Feel the cold soak through your woolen picnic blanket, perched atop the bones of an old douglas fir. As you breathe in, the chill burns through your lungs, and your exhale is followed by a wispy cloud. It lingers for a few moments before dissipating into the air around you.

Your car awaits on the gravel road behind you. The heater may be tempting, but the view is worth every goosebump dimpling your skin.

Doug fir saplings spot the hillside below you... keep reading

I hope you’re wearing something warm. Something waterproof too; with your face to the overcast sky, water drips down your cheeks. Looking up, long streaks of rain make their way toward Earth… and toward your eyes. But through the drops clinging to your eyelashes, you can see treetops stretching their limbs to soak in the cold, gray clouds.

Doug firs and sprigs of vine maple surround you. Although the miniature maples cling to their color, the coming fall has begun its work; yellow spots dance... keep reading

Take a deep breath. Grass weaves around you in every direction, reaching for the horizon ahead and tickling at your fingertips. The sun sits high against a cloudless blue background, casting a golden shine on the endless field.

The grass whispers ambient with the light breeze while grasshoppers join with a melody. What smells are carried on the wind? Do you notice the chalkiness of the grass? Or the refreshing sweetness coming from behind you?

Turn around. Only twenty feet away, knotted branches tangle around each other like old friends, weaving around each other in a lazy game of tag in the gentle wind gusts. Let's venture towards it.

The sweet scent grows stronger with every.... keep reading