Early Sundays

These past several weeks I have taken to walking to church in St. Pierre. People ask me why and as always I have to tell them the simple fact that I love walking. Anyway, there is something so thrilling about getting up early before the dorms are even awake, putting on extra warm clothes to guard against the early morning chills and walking down that dirt road. This road is grazed by only a few stray houses and the occasional barking dogs that like to own the road whenever I pass them, but for the most part, the land to either side of me spreads itself wide and full across my vision, silencing me at a glance.

I almost can't describe it but the feelings of beautiful solice just fill me up with a silent joy when I walk. The only thing that I hear is the crushing gravel beneath my feet and then all else just seems to be lying in quiet wait for the progression of the day. The corn fields to either side of me seem to be so barren and to some could be called cold..but as the sun comes up, rising higher and higher, the wonderful spread of golden light just unleashes itself on the stalks and over the frosted areas, warming the ground and bringing it all to life in a heartbeat.

I've walked this road before even when I'm not going to church, but each time I am amazed at the beauty of it all. In my first year I was mezmerized by the gentle quiet of this place and now it still amazes me that you can stop moving while you are outside and not hear a single thing except your own breathing. You're almost afraid to breath for fear you'll spoil the silence.

There are so many things in God's creation that we miss...and that I don't want to miss. It is a gift...a precious gift...

Trees!

I have decided to begin looking at trees as my first steps getting to know Otterburne. My goal is to identify all the trees I can. At first all I can see is "Christmas trees" and "trees that loose their leaves." I know a bit more than that, but not very much. I can probably recognize half a dozen trees. In this post I will examine the various categories that trees are put into. I will then, in subsequent posts look at the tree profile. I think it would be fun to tie in the mythological ideas associated with the tree, but that might be too ambitious. I will also try and note what the trees have been used for traditionally.

How are trees identified?

There seem to be various categories one can talk about when referring to a tree. The first obviously is its name. There is a common name and there is a Latin one. I don't know what the Latin name is all about, but apparently it will tell you a lot about the tree. So, for example, a Bur Oak is also called a Quercus Macrocarpa. Now, I know that macro means big, but I am lost otherwise.

There are also a tree family. I assume this is a simple concept. Something more to search.

The next thing is the leaves. Good heavens there is a large number of classification schemes. hm. Here is a good link. Otherwise I will find my chart and put it in the locker.

We can also talk about the trunk.

There is probably more. But this is a start. One more thing that I am going to note:

There are 4 "organs" to a plant: Stem, roots, leaves and fruit. I got that from here. That seemed interesting.

So in my next post, I will be writing about the Bur Oak I think.

Wildlife

The bizzarely warm weather of the past few days has afforded much time for outdoor excursions. I have enjoyed spending time with squirrells, woodpeckers, rabbits and - my favourite - four deer who like to hang out on the other side of the river at dusk! Has anyone else seen them?