It’s easy to lose yourself in the woods, a stunt Camille practices often. We are ever grateful to Tami and Lyle for sharing their trails and trees.
ALWAYS THE SAME, ALWAYS NEW
The trails are so familiar one hardly need to look down at their feet, making it easy to note the unexpected.
A NICE DESTINATION
About two thirds of the way from our house to Stinking Creek, there is a knoll, an abutment of sorts that is populated with birch trees. When you stand next to one particular tree that Camille has named Carl, you have a 180 degree view of the flood plain and trees below.
A BENCH WITH A VIEW
In June, Tami, Lyle, Jason, Haruka, and a slew of other neighbors pitched in towards a cedar bench for Camille’s birthday. Now it sits on the knoll beside Carl with a view of the forest below.
LOOKING UP
Camille finds it cathartic to lie on the bench and gaze into the leafy world above.
A LACONIC GUY
Carl never has much to say, he just listens and chews on a stem with mantis egg case attached. Some say it looks like a cigarette.
WEB OF LIFE
Dodging spider webs is perhaps the most annoying part of being in the woods this time of year, yet if you take a moment to appreciate them you realize their beauty.
Camille wrote about Carl and her love of the woods in a post called, “My Friend, Carl”