Autumn River Walk and the Nine Year Old; Grand and Small

I find it more and more difficult to get out and about these days, but I'm never ever sorry once we do it.  Grab my camera, some hot tea, our nature sketch books and three boys and we're off!  This is the record of an early-November hike.

 One usually looks for a place to sit as soon as he can to sketch something....anything.

 Maybe even his tree climbing, grinning from ear to ear brother.

 Can you see it?  The little boy in the tree?  The photo needs to be rotated but I'm unable to do it now.  But that little boy, sprawled out at the tip top of the tree....there he is!

 Or do a little texture-shading.

 And then a little about a boy....

What is a Boy?

author unknown

He's an imp and an angel,

a dreamer, a tease

An explorer of meadows, and a climber of trees.

A runner of errands, and a 

doer of chores.

Who tears up his best trousers, and 

tracks up your floors. 

He's a solemn young man with

some mud on his feet, 

and a daredevil riding his

bike down the street.  

A bundle of question, who 

wants to know "why,"

The world goes around and

the stars fill the sky.

But adventurous, timid, excited

 or quiet,

There's nothing so new that he

won't care to try it.  

Anc just when your temper and

patience wear think,

He'll look up at you with an

innocent grin,

And your heart melts again with 

your real pride and joy,

in that mischievous, wonderful treasure-- your boy!!

This here silly boy turned 10 years old yesterday.  We celebrated with our traditional walk to the local donut shoppe for a breakfast treat.  Then for dinner  I made his favorite crockpot roast-hoagie-sandwiches and ice cream pie for dessert.  We had a lovely day, celebrating the turn of the year.

I think these photos capture, in essence, what the 10th year have been for us.  Ever changing, swinging about, happy then grumpy, excited then sleepy.  I'm looking forward to spending the next year with this growing boy.

 It's good to see, sometimes, how small you are...

 And how much smaller others are.

 We spotted Mr. Great Blue Heron from this little rocky point.

 Eli tried sneaking as close as he could, but Mr. Great Blue flew away.  What a sight!  Majestic and regal.

 Here's to slowing down to take a walk.  Drawing what you see, seeing what you miss when life is busy.  Feeli small, being too silly and laughing at yourself.  Taking a minute to  hold something teensy and see the intricate detail our God painted & etched on something so, so small...

I'll be linking up to The Handbook of Nature Study.