Is that a P-37 haversack (small pack)? I've not seen one with snap fasteners before.
I like the idea of having a bit of woods to visit on weekends, with the expedition starting at my back door. I generally do pretty much the same thing, though I never seem to get around to doing a real project. But I have one in mind, which is to cook an old-fashioned French Army meal in the field. I have a 5-liter boiler, which I have used to do that, just not outside. Potatoes, carrots, some leftover meat, not much else except salt and pepper. The boiler, by the way, looks like a gigantic German-style mess tin in plain aluminium. Naturally, no authentic French Army meal would be complete without red wine and we're fresh out. I do note that the nearest outdoor store (REI, inc) has all sorts of flasks, wine skins and goblets, so apparently others think the same way. Something else for the wish list.
The place I visit with some regularity looks much like your private wilderness but rather narrower. When the leaves are off the trees, however, the nearness of houses is surprising. Yesterday and today when I was out the temperature was just around freezing. I did heat some soup yesterday but today I took along coffee in an insulated travel mug. I also wore my thickest mitts.
Happy trails! Nice photos, too.