Seeing Trees

Sometimes we don't hear things until we are ready, even though it's been told to us many times over.  The same can be said of what we see.

For over a year now, I have passed by a tree just out side my back door of the farm house a zillion times, never taking much notice. I don't think I could have told you what it's leaves look like when filled out. It simply wasn't as magnificent as the White Oak that I have gaped at since day one out the front door after all.

I picked up a few fallen twigs from that back door insignificant tree and stuck them in my "dead stuff" arrangement thinking they were interesting non the less. Tree enthusiast Nancy over at WindowSillArranging ID'd the twigs as belonging to a red maple. Nice. At least it has a name, poor thing.

I have a few often used works of Nancy Ross Hugo's on my bookshelf .

and had ordered another that just arrived in the mail.

Magnificent book.
A must have for anyone who has ever seen a tree. Or at least thought they had.
I have spent the last two days engrossed in the book, walking around my farm discovering all the gems that I have...that I walk by every day...but just didn't See them. Nancy and photographer Rob llewellyn teach us not just to look at a tree, but to See it.

My back door red maple and I have become very good friends.

Just look at how it is ready to greet me each time I walk by now.

How did I not notice it's worthiness?

I am ready, most ready, to See what else is on my knoll.
Tree Watching. Just what I need...another new hobby.

But first, I am off the see my Grandsons.
And I won't miss a single moment of seeing them.
Smile.