ThE Magic of Jeffrey Woods
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Trees: The Stuff Poems Are Made Of

3/6/2015

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Photos & text by Barb Jenks Triffon
Trees by Joyce Kilmer was one of my favorite childhood poems. Not because it was the best poem ever written, but because it was short and I actually understood it. 
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“I think that I shall never see. 
A poem as lovely as a tree…”
    

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Back in the day, my classmates and I were required to recite this poem in English class and expected to sing it in music class. While I can’t exactly remember why we received a double dose of Trees, its rhyming verse, sing-songy beat and personification of a tree made the poem a fun and easy assignment for me. 

Not so much for my classmates, however, who rolled their eyes at the poem’s simplicity, snickered at the words “breast” and “bosom” featured within its stanzas (which seriously was sort of funny) and brutally poked fun (as only the merciless, stealth precision of a 6th grader can do) at the male poet’s female name - Joyce.  Ugh.

While this lovely little poem had a ton of stumbling blocks for me and my pubescent-age friends, I somehow managed to dreamily gaze out a classroom window and imagine myself sitting under the leafy tree the poet had described. (In a poof - I was gone.) 

Looking back, it seems like trees have always been an important living and breathing part of my life. 

When I was a preschooler, three gigantic Cottonwood Trees in my yard marked the farthest edge of my young world and provided an exciting destination for me and my friends. About those magical days - it's safe to say there was no end to the epic adventures we created together.

"Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest." And the boy did. And the tree was happy." ~ Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree 

PictureChinkapin Oak: My favorite tree at Jeffrey Woods. Providing shade, beauty and adventures year-round.
























The fluffy white seed pods these giant trees released every summer not only covered my yard with a snow-like white cotton, but also our neighbors’ yards for as far as my little self could see. Sometimes, I’d actually burrow under these big piles of puffy softness and completely disappear. Again, just like that – poof & gone.

But that was a long time ago, a forgotten childhood game and memory until years later when my preschool-age daughter experienced her own tree magic.

While playing under a flowering Crabapple Tree in our backyard, she excitedly announced it was snowing and began throwing snowballs of delicate pink petals into the air.

Indeed it was a Snowy Day in May. Thousands of falling flowers had covered her and the ground with a fragrant blanket of pink wonder - much like the cotton puffs that had covered me years earlier.  

And as I quietly admired the beautiful tree on that warm spring day, there it was again >> the beginning of Joyce Kilmer’s poem playing over and over in my head.
“I think that I shall never see, A poem as lovely as a tree.” 
Fast forward another couple decades: Trees remain my inspiration, refuge and source of childlike magic every season of the year. 

Meet Some Inspiring Jeffrey Woods Trees

 Spring: "Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems." 
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
Summer: "For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver." ~ Martin Luther
Fall:  "Why are there trees I never walk under but large and melodious thoughts descend upon me?" ~ Walt Whitman  
Winter: "I couldn't live where there were no trees, something vital in me would starve." ~ L.M. Montgomery, Anne's House of Dreams "
More Jeffrey Woods Tree Magic
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Coming Soon: Spring

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February Smiles

2/2/2015

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Photos & text by Barb Jenks Triffon
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Every year, the arrival of February makes me smile. It always begins as an inside smile. You know, the kind that starts somewhere in your chest and eventually migrates to your lips. About this wonderful phenomenon, my son once said: “I didn’t even know I was smiling. It was just there.”  

Well, that’s exactly what February does to me.

While I can’t quite unravel all the reasons behind my February smiles, I do have some ideas. To begin with, the word February actually reminds me of a former, rather grim, teacher who drilled my classmates and me on the correct pronunciation of this second month of the year.


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“It’s not Feboo-ary,” she’d bark with tense and twisted lips. “It’s Feb-r.u.u.u.u.u.u-ar-y.”   FYI: She also did the same thing with library. “There is no BERRY in li-b.r.r.r.r.r.ar-y.”  And, so it went.   

Perhaps, it was the fun way I learned to roll my Rs 

or the terrifying flashbacks of my teacher’s pursed lips that make me smile every February. But, it could also be the festive palette of Valentine’s Day colors or the sweet memories of school parties with unworkable scissors, dried paste and secret messages written on handmade cards. Then again, it just might be the subtle, but palpable stirrings of a not-so-far-off spring that curl the corners of my mouth.

