Head of the creek...

We walked the trail from the lake to the freeway, in search of a geocache, but also to explore this tiny new park that links an old homestead site to a huge trail and open space system. We were obviously not the only humans this young buck has come in contact with... he was very curious, and seemed happy to pose for me.

Along the Cedar...

In between rain showers, we walked along the river near Landsburg. There are amazing things in the woods, if you take your time and look, really look. Like the shapes hidden in the green.




Faint stripes in the trillium petals, the first one I've seen this year.

An Oregon wood snail, crawling across the tree roots.

And really big cat tracks in the mud.

Skimmer...

A walk through an open space park in the Green River valley with my Aussie relatives today. We walked, and waded into the blackberry patches to eat ripe berries, and climbed a wildlife viewing tower that was seriously creepy for the height-challenged. But the coolest thing was when DW spotted this beautiful dragonfly, one we've never seen before. It looks a lot like the 12-spotted skimmer that's found on the east coast. Beautiful, isn't it?

Recovering...

Today was an easy day... which I felt was deserved, after five days of hiking. I slept in (until 7:00) and looked out the windows at the yard (and the weeds that just won't stop sprouting), did a little bit of quilting, and caught up with blog posts and photo editing.

My list of things to do keeps getting longer, but I just can't keep out of the woods and off the trails. Is there anything better than letting your feet take you exploring in a new place?

Secrets shared...

My current favorite local park has become my new favorite place to go wander with my camera. It's an open space that surrounds a small lake, and it's a great place to stretch my legs. The park is full of native trees... towering firs and hemlocks, massive cedars, maples and alders, vine maples, and spiky hawthorns.

Because I live nearby, and drove past this acreage for years before the city started buying the land, I know where the farmhouses and barns once stood. So I understand the reason why there are so many pockets of non-native trees: the oaks, the fruit trees, the camellias and other ornamental shrubs that once surrounded farmhouses and barns.

The knowledge is like a secret I share with the land. I like that.

Balls of moss...

We took DW's mom to lunch today, to our favorite hangout... a local bar & grill that's been on the same corner since I was in high school (and probably a lot longer). On the way home past Clark Lake, DW dropped me off at the corner, and I ran into the park for a quick cache. I only took a pen and my camera; the hint (Hawthorn tree) is all I need to find this one.

This tree stands alone on a grassy slope that was once a horse pasture. As I walked down the hill, I was so glad I brought my big camera:  the tree still has a lot of red berry clusters, and is studded with beautiful balls of spiky moss.

The tree looks like it's decorated for Christmas. Beautiful.