It was a very lovely day and the outdoors are always good for the soul, so I thought I'd share a bit of my adventure to encourage you in case you've got the winter doldrums from being cooped up inside.
In the midst of suburban central New Jersey, I'm blessed to live not far from the estates of Doris Duke, where nearly 1000 acres of land are preserved and cultivated as a model for environmental stewardship. Open to the public for free, and a mere 3 miles from my house, Duke Farms is one of my favorite local outdoor hangouts. With 18 miles of trails, I visited often in the summertime for a change of pace on my running schedule, but I thought it might be worth seeing what it looks like in winter too.
To get started, I was greeted (as usual) with this pretty view of a pond and waterfall. I was especially impressed to notice the large chunks of ice that seem to have been pulled up onto the bank. At first, I thought they were just frosty boulders, but no folks, those are at least 4-inch thick slabs of ice in the foreground!
Not long after that, I saw a hawk sitting in the branches of a nearby tree. And while I was walking by, it swooped down into the brush to catch a mouse, successfully I might add.
Though it's still a bit early in the season, I decided to stop into the Orchid Range. In contrast to the stark, dormant beauty of the muted browns and greys of the outdoors, these early bloomers added a few happy splashes of vibrancy.
I especially liked these cheerful yellow fellows.
Back outside again, I continued on my way. I actually came across very few other living creatures, human or animal, on the rest of my jaunt. Just a few squirrels who were out for a mid-hibernation snack, and 3 or 4 fellow humans determined enough to brave the brisk weather to get in a bit of exercise or a few wintery photos. But I've got to say there's something unique about the solitude and quietness of nature that rejuvenates the soul.
While traveling a winding back-road path, up and down a few little hills and valleys, I stumbled upon the graveyard of the Duke family pets. Included was one named "Baby" who died in 1994 and appears to have been a camel. It was kind of sweet to see the obvious care attended to these animals, and to imagine the relationships they enjoyed during their lives. I think it probably speaks to the quality of their humans as well.
The stillness and reserved nature of the day's weather and landscape gave one a chance to take it all in at a more leisurely pace. Its patience allows the opportunity to catch up with one's own thoughts. And so the landscape and I were content to be unobtrusive companions to one another as we mutually pondered the quieter things of life.
After a while, having had enough time to sort through the residual hustle and bustle, the subdued winter landscape invites one to look more closely and pay attention to the subtler details that often get lost during the flashier seasons of spring, summer, and fall. For example, the soft springiness of the half-frozen path, or the red fuzziness of a prickly vine.
By the time I finished the winding pond loop, I figured it was about time to head for home. The sunlight had begun to filter through the trees with that distinctly late afternoon glow. So I began to make my way toward the gate once again. I must say, I do particularly love the sycamore lined path near the entrance -- I always feel welcomed by their stately embrace on my way in, and departing is not quite so sad being ushered out with their steadfast farewell.
In all, I'd say it was a couple hours well spent!
Thanks for reading, I hope you have experienced the peace of my afternoon vicariously. While winter is far from over yet, it's moments like these that remind us the hope of springtime is never in vain. Keep the faith and journey on.
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Update 1/24
And this is what I woke up to the next morning...
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