The Magical Woods!

  If you ever wander around in the woods and really...really...observe things, it is not hard to sink into a different sort of mindset.  There is a peace there that cannot be found many other places.  The Bayou offers such things.  Here, there is the serenity of the water but, also, that magical peace that surrounds you deep in the creek bed.  The sounds, smells and sights are different.  It would not be difficult to let the imagination run wild once you are in the swamp.  Perhaps, some writer of the daydreaming ilk lost his way in the swamps and fanciful fairy tales were the result.  There are just so many fantastical things beneath the canopy of tree branches. 

  This morning, I hiked about the hillside.  A light sprinkling of rain fell upon me as I quietly slipped through the palmettos. The old dog, PJ, eagerly sniffed everything.  This was new territory for him and he was enjoying every moment.  After we made our way far down below the canebrake and even further down to where the hill slides into the creek, I found a (semi)dry space to sit.  PJ was too antsy.  He wanted to continue his sniff-fest but soon agreed to be my companion under the oak tree.  While a squirrel chattered fussily at us, birds were more curious than frightened.  Soon a dozen or more birds could be seen flitting about the nearby branches.  Blue tailed skinks darted among the leaves and a lone beetle rustled about in a rotted stump.  The summer of rains had produced a prolific crop of assorted mushrooms on trees, stumps and among the mosses.  It was a delightful experience, to say the least.

  Then our adventure came to an abrupt end!  Thunder sounded...loud and clear!  We had better scoot ourselves out of the woods and back up that hillside!  Neither the dog nor I are spring chickens and that steep hill just grew steeper!  We just made it to the front door when the clouds burst.  Whew!  That was close but so worth the hustle! The little adventure into the Magical Woods was inspiring!