Date: 12/05/19

Time at sit-spot: 1:20 p.m.

Temperature: 10 C

Humidity: 30%

As I walked to my sit-spot, I realized this would be my last sit-spot for this semester. It made me think about all the changes I have seen from my first sit-spot in the late summer, with the mosquitoes infected site to the almost lifeless yet fascinating spot now. I first approached my tree of focus and started my 15 min of observation there. From my stand point, I could see that all the plants next to the stream are dead and fallen. I am guessing it is the powerful wind that was blowing at night these past few days. I looked up to get a closer look at the leaves of my tree which I know to be a pine tree. I found out that it hasn’t changed much from my last observation except for a few broken branches and some new growth of pine cones which I found fascinating because I didn’t expect that in this season.

I searched for the rock I usually sat on and started looking at the stream. I quickly noticed that the stream now has a lot more leaves that have fallen into it and completely covered it that it looked like a solid ground from afar. As I sat observing, an insect flew close to me but quickly flew away before I could clearly see it, so I was unable to identify it. Then further to my left, I noticed plants growing from underwater (huh, life among the dead). There where batches of these green plants dispersed several spots along the stream. The other thing I noticed was that my stream started flowing again.  The place where I sit looks like the water has risen, but maybe it could also be due to additional layers of leaves. Either way the surface somehow feels closer to me. The plant I mentioned last time that was green has now turned light green and yellow with a few dry branches that shows that it is also being affected by the weather.

My tree trunk of focus hasn’t changed since the last time. The only change I noticed are that the grasses around it are dead. My tree of focus as previously mentioned hasn’t changed a lot except for a few missing branches and the small pine cones that I observed growing. My third object of focus was the tree was still the same as well.  I got closer this time out of curiosity, to observe how the leaves could hang on for it such a long time. I soon realized that the leaves were strongly attached to the branches and that it took much strength to detach them from the branches. No wonder they were still hanging on!

As I raised my head in search of clouds, I found the sky to be a clear blue sky with no clouds in sight. It was surprising because I was expecting there to be some. I continued observing it in case I could find birds flying over but I couldn’t find anything for the next 5 minutes. I did feel the movement of the wind however and notice that it moved from my left to my right or from the South to the North. I wish there were some clouds I could follow along with the wind. It would have been interesting to watch.

I chose to spend the next 10 minutes with my eyes closed so I can listen intently to the environment around me. The first thing I heard was a bird chirping to my left, then after a while I heard a helicopter flying overhead. I think it moved to the right of me according to the sound I heard, and it eventually disappeared. I could hear the leaves rustling as the wind blew and I could also hear the low trickling sound of the stream. Suddenly though I heard a splash in the water to my right but didn’t know what it was since I kept my eyes closed.  I was almost tempted to open them and find out what was in the water but managed to keep them closed. Towards the end as I was about to open my eyes, I heard a loud noise coming from the trees in front of me slightly to my left. As I opened my eyes, I saw a squirrel jumping from one tree branch to the next and go down.  I kind of smiled at that because I never failed to see a squirrel in my sit spot

Sitting here now reminded me of all the things I saw here in my sit-spot. It was a wonderful experience and the place has really grown on me. I will continue to visit this spot because it has become a place where I can decompress is and just be. Plus, I’m really curious about how this place is going to turn out in the winter so I’m definitely coming back.

Time I left sit spot: 2:42 pm