A few months ago, I wrote a post “For the trees” about a nearby empty lot that was sold, and the new owners took out a few of the trees. Well, now, they’ve completely blocked the space as they build their new house.
This weekend when we had the grandkids, I accepted an invitation from a neighbor to walk to her grove of oak trees. She lives on the highway, but as long as we stayed in the yards along the way, I felt it was safe to walk over.
Her grove became a new forest of wonder. Leo climbed and explored. Along with my neighbor’s 5 year old grandson Alden, he found an old dock with fishing nets tethered to it. The boys tossed those nets in and drug them out over and over again until Alden pointed out that the fish might be getting wise to them because the nets were moving.
Miss Beanie brought out some bird seed for Stella to spread along the bayou banks. A flock of ducks came by, but the boys quickly frightened them by throwing sticks into the water.
Albert (my doodle-dog) and I enjoyed watching their antics and adventures. Every once in a while, a gasp caught in my throat as I considered the dangers. Luckily all was well and they came home safely with only a little bleeding.
Beanie’s yard along the bayou holds the oldest tree in New Iberia. She told the kids it was 450 years old. She showed them how it was struck by lightning and had been held together by thick wires. Those wires have now become embedded into the tree. The kids especially liked her tale about the elephant skin of the tree. “See the elephant’s eye and its trunk?”
The new forest is a place we will visit again and again. I am grateful to Beanie for offering the space for us to explore.
Reflections on the Teche 
“they came home safely with only a little bleeding.” Notable to you, but obviously not to Leo! 🙂
I love watching what he will write about. He thought the old tree story was scary.
Southern oaks are awesome trees with low lying branches that invite tree climbing. What a fun adventure for your grandkids, AND I love that you have them journaling, too. 🙂
I used to have my kids write about their vacations and what they did and saw. It’s a wonderful insight into their thinking and a great memory.
I started early with Leo, and he is very willing to use sound spelling to write what he wants to say. His sister is a bit more meticulous and wants you to tell her each letter.
Wow! What a tree! I loved Leo’s artwork and now I can enjoy his writing! What a pleasure it is to see grandchildren grow! I have never been on the bayou – but now you make we want to take another roadtrip!
If you ever plan a trip to New Orleans, we are only a few hours away.
That your post ends with “Leo’s notebook” is such a gift. I love that the tree has embraced the wires that supported it (Unnatural? Maybe, but there’s a metaphor there.) Also the elephant hidden in the tree’s skin. What a wonderful adventure for all.
The photos of living and loving life capture my heart, and the journal to preserve the memories just calls to me – – I love that you share in this experience of writing with them. You are blessed with beautiful grandchildren and a fascinating world to explore with them.
Margaret,
I love seeing both your and your grandson’s writing and art. What good memories you are making, exploring and writing together.
And what a beautiful tree! It makes me wonder about all the children and adults who have enjoyed it over its lifetime. What a gift to have a friend who shares it and teaches the young about it.
I love that you stifled your gasps and let the kids explore and that it led to only a little blood. Ha.
The new owners who cut down the trees and blocked your walking passage reminded me of a sad recent story in the NYTimes about someone who bought land in Maine that many people hiked on and cut down the trees and fenced in the land and put up no trespassing signs. In Maine, as I’m sure elsewhere, the custom is to allow people to walk freely through your land to hike. My parents are/were both from Northern Maine and I remember how upset and insulted family members were when “outsiders” moved in and put up no trespassing signs on land they had walked across their entire lives.
In the case of the NYTimes story, the new owners are rarely, if ever, there and no one knows who they are since they created an llc to buy the land. Seems so selfish.
Your friend is a much better custodian of the land.
What an adventure! There is nothing quite like a private forest to explore when you are a kid. Behind my aunt’s barn we had one when I was a kid. My brothers and cousins and I (I was the only girl) had so many escapades and our imagination was limitless. Your pictures are beautiful. I especially like the old tree that has survived a lightning strike. Thanks for an enjoyable read.
I love when you write about this tree! It is truly an amazing story. Leo’s notebook made me heart smile so big! I hope your grandkids continue to find words to put on the page. What a gift!
I love all of this post so much and Leo’s notebook is just the BEST! Although, on second thought, it’s hard to be better than that OMG amazing tree, which is just Wow! I loved hearing the lightning story and love knowing that the kids have a new place to adventure.
What a wonderful adventure…and I love Leo’s notebook! How lucky you and your grands are to have such an amazing place to explore.