Christmas, 2021: To the Woods

The boys and I went over to the woods this afternoon after breakfast and presents. We took axes and fishing poles. It was Sawyer's first trip to the woods.

Hollow pecan tree with mushrooms in it

First stop was my lion's mane tree that I stop at every year. Sure enough, there were mushrooms in it that had already put off spores. Last year I took one large mushroom and left another one, as that's all there was. This year there were several smaller ones along with two larger ones, so I took both larger mushrooms. They're drying in the dehydrator right now to make a new batch of tincture. Good timing, I'm running low.

Two lion's mane mushrooms in a hollow tree

Then it was down the path to the creek. Sawyer got a little scared where it got narrow, so it was time for a lesson. If you get scared, you'll get hurt. You can't be all tense and shaky on a narrow path 20 feet above a creek bottom. He got over it and we got down like always. The boys wanted to stop and build a dam where we were to cross, which presented a good opportunity to teach about creeks and water and dams. I took the opportunity to show how their efforts made the water higher on the back side of the dam and didn't make it lower on the front side. This came in handy when we found a fishing hole.

Hobo on his first bridge/dam

The lessons continued when we got to a fishing hole. We chopped a small sapling that was in a bad spot, and learned about thinning the forest. People don't get out to these woods often, despite being next to a park. So we talked about taking care of a place and how it would become more appealing to us and others if we took good care of it. The boys learned that fish like deep water and hiding under logs. They had the idea that we could make such habitats with dams and chopped dead trees. Tending wild places.

First cast with the new pole!

I've taken up fishing as a hobby. We didn't eat the one we caught, but he would have been a serving for one of the boys. The hobby is cheap and relaxing. A good way to get outside, and an incognito way of getting food in an emergency if needed.

It was good getting out and showing the boys about stewardship of wild places. I'd love to be out here more. If life could slow down, I would be.

Sorry if anyone's noticed I haven't been around. I've been engaging more with the real world. We have three of a friend's pigs, I've been planting some crops, and I'm about to ramp up the rabbit space a lot. I switched back to a dumb phone a few weeks ago and also started refurbishing old axes. I started working at a local farm, so the busyness has compounded but I'm learning more and more. Lots of things to get busy on when the internet goes away.

Hope y'all have a joyful Christmas as well, and don't forget Christ is the reason.