Home in the Forest
Our front porch view to the woods beyond was defined by large elephant size rocks to the south and a seventy-five foot fallen tree to the east. To the west a flatter large rock separated us from the forest and our van blocked our view west to the bend in the road. Within our yard we have about half a dozen tall tall oak trees; one has an oval knot like a big open mouth. When the wind blows thumb size acorns drop. If the hit the van there is a tremendous thunk.
Across the road is a path with steps made from the roots of trees that have collected dirt. We followed that path one afternoon and found in a bit of a clearing a grand archway made of solid rock with a smaller arch off to one side. It was breath taking! We walked along the rock wall a bit and found some great protected caverns where early man might have made homes. On the ground in one special spot we found tree snail shells!! A horse trail meanders around the rocks and disappears into the forest.
On another afternoon we walked along the road for several hours. We found the trail the horses use to ride from the Garden of the Gods to our Grand Archway. The road meandered through the forest going slowly down all the way to the end. The end was a wide spot and nothing more. There were two other paths along the road: one a grassy lane; the other a gated road.
We explored beyond the gate one day. A small merky pond sat very still. A dry stream bed ran off. We forded a creek that rushed along. Then we climbed a hill and walked till we came to a choice: continue up or walk down. We chose to continue up. We walked till the path was quite grown in then turned about and retraced our steps. Along the way we met a tiny reddish brown frog, a fast moving black and white skunk with his bushy tail swaying, a skinny dark slithering salamander, an elegant golden winged dragonfly, a brilliant orange butterfly and several tiny spiders sitting on their orb webs waiting for dinner.
We passed the time when not out on adventures with reading, puzzling, beading and playing scrabble. Meals were fun times too. We made pineapple upside down cake with fresh pineapple and corn flour. The brown sugar and pineapple syrup caramelized a bit stiff but it was very yummy. We also made corn cakes for breakfast that were so yummy with maple syrup. The pork stir-fry with snap peas served with ripe red tomatoes -yum. The little beef steaks served with a ginger salad and sweet potato sticks- yum yum!
Every day we had a smoke fire and every evening we had a small campfire. The burned baking pan became a fine fire box. Will strummed the guitar and Kathy kept beat. We sang songs and the coyote howled along; the insects buzzed and the birds called. As dark settled in the stars came out. We ended each day with a movie: When Harry Met Sally, Mr Summersbee, Grumpy Old Men.
Winds came up bringing colder dryer air our last day. Will slept in. Kathy wrote a bit. Watched the flowers dance and listened to a concert of birds and insects. It was time to pack up and head back down the gravel road toward civilization. We did enjoy our few days hidden away in the forest.
Today is a Good Day to Drive!
Van-Go
Sent from my iPhone
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