Appreciating Where You Are

There are days when I look out across barren corn and soybean fields and I find myself forgetting that Iowa and the Upper Midwest has some beautiful places that have healing qualities to them.  As part of my effort to exercise my gratitude muscles this Thanksgiving, I took the time to look at some of the pictures we took while "walking there again" this past year.  

You might notice that there is a relative dearth of photos for the greenest parts of the year.  But, that's what happens when your partner has Achilles surgery.  You don't do much walking anywhere for a while!  

But, this is not about that - it's about appreciating what we HAVE been able to see and be awed by!

Paint Creek

We did manage to get out and about in early Spring.  Although, I must admit that early Spring seemed to last well into early Summer this past year.  The trees weren't really quite ready to do much and the understory of the wooded areas was also a bit uncertain about showing us much.  

But, places that got more sun - like a mowed meadow or some grassy plants by Pain Creek showed us some green.  It was an area that we couldn't recall having been to before, so that was exciting.  Sure, we've been to some "similar" places in the Driftless Region of Iowa, but that doesn't mean we can't appreciate a new (to us) place.

Larkin Overlook at Yellow River State Forest

We've been to Yellow River Forest before, but neither of us had been on the Larkin Overlook and the trail there. What I recall best about it was that it was a very sunny day and there wasn't much wind.  The net result is that temperatures in the 50's felt absolutely wonderful.  I suspect we could have sat at the overlook itself even longer if we could have found a slightly more comfortable seat.

Anyone who has been through the winter months knows how good a calm, sunny day with moderate temperatures can feel.  It doesn't matter if there is much green or not because you can smell, feel and taste the green just lurking in the background and you can hear the sap starting to run.

Area near Ferryville, Wisconsin

Once Tammy was able to do a little bit of easy walking with support, we took a break from the farm and work and headed for the Mississippi River.  As it turned out, Tammy really could only do a very little bit of walking and the ground had to be level and unobstructed.  But, this was a lot like the first calm, sunny day after a long winter.  It just felt good to be out and about.  

And we could feel the hope (at least I could) that healing was happening - even if it didn't feel like it was happening fast enough for Tammy at that moment.

Rush Creek

The good news is that we had taken our break during the week and did not have to contend with weekend traffic.  That made it easier for us to explore by using the car to get us places so we could take shorter treks from the vehicle and appreciate the world around us.

We also learned to look more closely at things right next to us.  Suddenly we were amazed anew at all of the life on wildflowers blooming right by a parking lot... or a roadside.

Mississippi River

Sure, the Mississippi River was beautiful and it certainly demanded our attention for a time.  But, I took away the reminder that there is interest and beauty in things that might not be a grand vista.  So, while I still appreciate a beautiful landscape as much as I ever have, I am finding more and more interest in a clump of plants that looks like some wild pollinators are checking out.

Ok.  I think I've appreciated that for some time now too.  But, would you believe that I appreciate it much more than I used to after this visit to the Mississippi?

Blackhawk Park

It turned out that we visited the area when the water lilies were in bloom.  In fact, there were so many wild flowers in bloom that it was hard to not want to spend time trying to figure out what each thing was.  That's still on the to do list, I guess.  But, I made a good start.

Maybe I'll share it in January, when some color might be most welcome?

Richmond Spring at Backbone State Park

We reconnected last year with Backbone State Park and we were anxious to walk there again as soon as Tammy felt up to it.  We started, as we had the prior fall, by checking out the springs and were immediately greeted by a tree that was interested in showing off against a blue sky.

Let's just say that it was a good way to start the excursion.

Backbone Trail

The best news is that once we got to October, Tammy really WAS healed up enough to start taking some hikes as long as she set the pace AND she agreed to listen to her body so we would turn around in time to get her back to the vehicle safely.

While she kept herself moving at a steady and deliberate pace, her partner (me) was a bit like a puppy dog.  I bounced from place to place taking pictures of whatever seemed like it wanted its picture being taken.  And... well, ok, some things might not have wanted their picture taken and I took them anyway.

East Lake Trail at Backbone

We went on a series of hikes in October, including a return to Backbone two weeks after the first.  This time we took a different trail.  And, this time, Rob had a much harder time catching up to Tammy whenever he would stop to take a few pictures.  

More healing.  More time in the great outdoors.  More time with my best friend.

It's all good.

Malanaphy Springs

Sandwiched in between the Backbone trips was a return to Malanaphy Springs on the way home after a very important wedding (congrats Turi and Dan!).

The walk in to the springs was just the right length for us to get there, let Tammy sit and rest for a while as she listened to the water, and then return without incident.  That was really the key for some of these walks - they had to be "without incident" so we could look forward to doing more walks in the future.

The good news?  We were successful each time.

Rock Creek State Park

And on the last week of October, we took a walk TWICE. 

The trip to Rock Creek mixed business with pleasure.  Since we had to deliver turkeys to Local Foods Connection and they were in Grinnell, it only seemed right to make a detour to a park that I remember going to when I was growing up in nearby Newton.

Cedar Bend Park - Cedar River

And we wrapped it up with a walk much closer to home at Cedar Bend Park near Waverly.  It's always good to remind ourselves to take the time to appreciate what is closer to home.  If you can't appreciate that, how can you expect to learn how to appreciate other places for what they are when you are fortunate enough to visit?

Thanks for letting me share some of the experiences of awe and wonder with you today.