Into the purple woods

Had a lazy start yesterday, but did manage to get out of the house after lunch for a bit of a walk. Drove out a little to some woods, then walked around it and down the valley a bit.

Saw some men washing ponies in the stream, that was quite odd. Lots of sheep and lambs, a break at the pub, then back for more forest.

The forest was totally invaded by bluebells - this is not a plant threatened by extinction, that's for sure! Even a small forest can feel soothing and refreshing, and when you come across a hillside covered in flowers, well, it is almost magical.

One of the things I missed when I moved to England was forests. There just didnt seem to be all that many. I'm from switzerland, there's always a small wood just around the corner, and in the North of England well they used up most of their wood. I missed forests and trees. Mountains, too, and lakes and streams, but forests the most.

There's just something about a forest... - maybe it is something ancient in our wiring, or maybe it is just me...

The sights, the play of light and shadow, the sounds of wind through leaves, birdsong and the occasional scurry of an animal on the ground, the smell of moist earth, moss, mushrooms and tree sap... a mix of life and decay that is both peaceful and intense - Beautiful and just a little frightening at the edges.

Back into the purple woods today...