Tag Archives: Forest

Nature, Photo challenges, Photography, Quotes

Solitude. A Photographic Journey.

February 7, 2017 Tiny 83 Comments

I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits, unless I spend four hours a day at least, and it is commonly more that that, sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements. – Henry Thoreau.

Solitude is not the absence of Love, but its complement. Solitude is not the absence of company, but the moment when our soul is free to speak to us and help us decide what to do with our life. – Paulo Coelho

Solitude is aloneness you choose and embrace. I think great things can come out of solitude, out of going to a place where all is quiet except the beating of your heart. -Jeanne Marie Laskas

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. – John Muir

Solitude in the summer forest, full of leafy trees, urges us to breathe. To enjoy beingness, just like them. – Tiny K.

It is time now, I said, for the deepening and quieting of the spirit among the flux of happenings. – Mary Oliver

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness. – Desmond Tutu

Solitude feels like a refreshing shower of light snow. It’s brightening my soul. – Tiny K.

Solitude is the great teacher, and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it. -Deepak Chopra

Nature, Photo challenges, Photography

An Old Face. Eye Spy.

December 6, 2015 Tiny 51 Comments

A face in a birch tree Finland — A face in a birch tree found by my dad in Finland.

I was fascinated by this “face” in an old birch tree. It’s right eye seemed to spy on me whenever I passed the wall where my dad has his tree art collection. I came back to look at it several times during my recent visit. Perhaps expecting it to tell me a story. Reveal what it had spied on while still in the forest. Spill out the secrets. But it remained tight-lipped.

You can find other responses to the weekly photo challenge here.

I wish you a peaceful week.

Photography, Travel, Wilderness

Hiking. With Serenity. And a Dog.

December 4, 2015 Tiny 59 Comments

Immersed in serenity. Whispers of the forest. Beholding the dance of the clouds. And tasting the air. Fresh. Comforting. It fills my being.

Hiking. We pass the childhood “river”. At both ends of the lake. And the picnic “island”. Destination for countless boat trips. Lunch bags and shared secrets. The two sisters. Rain or shine.

And later, I marvel about the snow flakes as they slowly float towards the ground. Others eager to discover what might be hidden underneath. Like fallen apples.

Or happy memories of childhood winters. When the earth was cooler. And the snow made itself comfortable on the trees early in the season.

Sunrise after morning coffee. Well after. Calm lake announces a beautiful day. The reeds hum a familiar tune. And the bird of the week jumps high up in the sky.

The hiking companion comes flying on the ground. Checks on those in his care. Covers three times the distance. Nine miles instead of three.

And so the days go. Until the fire in the sky announces tea time. Jam filled donuts. Warmth inside and out. Childhood home.

I’ll see you soon. Around tea time.

Nature, Photography, Quotes

The Peace That Passeth Understanding

November 22, 2015 Tiny 71 Comments

When we recognise the virtues, the talent, the beauty of Mother Earth, something is born in us, some kind of connection, love is born. -Thich Nhat Hanh

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out until sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. –John Muir

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. – Khalil Gibran

It was in the forest that I found “the peace that passeth understanding” – Jane Goodall

Have a wonderful week ahead. Peace.

Inspirational, Monday Musings, Poems

Monday Musings: A Winter Walk

February 23, 2015 Tiny 47 Comments

I have no thoughts. All dissolved into the loud silence of this winter afternoon. Previously important to-dos and to-haves gone. Wafted into these woods. Soundlessly. Graciously.

But I am. Conscious of being part of this resplendent nature. Privileged to breathe in the clean air. Feeling its refreshing energy. And to breathe out. Gently. Replenished.

I have no thoughts. But I am. Sensing love emanating from the earth. And grace from the heavens. Purpose reflected in every last ray of light. Passion for life. And hope.

Just Life

A Walk Around the Lake

October 5, 2013 Tiny 22 Comments

For weekend reading this Saturday I would actually like to invite you to take a walk with me. It will not be an exhausting, long walk. We are just going to walk less than two miles around “our” lake up north. We will not be jogging as we want to observe the nature around us and enjoy the fresh fall air.

