Waldeinsamkeit is a German word meaning: The feeling of being alone in the woods, an easy solitude and a connectedness to nature.
I didn’t expect to be back in the wood behind the farm till the fall when the ticks and tall grasses both died back. But yesterday it called to me and I couldn’t resist.
Everything was so different from the last time I was there. I was bathed in green and the sound of rushing water from the little waterfall and steam. And as I walked, I was overcome with the feeling of being embraced by a soft and welcoming presence.
It was as if the woods hadn’t expected to see me so soon either and was glad I was back.
I wandered around, visiting the Shagbark Hickory and the big old Maple, that was probably left to grow to give shade to the animals who used to graze within the stone walls.
Then I saw the cluster of mushrooms.
One had a perfectly round hole in it as if a tiny creature was living inside of it. When I got back home I opened an email from Sharon with a link to an article about Morels. The same mushrooms I had seen on the path and taken a picture of.
I can still bring up what it felt like walking in the woods yesterday. But I know in a couple of days, maybe even by tomorrow, it will be gone.
So I’ll just have to go back, I have some natural tick repellent coming in the mail. If it actually works, I’ll get to be in the woods behind the farm all summer, something I haven’t done before.
I can’t wait to see what I’ll find there.
This time of year I just want to be outside.
I spent the morning packing up and shipping out most of the orders I got last week and over the weekend for my I Am Enough posters and postcards. I meant to get them done on Friday night, but after calling Bingo at The Mansion, (which Jon and I do most Friday nights) I realized I was worn out from the week and went to bed early.
I ran out of shipping tubes, so I couldn’t get all the posters in the mail, but I ordered more and they only take a day or two for me to get.
By the time I got back from my class at The Mansion and fed the animals, it was 4pm and too late to get into my creative head and go to my studio. Anyway it was so beautiful out, I didn’t want to be inside anymore.
So I stacked a little more firewood and took the wooden storm windows off my studio.
Tomorrow I’ll be able to open some windows (The old School house that is my studio leans a little throwing off square some of the windows making them impossible to open) letting the fresh air in and the old winter air out.
I was careful as I carried the storm windows through the gate where a tree frog was hanging out.
I gently unlatched the chain passing it slowly and quietly over her head, trying not to startle her. (I don’t know if it’s a male or female, so I’ll call her a female) She only moved once then settled right back down again, already used to me and Fate going back and forth through the gate.
Such a pretty animal, I hear tree frogs all the time, along with peepers and bull frogs. But I rarely see them unless one of the cats leave a dead one on the porch. And I’ve never seen a tree frog here before. So it was a treat and a pleasure to be able to get so close to her, to even take some pictures and know that she was as comfortable around me as I was around her.
I plan on getting to my studio early tomorrow morning to work on my Emily Dickinson Secrets quilt. I did get into my studio with the intention of doing some yoga, and got sidetracked by the quilt, demanding my attention.
I moved some pieces around, placing them where I thought they looked best. It really is like doing a puzzle that only I know what it will eventually look like.
A couple of days ago Jon and I took Red and Fate for a walk on McMillan Road. Red didn’t get far before laying down on the side of the road. He was in pain or maybe just too tired to walk.
This never happened before. Even when Red stopped herding sheep because of his cataracts and spinal injury, he was always able to go for a walk.
So Jon and I have been thinking about Red and how much longer he may be with us and we made a podcast today talking about that and about grieving for animals in general.
It sounds like it could be a very sad podcast, but it isn’t really. We both believe in celebrating the lives of our animals and enjoying them as much as we can for as long as we can.
You can listen to our ninth podcast Red’s Story, Grieving For Animals by clicking here.
Or you can listen to this podcast or any of the other Katz and Wulf On Bedlam Farm Podcasts on iTunes or Google or by clicking on the Podcast button on the top and bottom of my blog.
It finally stopped raining long enough for me to do some gardening this weekend and rearrange the back porch.
Minnie and Flo have adjusted well to the new accommodations. There’s still plenty of places for them to sleep and now someplace for me and Jon to sit too.
The annual plant sale was happening at the Methodist Church in town, I got some Iris’s.
Strangely many of mine, along with a few other perennials didn’t come back this spring. One of the women at the plant sale said some of her perennials died too. She thought it was because of a couple of nights,early in season, where the temperature went below zero.
So my garden was kinda empty and where there used to be plants sprouting, now the soil was covered in weeds.
Looking at the weeds, I thought about the hand painted sign I pass on my way to Bellydancing that reads: Perennials $5 each. I’ve been meaning to stop there for a couple of years so Jon and I made the trip this morning.
There were tons of pots lined up on wooden boards, pictures of the kind of flower each would produce in front of them. The plants were small, obviously dug up from the garden, but the variety was huge.
I got six perennials and left the money in the tupperware container, when a woman came out of the house asking if we found everything we were looking for.
“I was on the third floor.” she said, “so it took me a while to get down.” The huge brick house has the date 1796 over the doorway. On the state line between New York and Vermont, it must have been an Inn.
This afternoon I planted all the flowers and seeds I bought in the past two days, but there was still lots of empty space in my garden, so I went back out to get more seeds. I found a big bag of Zinnia seeds for $10 at the nursery just up the road.
The little wire fence is enough to keep the hens out of the garden till the seeds grow big enough to survive them.
I also planted basil, dill, parsley, and cilantro in the herb mound. Herbs I know Jon will use in the kitchen. I’m planning on my own creative version of the a Three Sisters Garden again too. But that and the dahlias will have to wait till next weekend.
Although the sun is still shining, so I may get back out there yet…
Last week Jane left me a comment thanking me for “sharing the joy of watching the animals.’
It’s something I love to do, both watch my animals, the donkeys, sheep, hens, cats, dogs, and fish as well as share them with my videos.
I wanted to have animals like this my whole life, but even as an adult I somehow didn’t think it was possible till I met Jon. Now it seems like the most natural thing in the world even though it has is expenses and difficulties.
My animals bring a certain joy to my life that I’m grateful for.
I remember years ago visiting a friend on Long Island and every day I was there I’d look at Jon’s blog to get my fix of the country and the animals. So I do understand what it feels like to be in a place where there aren’t many animals.
My videos are a part of my work. They take time and creative energy to create. So if you enjoy them and you are able to and would like to, please consider making a donation to my blog. It’s easy to do, just click on the Support My Blog button on the top or bottom of my blog, or you can send a donation to Full Moon Fiber Art PO Box 205 Cambridge NY 12816.
To all of you who already have made donations or buy my art, I thank you and all the animals thank you too.
Red at Ruth and Wayne’s Commitment Ceremony today.
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