All the Leaves Are Brown, Let’s Smell Them!

Fallen Leaves

A couple of weeks ago my middle girl and I were hiking in the woods — yes, like in trees, we have lots of them here in Jersey — when I suddenly stopped to take this picture and managed to annoy quite a few joggers along the way.

Can't help it, I want to remember.

The sound of the trickling water was just so calming and then the smell of the wet leaves hit, bringing me back to my childhood, when my twin brother and I would dig for creepy crawlies and begin taking turns imagining the most fantastic stories of hidden little imaginary worlds.

Gnarly Tree

I've since shared these stories with my children AND with my husband, Garth (not his real name) who learned of my fascination with tree spirits on our first "day date" and, well, yes, now that they're older, my kids are just as surprised as you probably are, right now, that he even bothered to, you know, call back.

Gnarly Vien

I was going through some photos, because this is the winter "I swear" to print and display updated pictures around the house and, well, yeah, it seems I really do spend a lot of time looking down on the ground or up at the sky.

"Look at those vines, Momma, let's go swing on them!"

But, there was this one time in the woods when my kid and I ignored the disagreeable looks of passersby, took a swing on a gnarly vine and forgot about life's rough patches…for just a little while, anyway.

"OOMPHUH!"

Aaaaand, I may or may not have gotten a nose-full of leaves for my troubles.  Good thing I wasn't holding the camera, or my kid was too busy laughing, to take a picture, right?!?  RIGHT?!?

[sound of crickets, chirping]

Riiiiiiight, if anyone needs me, I'll be upstairs holding my middle girl's hair back, as we both finish getting SO OVER this warm-ish winter.

Stupid creeping crud!

Β© 2003 – 2012 This Full House

Comments

104 responses to “All the Leaves Are Brown, Let’s Smell Them!”

  1. Donna Avatar

    I’m still chuckling at the mental image of you swinging on one of those vines.

  2. Donna Avatar

    I’m still chuckling at the mental image of you swinging on one of those vines.

  3. Donna Avatar

    I’m still chuckling at the mental image of you swinging on one of those vines.

  4. Donna Avatar

    I’m still chuckling at the mental image of you swinging on one of those vines.

  5. Donna Avatar

    I’m still chuckling at the mental image of you swinging on one of those vines.

  6. Donna Avatar

    I’m still chuckling at the mental image of you swinging on one of those vines.

  7. Donna Avatar

    I’m still chuckling at the mental image of you swinging on one of those vines.

  8. Donna Avatar

    I’m still chuckling at the mental image of you swinging on one of those vines.

  9. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    It was truly epic, my friend πŸ˜‰

  10. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    It was truly epic, my friend πŸ˜‰

  11. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    It was truly epic, my friend πŸ˜‰

  12. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    It was truly epic, my friend πŸ˜‰

  13. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    It was truly epic, my friend πŸ˜‰

  14. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    It was truly epic, my friend πŸ˜‰

  15. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    It was truly epic, my friend πŸ˜‰

  16. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    It was truly epic, my friend πŸ˜‰

  17. Momo Fali Avatar

    Just reading “trickling water” makes me have to pee.

  18. Momo Fali Avatar

    Just reading “trickling water” makes me have to pee.

  19. Momo Fali Avatar

    Just reading “trickling water” makes me have to pee.

  20. Momo Fali Avatar

    Just reading “trickling water” makes me have to pee.

  21. Momo Fali Avatar

    Just reading “trickling water” makes me have to pee.

  22. Momo Fali Avatar

    Just reading “trickling water” makes me have to pee.

  23. Momo Fali Avatar

    Just reading “trickling water” makes me have to pee.

  24. Momo Fali Avatar

    Just reading “trickling water” makes me have to pee.

  25. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Now that you mention it, BRB Momo!!!

  26. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Now that you mention it, BRB Momo!!!

  27. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Now that you mention it, BRB Momo!!!

  28. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Now that you mention it, BRB Momo!!!

  29. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Now that you mention it, BRB Momo!!!

  30. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Now that you mention it, BRB Momo!!!

  31. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Now that you mention it, BRB Momo!!!

