Saturday in the Woods

There's something very special about living in the woods.  I love everything about it...the smells, the sounds, the quiet.  

Long explorations through the forest...hours on end.  They come to the shed, unearth a sled and disappear into the depths of the property to see if the thick bed of dropped leaves will make a good sled run.  Back to the shed they come and go, this time taking a rake.  A secluded wonderland awaits them every time they head to the back of the property.  Today they found the tree marking the very back of the property, and they were explorers in their own right.

Mama joined in the fun, making lunch and wrapping it all up in a blanket.  I had whispered to our youngest son, "When you get hungry, tell your brother and sister that you know of a lady who leaves lunches on her porch for weary travelers."  Content with a secret that only he held, he ran back outside. 

Thirty minutes later, footsteps sounded on the porch, and the explorers had discovered their lunch on the porch swing.  Off they disappeared to have their midday meal in their secret hidden spot in the woods. With a property of only 1.3 acres, they are not truly far away...a stone's toss away from their Daddy working outside...but far enough away to give the feeling of living pioneer life "like they did way back then."

With a quiet house, I settled in to cut out material for the stockings I'm finally going to get around to making this year.  While I cut fabric, our youngest daughter sang and danced to Christmas music.  Her gentle spirit blended with the quiet house.  I cut, she danced, and we both sang Christmas songs.

The stocking-shapped fabric was put away for the next time I get time to work on it, and I asked sweet pea if she wanted to read some books with Mama.  With the big kids playing outside, she soaked up the alone time with Mama.  She pressed in and sighed a contented mmmmm and watched my mouth as I read each word out of one of our favorite books.  Then we'd admire the pictures together and turn the page.

Pumpkin seeds were put in the oven to roast for an hour.

Another load of laundry made its rounds in the machine.

Dinner time approaches, and hungry children come out of the woods in anticipation of what will be on the table for dinner.

The sun slips behind the tall trees, and night falls quickly in these mountains.  The temperature drops, and the inside of the house becomes a retreat for rosy-cheeked children on their way to baths.

Another day in the woods.  These are the moments...the ordinary, simple moments that I want to hold onto and tuck deep into my heart.  These mountains will always hold a special place in my heart, as they have held so many sweet moments of daily living.