Old haunts...

Been trying to ride my bike everyday that I can.

This morning I went down into the Boy Scout camp where I use to walk Griff

and had a nice meander through the trails.

We always used to stop at this big old fir tree...

Is it slightly wonky to say hello to a tree?

 I do anyway..."hello old friend".

And indeed it is old...probably 300 or 400 years old.

"What have you seen growing here?"

"I'm sure you've seen your share of windy nights and lovely sunrises.

This year we had a terrible drought...did you ever witness one like that?

I imagine you've had many hands touch your rough coat and stare up in awe at your size.

To city kids you would be as tall as a 5 storey building.

To me you're as lovely as always."

I stopped to admire the quietness of the marsh as well...

The birds are still singing, some getting ready to migrate to other, warmer places.

I feel so grateful to have these places just outside my door.

Lucky to have the leg power to get there as well.

And always I am eternally thankful to have walked these places many mornings

with Griff by my side.

It just makes these places all the more sweet and precious.

Wordless Wednesday...



Feeling small, looking big...

I feel there are some places you should take kids.

Sacred ground.

Areas of miracles and wonder.

On my camping trip with the girls, not only did they

stand at the edge of Vancouver Island,

but I also wanted them to see a place of great importance.

Avatar Grove is a small stand of ancient trees, which was in the

path of the logging companies but was saved by various groups

of those who believe in conservation.

 They scrambled through the woods and I told them how old some

of these trees are...thousands of years old.

Maybe not now, but one day they may grasp the concept of the great trees...

...hopefully they add this place to their list of places of sacred ground.

But for now, they had seen the trees, it was hot and they and Griffin

 just wanted to find a place to cool off.

We found just the spot under the high bridge over Gordon River.

This beautiful swimming hole, all but deserted was the perfect spot, except for one thing...

No, not piranhas! The water was FREEZING!!

Straight from the mountains, this river will take another month to warm up.

Griff was pretty happy though, he'll swim in any temperature!

All in all the trip was a joy.

Filled with new discoveries, old friends, giant salmon berries

and loads of love.

(see you in a week!)



Others thoughts on giants...

  A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship.  But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.  Every hidden cell is throbbing with music and life, every fiber thrilling like harp strings, while incense is ever flowing from the balsam bells and leaves.  No wonder the hills and groves were God's first temples, and the more they are cut down and hewn into cathedrals and churches, the farther off and dimmer seems the Lord himself.  ~John Muir

  It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.  ~Robert Louis Stevenson

 The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing which stands in their way.  ~William Blake

 Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money.  ~Cree Indian Proverb