Whatever the reasons, I’m always thankful for February and happy to report - I’m not alone. 

As winter slowly loosens it grip, my recent Jeffrey Woods walks  have revealed an overall different mood in the forest and a frenzied increase in bird activity and chatter. The announcement of winter’s diminishing power is being tweeted throughout the forest. The birds know it and so do I. 

Without summer foliage, visitors to a February woods are sure to enjoy a birds-eye view of some of its really entertaining feathered residents spreading the good news.
American Crows: Jeffrey Woods is a favorite performance stage for these playful winged comedians. With their high-flying acrobatics and incessant jabbering, they’re a constant source of entertainment.

Blue Jays: With perky, tufted crests and beautiful blue plumage, Blue Jays are one of the prettiest and noisiest birds within a February woods.  A definite smile maker.

Sparrows: While sparrows are plentiful during all seasons, I love watching these plump little birds in February as they flit, scratch and peck the ground for food. These busy little creatures fill every moment with a full day’s work. 

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Mourning Doves:  Mourning Doves have always been my favorite bird. Their graceful, gray body, calm manner and gentle cooing remind me of a wise teacher and spiritual guide. I love listening to them and appreciate their comforting presence, particularly during fading winter days.  

Cardinals: A big shout out for Ohio’s official state bird. Both the brilliant red males and brownish, red-fringed females are simply gorgeous against the snowy backdrop of February. Every year, they get my vote for the Best Valentine’s Day Bird in the Woods.  

Tufted Titmouse: This little, gray bird looks somewhat like a miniature female Cardinal. Its large black eyes, white underbelly, small crest and eager expression make it a real woodland sweetheart.  

Chickadees: These tiny birds with black caps and white cheeks are another woodland gymnast. February is a great month to watch them hopping up & down and all around the trees.

White-Breasted Nuthatches: These perky little birds have a gray-blue back, white face and dark grayish cap. I’m always amazed at their agility to creep (and I do mean creep) along tree trunks and branches in search of food. 

Woodpeckers: For me, woodpeckers are a great example of not needing to know a bird’s name to enjoy it. I love watching these woodland musicians drum out a rat-a-tat-tat much bigger than themselves. While I still get their names confused, they don’t seem to mind in the least bit. 

Canada Geese: Who doesn’t love these opinionated, cantankerous birds? Unless, of course, they’re defecating in your office parking lot or chasing you down like a mad dog when you breach their personal space. This winter during sunset walks at Jeffrey Woods, I was frequently entertained by honking, V-shaped flocks flying overhead along Alum Creek. Be forewarned: This February, communities of lively geese and their irritable personalities have begun gathering in Alum Creek’s flood plain for their annual eating & breeding frenzy.  

Red-Tailed Hawks: Jeffrey Woods is a playground for several majestic predators including the Red-Tailed Hawk. The other day as I drove into the park, one nearly clipped the front of my car in a determined dive to catch a squirrel running across the road. I actually looked to see if feathers were left on my bumper, but both hawk and squirrel escaped. 
(PS: I’m expecting a note of thanks from that squirrel for my part in saving his/her life.  
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Barred-Owls: Of all the rare and not-so-rare birds in Jeffrey Woods, I think a pair of Barred Owls most touches my heart. Their unblinking eyes and cool stealth mannerisms have earned them the rightful reputation of the wisest predator in the woods. Every spring and summer, I watch and photograph them more than any other other forest ccreature. After a small winter hiatus, I’m happy to report they’ve returned and are helping me welcome February.  

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Coming Soon 
The American Robin 
AKA: The Harbinger of Spring
Another Woo-Hoo!


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Whatever powers are emerging this time of year, there's just something about February's many  secrets that stir the soul. Don't miss its swelling buds, chatty birds, joyful colors and tender smiles. 
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In A Nutshell: Enjoy a small remembrance of Jeffrey Woods with an acorn necklace from In A Nutshell, 
a direct sale, online business using acorns tops gathered from Jeffrey Woods during walks that inspire 
Jeffrey Woods' blogs. For more information visit:                                                                                                   Website: www.inanutshellcollective.com/ 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/InANutshellCollective

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January: Not For Sissies

1/12/2015

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Photos and text by Barb Jenks Triffon
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More than any other month of the year, January seems the loneliest. 

