Words from the Woods – My First Few Days
Sunday September 6
I arrived this afternoon, greeted by a resident woodchuck, and settled into cabin 16 (former camp infirmary) in Misty Mount Campground. The chestnut log cabins, beautifully hewn and chinked were originally built by the Works Progress Administration in 1937, using local materials and providing jobs. During World War II, Misty Mount
offered a peaceful refuge for soldiers on R&R. What a wonderful legacy. The cabins still look much the same, but Cabin 16 now has electricity and running water, thanks to a refurbishment in 2014 by local Amish craftsmen. Quite pleased with myself after settling in, I thought of some of the pioneers in my book and their letters home after setting up their new homesteads.
I went on a short hike after dinner to the area where workers used to make charcoal for the Catoctin Furnace. Leaves here are just beginning to turn, others float down as I walk through the late afternoon woods.
Forest floor footfalls
Crackle under muddy boots
Announce my presence.
Monday, September 7 (Labor Day)
I had my first public Nature Journaling program this morning, with 15 visitors sitting in the woods sketching and writing. Visitors have a choice between starting their own nature journal or creating a page for the Catoctin Mountain Park Nature Journal that I will add to and donate to the park. With the seven pages contributed today, the journal is already taking shape.
For dinner, I lit the Coleman stove and, trying to capture a childhood camping memory, opened a can of Chef Boyardee ravioli. I should have left it the pleasant memory that it was. This anticipated re-creation did not meet expectations but I did have my applesauce and a couple of leftover Mint Milano cookies to ease the disappointment.
As I sit in my cot tonight, I listen to a cacophony of nocturnal creatures. I am learning the sights, sounds, and character of Cabin 16.
Tuesday, September 8
My day began with a hike to Cunningham Falls, a little over two miles round trip. My wicking tee shirt cannot work fast enough on this warm, humid morning. A boardwalk bench facing the waterfall offers shady respite where I eat my sandwich, warm and oozing strawberry jelly and peanut butter, having been squished between my sketchbook and water bottle. Pb&j is my favorite hike lunch-tastes good no matter what condition it is in
Taking in the trees, massive boulders, and water, I attempt to translate the scene to paper.
The forest is full of so many textures, colors, and Fortunate are the creatures in this habitat, falling asleep to the sound of the waterfall lullaby.
Early autumn
Leaf leaders emerge
Letting go, gracefully spiraling
In a golden orange dance,
Landing softly in the comfort
Of Mother Nature’s Lap.
I hear children’s voices and look up to see two young mothers who have left the trail on the other side of the creek (despite warning signage) with four kids and a dog (more signs – “Dogs not permitted in the park”) to walk down on the rocks. They become quite perplexed when they try to pick up the trail on this side of the creek, only to realize that the trails are fenced off to prevent, well, you know, people from climbing on the rocks. From their voices, I gather they have found a way up to the road. Many visitors have sustained injuries on these rocks. When crossing the creek, they also cross the boundary between Cunningham Falls State Park and the National Park Service Catoctin Mountain Park. Paths do not connect the two.
(When I related this incident to a ranger later, she told me that many people cross the creek and continue on to the National Park Visitor Center. Realizing how tired they are, then ask the park rangers for a ride back to their car at the state park, not an available service. In doing so, admitting that yes, they ignored the many warnings and did indeed, cross the creek.)
Later this afternoon, I worked on a hand-bound journal in my outdoor studio (picnic table). Surrounded by the woods and my art supplies-lucky me.
Wednesday, September 9
Awoke to the sound of Pileated Woodpeckers (think Woody Woodpecker) catching up on forest news. Then the blue jays joined in. Later things quiet down and after granola and yogurt, I start back to my journal project. My husband is coming today to check out my forest digs and deliver some items that I left behind, including more dusters for the spider webs.
Set up my workspace outside to work on my own journal, an altered book using lots of different papers that I will resew into an old Bobsey Twins binding that was falling apart.
Clay arrived in time for lunch (he is a huge fan of peanut butter and jelly) and we shared a relaxing afternoon, followed by a trip down to town for dinner.
Later, as I lay in bed, I heard a red fox screaming. This can be a startling sound if one has not heard it before, as it resembles a woman screaming. Soon the fox quieted and the crickets, katydids, and other nighttime creatures joined in. After these first few days, I now find this evening symphony (with the exception of the screaming fox) melodic and comforting.
Thursday, September 10
No morning hike today as it is raining quite hard. It has been very dry here, so the rain is welcome and provides a day to write, with a cool, fresh breeze coming through my cabin windows and the falling rain as background music. Later today I am doing a program at the Thurmont library, a beautiful building with a covered back deck/boardwalk that extends out into a wetlands.
Worked this morning on the journal project that I will leave with the Catoctin Forest Alliance, sponsor of this Artist-in-Residence program. I am challenging myself to use some new techniques including bleach printing and gelatin printing. Journal pages will be mixed media with fabric, handmade paper, modeling paste, vintage book pages, and more. I love this stuff. Photos will follow.
Later – I just realized that the heavy rain has brought water trickling down one log wall in my cabin. Will walk down and tell the ranger when the rain lets up a bit.
4pm – At the Thurmont Library. Just finished this blog, but no time to post as I need to set up for my program. This library has a large covered deck that extends out into a wetland area. Beautiful setting for a nature journaling program. Will post tomorrow.
Thanks for reading!
