Poor Charlie. I woke up this morning, home from a week away, and realized he's sick. Instead of a walk we made a trip to the vet. With many meds, he should be better soon. In the meantime, even though Suzi and I walked this late afternoon, he declined to join us. 

The sky was overcast, the leaves still wet from rain, and mushrooms – mushrooms popping up everywhere from the moist earth. The tiny white wintergreen flowers shoot up from their little green hips in full bloom under all the shady trees in the dead leaves. 

The beaver at the brook has made some progress on taking down his tree.

Just where I know they bloom every summer, right at the edge of the river at the trestle bridge, the butter and eggs have burst into lemony bloom. 

It had to be such a short walk, and I wanted to see so much more of how the meadow and woods had changed while I was away.

I am so happy to be home for this day.

I long for Charlie to get well soon, and join us.

All photos and text copyright Kelly DuMar 2017