Maybe it’s the steely cold weather, the continued darkness or the letdown after December holidays. 


Whatever it is - January IS NOT a month for sissies. 

Growing up in a small, Midwest river town during the 50s taught me early on the harsh realities and lonely confinements of this first month of the year.

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Now, decades later, January’s arrival still spirits me back to those blustery, winter days of my childhood when I helped my older brother deliver his evening newspapers. 

Barely old enough to know my multiplication tables, I learned my January lessons well as we pulled our rusted wagon filled with newspapers up and down dark roads and icy hills.        

While we walked empty streets lined with anonymous houses, I was thankful for the golden strands of light coming from neighborhood windows, porches and city street lamps.
 
During those lonely January days, light of any kind provided an almost cosmic comfort to weary, small travelers like my brother and me.

As we passed countless homes, I remember seeing children playing inside, mothers setting tables and families sitting together for evening meals while we trudged along unseen just a few feet away.  

Much like a theater production of "Our Town," I thought it so odd I could watch and become acquainted with these people through their windows, but they knew nothing about me. 

Aloneness can stir such profound thinking - even for small children. 
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But that was the 50s. Today, I don’t travel dark streets with a Red Flyer Wagon anymore, but I still welcome the calming lights from winter houses and street lamps during the stillness of a January night. 

While I've never been a fan of loneliness, delivering papers with my brother taught me that the "solitude" within moments of "aloneness" isn’t always a horrible thing. I also learned that visits to a January woods can provide priceless moments of introspection and renewal. 

 Cautionary Note:  Bundle up and be prepared. January winters don't give a lot of second chances.  

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A January Jeffrey Woods Waits in Silence
"There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you ..... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself."  - Ruth Stout, (1884 – 1980) an American author best known for her no-work gardening books and methods of organic gardening.
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Happy New Year From Jeffrey Woods
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Jeffrey Woods: December Gifts 

12/15/2014

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Photos and text by Barb Jenks Triffon 
"How did it get so late so soon? It's night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. 
My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" ~ Dr. Seuss
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Well it’s finally here and, true to form, December arrived in its usual scratchy/itchy fashion. 

And, as it stamped its huge, icy footprint upon the landscape, I wondered if nature not only sensed this season's gathering cold and darkness, but also the festive (if not frenzied) mood associated with this month's religious and cultural holidays.


I suppose if you believe in the "interconnectedness" of the universe, it makes sense that the seismic, atmospheric ripples caused by Christmas and Hanukah should be as palpable to Mother Nature as they are to the billions of people worldwide who celebrate them.

As a child, I happily embraced this interpendence of all life forms, and also assigned some very human thoughts and feelings to them. Having a limited range of references or experiences, I think most kids do that. 

Ex: A broken tree branch made me wonder if the damaged tree was in pain, while the last rose of the season blooming in our garden triggered my admiration for its strength and bravery. And so it was in my childhood. (Be Forewarned: The universe always finds and recognizes that kind of compassion - as do all the stray and hurt animals within a 10-mile radius.)

Fast Forward to Adulthood: Thankfully, I still believe in the “oneness” of all things – though I rarely declare it in big public forums like this blog.  (Getting older can make you fearless.)
            
                               "Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better," ~ Albert Einstein
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Nevertheless, as I stood among the stoic, old trees within Jeffrey Woods this December pondering BIG thoughts of LITTLE significance, I became deeply aware of the gifts within a December woods. 

And what splendid gifts they were! 
    
Whether it was the shimmering stars sparkling through a black spider web of overhead branches, a wispy crescent moon dripping silver orbs of moon dust from her curved lips or the wind’s willowy whisper telling a story to the frigid night air - Jeffrey Woods generously shared her priceless gifts.

And, while I couldn’t actually decide if I was forcing myself to see these gifts or if nature inherently knew it was the right month to give them up, it didn’t seem to matter anymore. 

Sometimes, it’s just not a good idea to question the gifts or the gift giver.

