Since May I have been purposefully observant on my trail rides, taking in the landscape and noting the changes. This year, I have done this more than most other years. This had made me more appreciative of the fact that I have nearby trails to ride on. If we’d trailered various places and rode in those areas, I would not have done this. So, there may be something to be said for riding in a set area nearly every day, for several months.

Yes, I am proprietary – and I have every right to be. This is because I now have what others don’t, a sense of cyclic nature of things. For example, the robins have now headed south. And the young spruce hens are near full grown. They take to the air in a very ungainly fashion when I pass on horseback. Black capped chickadees and swallows remain in abundance.

Pete and Siggi clearing low branches on Siggi's Trail

As for plant life – glad to see that the Monks Hood (which supposedly is fatal if consumed by horses) is on its way out. Sad to have seen the fireweed top out and lose its color. I’m pleased to see that the high bush cranberries are now coming on, but regretful about the fact that the wild watermelon plants are now less abundant. So are the horses, they love them.

I pass by patches of ferns, those by the creek are now nearly six feet high, leafy, and dark green. The leaves on the trees are now also dark green – on a few I’m seeing some yellowing.

The wild geraniums and dandelions are now a thing of the past. The light green tips on the young spruce trees are now dark green.

It’s been raining a great deal lately, but it’s obviously colder in the mountains – there I can see what is called termination dust – what appears to be a dusting of snow on the distant peaks.

Early this evening, I cleaned the horse pen during a downpour. I thought, the sun is shining in places, so this won’t last. I went riding. The rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds. I thought, this is what heaven looks like.

Heaven could be here on earth. Could be. Unfortunately, we make life miserable for ourselves and others. If others did as I’m doing and rode through or even walked through a set section of woods every single day, they would feel as I do, which is respect for nature and her high degree of tenacity.

Next: 231. 8/22/21: What to say about the passing of a ...