The Call of The Woods

I don't know if there's anything more perfect than the stillness of a breathtaking mountain view. Ok, I'm a bit biased. I may not be the most skilled hiker, but I am a mountain girl. I grew up and live in this region comfortably surrounded by my 2 favorite mountain ranges, 3 very notable peaks, and dozens of other worthy summits. But it wasn't until leaving that behind that I realized how important proximity to mountains is to me. When I lived on the East Coast, I made some really great friends and lived a life of really good music. I was busy all the time with school/work in my field, and there are so many good parts about my time there. But there were no mountains like this. While I was away, I learned with absolute certainty that places like this are what my soul craves - alpine forests, snowy rugged cliffs, the sound of waterfalls from time to time. I consider myself very lucky to have relatively easy access to these places. When Cullen and I were up here last week, I decided that I want to summit a smaller peak by my next birthday - hey, this is the time for setting new goals right? I want to wear that title of "mountain girl" with the experience it deserves.

Picking at the pumpkin patch.

October 2018, back in CT

Shoreline, WA | July, 2020

Nowhere else I’d rather be than out in the Northwest wild.

Index, WA | July 2020

Bless these rocky, mountainous places. These sharp and jagged cliffs with their aggressive angles and towering walls of forest green - a blanket for the life below. Bless all the stubborn life that has adapted to thrive on a cliffside, with their firm roots delving into rocky soil and their infallible wisdom, knowing where to hold and where to reach higher and higher. Bless the creatures of these places, so comfortable walking on an incline like a tight-rope, who, like the elder trees, take their instinctual cues: burrow, climb, soar. Bless the cycles that sustain these places, exuberant new shoots of light green, the yellowing that creeps through the deciduous, eggs in alpine nests, tiny bones becoming soil again underground, the summer berries for wildlife, and the somber beauty of molding rot and decay as the earth claims its matter to feed others. Bless these perfect places from which we humans can only take. And bless those who feel bound to such places, who feel sameness and kinship in their souls, who listen to their teachings and seek their peace, who respect these wilds and protect their future.

Cold, misty days at the Oregon Coast

Camp Westwind - Three Rocks, OR, November 2019

I'm starting this week off by saying no to feeling rushed, saying no to busyness. Since March, I have been spending more time at home, now that I don't have rehearsals most nights or singing parties with friends. It feels so relaxing to be able to make myself a coffee whenever, stay in my pjs, work on tasks at my discretion. But this availability to do anything tends to make me want to do *everything,* with the mindset that says "hey, I'm home - I have time to learn new skills, write a thousand emails, become the ultimate version of myself!" And then it's evening and I've been sitting for hours while looking at screens. When I was a teenager, "drive" was one of my favorite ways to categorize and define myself; I prided myself on how much I wanted to do, on having so many big dreams and goals and ambitions. Now, some 10+ years later, I don't think I've given up on any of those things, but rather tweaked them so they could grow with me. There's is still a part of me that sometimes feels guilty for resting or not accomplishing as much as I "should." But I do my best to ignore it, drink my coffee slowly, and enjoy some poetry in the mornings. And I'm finding that the more I focus on calm appreciation, the smaller that part gets.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF-KJQ-pOiv/

Pumpkin patch autumn days

Craven Farm, Snohomish, WA

My husband, happy in the Central Cascades, briefly pausing from swatting bugs away to smile for a picture.

July 2020

Last night I saw the most brilliant red sun setting over Bellingham Bay and I was amazed. I knew that the color was partially owing to the return of wildfire smoke in our atmosphere. I also knew that I had a long drive home ahead of me and should probably leave straight for I-5. But I didn't. We aren't very familiar with the city of Bellingham, having only visited a few times, but we decided to take a road that looked like it would be more scenic and eventually meet back up with the freeway. While on this residential road, I noticed a turnoff for a park that had access to the water, so "change of plans, I have to stop at this park!" As a long train tried to slow us down, I asked Cullen to stay with the car and find someplace to park, while I sprinted down to find this view. And I was amazed. I hope that I never stop chasing sunsets, spontaneously changing plans in order meet these truly wondrous sights. I hope I always look at the sky with same wonderment as I did on this night. And I hope I never stop going after what amazes me.

Tonga Ridge Trail, Skykomish WA

July, 2020

Happy October! I'm ready for wine and conversation around a campfire, my favorite knit sweaters, and watching the foliage transform into a blaze of warm colors! Today I'm running a few errands, stopping by a few shops, and then going on a long nature-walk with my husband. He's usually working when I'm outside, so I'm looking forward to time together in nature. I'm also planning on spending some time meditating on intention with the full harvest moon (in Aries) tonight. The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox and is called that because the additional light in the sky helped farmers to harvest later into the evening. And it's also a pretty cute video game. Night owl that I am, I'm an ardent admirer of the moon, often pointing and exclaiming "hey look at the moon!" Tonight, I'm thinking of showing her some appreciation by making moon water for my herb garden. Whatever you're doing today, I hope you're having an excellent start to the colder months (in this hemisphere at least)!

https://www.instagram.com/octaviamcaloon/

I haven’t posted here in nearly 5 years.  And I haven’t posted regularly in about 8. 

A lot has changed since then, as it should for anyone.

Hi, I’m Octavia - I’m a songwriter and classically-trained working musician, I’m a nature lover looking for magic in my surroundings, I’m a pretty good cook and love making drinks - especially margaritas, and I’m rediscovering my love of photography while living in life’s varied seasons.

I’ve spent a lot of time on Instagram in recent months, but they seem committed to being a pay-to-be-seen platform. So here I am, picking up what’s left of this page, combing through old posts that make my cringe.  Like I said, a lot has changed since I used to spend time here.  

But from here on out, you can expect photos, videos, music, and writing that all center on the beauty of nature (and natural/simple aesthetics), and how to live more aware and fulfilling days through mindfulness, introspection, and appreciation.

Looking for more people to connect with on this platform, since it’s basically all new to me.  In the meantime, you can find me in the woods.