Woolymossroots

simple joys

A part of the forest

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Huckleberry buds
I just reached up to brush a strand of hair out of my face and discovered a damp clump of moss. This is a very common occurrence and to me it’s a good sign of an adventurous life. It’s been rainy lately and we’ve been getting so much done indoors which is wonderful, but I’ve been craving some fresh mountain air. Today the rain stopped and I got the message loud and clear- Go outside and move your body. My brain resisted, saying I’m too busy, there’s too much I need to do around the house right now… and continued on with other excuses. But my heart strongly yet gently, and lovingly insisted- Put Bracken in the pack and hike up the mountain… the time is now. I’ve learned that good things happen when I follow my heart, so I went. 
Bracken tends to be very vocal and expressive, but as soon as we emerged outside, he was completely silent. The dogs accompanied us as we hiked through the woods up the mountain. I am so fond of this forest and feel so connected to it. We did a lot of clearing when we got firewood up there this winter, so the forest is looking more open than ever before. Jeff didn’t join us on the hike because he was working in his shop, but on the way up I came across this:
And I recognized it right away! Jeff has a very favorite sweater that he wears all the time. The sleeves always got in his way so he cut them off and his sweater has been slowly unraveling ever since. Upon this huckleberry branch along the trail, was a piece of wool from Jeff’s beloved sweater. What a dear sight! It’s amazing how something so seemingly ordinary can warm your heart so. Seeing a little piece of Jeff way up in the woods brought the biggest smile to my face. It had been there, collecting rain since the last time he was up there cutting firewood. I wonder if a bird will use it for a nest?
While hiking today I thought- these hikes are like soul walks because in the quiet it feels like I am walking with my soul.  
And it was so quiet. Bracken’s eyes were wide with awe of everything around him, he didn’t make a peep, just snuggled warmly against my belly. I could hear the dog’s pitter pats, but they seemed muffled somehow. I could hear the rushing creek, full of life and winter water. And yet it was so quiet. So peaceful. 
I loved being on this soul walk with Bracken and thought it might become a ritual we share. He was in the pack on my belly now, but maybe someday he would be holding my hand and walking beside me. I wondered sweetly about our future soul walks together.
When we got to the top, we gazed at the mountaintops all around. A little sunshine shone down on us through the clouds. And I thought- Thank you heart for guiding me to do this. It was just what I needed, I had forgotten how much I missed it. 
We began the hike back down the mountain towards home. I thought about how often I used to go on the hike before Bracken was born. I reflected on just how busy it had been. First Bracken was born, then our incredibly busy Holiday Market, and giving Bracken my full attention and care all day every day. I hadn’t been as physically active since his birth and there didn’t seem to be much time for doing much for myself. I was still able to write blog posts (because I could type them one-handed while Bracken nursed) which I was so grateful for because they brought me so much joy (doing what we love is the best thing we can do for ourselves.) So that was something I had still been doing for myself, yet I realized a few things I had greatly missed- going on the mountain hike and spending time with the goats, both of which balance me, heal me, and deeply satisfy my soul. I have a soul connection with goats that goes beyond this life and being around them feels essential to me now. They are some of my dearest friends. 
So today Bracken was in the Ergo carrier without the infant insert because he was 15 lbs. It was so much easier to get around and so much lighter. He seemed so much more comfortable. I felt some kind of energy shift inside of me. It’s hard to explain, but I knew I was reconnecting with aspects of my life I love and it made me feel more whole. It made me feel more me.  
Today I felt so much giddiness I wanted to dance. A lighthearted jubilance. A joy bubbling out from my heart. An inner renewal. An awakening of a bright part of myself I haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing yet. Something new and fresh that was so much bigger than me. Beyond me. And awe inspiring. I could see the dreams we’ve created and visualize future dreams coming true. I could feel some kind of powerful, beautiful shift in our life.The world looked so bright. 
At the very end of the trail, I saw one of my hairs woven into a low hanging tree branch. I looked at it gently blowing in the wind with the green background of pine needles. And I thought-  
We are a part of this forest and this forest is a part of us.

Comments

  5. Dear Taryn and Jeff, Just found you both through Farmama, and I am sooo excited. Sent your love story on to my son, and just love your whole blog, your friendship, your baby being born because of true love, your little farm, everything! It just makes my heart sing. Great good wishes always!

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