Showing posts with label Adams County Ohio. Show all posts

Monday, July 15, 2013

THE ART OF SITTING...IN THE WOODS

We call this spot, The Woodland Cathedral because, well, it just feels holy when you sit there. You will undoubtedly hear the crescendo of the Ovenbird song in the spring. Up on the ridge in the tangles of underbrush, a Hooded Warbler faithfully sings his "witcha-witcha-wee-oh" each summer. A Pileated Woodpecker may also startle the silence with its loud, staccato call, as it swoops through the colored canopy in autumn.

This is a good place to contemplate whether your own voice is being heard in the world...

"Don't try to figure out what other people want from you; figure out what you have to say. It's the one and only thing you have to offer.

-Barbara Kingsolver

If you prefer not to trek up the hill, another spot at the bottom of the trail awaits. This Adirondack chair sits across from a small patch of newly planted woodland flowers, anchored by one Mountain Laurel bush that I planted several years ago. This summer I planted Virgiania bluebells, Jacob's ladder and wild geraniums. If all goes well, next spring these will flourish alongside Giant Solomon's Seal, Bellwort, Mayapples and Two-flowered Cynthias.

This is the third and final spot in the woods for reflection, should you come for a Personal Retreat. There is nothing more relaxing...more quieting...more comforting than being surrounded by such beautiful gifts of creation.

To find out more about taking a Personal Retreat visit the
Heart by Nature Retreats Website

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

I TOOK A WALK TODAY...

...and stumbled upon a few beautiful creatures along the Refresher Course. Did you know that Adams County is one of the most biologically diverse counties in the state? It shows in just a short walk around Prairie Pond Woods!

Little Wood Satyr

Common Whitetail

Female Calico Pennant

Great Spangled Frittalary

Great Spangled Frittilary gathering minerals from scat

Underside wings of the Great Spangled Frittilary

Woodland Snail of some sort

Skimming Bluet

Hobomok Skipper (best guess)

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

SUMMER RETREAT

ECOntemplation
July 20-21, 2012

Creative and spiritual discoveries in journal writing, collaging, art and contemplation in the new re-purposed shed, Kavanah, or on the Prayer Path

"What is going on in your innermost being
is worthy of your whole love"

-Ranier Maria Rilke

As many of you know through the Facebook naming contest, we recently re-purposed an old shed on the property of Prairie Pond Woods. The new name, Kavanah , means "the focus, intent and direction of the heart." Our hope is that as you sit in quietness, listening to the birds and watching the butterflies on milkweed, your heart might be stilled enough to pay attention to your innermost being and hear the voice of the Spirit speak to you personally. Perhaps God might even "re-purpose" your life there.

During this Summer Retreat, there will be plenty of time to experience solitude at Kavanah...or the swing in the Pine Sanctuary...or the Adirondacks in the Woodland Cathedral. Participants are encouraged to bring a journal for writing down thoughts, prayers or drawings from prompts that will be given. We'll spend a few hours doing collage...a great way to have fun, relax and perhaps discover something new within your soul. An easel will also be set up in Kavanah for some fun group artistic expression!

So, gather some of your dearest friends and take a road trip this summer to southern Ohio. As it is written in the guest book over and over..."I never knew how much I needed this until I got here."

Note that there are two options for this retreat - a One-day and an Overnight. Friday evening will be a casual time to unwind with fellowship under the stars, a creative activity and simple snacks. We may even venture out for a night hike...

Contact cindy@heartbynature.com for more info or to register
as an individual or group.

One-day - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm -$45.00 pp (5 max)
Overnight- Friday 7pm - Saturday 4/5pm-$75.00 pp (5 max)
Registration limited to 10
Deposit Deadline:July 4th (easy to remember!)

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Phase ll - Naming the Re-Purpose Shed!

Friday morning, before the Bird Watching as a Meditation retreat began in the evening, I picked one name from all the submissions that I felt best communicated the purpose (or should I say re-purpose) of the shed as a place for prayer, meditation and hearing the still, small voice of God in our lives. It was a fun process and some of the submissions were very creative, but unfortunately only one could be chosen.

And that GRAND WINNER is....KAVANAH. Now I know it isn't as clever as some others sent my way, or as silly, like "bovine cow tow now," (?) but it has a meaning that is spot on for Heart by Nature Retreats. Kavanah is a Hebrew word meaning the focus, intent and direction of the heart. It is most associated with prayer, but can apply to the larger context of life, as well. I not only loved the definition but the sound and spelling of the word, as well.