Whether you visit Jeffrey Woods or any other wooded area this December, be sure to enjoy the gifts of the season that are waiting and wanting to be opened:
  • Families of deer huddled together foraging for food.
  • Vivid red cardinals flitting back-and-forth from frozen ground to stately evergreens.
  • The fragrant breath of giant pines and the soft footfalls on their dropped needles.
  • The frozen, yet welcoming solitude of a winter forest.
  • An invigorating cold that burns your nose and your toes, but makes you feel so alive.
  • December's shape-shifting shadows that cast chilling spells within a barren landscape.
  • A surreal connection to a life force so much bigger than yourself.
  • A variety of footprints creating a written history of what happened before you arrived.
  • Being the first visitor in the woods after a snowfall. (This has no comparison).
These are just a few December gifts from Jeffrey Woods. To share your memories or experiences, email me and I will gladly post at the end of this blog.  State whether or not you want your name published with your post. Posts will only be accepted through December 31.Many Thanks. 
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In A Nutshell: Enjoy a small remembrance of Jeffrey Woods with an acorn necklace from In A Nutshell, a direct sale, online business using acorns tops gathered from Jeffrey Woods during walks that inspire Jeffrey Woods' blogs. 
For more information visit ~                                                                                                                
Website: www.inanutshellcollective.com/ 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/InANutshellCollective

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Saying "Yes" to NO-vember

11/13/2014

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As irreverent as it may sound, I’ve never really liked November despite its Thanksgiving Grand Finale - which (let’s face it) has its own set of challenges.

In truth, I’m not actually sure that November even likes November.

This eleventh month of the calendar year is full of contradictions and losses. 

In addition, its warm/cold, windy/calm, wet/dry personality is a toxic witches' brew of unpredictable opposites and longings for what used to be.

“There is always a November space after the leaves have fallen when ... it was almost indecent to intrude on the woods ...  for their glory terrestrial had departed and their glory celestial of  purity and whiteness had not yet come upon them.”  
– Anne of Windy Poplars by Lucy Maude Montgomery, Canadian author (1874-1942) 

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As a tree-hugging, nature lover, I've always struggled with November.  Maybe, its because its the first really cold and uninspired month before winter. (Sometimes and in some situations - it just doesn't pay to be first.)  

Even November's place among the seasons seems puzzling to me. Clearly, it doesn’t belong to summer, is way too contrary for fall and much too murky to be a child of winter. That, along with a heaping serving of seasonal darkness, helps explain why this naked, blustery month ranks so low on my list of favorites.
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NO!                                                                                           
… No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,                                            No comfortable feel in any member,
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds. 

November!
Thomas Hood, British Humorist & Poet (1799 - 1845)

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Nevertheless, as I half-heartedly walked the nature paths at Jeffrey Woods this November, I decided to put my grievances aside and be open to the improbable possibilities this month had to offer -  however small.  
And that's when the magic happened!

Soundwaves: With leaves dead and gone, the sounds of nature within the barren landscape and crisp November air were not only more abundant, but also crystal clear.  Nearly every footfall of the woodland's furry creatures and scurrying birds could be heard. This, plus cold branches clanging together like medieval cathedral bells, added an unspoken reverence to each moment. 

Viewfinder: Who knew an undressed forest could actually contain so much interest, depth-of-field and delightful definition. Countless pillars of sleeping trees appeared as stately sculptures painted in a thousand shades of black and brown. Once immersed in this surreal image of nature, it was easy to imagine tumbling into an iconic Ansel Adams' photograph. 
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Aromatherapy: During this month of decay,  Jeffrey Woods is filled with the rich fragrances of fallen leaves and pine needles. What's more, the cold November air seemed to enrich the musty, hearth-like scents within the woods while freezing them in place.   

Color Palette: By the time November arrived, I so missed the familiar colors of spring, summer and fall, it was hard to notice the extraordinary brushstokes of colors within this month. With the grandeur of their subtle differences, I wondered how I overlooked November's earthen palette in the first place. 

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The Fahrenheit Factor: This one is particularly hard for me as I hate layering clothes, bundling up and being cold. (Seriously hate it!) The funny thing about beauty, however, is this: Once you accept the invitation to become part of something bigger than yourself, cold noses and toes just don’t seem as important.

People & Animal Watching: During the season of dark and cold, there are definitely less creatures crossing your path in the woods, but lots more opportunities for quiet reflection and appreciation. While I hate using pop culture words like mindful, a November walk within Jeffrey Woods truly offers the very mindful gifts of here and  now.

