This spot of enchanted forest is the new view from my back door — once the tree-cutting crews came through to make a right of way for a power line. I was really upset about the losses at first, but now I am starting to see that the beauty is still there. Sometimes I’m even able to appreciate the gaping hole in our forest, noticing, for instance, how I can appreciate the sunset for much longer now that there is nothing impeding the view.
Usually not. But sometimes I manage it.
Anyway, I’ve had more than the usual opportunity recently to observe the views here. I’ve been limited to whatever I can see from inside the house for the past several days. My illness, which I’d imagined as nearly finished, completely wiped me out last week. I’m still pretty weak.
And then, the very day the flu took a turn for the worse, my computer died. Well, it turns out it’s only the screen that’s died, and luckily for me, F. is very handy with computers. Still, it was rotten timing.
Basically I was on standby for a while there, in all senses of the word.
Coming back from standby, though, you suddenly appreciate your everyday, normal life so much more. Just stepping outside to greet autumn in full swing is a delight.
What a privilege it is to revel in the crunch of pine needles underfoot, to breathe in and be able to smell the neighbor’s woodsmoke, the scent of pine sap in my cat’s thick, black fur, to have a fat rust-colored leaf brush my hair as it spirals down to join its fellows. What a wonder, to look up into a golden tent and hear the wren’s concert live from the crooked branch.
What a miracle, to be able to walk into the amber and scarlet and blue tapestry that I’ve only been able to glimpse from the bedroom window for so long. It really is like having a wall-hanging spring to life, three-dimensional, all of a sudden. The effect reminds me of the scene in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, when the painting of the title ship is suddenly moving, her sails creaking, her crew at work on deck, through a sea whose waves soon spring up to drench the children observing all this in the bedroom where the artwork hangs.
The only response I seem capable of at this moment is deep gratitude. I take so much for granted.
Including my connection to you. I’m thankful you’re here, and I want you to know how touched I was to receive all those get-well wishes. Y’all are lovely.
I’ll probably take a few more days to recover properly and then try to return to a more regular posting schedule. Until then, here’s wishing you an awareness of the wonderful details of your everyday, normal life that you usually take for granted. May you take joy in your life as it is now!
Namasté, y’all.
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Take care of yourself Meredith. The smell of wood smoke and scent of pine sap sounds divine.
Susan Tiner´s last blog ..Gray Kitty Gets his Wish!
It is divine! Thank you for the kind comment, Susan.
Beauty is a funny thing – it is always there, in everything, but we can’t always see it until the light shines on it and eluminates it for us!
Feel better and take care!
So true! Thanks so much for the good wishes.
Your view is enchanting!We’ve Lost some trees at my school in the name of “progress”. School Improvement committee wants to make a desert landscape and to save water. I miss the trees
and almost climbed one to protest…but I work there and must conform. ACK!!! Hope you feel better soon.
gemma´s last blog ..
I know exactly the feeling you describe, Gemma. I’m afraid I made myself rather a nuisance for the crews hired to do this job. They were cheering the downing of trees while I sat inside and wept over each crash, feeling each cut as a murder. I sometimes wonder, what are we progressing toward?
Glad you enjoyed the view. I’m still getting used to it.
That’s such a painterly photo! I’m glad that the tree-cutting didn’t ruin your forest… I’m sure the trees in that picture are delighted to have more room. I can relate to being under-the-weather and cabin fever. I just spent a lot of time worrying about serious illness, had surgery, and discovered that my diagnosis was pretty mild after all. Sometimes I’m glad for (a little) suffering — when it makes us look around with wonder at the good things.
Eliza´s last blog ..How to Finish the Fall Garden
I like your adjective, Eliza. Painterly. Very nice.
That is one thing I console myself with, that the remaining saplings and young, crowded trees in the interior are now reveling in their excess of sunshine, nutrients, and water, all that space for their roots to spread.
I’m so thrilled to hear that your diagnosis was mild and the surgery went well. A little suffering goes a long way, don’t you think?
I love that scene in Voyage of the Dawn Treader. So glad you are feeling and able to walk out to hear the wrens sing and crunch the pine needles under your feet.
Our neighbors took down ALL of the trees on the other side of our fence last year – changing a lovely view from the windows – a view with no other houses in sight – to a view of a roof, power lines, and street lights. I’ll never really get over it.
Ginny´s last blog ..Be still and be present
Ginny, I love that whole book! It’s probably my favorite of the series — although The Horse & His Boy runs a close second.
I’m so sorry about your view. People do these things so thoughtlessly sometimes, and I have difficulty understanding it. Sounds like it might be time to grow a nice vine to froth over the top of your fence, to at least lift your spirits when you look that way…
Meredith, your view from the back door still has plenty of beauty in it. I’m glad your dastardly flu has finally subsided. I hope you’ll be back to full strength soon, I hate that weak and wobbly feeling after a flu!
Curbstone Valley Farm´s last blog ..Cotoneaster franchetii
I’m glad you think so, Carol! My interior perception still views the whole area with some shock.
Weak and wobbly is exactly how I’ve been for the past couple of days. Still, anything’s better than stuck in bed!
Sorry to hear that you are under the weather Meredith and wish you a quick recovery. Being able to step outside again is tonic in itself
Aw, thanks, Anna. You are so right about the healing powers of the natural world outside!
Good to see you at the top of my blogroll!
I’m glad you’re feeling better.
And that picture? Magical!
Renee´s last blog ..Owed to Autumn
Glad I could spice up your blogroll, Renee.
Hopefully I’ll be doing so more regularly any minute now…
Meredith,
What a gorgeous view..what beauty filled words..thank you for sharing! I believe in magic..and this was a beauty filled snippet of magic for me today…
My butterflies celebrate…
I love the thought of ‘stand by’..kind of like winter..and then your gratitude for all that you are able *to* see..