  32. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Now that you mention it, BRB Momo!!!

  33. Melisa Avatar

    Your house really needs a good freeze, don’t you think? On the bright side, I bet you could get a good sponsorship for BlogHer from a cleaning product company. πŸ™
    FEEL BETTER SOON!

  34. Melisa Avatar

    Your house really needs a good freeze, don’t you think? On the bright side, I bet you could get a good sponsorship for BlogHer from a cleaning product company. πŸ™
    FEEL BETTER SOON!

  35. Melisa Avatar

    Your house really needs a good freeze, don’t you think? On the bright side, I bet you could get a good sponsorship for BlogHer from a cleaning product company. πŸ™
    FEEL BETTER SOON!

  36. Melisa Avatar

    Your house really needs a good freeze, don’t you think? On the bright side, I bet you could get a good sponsorship for BlogHer from a cleaning product company. πŸ™
    FEEL BETTER SOON!

  37. Melisa Avatar

    Your house really needs a good freeze, don’t you think? On the bright side, I bet you could get a good sponsorship for BlogHer from a cleaning product company. πŸ™
    FEEL BETTER SOON!

  38. Melisa Avatar

    Your house really needs a good freeze, don’t you think? On the bright side, I bet you could get a good sponsorship for BlogHer from a cleaning product company. πŸ™
    FEEL BETTER SOON!

  39. Melisa Avatar

    Your house really needs a good freeze, don’t you think? On the bright side, I bet you could get a good sponsorship for BlogHer from a cleaning product company. πŸ™
    FEEL BETTER SOON!

  40. Melisa Avatar

    Your house really needs a good freeze, don’t you think? On the bright side, I bet you could get a good sponsorship for BlogHer from a cleaning product company. πŸ™
    FEEL BETTER SOON!

  41. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Yes, I am SO over this warm-ish weather…c'mon deep freeze…now, if you'll excuse me, thanks to Momo, I have to go pee!

  42. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Yes, I am SO over this warm-ish weather…c'mon deep freeze…now, if you'll excuse me, thanks to Momo, I have to go pee!

  43. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Yes, I am SO over this warm-ish weather…c'mon deep freeze…now, if you'll excuse me, thanks to Momo, I have to go pee!

  44. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Yes, I am SO over this warm-ish weather…c'mon deep freeze…now, if you'll excuse me, thanks to Momo, I have to go pee!

  45. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Yes, I am SO over this warm-ish weather…c'mon deep freeze…now, if you'll excuse me, thanks to Momo, I have to go pee!

  46. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Yes, I am SO over this warm-ish weather…c'mon deep freeze…now, if you'll excuse me, thanks to Momo, I have to go pee!

  47. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Yes, I am SO over this warm-ish weather…c'mon deep freeze…now, if you'll excuse me, thanks to Momo, I have to go pee!

  48. Liz@ThisFullHouse Avatar

    Yes, I am SO over this warm-ish weather…c'mon deep freeze…now, if you'll excuse me, thanks to Momo, I have to go pee!

  49. Tara R. Avatar

    Silly vine did that on purpose.

  50. Tara R. Avatar

    Silly vine did that on purpose.

  51. Tara R. Avatar

    Silly vine did that on purpose.

  52. Tara R. Avatar

    Silly vine did that on purpose.

  53. Tara R. Avatar

    Silly vine did that on purpose.

  54. Tara R. Avatar

    Silly vine did that on purpose.

  55. Tara R. Avatar

    Silly vine did that on purpose.

  56. Tara R. Avatar

    Silly vine did that on purpose.

  57. Middle State Avatar

    I’m writing from Michigan, where we have yet to see any substantial winter weather. Even if it does snow, it’s not more than an inch and it melts almost immediately. The upside, as you so nicely depicted here, is being able to go on hikes without going numb. I drove by a steep, fun-looking sledding hill today and felt so disappointed.

  58. Middle State Avatar

    I’m writing from Michigan, where we have yet to see any substantial winter weather. Even if it does snow, it’s not more than an inch and it melts almost immediately. The upside, as you so nicely depicted here, is being able to go on hikes without going numb. I drove by a steep, fun-looking sledding hill today and felt so disappointed.