Super Power Senses: With less visual distractions, a walk in a November woods fuels the soul and super charges the gifts of vision, hearing, smell and touch.  And on that - you can depend!
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“It was November - the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, 
deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. 
... let that great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul.” 
- Anne of Green Gables 
by Lucy Maude Montgomery, Canadian Author (1874-1942)
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In every outdoor space there is magic waiting to be found - even in November. 
This month, discover the subtle and extraordinary beauty that is Jeffrey Woods!
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In A Nutshell: Enjoy a small remembrance of Jeffrey Woods with an acorn necklace from In A Nutshell, a direct sale, online business located in Bexley, OH, using acorns tops gathered from Jeffrey Woods during walks that inspire Jeffrey Woods' Blogs. 
For more information visit ~                                                                                                                
Website: www.inanutshellcollective.com/ 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/InANutshellCollective

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Things That Go Bump In The Night

10/16/2014

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There’s no getting around it – October is a spooky month!

In the past, I tried to minimize Halloween's "Boo" Factor (especially when my kids were growing up) by emphasizing fall harvest activities instead. 

But for whatever reasons (probably everyone's terrifying yard decorations), there was just no denying October's ghosties & beasties - real or imagined.  

Truth be known, I somewhat enjoy the unseen mysteries that cause October's little, bump-in-the night moments. And to be clear, they're quite different from the BIG BUMPY ones like Jason of Friday the 13th horror film fame. For me, these small "knocks & thuds" help kick-start imaginations and awaken possibilities - not unlike the other unseen mysteries of soft breezes, warm sunrays and earthy fragrances.  

"Imaginations are a 
terrible thing to waste." 

And while on the subject of imaginations, Jeffrey Mansion & Woods is the perfect destination for bump-in-the-night adventures, Harvest Fest activities and manageable doses of nighttime fright. (A similar, but safer version of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.)

An evening walk in an October woods always reveals an entirely different landscape from any other time of year. Barren trees that look like ghoulish phantoms, twisted roots that heave upward from the ground and eerie, almost supernatural, nighttime sounds all quicken the pace to trails end. 

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"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, 
dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." ... Edgar Allan Poe 
Case In Point: During an evening walk in the woods last October, I thought I heard soft footfalls dragging along the leaf-covered path behind me. At first, I tried to ignore and reason away the unfamiliar sounds.  But when the shuffling noises became clearer, I turned like an enraged honey badger with keys locked & loaded to do some serious damage - admittedly, not a pretty picture. 

Anyway, when I saw what seemed to be slow moving shadows, my fear index skyrocketed. In that one terrifying moment, I knew exactly what Ichabod Crane felt right before the headless horseman appeared in those dark New England woods. 

I stiffened with fright, locked my vision on two lights shining from within a darkened mansion and quickly headed for the perceived safety of the forest's edge.

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I literally tumbled out of the woods into an empty meadow only to discover the threatening footfalls had not been caused by a menacing band of displaced zombies, but some hungry deer foraging for food along the path. (Caution: An October woods can most assuredly make you feel like you've fallen down Alice's rabbit hole.)

And while that should have been this story’s "Happily-Ever-After-End,”  I still faced a journey through a murky meadow with the piercing yellow eyes of Jeffrey Mansion following me - an historic, old home known for its own ghastly/ghostly tales. 

My October stroll did not end with a smashed pumpkin like in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, but a slightly bruised ego and a BUMPITY story to retell.  (FYI: I am once again looking forward to this October's walk in a nighttime woods.)

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Fall Harvest Festival: A great time for the entire family.

Join the Bexley Recreation & Parks Department on Friday, October 17, 2014 from 6- 8 pm. 


Activities include a Corn Maze, Hayrides, Enchanted Walk, Live Music, Balloons, Face Painting and a Bon Fire!  

This is a free community event.   Community groups will be selling pizza, chili, pop-corn, hot and cold drinks, and dessert. 
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Lessons Learned In A Fall Woods

9/30/2014

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Whether it's winter's cold, summer's heat, spring rains or the changing colors of fall, you can pretty much count on the "rules-of-predictability" within the four seasons - a fact I find both comforting and annoying. (Comforting because there are few surprises and annoying because there really are few surprises.)

