THE SPRUCE TREE JOURNAL

A place of refuge, a time of peace, a message of hope.

November 2026

Ahhhh, November, my favorite month. I love being in the woods in November, the red and orange and yellow colors of Autumn turning to gray as the land slowly fades into its winter slumber. It is like the forest finally gets to clear its mind and rest. Perhaps that is why I like hiking this time of the year - it reminds me to give myself a rest from the world.

And yet, here I am, ten hours away from boarding a plane for Central America where Rose and I will spend the next twenty-six days exploring Maya ruins and studying their culture and history in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. We’ll be experiencing November in a new way.

Also, check out the Interviews and Inspirations column below about Rona Yellow Robe. Every once in a while, someone enters my life and sets me on a new and exciting path. Rona has done just that through her teaching of the Native American flute - not just for me, but for hundreds of others who have opened their hearts to her guidance.

Until December, take care.

Tim

Blog

Area 42

Several times each year, I head out to Area 42.

Area 42 is located in...well, never mind. It's kind of like the US Air Force's Area 51 in Nevada where a UFO crashed, or ddn't crash. Who knows? It's top secret.

Although the location of Area 51 is well known, it is off-limits to all but certain military personnel, unlike area 42, which isn't top secret. I'm just not going to tell you where it is.

Click below for the full blog.

Monthly Mantra

Laughter lightens the load.

Word Search

Be aware of this month's word manifestation during your travels over the next few weeks.

Oubaitoiri - noun. The Japanese philosophy that people, like flowers, bloom in their own time and in their own way.

This Month's Photo

Just Because...

A photo from my files.

Barred Owl

Interviews and Inspirations

Rona Yellow Robe: Healing through the Native American Flute

“I don't believe I am on that stage to prove what I can do. I am there to share what has been given to me.”

Rona Yellow Robe

I first met Rona Yellow Robe in 2023 at Solstice Flute Camp in Prescott, Arizona where she was a staff musician teaching beginning students. A year earlier I had bought a Native American style flute to play during my own musical performances in honor of the Choctaw/Irish connection (the Choctaws raised money to help relieve the Irish during the 1847 Potato Famine). While I could play the notes on this flute, I couldn’t play the music. Rona was my first teacher on how to play this music. We have been friends ever since.

Rona is a singer/songwriter and the 2014 & 2016 Native American Music Flutist of the Year. She is also the recipient of numerous other prestigious music awards. Rona is enrolled in the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Bay, Montana.

I caught up with Rona this past August during my fourth stint at Solstice. She graciously agreed to share her thoughts about the healing power of the Native American flute.

Click the link below for the full interview.

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More information, including the past Blogs, Second Helping recipes, and my publication history, can be found at www.thespurcetreejournal.com.