward herbalist.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tmnFDSgpjs8-dn8CDUl4AGLm8_wiFNE562cGcUfOsEQ6_-VGIUQosfmSEchK3_PFNyTDsE-3Cx1lfvt61lA-McR3OlIY_v_WKwNFCv3hJkb5IKL93-t2fbZ8MfKMQQly9FTlL4ihVzFd/s320/100_4335.jpg)
Several of these tips soaked in vinegar provide a delicious source of bioflavanoids.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0U3thTvj1tl2XmNahFvrA4nuVbZ06ejExqw-VU_L02fr54OvvwoDd9dpUmRnyYLiEROa6GeK9pZzZlSo6KjOgwn1-5yCWxDy-hY6Me-GyJ0gNX_5880z529LLvpLdgJ3P0PU3CNv80XB/s320/100_4336.jpg)
I walked a little deeper into the woods, where there seemed to be a deer path just clear enough for me to follow. I could smell water and crushed sweet fern. The Mitchella carpeted this seldom trodden area.
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Even the rocks stir memories.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OY7SjYiVYydi86CyggARVt_qz2sESJoCbLgqjcEfQiL3rsM-L6nvDInZrFrP92p5TzidwQ5X2BqCcsIwQc8ZrvfRiM1wLZweOwChuMcTpIQzJ_dqO6FV0OncBh4PaAnfFTFxt527QPRj/s320/100_4339.jpg)
Being a smallish human, a large stick is always good to carry.
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The ferns are especially lush back here. Dappling the feet of the trees and inviting in fairy folk.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-Avew3PNpIC760NgLIkTvnSJuaZcOZm9IgHfiOpMu4ui5l4F6X3-zmnwEoaDF1gctAiZN6PR6rm4LYki-RQZOVcCwQdu3-7qphsQV1GauRIAHE_DNvx79_PDvRnpADZhqm85lXMXHxLC/s320/100_4344.jpg)
They cascade down the hillside towards the water.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMogwjSXqXics_l1CicDg6-PMKtVDpKh1X4dcMQg8Z_2WluvhQrYfB3n3Tb420Qd-kfu1q7Jhp9MaWYL8mxdym6rHTtacWo5mdFIBRvWJxjmtRwRjwy2hZ97flNY-rVSjICdb2ro2FHxz0/s320/100_4355.jpg)
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Wild blueberries everywhere.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUwrirmGzOc719dh_cVkl2f6AcDyLL6FBxxQHWu1eg0Nxw3CMYTDnL9VCZ1D-C9az7HBWLDd2x2Lw0FgvPQRAMAYFgPvu30wzc40-JZLjF-xG7ZpVOtfqf_NrGiLhVYyOC_0O_IAU8M5v/s320/100_4347.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpZ0Z5_B6d3prsQcLomY5OF5dIXvxI1tc0n2nBewDkFA5qra1Ig8zsWrj9hfgNj-OqlwEhcUhwrKMHd-3xxhB4Ei5k76-HrS-YEMY4Vx_lqG61jHdA0QCi2DnmajdDP4mw-11OY5JRliB/s320/100_4368.jpg)
Shapes only crafted by the trees themselves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKxC6D_zzEvQIY-9mtbPHxPZ0UzkHxtL9U3Nq4W5PVMVdgL6ToIECyeuOYYZy1cKzpVJoTZM-ilRm8nE2cTVSKlnRmNST41ijr_HrnFqukVOsBTzVrG2ol-zVAd1ZW_NUD5Sp7IndoQ4p/s320/100_4358.jpg)
