The Daily Dose

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The Daily Dose
People don’t always have the time or opportunity to get outside every day. That is why I created The Daily Dose. The Daily Dose is a glimpse into nature, keeping you in touch with the out of doors. The Daily Dose may include a story, or, at minimum, a couple beautiful pictures of Outside. As you look at each picture, I encourage you to engage your senses. Imagine what it might smell like there. Is it a redwood forest? Eycalyptus? Then imagine the temperature. Does it look hot? Breezy? Really take a step Outside, and get your Daily Dose!

HIKE DATE: TODAY. August 12, 2013, Sonoma Valley Regional



It’s cold, foggy and wet this morning. Seems like the perfect bird watching hour and opportunity for some great photographic light at the lake. I throw on some sweats and drive over to the farm for a morning walk to stretch out my legs.

The fog is so heavy it’s almost like rain. Big patches float by, like apparitions parading along on their death march. The landscape has an eerie feeling.

Once I get over the small hill to the reservoir I see, only that, just the reservoir. The fog is so thick I cannot see my ridge. There is nothing except the muted water and its inhabitants. It’s as if I’ve stepped into a very quiet, separate room, and the door just closed behind me.

The birds are gathering near the waters’ edge so I go around the bend to watch. Everything is so defined in this mist covered light. Trees that normally display all that fits in between, now look like white walls with branches sticking out here and there. The woods look “full” and hide the things that lurk and watch.

I approach the pier. On other days, the pier appears only a place of fun and good times. A place for the kids to hang out and jump off into the refreshing water on hot days. But today it looks downright dangerous. I stare at the pier and its screaming shadow. Monsters in the mist continue to float by and I feel it all to be the perfect setting for the next scary movie.

This short, pretty and familiar hike has now become nothing but mystery around every bend.

I hear voices. Just then I was noticing how the place was mine this morning. Figures. But I still can’t see anyone. Oh, there they are. A couple of guys on the other side of the water, just hanging out. I assess my trail, how close I am to where they are. How close my trail passes by them once I reach the other side, other routes available before I reach them, and so forth. Gathering information.

The colors are so bright without the harsh sun to wash them out. The moss at the shoreline is emerald green and seems a color too bright to be natural. There’s another man walking his dog. Plenty of people in the park now. I near the guys and one of them comes up to the trail, just as I approach. We chat for a few moments and I promise to keep their “business” and local secret to myself.

Around the next curve I see two people skimming rocks in the water. The reflections on the water are beautiful this morning. The fog is rising, creating a lid on the landscape.

I’m only slightly wet from the drizzle and had a wonderful and magical time in the mist this morning! Thank you Sonoma Regional Park!

As a side note, we have been immensely enjoying the pears and plums picked at the old orchard, provided gratis from Mother Nature. The pears are some of the best we've had - thank you!

I hope you enjoyed this version of The Daily Dose!



Please feel free to share this blog with anyone you feel may benefit from a little Daily Dose!

(There are additional photos to enjoy at the bottom of this post)

Below is the link to my custom jewelry website.There ares some great piecesinspired by naure, ats well as tons of free photography downloads of –Outsidee!! www.chellesjewelry.org

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Comments

[Susan Dray]

Like being there
I love your posts! They are like you take us along with you, sharing your path and your thoughts in luscious language. And your photos are gorgeous! Thanks so much for your blog!