A Hike in the Country

Before I had ever been to the desert, I imagined it an ugly, unattractive sort of place. But once you are actually in the desert, the is so much beauty to discover from the desolation of heat and sand to the strange plants to the way the sky looks stretched all around you. That's the thing about nature! It is beautiful whatever part of the world you are in. When I think of my favorite nature spots, I think of very traditionally Pacific Northwest landscapes: mossy woods full of ferns and shade and mushrooms; rocky seashores; wildflowers on mountain tops. But the natures spread around San Jose California has it's own unique beauty that is so different that what I am accustomed to in Seattle. There is rolling golden hills, vibrant oak tress and lovely flowering plants.

While visiting San Jose, I went on a hike in the rolling hills cradling San Jose. It was a fantastic hike with beautiful sights! It was just so nice being in the countryside! 

The sky is so blue in the country! 

The trees and the rolling hills are calling. It's time to explore.

An old country fence built by someone long, long ago. Maybe an old farmer built it to keep his cows from roaming too far.

A mysterious cracked egg in the middle of the pathway. What sort of winged creature emerged from the broken shell?

The plants protect themselves in this part of the world.

A dilapidated old farmhouse that once meant something to someone. Someone's livelihood and passion was kept under that now caved in roof. The cows that once moved in that old country barn are long gone and all that remains are ghosts and cobwebs.

Sometimes being in the country reminds me of my favorite TV show, the Twilight Zone. Even though it is a science fiction, themes of the country come up a lot. Here are some of the best country themed Twilight Zone episodes:

1. 'The Hunt'
2. 'A Stop at Willoughby'
3. 'Jess-Belle'
4. 'The Bewitchen Pool'
5. 'Come Wander with Me'
6. 'The Valley of Shadow'
7. 'It's a Good Life'

There are also lots of great songs about the country. Here are a few:

1. Are You Leaving for the Country? by Karen Dalton
2. Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver

Here are some great books that take place in rural country settings:

1. Everything that Rises Must Converge by Flannery O' Connor
2. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
4. Sweet Tooth by Jeff Lemire
5. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter By Carson McCullers

The country really inspires the imagination and calms the heart!