Get to the Woods: 2013

Being almost 49 years old, I realized I had never travelled alone. Even when I travelled for work, I always went with someone.

How Appropriate.
This print hangs in the bathroom at Humphrey Lake Lodge.

I searched online and found what appeared to be the perfect place for a single chick to chill for the weekend. Almost too good to be true. I did a little research, checking out the location by google mapping it on the satellite setting. Just wanting to make sure there wasn't a factory or some other industrial place lurking close by. Didn't want to get "catfish"ed, I guess you could say.

Well, the more I looked, the more I was convinced I had found THE perfect place for a few days of solitude. Booked it. But then panicked. I can't go alone. Called my two friends that I know would enjoy a weekend in the woods and as fate (luck?) would have it, both were busy that weekend. So I took that as a sign. I was going away alone. Gulp.

I meet the owner, Bette, at her home and she led the way up the hill to the cabin; picture her flying up this 'driveway' (more like a dry creek bed) in a golf cart, and me carefully picking my way around the rock filled ruts. I felt like a City Slicker (but I swear I do live in the country!) and wondering if I had lost my mind doing this alone.

As soon as the cabin comes into view, I know I'm never going to want to leave. This place is

P E R F E C T

I spend the first hour or so getting acquainted with what will be home for the next 72 hours.

Pretty comfy. I believe I could live here year 'round.

My high hopes of hiking for hours and then coming back to get some beading projects done, quickly melted away in the heat and humidity. And I became addicted to the view. Heavily addicted.

I spent the majority of the day watching the fish jump in the pond and eavesdropping on the birds.

I read.

I stared at the view.

I made friends with the tadpoles.

I felt like a peeping tom watching a turkey take a dust bath and then down to the pond for a drink. Wish I had my camera handy, but it was in the cabin and I didn't want to take the time to go get it.

I held my breath when a fawn made its way along the pond edge before disappearing into the meadow. So silently, had I not been looking, I would have missed it.

I practiced yoga.

I ate.

I smiled every time a fish would jump and send ever-widening ripple rings across the pond. It was so fun to hear the splash and then quick look across the surface to see where it had jumped. Silly, but fun.

I ate some more.

I walked the perimeter of the pond and enjoyed the view from a different perspective.

I did a bit of beading on Twigs, who has now been officially renamed Humphrey.

And while I sat there basking in the glory of it all, three visitors came.

And stayed near me most of the day. Oddly enough, on my feet, but occasionally sharing my chair.

I've never experienced butterfly love before, but its an amazing thing to have such a delicate creature share your day. Fluttering around, landing on you, tasting you. Beautiful. I lost myself watching them.

After an over the top day that was beyond my expectations, I will admit I was a bit apprehensive as dusk settled on the hill. Even with a gargoyle on duty...

I'm not much of a night person. But I was brave enough to venture out and catch the almost full moon reflecting off the pond while hundreds (thousands?) of fireflies blinked everywhere. Pure Magic.

The morning dawned with the valley covered in mist. So serene.

I decided to walk in the woods a bit before the sun rose fully and the heat convinced me to lounge on the porch all day.

I saw enough of the woods that morning to know I will most definitely come back in the Fall and hike hike hike.

Today, though I will feed my addiction to the view.