After a little time spent chatting and catching up, we decided to head down to The Flats. It had been a while since our last visit, and our Earthkeeper was quick to notice how much things had changed.
"The Flats looks different. There's not as much tall grass."
He also pointed out that there weren't nearly as many bugs around. It's interesting to see how familiar places change with the seasons, and how much more we notice when we return to them regularly. The tall grasses and busy insect life of summer are giving way to a quieter landscape as we move further into November.
We made our way down to Silly Goose Beach, where we were all prepared for some wading in our tall waterproof boots. Our Earthkeeper was happy to explore the shallows, but he had a very clear idea of where his limits were.
"I'm not going in there, I'll just get swept away!" he exclaimed, looking at the deeper, faster-moving water.
I appreciated his awareness of the river's current and his ability to recognize when something was beyond his comfort level. Learning to assess risk and make decisions about our own safety is an important part of our adventures.
We spent some time searching for frogs and toads, although none made an appearance. We did, however, discover an interesting branch covered in seed pods, a mushroom growing on a tree, and some excellent walking sticks. Those sticks would come in handy later!
Back at the house, I built a fire and we tried something new: whittling!
Using the sticks we'd collected on our adventure, we learned and practised some basic whittling skills. Working with a knife requires patience, concentration, and an awareness of where our hands and tools are at all times. It's a skill that takes practice, and we were in no rush.
As he worked, our Earthkeeper made an observation that I thought summed up the experience quite nicely:
"It can be very relaxing."
And he's right! There's something satisfying about sitting by a fire, working carefully with your hands, and watching a piece of wood slowly change shape.
While we worked, the bird feeder was getting plenty of visitors. We noticed one bird that looked a little different from our usual guests. It was visiting the feeder with its head pointing downward rather than upward. Who could that be? Another mystery for us to investigate!
After lunch, we headed out for a second adventure, this time to Wishing Bridge, or Minnow Bridge, as some of our Earthkeepers call it.
Our Earthkeeper put his ingenuity to work, fashioning a fishing pole out of a wooden dowel, some twine, and a nail. He was determined to give it a try!
Despite his best efforts, he didn't manage to catch anything, but he was happy to encourage Jenna as she caught some minnows. Sometimes the fun is in the trying, experimenting, and seeing what happens.
We finished our day back at the house, spending some time with our nature journals before saying goodbye.
It was a lovely day of revisiting familiar places, noticing seasonal changes, trying a new skill, and following our Earthkeeper's ongoing interest in the creatures that live in and around the river. The frogs and toads might have been hiding, but there was still plenty to discover.
Thanks for a great day, Buds!