And since I brought it up, I'm also not crazy about seasonal transitions, particularly summer into fall.  I mean you finally become familiar with the "personality" of one season and then everything changes. The flip flops and shorts come in, sweaters and puffy coats go out and a whole new set of seasonal rules apply.

Because I find these transitions mildly off-putting, I’m always thankful for the shallow breath and quiet embrace fall offers as summer slips away. For me, it's like a sad, yet firm, reminder that it’s once again time to let go and move forward. Sorta like the game of musical chairs I played as a child.
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Of all the seasons, however, I think fall most reminds me of a loving mother putting her children to bed, which is why a new arrival at Jeffrey Woods seemed so wrong and yet, so gloriously right. 

As I slowly pushed through the heavy fall air on a recent nighttime walk, an unexpected image of new life emerged within the sleeping woods. 

Oblivious to the improbable statistics of survival, a mother deer gently nursed her newborn fawn among drying leaves, withered plants and brittle undergrowth. "Yes," I shouted out loud. "Proof positive that even Mother Nature breaks her own rules."

Too late in the season to be camouflaged by plants and too little foliage left to gain enough weight before winter, the two were a fearless picture of trust. (Mother trusted she could care for her late-season offspring and baby trusted her mother would make things right.)


And, if the process of inhaling & exhaling might have disturbed that moment - I stood for a breathless eternity watching them while the forest filled with a peaceful warm glow those of faith often describe.

Sometimes in life there are moments that teach and sometimes there are images that comfort. For me, this moment in the fall woods was both.

Lessons Learned In A Nighttime Fall Woods
* Change is inevitable.
* There's comfort in predictability, but great joy in the possibility of change.
* There are ALWAYS miracles floating in the night air, so never count them out.
* Thankfully, rules are sometimes meant to be broken.
* Letting go of fear should be easier.
* Trusting shouldn't be so hard.
* Faith & hope are always good things.

(“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.” ... Dalai Lama)
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In A Nutshell: Enjoy a small remembrance of Jeffrey Woods with an acorn necklace from In A Nutshell, a direct sale, online business located in Bexley, OH, using acorns tops gathered from Jeffrey Woods during walks that inspire Jeffrey Woods' Blogs. 

For more information visit ~                                                                                                                
Website: www.inanutshellcollective.com/ 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/InANutshellCollective

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Jeffrey Woods: In A Mood For A Melody

9/5/2014

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During this betwixt & between time of year when summer struggles to hang on and fall has yet to establish a hold,  nature fills the air with song. And as I listen to these beautiful, outdoor compositions, I can't help humming a stanza from Billy Joel's Piano Man: 
Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feeling alright.
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Whether walking in the nighttime woods or savoring the last days of summer, you'll hear an endless (almost exhausting) array of melodies playing loud, soft and everywhere in-between. With its ever-changing tempos, quiet undertones and bone-chilling crescendos, I can only imagine both contemporary and classical musicians alike would be envious of these original scores.  

Roll Over Beethoven: And while these music-in-the-air 
presentations are always a  treat, knowing that their ingenious composers and masterful musicians are insects makes this season’s playlist downright inspirational. 

Katydid
Cricket
Cicada
That's right - bugs. Big bugs, small bugs, brown bugs, green bugs, creepy crawly and flying bugs that include chirping crickets, stuttering cicadas, screeching katydids, flapping moths and whirling mosquitos are all creating some really lovely, never-before-heard tunes.

While insect communication and exoskeleton body parts rubbing together is behind most the outdoor tambourine-tapping and operatic solos, I prefer to think of this yearly serenade as "Harvest Magic" when the earth sings a Hallelujah Chorus in honor of the summer harvest. 
Whatever you think about the entomology of end-of-summer songs, you won't want to to miss this fleeting opportunity to enjoy the music at Jeffrey Woods or even in your own backyard. 

