I am doing great! Still hiking and spending time in nature. I took a break from posting here but will try to catch up. The photos below were entered in the Dutchess County Fair this past summer and won ribbons!

In November of 2021 I underwent open heart surgery for a mitral valve prolapse.  I am doing great and am grateful to my doctors and everyone that helped me through this unexpected and rather frightening experience.  I continued visiting the trees up until my surgery and since, but am only posting pictures on Facebook now. It didn't take me long to get back into the woods after the surgery.  My husband and I are doing the Catskill Mountain Fire Tower Challenge and trying to hike the New York section of the Appalachian Trail.  If you friend me on Facebook you will be able to see my continuing tree-hugs and other nature pictures!  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

There's not much color left on the trees in our woods.

But I found a young beech still with it's golden-leaves on.

I like it when the branches are low and you can step right into the color.

A heart-eyed tree-being looked out with love.

And near the base of the tree a rock-creature was resting in the fallen leaves.  We can find happiness in the simplest of things. 💚 Peace

These feathery yellow compound-leaves caught my eye this morning.  A compound leaf consists of many leaflets joined on a single stem.

I think this tree is a young mountain ash.  

The shadow on a neighboring leaf was pretty neat to see.

And nearby a late mushroom had a startling life-like look.  The marvels of nature are limitless. 💚Peace

I visited one of my favorite beech trees this morning.  It was dressed in a frenzy of fabulous yellow-golden leaves.

It's smooth-barked branches peeked out shyly.  Some beeches keep their leaves through the winter.  We'll see what happens here.

And a wide-eyed trunk-being looked ready to speak. Nature has many ways of reminding us to listen. 💚 Peace

Late afternoon in the yard amazing light.

And the energy of their powerful trunks was equally grounding.

While on the trail a mossy leaf-outlined rock-valentine touched my heart. Love and friendship are all around us, even in the woods. 💚 Peace

A fiery canopy of scarlet oak leaves caught my eye this morning.

With a great welcoming tree-spirit arms outstretched.

Part of a joyous autumn-celebration of color.

And camouflaged with the color around it I noticed a wasp-gall globe on a young oak-sapling twig . Oh how wondrous to be one with nature's magic and beauty. 💚 Peace

I visited one of my favorite old trees the other day. It lives near a stream that has been too high to cross.  This day it was passable.

There is a special delight walking around a tree to appreciate its many perspectives.  Like a living nature-sculpture.

And with this mighty-one witnessing it's masterful tree-survivalism.  

There was even a friendly white-bearded bark-dwarf who smiled out at me. Being present in nature is a special gift we give our heart and soul. 💚 Peace

There's nothing like hugging  a giant tree to soothe the heart. And lift our spirits. ​

I met a spectacular maple on my walk at Baird Park this morning.

If you look closely you'll see a cedar-seedling growing out of the moss.

A colorful birds-eye view. 

And a grinning toothless tree-being in profile.

Overall a very happy tree growing in the peaceful park-land.

Back in the woods a very cool mushroom in the process of opening.  My mantra walking today: May all beings be happy and filled with love. 💚 Peace

A white-oak in our yard with its gorgeous color-show.

I hope you're enjoying the colorful trees around your home, too. 💚 Peace

The mid-afternoon light through this maple treetop was spectacular.

How lucky we are to witness these magical color-works of the trees.

And closer to the ground a young-oak added its own bright color-statement to the show.  Be like a tree and bring your special colors and light to the world. 💚 Peace

We walked through the woods at Baird Park this morning for a change.  Met this glorious tall beauty with a golden-glowing crown.

There was a perfect backdrop of clearest sky-blue.

On an old tree stump more bracket mushrooms that reminded me of seashells.

And an acorn munching rock-reptile.  Embrace each day with your whole heart.  Let nature's joy and multitude of gifts return the embrace. 💚 Peace

Yesterday's rain and wind freed the remaining leaves from this dancing-tree.

Her tree-healing scars engrained in her unique woodland-beauty.

A sweet tree-being held within a woody whole-heart embrace.

And across the trail a long fallen river of rubbery bracket-discs. Nature's stories are ever-evolving for us to learn from. 💚 Peace

I think this is a tulip poplar.  The leaves have a most unique shape.

And cast a very curious looking shadow.  

Along the road a tiny red round dot-leaf caught my eye.  Be your own unique self and fit right in with nature's perfection. 💚 Peace

I visited a colorful maple-beauty this cool morning.

A shy tree-being peeked out through some bright leaves.

While another seemed surprised to see me.

Nearby the violet-pink maple leaf viburnum glowed a soul-soothing energy. Nature's friendship and healing touches us in the magical ways. 💚 Peace

I was sad seeing so many trees on one of our favorite trails with the blue markings.  These are trees that will be cut down.  

Trees supply us with so many things we need to live. I only hope the next-life of these trees  will be of good use.  A reminder to live with gratitude and respect for all that we receive from nature. 💚 Peace

There was a bright spot on my walk. This brilliant red clump of berries is produced by the jack-in-the-pulpit plant. Each berry contains several seeds that you can plant.  (The leaves in the picture are from a different plant.)  

Jack-in-the-pulpit in the April. This really is the coolest plant!

I met this tall beauty in the woods this morning.  

An interesting example of tree-survival.

And tree-healing.

On the trail a perfect canopy of color above.

And on the ground a miraculous mushroom underbelly.  Step into the miracle that is above us, below us, all around, and through us. 💚 Peace

Late morning light through an unusual tree-formation.  

The light also brought my eye to the forked spores rising out of the club moss.  Club mosses are a low evergreen herb. The powder of the dried spores (lycopodium) is used by magicians to create special effects like flashes and flames. Amazing. Let the light lead your heart and mind to new knowledge and experiences. 💚 Peace

I met a welcoming tree-giant on my walk today. And some curious looking mushrooms along the way.  Just being present is enough with nature.  💚 Peace

I met a lovely family of trees living close together.

One took me on a colorful winding ​journey up to the sky.

And on the walk back I found some golden-orange leaf-art.  Enjoy the journey wherever you may be. 💚 Peace

Met a tree with beautifully expressive oak bark-energy.

A quite unique tree-face gazed down at me.

And nearby another interesting mushroom had popped up.  I hope you have a chance to step out and explore nature this weekend. 💚 Peace

There was glorious misty-light in the woods this morning. 

We met a forest ranger in the woods today. He was doing a survey of the trees.  They are determining what will help the woods stay healthy. That includes logging to open the canopy up for younger trees to get more light.  

He said our grandchildren will reap the benefits.  Trees grow slow and live long.

A leaf with inner light. Seeing beyond ourselves is a lesson of the trees.💚 Peace

Bonus shot of an amazing mushroom. What a color!​ 💜

Among these tall and mostly leafless oaks and maples an oasis of beech-green glowed.

An abstract wrinkle-eyed tree being looked curious.

And a kindly tree-spirit brought a comforting energy.

Still, change arriving here, too.  Find peace in the moment, every one. 💚 Peace