  59. Middle State Avatar

    I’m writing from Michigan, where we have yet to see any substantial winter weather. Even if it does snow, it’s not more than an inch and it melts almost immediately. The upside, as you so nicely depicted here, is being able to go on hikes without going numb. I drove by a steep, fun-looking sledding hill today and felt so disappointed.

  60. Middle State Avatar

    I’m writing from Michigan, where we have yet to see any substantial winter weather. Even if it does snow, it’s not more than an inch and it melts almost immediately. The upside, as you so nicely depicted here, is being able to go on hikes without going numb. I drove by a steep, fun-looking sledding hill today and felt so disappointed.

  61. Middle State Avatar

    I’m writing from Michigan, where we have yet to see any substantial winter weather. Even if it does snow, it’s not more than an inch and it melts almost immediately. The upside, as you so nicely depicted here, is being able to go on hikes without going numb. I drove by a steep, fun-looking sledding hill today and felt so disappointed.

  62. Middle State Avatar

    I’m writing from Michigan, where we have yet to see any substantial winter weather. Even if it does snow, it’s not more than an inch and it melts almost immediately. The upside, as you so nicely depicted here, is being able to go on hikes without going numb. I drove by a steep, fun-looking sledding hill today and felt so disappointed.

  63. Middle State Avatar

    I’m writing from Michigan, where we have yet to see any substantial winter weather. Even if it does snow, it’s not more than an inch and it melts almost immediately. The upside, as you so nicely depicted here, is being able to go on hikes without going numb. I drove by a steep, fun-looking sledding hill today and felt so disappointed.

  64. Middle State Avatar

    I’m writing from Michigan, where we have yet to see any substantial winter weather. Even if it does snow, it’s not more than an inch and it melts almost immediately. The upside, as you so nicely depicted here, is being able to go on hikes without going numb. I drove by a steep, fun-looking sledding hill today and felt so disappointed.

  65. Therobotmommy Avatar

    Of course you wanted to swing on that vine…and not fall.
    And then share with the rest of us. That what we blogger-slash-adventurers do but…
    if there wasn’t a pic, did it happen?? πŸ™‚

  66. Therobotmommy Avatar

    Of course you wanted to swing on that vine…and not fall.
    And then share with the rest of us. That what we blogger-slash-adventurers do but…
    if there wasn’t a pic, did it happen?? πŸ™‚

  67. Therobotmommy Avatar

    Of course you wanted to swing on that vine…and not fall.
    And then share with the rest of us. That what we blogger-slash-adventurers do but…
    if there wasn’t a pic, did it happen?? πŸ™‚

  68. Therobotmommy Avatar

    Of course you wanted to swing on that vine…and not fall.
    And then share with the rest of us. That what we blogger-slash-adventurers do but…
    if there wasn’t a pic, did it happen?? πŸ™‚

  69. Therobotmommy Avatar

    Of course you wanted to swing on that vine…and not fall.
    And then share with the rest of us. That what we blogger-slash-adventurers do but…
    if there wasn’t a pic, did it happen?? πŸ™‚

  70. Therobotmommy Avatar

    Of course you wanted to swing on that vine…and not fall.
    And then share with the rest of us. That what we blogger-slash-adventurers do but…
    if there wasn’t a pic, did it happen?? πŸ™‚

  71. Therobotmommy Avatar

    Of course you wanted to swing on that vine…and not fall.
    And then share with the rest of us. That what we blogger-slash-adventurers do but…
    if there wasn’t a pic, did it happen?? πŸ™‚

  72. Therobotmommy Avatar

    Of course you wanted to swing on that vine…and not fall.
    And then share with the rest of us. That what we blogger-slash-adventurers do but…
    if there wasn’t a pic, did it happen?? πŸ™‚

  73. MommieDaze Avatar

    I spent many happy hours playing in the woods as a child.

  74. MommieDaze Avatar

    I spent many happy hours playing in the woods as a child.

  75. MommieDaze Avatar

    I spent many happy hours playing in the woods as a child.

  76. MommieDaze Avatar

    I spent many happy hours playing in the woods as a child.

