It’s extra easy to be missing summer when it’s rough and windy outside. As I’m writing this the wind is throwing itself at the house, doing everything in its power to knock it down. Leaves are flying in every direction and the cat is chasing them back and forth in the window.
The wind is picking up as we speak and the weather station has issued a warning, recommending everyone to stay inside unless it’s absolutely necessary to go outside. I don’t need to be told twice seeing as I was struggling to walk forward on my way home from work.
Phones these days have the amazing ability to show us memories. My phone decided that the memory that suited the howling wind and the dancing leaves was a reminder of Summer. Of greener pastures quite literally.
This picture is from last summer from a place not far from here we’ve chosen to call Fairytale Forest. It’s absolutely magical in summer and on a sunny warm day. In a hidden patch of forest a ways off the road we stumbled upon this place by accident while trying for a shortcut.
We were automatically stricken. It was hard not to stand there for a while and just observe. To admire the beautiful green colors. To just breathe in the clean air.
We spent quite a while in this place looking for a four leaf clover. Every time we’re in the area we take this “shortcut” that in reality is way longer than the proper way. Every time we stop for a while to look for that four leaf clover. Thinking every time that today is the day.
This is a classic Norwegian forest. Moss covered trees as far as the eye can see. Somewhere so dense of a forest that no light passes through and you can’t see inside. The Troll Forest.
That’s what us Norwegians call these kinds of forests in popular speech. Come dusk the branches reach out to form long shadows, and when the wind blows the forest comes alive. Many has sworn or seeing trolls moving through them. It’s a classical myth.
But there are beings in these forests. Not trolls with their long noses and bony fingers. Rather small furry beings scurrying from tree to tree. Out hunting, not for children to eat but for nuts to store for Winter.
We’ve met this little guy several times when passing by the area. We choose to believe it’s the same little feller every time. We’ve named him Nutty.
He’s not a scared little one. Rather a curious little soul. Watching as we move along. Making sure to stay just perfectly far away so that we can’t get a high quality picture with our phones.
Seasons come and seasons go. Winter is in full swing but closing in on its end. We’re only nine days away from officially being in the Spring. Nine days away from when we should, theoretically, see the first greens popping up.
The dead leaves on the ground will be raked away as the new ones come to life up above. Ready to thrive and spread joy for another season.
Fairytale Forest will start blooming again and Nutty will awaken from his slumber. I wonder if we’ll see him again this year. I know I’m gonna head up there to look for that four leaf clover and visit my Summer friend.
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All pictures are taken by myself.
