THE SPRUCE TREE JOURNAL

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

September 2026

Welcome to the September issue of the Spruce Tree Journal! Got lots to make up for - especially skipping the August journal. My bad. Too much going on and blah, blah, blah. I have lots of reasons but no excuses, as they say.

Fall weather is just around the corner. I have already noticed the swamp maple leaves are turning red and the Red-winged Blackbirds, for the most part, have departed to their winter roosts.

Don’t forget to visit your local orchard to pick apples. Bring a copy of Robert Frost poems to read while lounging under an apple tree if so inclined.

In the good news department, my essay “The Old Sugar Maple” was published in the September/October 2026 issue of Yankee Magazine. A link to that essay is below.

Embrace the season’s change.

Still in one peace,

Tim

The Old Sugar Maple

Blog

Of Time and Memories

I have six pocket watches: two modern battery-powered and four mechanically wound. On the first of every month, I place them on my desk, and wind the mechanical ones. I hold each one tight to my ear in their turn and listen, as their inner gears spin and click. Each of my watches has a unique voice and each one carries its own story. Let me introduce you to three of them.

Waltham

Voice: Two clicks per second. There is a noise, a dragging sound, in the background suggesting tiredness. Reminds me of how my knees feel after a long hike. Still keeps accurate time, though.

Monthly Mantra

I am enough.

Word Search

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

Biophile - noun. A person who desires or has a tendency to commune with nature.

I didn't see anyone outside in the pouring rain this morning except for a few other crazy biophiles happily wandering along the forest trails.

This Month's Photo

Just Because...

A photo from my files.

Cecropia Moth wing

Second Helping

Raman Noodles and Cashews

This Raman noodle-based meal is one of my favorite fallback recipes. It’s super easy to make, light on the stomach, and very economical. The ingredients listed below are what I like. Feel free to substitute the shallot for chopped green onions, cashews for pistachios, or add in any non-salt spices that inspire you.

Make sure you eat this out of your favorite bowl (I have a bowl I bought specifically for this meal 😊). Use chopsticks if you know how, although a fork will do.

Click the link below for full recipe.

Full Recipe

Interviews and Inspirations

Aaron Lelito: Theory into Practice with Wild Roof Journal

Aaron Lelito is the founder and Editor in Chief of Wild Roof Journal, an online art and literary publication focusing on themes related to nature & environment, including the intersection of “wild” nature and “civilized” society.

I met Aaron almost two years ago when I interned at WRJ as part of my Master of Fine Arts degree in writing. During one of our conversations about Henry David Thoreau, a literary figure who has influenced the both of us, Aaron stated: “There was that pesky transcendentalist...

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.