Monday, February 25, 2008

One Wintry day in February

I remembered....

the lucky little girl who lived in the country who loved to run outside after school and play in the woods.

She would find a clearing and lie down on moss-covered ground, close her eyes and listen to the whispers of the forest, birdsong, trees swaying, and the sounds of babbling water in the brook.

Looking up, she could see through the treetops towards the sky, and it seemed the earth was moving but it wasn't. It was only the clouds racing across the sky.


Always there would be clouds to count, and later...the ground to search for indian arrowheads

or the joys of discovering a carpet of sweet-scented wood violets.




In May it was a ritual to search for ladyslipper orchids that grew in the shade of a huge old oak




There were salamanders to catch, and tadpoles too. And if she was very lucky, she would find the best treasure of all - a newly-hatched baby turtle.





Childhood memories....golden nuggets of the past recalled on a wintry day in February.


9 comments:

KGMom said...

Lucky little girl indeed.
Such an evocate recapturing of childhood, with such lovely photos too.

Mary said...

Dorothy,

What a dreamy post, accompanied by "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". I read it twice.

Your photos remind me a little of myself when I was a young girl in the woods.

Thanks for the memories!

And yes, finding a turtle was the best!

Mary

SweetAnnee said...

Oh sounds like MY childhood I was such a tomboy.. I STILL love nature, but I'm a girl now
LOL
deena

Tina Leavy said...

stopping by to let you know that you have won the set of dvd's on my blog. please stop by and look up under"profile" to contact me with your mailing address so I can get your prize out to you. thanks.
Congratulations.
Tina

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Those are wonderful memories--and not surprising to find who's grown from that small girl.

The woods in springtime are unmatched in their inspiration.

entoto said...

Lovely! What a memory to share, and share beautifully.

Karen said...

Absolutedly beautiful words and beautiful photos but especially beautiful memories to warm a heart on a cold wintry day.

Naturegirl said...

Dorothy I am the child that you speak of! Lovely words and images..imagination is so precious! I am teaching my 4 yr. old grandaughter all about imagination!! I am hiding near the moss where your fairies hide I'm sure!NG

Stacey Olson said...

Beautiful photos thanks for sharing . Love the music too, although i have to admit it took me a second to figure out where it was coming from. I thought my husband had turned on the radio lol..