The water from the 1st sit spot filled with water striders

The calm waters of the recent sit spot where the striders are absent

Home can be many different things and for these animals, their home is ever-changing. Just months ago, water striders bounced about in between the dancing rays of sunshine and now they instead seek out the shelter of the maze of rocks along the bank. Water comes and goes along with the water striders, one day the creek is a roaring tiger, and other days be enveloped by the serene silence. The crystal clear depths of the creek became clouded with the disappearance of the snails and the arrival of the brightly colored leaves that the water striders rest upon. All the while, the sky continues to give life to the creek through its reflection despite the many changes of this little mesocosm of life. This light gave a certain tone of vibrance and adventure compared to the barren monotonous forest of today.

Lilirope on day 1

Lilirope in the fall

On the other hand, some things seem to remain a constant like a backbone supporting the spot through rough times. The willow in particular remains the central item throughout the entirety. Even though all of the other trees’ leaves have long since fallen, the willow and the lilirope bush remain a vibrant green that stands out in the orangey-brown landscape. The willow’s branches still act as a playground for the songbirds to chase each other around and for the crickets to hide between the tendrils of leaves on the ground. Echoes from both the birds and the crickets reverberate louder and louder as the season progresses transforming the life within the area.

The day itself vastly contradicted the first sit spot day. The flitting of the sunlight was unrivaled with not a wisp of a cloud in sight yet the wind was in control of the activity at the spot. Without leaves on the trees and shrubbery to stop the wind, it easily invaded every part coming in waves. Between each wave, activity resumed and the birds went about their ways, at one point even a duck passed through on the unusually high waters of the creek. The water itself was subject to a game of tug of war between the wind to the north and the south so the ripples swayed in either direction.

The willow on the final sit spot

The willow from the first sit spot

In a way, the life exuberating from all of the intricate ongoings of this spot revitalized me and the willow gave me the support that it gave all of the other organisms in the creek bed. The willow, in particular, serves as a reminder for me of the importance of being able to observe the small things and how they all add up. Even when there wasn’t any commotion going on, there was always some sort of story to be told with the placement of the leaves among the willow branches or the moss-covered snails moving ever so slowly along the creek bottom. I have always thoroughly enjoyed an adventure through the woods, but I never stopped to investigate and discover that there is an adventure within every spot.