Thursday, January 31, 2013

"The Creek Runs On"

It is the last day of January and I am about out of January words.

 R.H. took the camera yesterday, after the storms of the night before, and walked up the creek from the house to the waterfall. This time Katie Belle didn't go with him.

Here is the creek view that our kitchen windows look out on:


Now we're walking towards the first bridge where the creek runs between the picnic shelter and the barn:


We can go under the bridge:


This is where the big black snake "Pappy" lives in the summer:


Now we're about halfway to the next bridge:


See all the slate at the bottom of the creek:


Let's cross the pond bridge:




And glance over to the little spring-fed pond where frogs mate. Come early spring this is where we'll hear the peepers' voices calling from.


These two sycamores weren't here in 1990 when we bought the place:


They help form a deep pool that our granddoggie Schnauzer Maddie loves to swim in when she visits. R.H. will have to get a picture of her the next time she comes home to Tennessee. Her designer hairdo gets ruined in this pool:


Here's the base of the waterfall that we took you to a few days ago:




There's a lot more water coming down now after the rains:


You can spot the beech trees easily. They're the ones that don't shed their yellow leaves until forced off by new ones in the spring:



January is a pretty month to take a creek walk, even if the snows have missed us so far. That being said, I am still reminded of Hal Borland who wrote that "nobody complains that January went too fast."

Amen to that?



"It has always been a happy thought to me that the creek runs on all night, new every minute, whether I wish it or know it or care, as a closed book on a shelf continues to whisper to itself its own inexhaustible tale."
Annie Dillard Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

17 comments:

  1. It is wonderful that your view is that lovely creek. I used to love camping by a creek when I was younger:}

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your creek! I'm so grateful for the acres we have, but sometimes I wish we had a few more of the "wild" type.
    And also amen to Hal Borland's January comment! My dad was born and raised in eastern Colorado and introduced me to Borland's books when I was very young.
    Ray

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dewena, I can almost hear the water as I read your post! What a beautiful creek! It has an atmosphere of its own in January. But I'm with you. Ready to hug old January farewell!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an enchanting place you call home. It's so green. Hard to believe it's January there. I'd love to have a creek or some other natural water on our property. I'm aching for spring, so yes, January can't go too fast for me. Love the quote from Annie Dillard's book. Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing, Dewena.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for taking us on a beautiful walk. I do miss living the country. Not quite the same a typical suburban walk around here! Very pretty. Bring on February! :)
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely creek, but I have to disagree about January; it's the month when I was born, got married, and welcomed my first grandchild. I love January! :-)

    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  7. Amen to that! It is just beautiful where you are, Dewena. I must say that January is one of my least favorite months. I am not a cold person at all! xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the creek! I can just hear the sound of the stream.. It's so relaxing to hear as you walk beside it..I wish I lived near a creek lucky you..

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love your little creek. I bet you can hear it flowing. I laughed about the city slicker dog's hair-do. xoxo,Susie

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would happily spend all day on kitchen chores if I could see that lovely creek from the window.
    January is not my favourite month, either, I'm looking forward to lighter days ahead.
    Maureen

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your creek is so picturesque!! I love how water attracts the wildlife, I love the sound of the frogs.. Thanks for stopping by, Laura

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh what a beautiful creek and how blessed you are to have this nearby! I took pics of mine and am going to write a post on it this weekend. Wait until you see it...you will get a good laugh as it is nothing compared to yours! And what a lovely closing thought. You always find such beautiful thoughts. I always think about that after I leave the mountains, how that creek is still moving right along whether I am there are not. What a great comparison to a book on a shelf continuing to whisper..

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lovley post Mom, I'm suprised Dad didn't take pics of the crayfish area or may be thats for another posting ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hello Dewena, on the recommendation of Maureen at Random Distraction's, I'm stopping by for a visit. Lovely pictures. Would not like to meet "Pappy", though. Yikes! I'm a fan of Annie Dillard as well.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh Dewena, this creek is so special. I loved getting to visit it again, and yes, the water is really flowing now. Love that Annie Dillard quote. It's beautiful. For someone who has run out of January words (I think I ran out in mid-Jan), you posted a beautiful post. laurie

    ReplyDelete
  16. The creek on our property has been running wild since the first of the year. We've had a great deal of rain. At one point, I thought I was going to have to get life preservers for our chickens :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love these pics....I can hear the water in my imagination...

    ReplyDelete