Much-needed nature time yesterday. We drove up 22 to Rosie's for coffee and then went for a walk around wetlands and beaver ponds along the North Santiam at Lyons. We've been there several times, and each time I am enchanted completely by the reflective ponds, the beaver dams, the sound and the silver-blue of the river, the leaves of many colors...and all the little things laying on the ground, growing on the side of a tree, gently floating on the surface of the water, or clinging to an otherwise bare branch. The boy always runs the trail with a stick sword in his hand, laughing and chasing his dad; but eventually even he can't resist the little things.