It is as seriously inspirational as the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah and as toe-tapping as Billy Joel's Piano Man.
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Enjoy a small remembrance of Jeffrey Woods with an acorn necklace from In A Nutshell, a direct sale, online business located in Bexley, OH, using acorns tops gathered from Jeffrey Woods during walks that inspire Jeffrey Woods' Blogs. 
For more information visit ~                                                                                                                
Website: www.inanutshellcollective.com/ 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/InANutshellCollective

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Jeffrey Woods: Summer's End Memory Book

8/16/2014

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“Summer’s End” usually means something different for everyone. For some, this time signals end-of-summer vacations, while for others it means the beginning of football season, apple-picking and other traditional fall activities. 

As this summer fades, bike racks empty and swimming pools quiet, I imagine school-age children teeter somewhere between cautious excitement and painful apprehension, while their parents hover between euphoria and loss.  

For me, summer's end triggers a sweet type of melancholy. 
Sweet: The joyful memories of summer. 
Melancholy: Summer's ultimate passing.

Personally speaking, my love/hate relationship with the seasons of hot & cold lands me on opposite ends of the emotional bell curve. 

Case-In-Point: Every January, I begin counting down the dreary days of winter until the Summer Solstice in June. The excitement of surviving Ohio's fickle winters is short-lived, however, with the knowledge that each passing summer day will be shorter than the one before and eventually circle back to winter. Ugh!  (With the same scenario playing over and over, you'd think I'd accept winter with a bit more grace.)
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Nevertheless, about this time every year there's an imperceptible mood, almost a mist, that quietly steals over forest paths, backyard gardens and through the soul of summer itself.  And when this thief comes calling, I find myself making mental checklists of what nature did or did not reveal and how it compared to summers' past. 

Though its hard to compete with the memories of my childhood summers, every one since has still filled my heart with jaw-dropping beauty and endless opportunities for wonder - which is always the case at Jeffrey Woods.

And while it was impossible to capture all the summertime magic Jeffrey Woods had to offer, please enjoy a few of my favorite things.

Just A Few Of My Favorite Things ...
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Balloons filled the summer landscape with color and smiles.
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Bugs were plentiful. Fairy-like dragonflies and magical fireflies filled the meadow throughout the summer.
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Dressed in vibrant colors and sporting all shapes & sizes. the leaves at Jeffrey Woods this summer were spectacular.
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Fairies danced & flew about the woods for all those who were willing to see them.
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Big balls, small balls, colorful balls were everywhere and made me smile the entire summer.
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The gentle music from a loving pair of Barred Owls filled the nighttime forest with haunting sounds.
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Fueled by summer rain, the flowers at Jeffrey Woods & Park were vibrant.
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Children, parents and laughter were overflowing this summer, and the swings never stopped clanking as visitors of all ages enjoyed high-flying rides.
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Baby animals were not as many this summer, except for mother geese and their goslings. Noted: One racoon family of four did a lot of dumpster diving and tree climbing. No baby owls this summer. Only one fawn was born in the woods, but thoroughly entertained us with his/her romping antics. Three baby foxes were counted and brought us lots of smiles as they wrestled, jumped and played on the forest floor.
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There were three full moons this summer and plenty of lamp posts to guide the way through Jeffrey Woods.
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Enjoy a small remembrance of Jeffrey Woods with an acorn necklace from In A Nutshell, a direct sale, online business located in Bexley, OH, using acorns tops gathered from Jeffrey Woods during walks that inspired Jeffrey Woods' Blogs. 
For more information visit ~                                                                                                                Website: www.inanutshellcollective.com/ 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/InANutshellCollective

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A Case for Nature Fairies at Jeffrey Woods

7/21/2014

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Believing in the possibility of fairies (especially nature fairies) helps soften life's sharp edges and makes smiles appear out of nowhere. Presto.  Just like that - A smile! 

Unlike many adults, young children have no problem accepting the reality of fairy-tale characters because they're too virtuous to doubt or think otherwise. Their colorful imaginations and ability to thrive within the realm of make-believe allows them to freely pass through the murky veils of different realities.

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.”  ~ J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

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I knew at a very early age that nature had its own enchanted truths, which were quite separate from the rigid and sometimes inconsistent truths of home and school. 

"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths and dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind." ~ John Lennon 

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For me, the outdoors always provided the perfect backdrop for my childhood adventures - both real and imagined.

Just the way an evening breeze fluttered only a few leaves on a tree, or how a gentle fragrance followed me through a forest, or even how the morning dew turned my backyard into a field of sparkling diamonds was all the proof I needed that nature fairies were lurking nearby. 

