it was the perfect fall morning - crisp, cold, clear. so today i followed the lovely lady j to a park in lake oswego to take part in a major tree planting effort. now, there are many parks in portland that are lovely sprawling green lawns, where dogs romp and wrestle, and little girls make daisy chains... so in my head, i was picturing a martha stewart tree planting excursion - digging into nice soil at the side of a path, each hair on my head in perfect order, the sun warming my face.

unfortunately this was the kind of park that makes oregonians proud - it was more of a forest with a few rustic hiking paths. i fought with blackberry brambles, oregon clay, and very little sun made it through the tree canopy. while it was not what i was expecting, it did feel quite good to get my hands in the dirt and do some good hard labor. (and oh how hard oregon clay really is!)

between the team of five of us, we cleared, dug, planted and watered twenty-five young western red cedars. i was muddy and sweaty, but proud.

on a not-so-proud note - as i leaned down to plant my last tree in the ground, i somehow managed to poke the top of the tree straight into my left eye. after a rinse - it seemed ok... but then i napped. i don't know if i rubbed my eye in my sleep or what, but now my eye has been watering consistently for a number of hours, and it looks as if i've been crying for days. my whole face is puffy, red and swollen... and well? i shan't be leaving the house tonight.

i'm curling up with my cats and a bottle of wine. i'm such a clutz.