We stopped for a hike on the way home from the lake, strode through tall grass and old forest, sat on a bench and watched the eddies in Tolliver Creek.

At one point we heard a bird that sounded familiar, that sounded as if it was talking to us right from the heart of the woods. The Merlin app told us it was a hermit thrush, a relative of the wood thrush I heard last month.

It was a gem of a walk, with paths through meadow, park and woods. At the end we watched as butterflies fed on milkweed. It’s all the rage to plant milkweed now — we have some in our yard — but this was one of the first times I’ve watched animals taking advantage of it.

Milkweed is not an unattractive plant, but it’s not my favorite, either. Seeing it as food made me appreciate it more. Hikes can be food, too, sustenance for the spirit. This one was for me.

I felt as if I was feeding on the forest. After the clamor and clang of a busy week with the family, it was a quiet moment, time to absorb all the week had to offer.