Forest Bathing ,,no its not what you think

The Japanese practice of shinrin yoku, or Forest Bathing, is good for both physical and mental wellbeing. It is proven to reduce stress hormone production, improve feelings of happiness and free up creativity, as well as lower heart rate and blood pressure, boost the immune system and accelerate recovery from illness. Time Magazine

I have new understanding of the Forest, although I have always enjoyed it , now I find myself sitting very still and listening as hard as I can, waiting to hear the birds chirp, squirrels chatter, warning of my presence. Definitely my heart rate slows, deep breaths of the fresh woods air filling the lungs. A sense of peace, rejuvenation of sprit, and connection with Mother Nature.

I will say the love for the woods came from my Dad, I was his side kick. He managed his family homestead, which is now our family homestead. Choosing trees that were mature to harvest, clearing trails while cutting the winters firewood. He was also a Nova Scotia Guide , he would harvest food form the forest as well.

So go find a Forest, Sit a spell, listen deep, breath slow, and relax

---

Meadow Brook Bunkie

In 2009, we took on a family project to build a small camp back by the brook , this really isn’t far from the house, but it seems you are miles away from civilization. Dad had talked about it for years, we should build a little camp back here.

Jason, Katelyn, Lucas, Glenn , myself and Dad cleared off a spot and started the “little camp”. The lot clearing involved a huge fire to get rid of some limbs. Of course like most projects we take on, the time of year was an issue and the black flies loved us. It started with a piece of deck that I had scrounged some materials left after the back deck roof project, a couple windows and a door. Roof shingles left from another project in a former life

We got it built.

In the begining we had used propane stove from the tent trailer days. A table, like I remembered from our original family camp, attached to the wall and a prop up leg. 2 chairs and a single bunk in the corner ,with what Dad thought was a perfect spot to watch the apple tree during deer season.

The Bunkie has taken on a new life, There is deck added to the side large enough to lay back on a couple loungers and spend the night stargazing, the floor space is now for camp cots, or an airmatress if prefered or a hammock can be strung up. There is a camping box with the esentials, like a coffee perk, a frypan and few other. There is also compostable toilet on site now for over night guests.

There is a firepit onsite and campfires are encouraged, because whats any better than a campfire.

The view from the camp is stunning down across the meadow and the brook trickling. A little slice of heaven.

This has become our first “Bunkie”,

I have always said a great place to read a book or maybe write one, now I’m thinking blog.

Harolds Trinkets

The Following is taken from a previous blog .

Folk art

That’s what we will call the many things Dad built for my kids. They would come down the hill ,on a well beaten path that has run between our homes for 30 plus years . With a trinket  or fashioned toy. One “airplane “, which was made out of a few pieces of wood was a “family treasure ” for a few years. A few times during the  purge of unwanted stuff, it would be in the pile. One of my kids , usually the youngest would say , well you can’t throw that out.  It would not surprise me to find it some day tucked away in the attic of our garage. (Which happens to be everyone’s attic space. Storage for things near and dear. ) Different trinket boxes, made from scraps of plywood , some become doll beds. Some became , well just treasure boxes.

Dad also whittled and carved axe handles , pevey handles , canoe paddles and oars, and many other things. He made the kids all custom paddles just their size. For paddling around the lake at the family camp.

In 2002. He started to show us how to carve a ball inside apiece of wood , starting with a piece about an inch square, a sharp knife and patience. We all tried our hand/ whittling carving skills on these trinkets. I still have a couple of them. There’s nothing like a pile of whittling wood chip, it us very relaxing.

He made the kids all custom paddles just their size. For paddling around the lake at the family camp.

Later on Dad got a lathe and enjoyed peeling off slitheres of wood with sharpened chisels, he made numerous ring holders, bells , baseball bats, chair rung , He enjoyed tinkering in his shop . I go in there’s now and I’m still a bit over whelmed at what all the man could do.

He even helped teach me how to knit, a craft he had learned with a broken ankle and time on his hands.

Follow My Blogging

Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.