December 3rd, 4:45pm

Today, like last time, I decided to leave my phone in my room. I found that last time at my sit spot, not having it to reach for, or without have any notifications to check, it allowed me to tune in to my sit spot a lot more easily. My phone adds one more distraction that my mind can wander to, and while it still took me around 20 minutes to tune in, it was my fastest time ever getting into the proper sit spot headspace for concentrating. I want to quickly discuss why I chose this time to come. I have been coming here around this time to measure bird call frequency for my independent project, and wondered what it would be like to spend part of my observation time during a small sliver of daylight, through sunset (because it was cloud and sky observing day!) and into the night. I wanted to continue my “observing up” trend that I began to do in my last blog. Also, I brought two jackets and my winter coat, plus a blanket, so I was plenty warm! I also remembered some hand warmers as well 🙂

For my 20 minutes of focus, it was still daylight so I tried to concentrate on the things I knew I would not be able to see as clearly once the sun started to go down. I focused on the branches of the trees- barren in the throws of winter. I also focused on the patchy grass, which had decreased in green color since the last time I had seen it. I think it might have thrown my concentration off a little bit trying to focus on things I might not be able to see once the sun started to go down, it felt a little like I was running out of time to notice everything, which might have consequently made me miss small details in my environment, ones I was used to concentrating on so well in the times prior. The parts of the tree I did concentrate on, where worth it though! There was a slight wind, which picked up the bare branches and swung them back and forth, resembling almost dancing skeletons. The trees were the most bare today than they have ever been, and looking up, the branches became almost like a picture frame- framing the clear sky, as the branches looked like the hands of a child that could almost touch the clouds above.

Unfortunately, like I explained in my last blog post, my objects are very seasonal and haven’t seen much change or growth since the winter hit. There was the most diminished activity from all of them tonight, as it was very cold and they are not objects intended to withstand the winter weather. My sweet purple plant is no longer, just a withered brown stem among the dying grass. It almost looks like a tiny tree though, because the stem and flower has turned so brown. Thinking of it as a tiny tree made me less sad thinking of it’s diminished state. I couldn’t see any insects today, the grass was hard and cold, and the ground was not friendly traveling land for wanderers of any size, it appears. I wonder which insects are more seasonal than others, I wonder if they have all gone to a different part of the environment to brave the colder weather. Lastly, my birds were fairly silent, aside from a few brief but distant calls every other minute or so. I found that in the evening, the frequency of calls from the birds decreases, and also has with the turning of the seasons, so the lack of bird calls this evening did not surprise me! I did miss my little bird friends though!

The sky focus was the part I was most excited for, the reason I came during the time that I chose! I did this one out of order to go along with the sunset, and I am so excited that I did. I laid down on my blanket and looked at the sky, I caught some cumulus clouds, fluffy but sparse, as they caught the warm golden and orange light from the sun’s evening goodbye. I tried not to write during this time, because I wanted to be in the moment and appreciate the beauty of the sunset. I am so glad that I did. Although the colors of the sunset weren’t otherworldly bright this evening, the oranges and red hues still made their appearance. The wind was soft but sharp- as winter wind is. I feel as though the wind is coming from the northeast direction of my sit spot tonight. (However, I wish it would come from no direction, as there is nothing worse than the addition of a winter wind to an already cold day). When the sun went down, the speckles of stars came out. It became overcast, so it was a bit difficult to see a large amount of the stars, but they were still there and they were so pretty!

For my concentrated period of listening, I decided to do this with my eyes closed, still laying down on the blanket. I wasn’t as good at doing this last time, because just trying to concentrate on the auditory elements of my sit spot was difficult to do and stay focused. With my eyes closed, it was a lot easier for my mind to wander away from what I was trying to do. However, once I was able to hold my attention, it was such a cool and different experience than listening during the day. It was peaceful and quiet except for the occasional chirp of distant crickets. The wind rustled and clanged the branches against each other, making a soft cracking noise each time they collided. I heard the distant hum of the highway, but it was one of the layers of noises, and didn’t steal my attention in any degree.

I was sad to say goodbye to my sit spot, but I understand that with each goodbye, is a new hello. I don’t know if I will revisit this sit spot- because it is now a comfortable place for me. I want to find a new sit spot for next semester, one that I can come to weekly and utilize different focusing exercises that this sit spot blog taught me. It feels like a little, nature fort almost.  A place that is all mine that not many people know about at all. I will miss it, but I am grateful for what I have learned here and all I have accomplished!

Time spent at sit spot: 110min