The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep ...
... and miles to go before I sleep.
(From Robert Frost's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening)
I couldn't help but think of this poem as I looked over my pictures from our Nature Club meeting yesterday. Firstly, these are about the snowiest woods I have ever seen! (In person, anyway.) And secondly, it was such a busy day yesterday, and there really were, seemingly, many miles to go and promises to keep before I'd place my tired head on the pillow ...
Doesn't poetry compliment nature so nicely? The two subjects really do go hand in hand. Wouldn't it be a cozy and creative project to collect a whole bunch of winter poems like Frost's - ones that make you glad for the snow and the wind and the frosty weather - and then bind them up in a special book? A scrapbook or lapbook or nature journal, perhaps? Or even, dare I say it, a blog? A blog for just poems about nature and pictures to go along with the prose? Hmmm. I'll think on that one a bit. I've also been thinking about another Field Day. Do you remember those? It's been a while, but maybe its time to start them up again ...
In the meantime, please join us on our walk through the woods ...
And now for the animal tracks we spied. (Any guesses are most welcome!)
It was cold, but a lot of fun~ good to get out in the frosty fresh air!
Happy Friday, folks! Thanks for stopping by our snowy woods today!
(P.S. I completely forgot - it's Poetry Friday! The Roundup is at Becky's this week.)
Oh, lucky you guys! Forests! Trees! Our prairie is sadly lacking... So fun to tromp down the forest track with you on your Nature hike! Always love these posts.
Posted by: Lisa | January 18, 2008 at 09:37 AM
Oh you are so inspriring. I suppose I will get us out the door on a hike today. It is brrrrr cold here. Thanks for the beauty!
Posted by: molly mcgovern | January 18, 2008 at 10:08 AM
I think the bottom is a dog :) And it is hard to tell from the others, but I think there are rabbit and deer tracks there too.. it's hard to tell without a size :) Did you take a look in a field guide? Tom Brown has one about tracks. Local bookstore's carry them for a quick look without spending out :D
Posted by: Rachel | January 18, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Oh I see.. there is a nice sheet in your boys' hands :)
On and about the blog... I just want to know where you FIND the nature related poetry!
Posted by: Rachel | January 18, 2008 at 10:22 AM
I am completely inspired by this idea of poetry and my woods. I'll be off to get my camera and head out on the snowshoes at lunchtime!
Posted by: sarah | January 18, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Me too Dawn!! We pulled out the poem to memorize for the weather. And the pictures are gorgeous!!
Posted by: Maryan | January 18, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Lovely pictures! I am part of a group blog for winter haiku. http://winterhaiku2007.blogspot.com/ It's great fun and I think you should go for it with your winter poetry blog!
Posted by: cloudscome | January 18, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Lovely, Dawn!
Posted by: Susan T. | January 18, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Oh, another to to recommend: "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening" illustrated by Susan Jeffers. Simple illustrations, but beautiful. It's another favorite. You can look inside here:
http://www.amazon.com/Stopping-Woods-Snowy-Evening-Robert/dp/0525467343/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200673952&sr=8-1
I've probably looked at/read this one at least a half dozen times already this winter. (for grandsons AND just for me!)
(Please tell me if these site addresses are too long - I know the Snowflake Bentley one was this long, too)
Grandma Carla in northern Idaho
Posted by: Carla | January 18, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Lovely post, Karen. It looks brrrchilly there, but beautiful as well.
Posted by: Kelly Fineman | January 18, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Dawn, simply lovely idea for seasonal poetry. I'm looking forward to the latest Field Day, even though my post won't be very *wintery* at all! Stick me in the middle like a cuppa hot cocoa in the middle of a snowy hike, deal? LOL!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 18, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Leave it to you to come up with such a nifty idea for a related project! And I'm excited to think about the return of Field Days!
Posted by: Becky | January 18, 2008 at 05:42 PM
Hey, you should stop by Montessori Lori's blog (Montessori for Everyone). She has some free animal tracks cards that your little one might like! (Look in the friday free files) And he will definitely be able to recognize at least one of those tracks from the cards.
Posted by: Theresa | January 18, 2008 at 05:44 PM
You know, I was thinking about that poem last week, as I was 'stopping by the woods on a snowy' morning. And then I was thinking that I'd like to find a book of winter poetry for kids. I guess it's off to the library!
Your woods do look "lovely, dark and deep" in the pictures. Have a nice winter weekend!
Posted by: Elisheva Levin | January 19, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Your nature day looks like so much fun... and so cold! :-) I do love the snow, but I love the warmer weather we have here in Texas, too. I love how you and your kids (and the group) are learning about animal tracks. Around here, we just have to look in the mud!
Posted by: Dana | January 20, 2008 at 11:12 PM
I have been looking at your blog for sometime. You do some wonderful things with your kids. I'm new to blogging, but have been inspired with your creativity. The pictures of your winter wonderland are beautiful. I'm in South Texas and don't ever see snow.
Posted by: Nancy | January 21, 2008 at 12:50 AM