My Early Morning Walk

Yesterday I went an early morning walk, not to far though. I don't have my old dog Mackie anymore for company but I do take my staff.  Somehow or other it compensates for not having a dog, lead in my hand.   The staff and I have some history because its literal roots began in Tenerife.

I used to live in Tenerife and many years ago now my dog Mackie and I most weekends would set out for an early morning walk 'up the mountain' as I would say.  It was very high up and surrounded by forestry and beautiful scenery. On one of those walks I spotted a dead tree, not that there weren't a few about but this one caught my eye.  Next time I came back with my saw and I then had the raw version of my walking staff.

When I walk I sometimes stop and lean on my staff whilst I appreciate my surroundings for a few moments then move on.  Yesterday I paused on my path surrounded my trees and there was some metal structures for kids, a frog, a large mushroom etc.  It was still early with no none around, and I am leaning on my staff listening to the little stream and admiring the scenery when I heard a sharp ping.  I thought someone had thrown a stone which had hit the large metal mushroom.  I scanned the area, nothing. Then I heard a few more soft plops as something hit the earth.  I looked above, hailstones? I wondered.  Then there was a flurry off them with a few pings off of the metal structures.  Then I realised it was one of the trees releasing its acorns, something I had never witnessed before, at least not so dramatically. I felt blessed in witnessing it.