September 30th, 2019

6:02 P.M. – 7:09 P.M.

In relation to my surroundings, my sit-spot is located at Beale Garden near the DuPoint Chapel, down the stairs across the meditation chapel and across the bridge on the other side of the small, almost dried-out creek. I was a relatively nice day, with a minute amount of disruptive clouds in the sky and the sun setting beautifully. The temperature was 79 °F, and it was the perfect weather conditions to sit outside for enjoyment of any kind. Specifically, I was sitting near the creek, in front of the purple flowers on the borders of the stream, to the left of a tree stub next to the thinner, almost barren tree, and to the right (southeast) of the red bridge near the tunnel that runs under the walkway to the Hollins library. I was approximately at the same coordinates in regards to the compass (142°SE, 237°SW, 46°NE, 318°NW). I was in front of, or rather behind, a building with pink and purple hydrangeas behind me. 

Being closer to the evening, I heard more and more cicadas all around me, and more mosquitoes were out to play; each second I was out there, my risk of getting bitten increased and I ended up with multiple mosquito bites. :/ Also, as it got darker, the fewer squirrels there were. One of the three focus points, the barren tree, was even more leafless than before; on its thin branches, thin raindrop-shaped leaves were still hanging off and they were still holding on, but soon they might fall off. The miniscule stream, another one of my focal spots, was also not thriving; it held less water than before, although the botanical organisms were still thriving around it. Another one of my focal points was the heart-shaped plant to the left of my sit-spot. The distressed holes on them were bigger than last time, and the leaves were even more yellow and less green than before. 

There were not any frogs in sight, but I did see a squirrel on the tree across from my sit spot, gathering nuts and taking them up the tree. 

As I walked around quietly, there was a slight breeze that made me feel at peace. I mostly observed the plethora of leaves on the ground under me at the time. They were in assorted colors of green, burnt orange, and yellow, most of the dried up and very loud as I walked over them. They were in all sorts of shapes; raindrop-shaped, spade-shaped, wide, and thin. There was a lot more than last time. As the wind increases a little, I saw leaves continuously falling. I noticed the very small movement of the small amount of stream water rippling due to the wind. I saw birds flying away, and I saw other people at their sit spots as well near me. 

One adaptation of the land animal, the squirrel, would be their claws for efficient climbing of trees and jumping on other surfaces. Their teeth as well would have been adapted to eat certain types of food, including nuts. Their speed as well helps them combat against predators and head to safety quicker. The challenge that the first adaptation is addressing would be the struggle to reach food and build a home, the second adaptation deals with the challenge to conjure up a diet that would be well-suited for how the squirrel eats it and its limitations, and the third deals with predation and trying to survive. It took some mental power to think of specific adaptations, because when you look at organisms, you don’t see how they adapted; you see the latest version of themselves.