Leaving Treasures in the Forest

We all leave treasures behind when we leave this earth: precious memories and meaningful possessions. We also let go of some while we’re alive. This newsletter is about leaving treasures in the forest.

Because I sit a lot, writing on the computer, I need to get out and stretch my back. A favourite exercise is to walk on one of the paths lined with magnificent cedar and Douglas fir trees in Beaver Lodge lands on Vancouver Island.

While walking, I not only help my back and reflect on life, I also find treasures, like hearing a new bird sound, or seeing an unexpected flower in bloom, or delighting in one of the many children and dogs ambling with their guardians. I write about the delights of forest bathing in Along Came A Gardener. I also discuss this good-for-the-soul practice in my upcoming book, A Path Worth Taking, out in early 2027.

You never know what treasures you’ll find in the forest. Like last fall, when I found a miniature bridge and settee nestled in a hollow off a path. Since my husband, Robert, had whittled so many darling little figures, I suggested he add one to the village. And so, a treasure was added to another treasure.

His gnome has since disappeared, along with the village pieces. We hope they’ve found a new home.

Robert came to whittling after decades of carving beautiful sculptures out of alabaster and Brazilian steatite. He had his works in a gallery in Toronto and in one on Granville Street, Vancouver. When chiselling stone became too hard and dirty to continue, he switched to wood carving and again, created some lovely pieces, mostly out of cedar and Honduran mahogany.

Here are some examples of his sculptures and wood carving. One is about my height; the others are smaller pieces that grace our home and garden.

Robert is now whittling up a storm—creating adorable small figures out of bass wood. After he had whittled a dozen or so gnomes, he wasn’t sure what to do with them. I took several; he also gave some to our children, their spouses and our grandchildren. The ones below grace my desk.

A few weeks ago, our younger daughter Robyn arrived from Toronto for a visit. Because I had been inspired to leave one of Robert’s figures in the forest last fall, Robyn suggested her dad leave more of them in the woods, but this time with a note.

In the garage, Robert found a discarded and partially carved plaque which Robyn used to create a sign by printing a cute poem on the border.

“Through the forest gnomes abound, take one home, spread love around.”

We had fun walking through the forest looking for nooks and crannies to hide Robert’s gnomes. We succeeded in finding spots—roots, cracks, and logs—and set each gnome carefully, hoping children would delight in finding a treasure to take home.

After setting seven along the path, we retraced our steps, feeling satisfied we’d hidden the wooden figures well. Halfway back on the path, we met a mother with her two young daughters, about seven and five. Each girl held a gnome in her hand. They were so happy with what they had found. As we walked past, the oldest turned and said, “Happy Gnome Day!”

Robyn said we couldn’t have scripted that response better. It was so gratifying.

I’ve been busy working on A Path Worth Taking. It’s now been professionally edited, properly formatted and I’m happy with the book cover designed by 100 Covers. Within a short time, I plan to send my self-help book and memoir out for early reviews, so that it launches in early 2027 with a bit of a splash—always hoping :).

And in two weeks I plan to get back to working on my next novel. I’m about one-quarter of the way in, so I’m anxious to pick up where I left off.

Currently, I’m reading a wonderful article in the November issue of The Atlantic, “The Moral Foundation of America” by Elaine Pagels. It zeroes in on “the idea that everyone has intrinsic rights to life and liberty.”

The November issue of The Atlantic is the last issue I received. Though this is a great publication, I cancelled my subscription when Trump continued to bellow his threats of tariffs on Canada.

I now subscribe to The Walrus (Canadian), The Tyee (Canadian), The Globe and Mail (Canadian), Maclean’s (Canadian), The New York Times (which I’m thinking of cancelling), and The Seaboard Review of Books, an excellent Canadian literary journal.

As for novels, I tried to read William Faulkner’s classic masterpiece, The Sound and the Fury, but after reading the first chapter and a little of the second, I realized it’s not my kind of book. I don’t like struggling with the text. Faulkner captures the spirit and life of a troubled southern family and their servants but the text is challenging to read. At times it’s difficult to understand who’s speaking and to whom. It’s also unclear what the story is and where it’s going and what time period he’s writing about.

I’ve read that this novel can be a rewarding experience, much like tackling Ulysses by Jame Joyce, but there are so many wonderful books to read, why would I want to struggle to understand what Faulkner has written, despite his great reviews?

I’m starting Birdie by Tracey Lindberg, a notable Canadian novel about a big, beautiful Cree woman with a dark secret in her past.

I hope you find treasures in your life.

I’d also suggest checking in with the people you love. After my mother-in-law died, I found a few ornaments on her window sill. She was a woman who had kept very little and so I wondered why she had chosen certain items to keep—like a small china teapot in the shape of an elephant. I was sorry I never asked her about them—what meaning they had in her life. I assume they were some of her treasures.

Thank you again for your readership. If you’re interested in knowing more about my novels, please visit my website.

‘Til Next Time, enjoy the delights you find; they are everywhere.