Strider

Moving house, physical cruddiness, and stress from unexpected quarters have conspired to knock me off course. Each day I have come home tired with things on my mind and emails to compose. I haven't written frequently, walked at all, familiarized myself with the conservation area behind our house, cooked much, kept in touch with online friends or gone to bed on time. My favourite month of the year has slipped past the shining windows while I sat indoors fussing. The distractions have been important and unavoidable. I'm still in the middle of one interpersonal challenge that is bound to raise its head and continue biting. But now I want my routine back. I need exercise, healthy food, sufficient sleep and time to put my experiences into words.

Last time I went for a walk behind the house was early July. This afternoon I left my worries lying by the coffee table, donned my Aussie hat and plunged across the back lawn, through the gate. I prefer to poke along noticing things, but with the requirement for more aerobic exercise I need to walk vigorously. So I set my sights on the unexpected meadow I first found and photographed on July 4.

It takes up a significant land area of the conservation area south of our house. I found good footpaths all around the circumference. At a quick pace you might not notice as many details but you can cover a lot of new territory.

At the eastern corner stand the tallest trembling aspens I have seen anywhere in a long time. I had to stop and witness. With their straight, smooth, pale trunks and shimmering crowns they evoked Lothlorien.