"The rustle of the wind reminds us a fairy is near." ~ Unknown

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As an adult, I’m thankful that nature's unexplained mysteries still make me smile and wonder what precocious, little fairy has once again caught my attention.

Before the summer of 2014 passes into just another memory, I’d like to share a few of the seen and unseen mysteries I've enjoyed at  Jeffrey Woods this season - with the possibility that nature fairies just might have been responsible.


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A Red Shiny Ball:  And there it was one dewy morning - an abandoned red ball resting next to a bench on the edge of Jeffrey Woods. Who would have left such a shiny, new ball behind? I could only imagine some band of playful sprites hijacked it for their own nighttime entertainment and returned it when the morning’s sun dispersed their after-dark shenanigans.

“Tink was not all bad: or, rather, she was all bad just now, but, on the other hand, sometimes she was all good. Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time." ~ J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

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Fireflies: I love summer nights and the sparkling fireflies that dance in Jeffrey Park's meadow. Sometimes, however, a certain unexplained movement or different kind of twinkling light hovering over the darkening meadow made me hopeful that a few of these nighttime orbs were really playful fairies. 

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” ~ J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

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Between The Dark & The Daylight: Whether it’s dusk or dawn, unseen magic can always be  felt at Jeffrey Mansion during these in-between-times. According to folklore, these transitional moments are the best opportunities for fairy encounters and Jeffrey Woods never fails to set an eerie stage for their arrival.

"Between the dark and the daylight, when the night is beginning to lower, comes a pause in the day's occupations, that is known as the Children's Hour." 
~ Henry Wadsworth                                                                         Longfellow, The Childrens' Hour

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Dragonfly Wing: When I found this broken wing wedged between some blades of grass, I wasn’t sure if it belonged to a beleaguered dragonfly or a careless fairy. The way it sparkled and caught my attention, however, made me suspect a  fairy had crashed-landed resulting in a broken wing. (Not to worry, fairy magic is powerfully healing.)

“For to have faith, is to have wings." ~ J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

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Tree Magic: Trees enrich the Earth with shade, air, wood, oxygen and food. According to folklore, they also inspire creativity, peace and wonder. Old gnarly trees are best known for their accumulated wisdom, and if you’re open to tree magic, you can even sense a tree’s personality in the faces they sometimes reveal. 
 
"The most wonderful and the strongest things in the world, you know, are just the things which no one can see." ~ Charles Kingsley, The Water-Babies

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Water Fairies: Flowing water holds lots of mysterious feelings, images and enchantment - particularly in the summer.  The mysteries of Alum Creek at Jeffrey Woods can be seen within the creek's ever-changing current. If you're very still, you can sometimes imagine water fairies escaping into the air as the bubbling ripples break the water's surface. 

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” 

~ A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

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A Lost Balloon: A pink balloon carelessly wandered away from a child's birthday party and floated into the woods where I found it hiding under a Mayapple. Everyone knows fairies like shiny things and also dancing under Mayapples. Believing that the fairy realm protected this tiny balloon from forest dangers and other prickly things made a great story for me to retell. 

“Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon.” ~ A.A.Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

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Toadstools/Mushrooms: These umbrella-like plants have long been associated with fairies - who usually sit on or under them. Since a number of toadstools/mushrooms are poisonous, it's never a good idea to touch, but looking for woodland fairies hiding nearby is always recommended! 

"I've never trusted toadstools, but I suppose some must have their good points." ~ Cheshire Cat,  Alice' In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

It's been said nature fairies become more active during the summer months. If that's true, colorful flowers, radiant sun and starry nights make this season a PERFECT TIME and Jeffrey Woods a PERFECT DESTINATION for enchanted adventures and huge smiles. 


                                 “To live will be an awfully big adventure.”  ~ J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
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Enjoy a small remembrance of Jeffrey Woods' magic with an acorn necklace from In A Nutshell, a direct-sale, online business located in Bexley, OH. All acorns tops used in the creation of these necklaces were lovingly gathered from the floor of Jeffrey Woods during walks that inspired The Magic of Jeffrey Woods' Blogs. 
For more information visit ~
Website: www.inanutshellcollective.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/InANutshellCollective

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