#nature
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Movin’ to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches
Fun fact: One of my childhood nicknames was Peaches. Though I honestly don’t know why. OK, so this peach tree is actually pretty small, and I don’t think 10 peaches are even developing on it at the moment. But I’m delighted to see that I will have peaches this year, provided nothing happens to them…
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Spring at the Farm
I love experiencing our first spring here. The yard seems to always be muddy and the weeds are out of control, but I love witnessing the changes in our woods, our pond, our trees … Living here is hard work, but I have no regrets. It’s rewarding, tremendously peaceful, and quiet. Right now, I’m focusing…
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April showers bring …
Well, May flowers, yes. But also flooding. The biggest downside to moving here so far is just how much the yard floods. And we’ve had A LOT of rain since we moved here. I have had to be more accepting of mud getting all over everything, especially Blitz. That dog loves to be out in…
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Emergence
The Brood X cicadas emerged in our area on Saturday. My husband and I were camping at the time. We arrived at our campsite on Friday night, and there were no cicadas. Saturday morning, they were everywhere. One of the trees on our site was absolutely covered in cicadas and their exoskeletons, and birds came…
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Garden Therapy
I needed to get out this morning for a little garden therapy. Maybe you could use some, too.
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Mental Health
It feels lately like the world is on fire (metaphorically). A pandemic is spreading across the globe. Sporting events have been canceled. Museums and libraries are closed. Lines at the grocery store are two hours long. Toilet paper is being hoarded (for some reason). Everyone has been advised to practice “social distancing.” As I stood…
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A woman in the great outdoors, part 3
Please read parts 1 and 2 before reading this. Ohio Women’s Outdoor Adventure, Day 3 I tried, unsuccessfully, to sleep in on Sunday morning. Breakfast was at 8. I made some coffee in my room to tide me over (powdered creamer, though, ugh) and grabbed my lens ball out of my camera bag to get…
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A woman in the great outdoors, part 2
If you haven’t read part 1, click here. Ohio Women’s Outdoor Adventure, Day 2 I am up on Saturday morning before dawn, as I am most mornings. Breakfast isn’t until 7:00, so I wander around the lodge grounds, hoping to catch the sunrise. From the terrace behind the lodge, I can see the harvest moon…
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A woman in the great outdoors, part 1
Ohio Women’s Outdoor Adventure, Day 1 The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has a weekend program every year called Ohio Women’s Outdoor Adventure (OWOA). Women from all walks of life spend the weekend at a state park lodge learning outdoor skills. Activities include fishing, boating, shooting, archery, Dutch oven cooking, orienteering, geocaching … the list…
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The Nest
For me, one of the great joys of spring is when birds choose to nest in my yard. We had robins and mourning doves last year, and we did again this year. The robins decided to nest in my weeping cherry tree, low enough that I could photograph it fairly easily. The babies just left…
Karyn Johnson 