Growing up in Small Town Maine, I really enjoyed the solitude of visiting nature trails frequented only enough not to grow over. There are nature trails and parks in Dallas, but no guarantee of solitude; plus, man-made nature isn’t really nature. Spend a few moments with me as I reflect on moments in a rustic state …

·            The slow trickle of melting snow joining the larger stream

·            The smell of dry leaves and humid air under the forest canopy

·           The way a sapling can split a boulder

·           Watching river water detour in an eddy … there goes a beaver!

·           The wind carries news of distant burning leaves through the oak trees

·              I think that squirrel is mad at me

·              Hop-scotching over mud and puddles

·           Wolf tracks!

·             Inspecting tiny wild flowers for all-too-often overlooked wonders

·           Deer graze a family meal as the sky turns dusk

·           Chewing teaberry leaves found trailside

·             Hello, Mr. Butterfly

·            The frog pond stinks, but there are many tadpoles and dragonflies to catch

·           Get to the wild blackberries before the birds do!

·            Where’s a good skipping rock?

·           When I rejoin the neighborhood kids, rotten crab apple fight!