Walking up the driveway past the apple garden takes us directly to a small road that runs between the lake and a forested mountain.

A birch tree forest grows between the road and the lake and the road soon takes us to the old barn that my grandparents used as their farming “headquarters” until early 1970s.

I vaguely remember seeing cows and horses here when I was small. Walking around the barn we can still find some relics of their farming equipment.

From there the road continues towards the north end of the lake, where we turn to follow a small path across the forest to the other side of the lake.

Along that path we can observe the beautiful early autumn colors, like some heather here and big boulders decorated with lichen and moss.

And you will see beautiful fall foliage too as the first red hues are just starting to appear.

Next we’ll arrive at a small stream that runs into this lake from the one just north of it. It’s quite beautiful and if you dare to step into the water, you may catch a crayfish or two…

We are now reaching the opposite side of the lake from where we started. The trees are smaller here and there are wild raspberry bushes, we’ll pick and taste some. Sweet and yummy. And there are wild roses too, now with colorful rose hips.

The path follows the lake shore and as we walk we get beautiful glimpses of the serene lake.

Walking further, we pass the only sandy patch of this lake shore. My sister and I used to come swim here when we wanted to go on an outing “far” from home. It’s funny how tiny this “beach” now feels. Isn’t it?

Next we approach the same little stream at the other end of the lake that now flows south to the next lake.

After crossing a small bridge, we find a batch of colorful, but poisonous mushrooms, I think they are called Amanita.

And then we reach the road leading back home. In the yard we are greeted by the fall’s last flowers.

And from here we can again enjoy the lake from our usual vantage point – now the sun has magically reappeared. I hope you enjoyed the walk. I’m a bit out of breath…but just because the browser was uploading the pictures far too slowly 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend! – Tiny

Just Life, Poems

Look Closely

September 26, 2013 Tiny 11 Comments

All in one jumble

but if you pause and look close

life’s details emerge.

Just Life

Fresh

September 13, 2013 Tiny 12 Comments

Rain fresh pine forest

peace sitting on every branch

nature immersion.

Just Life

Another Piece of Paradise

August 31, 2013 Tiny 9 Comments

Some time ago I wrote about finding the paradise on earth and mentioned two groups of islands, Mauritius and Seychelles, that I think come fairly close to my definition of paradise. I wrote a post about Mauritius almost a year ago and now thought that, for weekend reading, I would dive into the natural beauty of Seychelles, and the tiny island of La Dique in particular.

Some years ago we made a memorable visit to Seychelles. We stayed on the main island of Mahé, close to the capital, Victoria. Our hotel was right on the beach surrounded by lush, green tropical gardens.

We spent some lazy days walking on the beautiful beach and lapping sun around the pool, decompressing from our hectic life filled with work.

After a few days of complete relaxation, we decided to explore these islands little more. We wanted to experience the “Seychelles of yesterday”, the famous, untouched beauty of La Dique.

Early one morning we took a small plane from Victoria to the island of Praslin. From the airport we took a taxi across the pretty island – from north west to south east – to the jetty, where we caught a small freight boat, an old-fashioned schooner, to the island of La Dique. And soon arrived in paradise.

The azure waters were clear, the sand was soft and white-pinkish, the palms and the famous rock formations were breath-taking. It felt like one had arrived at the beginning of times…

This tiny island has about 2000 inhabitants. There are very few cars, bicycles and ox carts provide for transport. The island has many tropical forests and coconut groves, and the Aldabra Giant Tortoises that can live for centuries “stroll” around the island…

Seychelles is one the most environmentally aware countries in the world and has protected its natural environments to the extent that they feel truly untouched. This was very evident everywhere on La Dique.

I could not get enough of the azure waters and the wind sculpted smooth rocks surrounding the sparkling white beaches.

La Dique left a lasting impression…and I hope to go back there one day. Just have to remember to book more than a year in advance as the accommodations on the islands itself are few and sought after…For now, I think I’ll stay a while and paint in the shade of these beautiful rocks.