When finished, the sign will hang to the left of the door above the chair

So, during the time when some of the women at the retreat decorated bluebird boxes...I painted the sign...or at least the first part of the sign. There is still some outlining and images to add...but like Kavanah...more embellishing will come with Phase lll! And I'm still trying to decide if it should be Kavanah Place, Shed, Niche, etc. To Be Determined later, as they say :)

Three of the Bird Watching as a Meditation participants, Linda, Carmella and Julie holding the sign
and searching for the elusive Yellow-breasted Chat!

By the way, the winning name was submitted by Marty Davids from the Chicago, IL area. Thanks, Marty...the book will arrive soon! And thanks to all of you who took time out to use your brain power and send me ideas!

Monday, April 23, 2012

RE-PURPOSING

There's been a lot of good buzz over the last few years around the concept of Re-Purposing. Women's decorating magazines, homesteading websites and craft blogs have been showing us how to take one thing and turn it into something completely different...a colander becomes a hanging lamp...canning jars become chandeliers...thrown out pieces of whatever become collage art pieces. You can find lots of ideas at this blog list if you are prone to reusing, recycling and re-purposing the things around you.

At Prairie Pond Woods, mostly out of logistical necessity, my husband and I started naming areas of the property right after we took possession of it. We have the "fallen oak" area, the "larkspur slope" and the "landing strip," to name a few. The landing strip is a long, narrow patch of land that separates two wooded areas and, if you needed to, you could land a small plane there in a pinch. At the end of the strip sits an old aluminum-sided lean-to. I never thought much about it, in fact there was some talk about dismantling it, but lately I've been thinking about turning it into a place of meditation and prayer. Yes, an old cow shed...becomes a place to connect with God. Hey, it's happened before, if you recall.

This week, I will be feverishly working on the shed (alongside a wise, young woman, who is bartering work at Prairie Pond Woods for a personal retreat), in hopes of finishing it before the Bird Watching as a Meditation retreat this coming weekend. There is much to do for sure...poor girl has her work cut out for her!

Dead Sumac trees need cleared out and the wood cut small for the fire pit going inside

The Entrance obviously needs re-worked

The weeds on the floor have been killed and now a layer of mulch needs to go down.

The Honeysuckle and Crown Vetch have been eradicated on one side. Now new native landscaping must be designed and planted so that it facilitates a feeling of peace, seclusion and joy upon arrival. My hope is that as women spend time there, the simple act of being quiet and listening might bring about New Purposes in their lives.

NAMING CONTEST!!

So, here's the deal. By Thursday, April 26 at 12:00 AM, I would also like to have the shed named, so that we can make a barn siding sign to hang at its entrance. So...calling all creative types to think of a great name for it (I started calling it the Med Shed...but it lacks a certain flair). If we pick your Name, I'll send you a copy of one of my favorite books by Ken Gire called, Windows of the Soul..Experiencing God in New Ways.

To submit a name, go to
https://www.facebook.com/heartbynatureretreats
Message me

See you outside!

Cindy

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Adams County Excursion

On Saturday I was invited to go with a group of naturalist who usually get together this time each year to hunt for plants in the mustard family. Due to the early spring...the mustards are up, bloomed and gone...so the group decided to set out and just go where their phenological noses took them.

It was nice to be among a group of people who love experiencing nature and learning as much as I do. Now, don't get me wrong, I have friends who would give me their kidneys, and with whom I can sit and talk for hours about Life, or nothing important at all. I have many Anam Caras...but few of them care to go birding or botanizing with me...go figure. But I'm working on them.

So, it was nice to be with folks who randomly blurt out bird names or drop to their knees and start digging through leaf litter or stand motionless looking up or walk in circles staring at the ground, without thinking mental illness is involved.

We were loosely led by Jim McCormac, who works for the Ohio Dept or Natural Resources and is a wealth of information and understanding. He has a great blog where you can see way better photos of the day than mine.

Gettin' the Shot!

I was definitely out-gunned with camera gear and therefore photography enthusiasm. One of the photographers turned me on to a bino/camera strap combo, so next time I hope to bring the big, heavy Nikon, too. But until then, I hope you will enjoy these few decent photos of some of the things we saw along the way from my "camera lite."