The sit spot that I chose was alongside Carvin’s Creek. I am personally not a huge fan of nature, meaning I don’t go outside a lot but when I was first introduced to the creek I started to think differently. As I sat there observing and listening to the sounds and creatures of nature I looked above and not only did I see trees but I saw the bright green leaves on them. They looked different from the last time I was there. They were more vibrant but then I noticed that the leaves looked curled and not as strong and sprawled out. I assumed it was from the change of season and weather. It was a lot cooler than last time too. There was a slight breeze that would come every couple of minutes but it wouldn’t be so bad because of the sun that was glaring through the trees.
Another change that I noticed from my last time I was here were the color on the trees. The bark was starting to turn a grey white color. Only on the smaller limbs of the trees. But the leaves on the trees in the forest were brighter than ever. It was like the leaves were reaching out towards the sun and got brighter by the second. I also noticed that it was very quiet. I didn’t hear hardly any sacadas sing which was strange. I did hear some movement in the distance a few times. I saw a baby squirrel for the first time in my entire life. It was with its mother trying to carry food which looked like some type of berry.
I actually went to my sit spot two different times of the day. I went early in the day and then later in the day. When I went later in the day around 7, 7:30 I really focused in on the creek. It looked dull. There was very minimal light. One thing that was different from the last time I came was the clearness of the creek. It rained a lot since I was her last and I noticed that there was a lot more dirt. The rocks were dirtier and covered in mud. I decided to walk alongside the creek to see if there were and changes or if it looked differently from the spot I was at, but it was all the same sadly. From observing my spot, I learned that the change of season, weather, and time has a big factor on what you see, hear, and smell. As I was walking down the creek I really observed the water and what was in it. I saw a lot of green on the rocks, more than last time. there were also more leaves and little sticks in the water. I assumed it was from the storm we had
I liked walking around. I also liked just sitting there and feeling the cold breeze brush up on my skin and hear the leaves burns on each other from the wind. The sound of the leaves moving while feeling the breeze was the best feeling. In that moment I became relaxed and calm, I wasn’t worrying about anything. Suddenly I forgot about all the stress and anxiety I had. I also like getting uo and walking a bit because it gave me the opportunity to stretch my legs and really get to see the whole picture instead of a small percent of it. Where I am sitting is under a lot of trees but you can see the sun trying to peak its way in, so the water temperature is a little different from down stream where there is less trees and more open. When I was walking along side the creek I felt different spots of the water. It was a lot warmer the further I went from my sit spot just because the area was more open allowing the sun to come in.
I didn’t get to see any organisms this time. Im assuming its because they adapted because of the weather and temperature. For example I didn’t see or hear any cicadas. I guess they can’t survive in a colder setting. I also assumed that the reason I didn’t see many insects in the water was because they were hidden under the rocks. I did see some snails and other black small insects that crawled right out and into another area. They were also probably adapting to the sudden change of temperature. Lastly, I saw a lot more squirrels running about in the woods and almost every time I saw one, they would have something in their hands like they were savaging for food and stock piling. Squirrels also have to adapt, especially when winter comes. They have to gather as much food as possible so they won’t starve in the winter time. One interesting thing I saw which I am also curious about is the white sections on the trunk of the trees. On the image below I noticed that there was a white softest section on this tree. There were about 5 of theses sections on the trunk of the tree.
I love what you wrote so much! Your words and description had me entranced. At first I was shocked that you were not a fan of nature as I spent all my time running through our woods back home, but I loved hearing of your experience with it and it’s calming effect. My mom was just telling me abut a study where tree release a chemical that cleanses us and is very healthy for the brain. I can’t wait to read your next sit-spot and to see what you experience next. Your spot looks and reads otherworldly and fantastic! Good job!
I absolutely loved your analysis and thoughtful descriptions of your sit-spot. It seems so lively and dynamic. I find it amazing that at first, you didn’t like being outside, and then later you had a change of heart and decided to visit your sit-spot twice, allowing yourself to visualize and experience your sit-spot at different times of the say. I find it fascinating that you were able to find comfort being outside and were able to clear your mind. I would love to hear more about the specific species and organisms that you see in your sit-spot in much more detail. It would be very helpful in helping me visualize the environment of your sit-spot better. Overall, I love hearing about how much of an impact these sit-spots can have on people to get to explore the outdoors and nature more. I’m glad to know that you are slowly but surely gaining a larger appreciation for nature and being outside!
My sit spot is along the creek as well and I had a similar experience to you. It was really interesting to see just how different the organisms were from the first time to this time!