Joy´s last blog ..The Gift…
So sweet of you, Joy. Your words are magic, too, you know.
That forest blows my mind. So different from what we have over here!
Keep resting, would love to see you back, but take your time
I’ve had my mind blown by views from the Australian garden/nature bloggers, too, Merrilee. Makes me long to visit one day…
Thanks for the encouragement to take my time to get over this thing. The illness seems to have left me little wiggle room to choose to do anything else.
Cool picture and nice view. Since my backyard neighbor cut all his trees down, we get to watch his kids bounce on the trampoline.
Hope you feel better. jim
jim groble´s last blog ..buttoning up the back yard
Oh, Lord, Jim, that doesn’t sound good. And kids need trees ever so much more than they need trampolines.
Ah, well, at least you have a great attitude about it!
Namasté, Meredith. You are lovely, too. Take good care of yourself. xo
Lynn´s last blog ..Favorite veteran- ships cook- and Veterans Day
Aw, thank you, dear Lynn. Sending you a virtual hug.
That really is a gorgeous view!
meemsnyc´s last blog ..A Fall Surprise!
Do you think so, Meems? Well, that makes me feel better. I think in this case I cannot see the forest for the [missing] trees.
Hi Meredith .. sometimes these things just knock us .. but your little bit of forest heaven looks glorious .. and exactly .. may we take joy in what is now .. Thanks – & recover properly! Not an easy thing .. this recovering business .. have a peaceful and quiet weekend .. Hilary
Hilary´s last blog ..Tales- Sagas- Stories we can glean from our vegetables
Hilary, that’s exactly how I try to approach it. Whatever is now… it’s my job to be awake and see the beauty in it as is.
Thanks so much for the well-wishes!
When the scars heal…there’s a new beauty.
Lovely to see you, Meredith. Gratitude for all – even the difficult moments – is a great gift to the soul.
Talon´s last blog ..Perché
Talon, your poetic soul is evident even in your comments. I hope I have leave to quote you on this one. Thanks for your encouragement and beautiful words.
Dear Meredith, The view which you show here looks exceedingly magical to me. It is lovely how the light filters through the leaves and, although still densely planted, there is a lightness to the woodland which encourages exploration.
It is so true that when one has bouts of ill health or misfortune, it makes one doubly appreciative of the simple pleasures of evryday life. Take care of yourself and we look forward to your regular postings in due course.
Edith Hope´s last blog ..Spinneys Not Spinets
Dear Edith, this wood does encourage exploration, just as you imagine. Most of it is young and dense, like this, but what you cannot see in the picture is how it is crisscrossed with paths — some of them of my own making.
I’m pleased, though, that you can see the magic there.
Thank you for the well-wishes!
Take all the time you need to recover fully, Meredith! That image certainly does feel magical and enchanted…such inspiration! I admire your outlook on finding appreciation in your ‘new’ view after the work crews were done….I’m taking a little longer to appreciate a new perspective since the trees behind our fence were cleared. I so miss the chorus of birds in the early mornings.
Love, light and peace,
Serena
Serena´s last blog ..Coming Up Daisies
Serena, you are so kind. Thank you.
I can totally understand your inability to find the new perspective that suits your new views since your wild area was completely removed from the neighborhood, the heavy machinery taking even the birdsong. It still hurts my heart to remember that beautiful nest, gone forever. You’ve suffered a terrible loss there, honey, and you have my sympathy.
Hi, Meredith: so sorry you’ve been so sick! You’ve had a tough time of it recently. I agree that a bout of illness or bad fortune will certainly help you to appreciate “normal” a lot more. Relax, enjoy the fall, get well! We’ll be here waiting for you when you return.
I think I have had a tough time of it recently, Kathy. But I guess we all go through seasons. Life’s “weather” is constantly shifting, it seems to me. I’m working on being like the tree who stands still and takes sunshine and storm with equal graciousness.
You’re so sweet to say you’ll be waiting for me when it’s all back to normal. Thanks for that!
we went through this with our yard. sigh. we live on a parkway.
feel better my friend.
oh i miss you so very much.
xoxo
Oh, Christina, I’m so sorry to hear that. The trees seem to be under assault, just from reading the comments…
Thank you for your kind words.
Glad you are feeling better (ish) and are back blogging – great pic. Love the pastel shades…
David Macaulay´s last blog ..Bored shiftless by Katy Perry
Each day is more better(ish) than the one before.
(Even though I am now internally cringing at my own bad grammar.)
Thanks for your welcoming words, David. I look forward to getting back into the saddle properly.
Sometimes life has a way of making you take a rest. Don’t look at it as rotten luck, look on it as a natural pause. Relax, kick back, drink a beer and let time slide past unhindered…
The Idiot Gardener´s last blog ..To fart- or not to fart that is the question!
IG, you are so right. Minus the beer. I’m one of those weirdos who can’t stand the stuff. (Can you imagine? Probably not.
) I’ll be glad to take all your other advice, though.
Welcome back long time not see.
desk49´s last blog ..The Wedge-
Hello, Ellis! Same here. I’ve been out of the blogging loop for so long, it’s a pleasure to see all of you again.
A LOVELY image my friend ….. I hope you get better soon!
Kerri´s last blog ..Autumns Pallet
Thank you, Kerri, for that compliment. It means a lot coming from a photographer of your caliber. Oh, and thanks for the get-well wishes, too.
This looks like such a beautiful view. I love the haziness of it. (Though I know how sad it is to lose a particular view. Two giant trees were chopped down from in front of my parents’ house once. It still doesn’t feel the same.)
I hope you are feeling better very soon!
Elizabeth´s last blog ..perhaps the gods are a sleepy orange