  77. MommieDaze Avatar

    I spent many happy hours playing in the woods as a child.

  78. MommieDaze Avatar

    I spent many happy hours playing in the woods as a child.

  79. MommieDaze Avatar

    I spent many happy hours playing in the woods as a child.

  80. MommieDaze Avatar

    I spent many happy hours playing in the woods as a child.

  81. clarissa Avatar

    I always love pictures of trees. There is just something about them that seems so majestic. πŸ™‚ Great shots!

  82. clarissa Avatar

    I always love pictures of trees. There is just something about them that seems so majestic. πŸ™‚ Great shots!

  83. clarissa Avatar

    I always love pictures of trees. There is just something about them that seems so majestic. πŸ™‚ Great shots!

  84. clarissa Avatar

    I always love pictures of trees. There is just something about them that seems so majestic. πŸ™‚ Great shots!

  85. clarissa Avatar

    I always love pictures of trees. There is just something about them that seems so majestic. πŸ™‚ Great shots!

  86. clarissa Avatar

    I always love pictures of trees. There is just something about them that seems so majestic. πŸ™‚ Great shots!

  87. clarissa Avatar

    I always love pictures of trees. There is just something about them that seems so majestic. πŸ™‚ Great shots!

  88. clarissa Avatar

    I always love pictures of trees. There is just something about them that seems so majestic. πŸ™‚ Great shots!

  89. Becca Avatar

    We visited my hubby’s province and we trekking in the mountain and we spent the whole day exploring.

  90. Becca Avatar

    We visited my hubby’s province and we trekking in the mountain and we spent the whole day exploring.

  91. Becca Avatar

    We visited my hubby’s province and we trekking in the mountain and we spent the whole day exploring.

  92. Becca Avatar

    We visited my hubby’s province and we trekking in the mountain and we spent the whole day exploring.

  93. Becca Avatar

    We visited my hubby’s province and we trekking in the mountain and we spent the whole day exploring.

  94. Becca Avatar

    We visited my hubby’s province and we trekking in the mountain and we spent the whole day exploring.

  95. Becca Avatar

    We visited my hubby’s province and we trekking in the mountain and we spent the whole day exploring.

  96. Becca Avatar

    We visited my hubby’s province and we trekking in the mountain and we spent the whole day exploring.

  97. Tracie Avatar

    I love so much that you tried swinging on the vines. I totally would have been right there trying it with you.
    Ever since the first time I read through the Chronicles of Narnia series, I have been fascinated with tree spirits. I am a believer.

  98. Tracie Avatar

    I love so much that you tried swinging on the vines. I totally would have been right there trying it with you.
    Ever since the first time I read through the Chronicles of Narnia series, I have been fascinated with tree spirits. I am a believer.

  99. Tracie Avatar

    I love so much that you tried swinging on the vines. I totally would have been right there trying it with you.
    Ever since the first time I read through the Chronicles of Narnia series, I have been fascinated with tree spirits. I am a believer.

  100. Tracie Avatar

    I love so much that you tried swinging on the vines. I totally would have been right there trying it with you.
    Ever since the first time I read through the Chronicles of Narnia series, I have been fascinated with tree spirits. I am a believer.

  101. Tracie Avatar

    I love so much that you tried swinging on the vines. I totally would have been right there trying it with you.
    Ever since the first time I read through the Chronicles of Narnia series, I have been fascinated with tree spirits. I am a believer.

  102. Tracie Avatar

    I love so much that you tried swinging on the vines. I totally would have been right there trying it with you.
    Ever since the first time I read through the Chronicles of Narnia series, I have been fascinated with tree spirits. I am a believer.

  103. Tracie Avatar

    I love so much that you tried swinging on the vines. I totally would have been right there trying it with you.
    Ever since the first time I read through the Chronicles of Narnia series, I have been fascinated with tree spirits. I am a believer.

  104. Tracie Avatar

    I love so much that you tried swinging on the vines. I totally would have been right there trying it with you.
    Ever since the first time I read through the Chronicles of Narnia series, I have been fascinated with tree spirits. I am a believer.