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Tiny new lives are protected.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIHsUGF59HCBQ8ZNuuGMPHyc8Fw7slrLGjNzVkkQnFstJuFd1ybx-Tjhh6kaCHz26tRSqGtG5oVuNQFCg99R2GE2uzDTOw9DALaWlWaKC17iZtaz-PnNR01KS_FfqLBaPokXqsmx8NrlU/s320/100_4362.jpg)
New friends introduce themselves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GCUCEUg8Mm-7UlNMKElS9_ZI0ynbOylXe5plWZUvDBxMw6nGSpGLHpfr_Q5D95mIreyX8I3yYcp1v-r97DRu_Ok4Le_-0zLUjIO51H2kbpISGPtnauKywbMKIAw48krG0D6St0Lu1WAC/s320/100_4380.jpg)
Lifelong loves rendezvous.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHnEV8eT-_9-00wqzWK9mrwUFBDO7uvuPb7xAdd2IzqZJewF3LmOYBnU_RQC-hxOHeM_5c82YkB86jmBvtIFdJ7qWeXxrvZBIDgThHhyOMZ-vIErT6qO_wQKdEAkuuCyo9_YXu3Y-sLkI/s320/100_4400.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZoy4BgL5Xn6P4Fqr_DbQfSArWbDrtSvKoqcTfUgXvu6Uy0S6GzYq8H1Ze_bCng0vgYiZCUtrTeXKJBjoZIC6OQToWmoVbYsYj8IsV7P8kshClB5DEAtPAKiIz1VYO9UHc8bQgoYL9vIp/s320/100_4405.jpg)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPbbJbah6q7oyOAN-BKEYxZF2DKwIZSVE-dILoJc4JuDIGmAVbUwE2NOrh6C_jyDPl3IjGi7psmU3lPwCMs1cZjtpCJSY2BDVX_7t3wZOc7h6TvqxagbflZNB15TX6FowkXGmJS9ixrcF/s320/100_4412.jpg)
Far away the outline of the trees is deeply green against the fluffy clouds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmaRc1MJG1c3vlt8XJbe0ThiBiod6E3on8BKNwh7ofO9uQI0REkvUrrSs0W1xcv3xCQJ-zp9l8vSt2y2iqjWmqfT1JqBZ_jDHLXK-g2UqqKPf8W_GbBQH3bPhB5yPvIssiwH67mdVzOqL/s320/100_4320.jpg)
Sit spots in secret alcoves are my favorite place to accomplish my journaling.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPe60MJPLpANh_-AWga9H_OEbbrwzw0vp6AKTlsF6bqRtaG1D6YG52XpBRDYs9utVm_krdxbUoZS6mVHLrXV3CnG8En0jXHMlvN-72bYeHl6TUJOOghDiFC1KiD4WmYTOWqsNhSBTkKHR/s320/100_4415.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAsAz30HzGWB3HnLrAgZpCY0j455-mfJbtJWSHpOFlKPoWHbu4iWfwxwybh0BIR7tvs1cs9ovucTJK5jedvDBxqj9MeHThwtGQjCHIhndtEMeQNTqsJuLWzyTi-Dkuvv0I-AoipZE9K3N/s320/100_4417.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjj45aJ4Zl3WVPwfAjes1T4IjeYBvbp2dm41AStj7S3NyrADRVKSFXd0Nj5XDYbdR2ip4NViKZhEVHvSsL9iDZRx77QiAzu_ijZIvJgOAPefqqytAK9n096d2owCjtpYc6V_1ejdLShOH/s320/100_4418.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0e2aqSvZvjpuy8gos48YhccfxqXlgXdFH0gLJuTobz8QIrBZxtI-UwZ09kyBvHW3lYb3op0ChxEGGbffFJ5_-z_Wfe6JWVcOXb1mHwHXlzdyPueIA1rnN7IAGK-fjfCvL1fltKklsu_O/s320/100_4421.jpg)
I heart trees.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVhr163MOr7aAXm45SzGKhA_f6h2Yy7pFo7UoktungAbOJnsYHRFW2GnPSCxOOHWlatFy4kDZLVmuqNmrtU9v5qXIwQEMUWRe0nDefhmTJ_nWox-vWM50VriI7RJq1fs8jI3UsTAPjql4/s320/100_4423.jpg)
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