Forest Love

Back at the root of my inspiration and depths of my creative awakening in the heart of California, I walk into the forest and take a deep breath. The fog rolls in all around me and I look down at my feet to see the small seedlings bending with dew drops. The heaviness of the weather may weigh these small plants down, however, one day they will be mighty and taller than myself. The smell of fresh rain travels through my nostrils and my eyes light up with the cool morning temperatures. All of my senses are awakened in the forest. Traveling around with my little family this December has been wonderful as always. The roots beneath our feet remind me of my own family tree and the memories we made on this trip. The baby lasted a wee bit in the backpack and then chose to run around splashing in puddles. So much fun was had in this forest.

If you ever get a chance to visit the Grove of Old Trees in Occidental California, I highly recommend it. Also, the town has lovely artisan shops to peruse. Make sure to dress warm and bring a rain jacket as well as boots to be safe. Totally worth the trip! We were in the hunt for a new coffee mug and found a wonderful piece by a local artist. This mug took half an hour to choose and I went with the one that reminded me of the splashing puddles. Overall that was a huge memory. The dog drinking from every puddle and stream was also joyous. Every rain drop that fell on my husband’s shoulder and coated his sweatshirt with patterns were also fun to watch. Looking up at the canopy above reminded me to slow down and enjoy all the tiny moments. Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for reading!

-Karen Hilliard