Magic Golf balls?

Puffball fungus

These puffballs emerged overnight from the land of all things invisible.  This one was just about golf ball size and startled me on first glance... "How did a golf ball get in my front yard?"  It's amazing to me that they can appear like magic overnight!

 

These were on the path from the garage to the house. I should have put down a coin for size reference.  They were only as big as pennies. They we perfectly white when I found them at 9 am and had already turned this light brown by the time I got out with my camera at 1 pm.

What I've read says they're edible...maybe.  There are many types and false types. I'd need to be much better at classification or much more of a risk taker to collect and saute' a batch for breakfast!

Nearly the last

Daylily (Hemerocallis - this means "beauty for a day")

The Daylilies have been abundant and beautiful this year. All mine have expired, each bloom lasting only one day as is their nature.  I found these last few by Sylvia's driveway, my neighbor just down the road from me. Her area is much more shaded than where my daylilies abide.  A treat to be blessed with their beauty beyond when I expected it!  Thank you! 
      More info on daylilies if you're interested:  http://grandvalleydaylily.org/faq.html

Yeay! Blueberries!

My one blueberry bush is quite variable in its yearly production.  Regardless of whether it was planted by previous owners or birds, I am grateful for it.  I only discovered the bush 4 years ago on my land. Before that and the last 2 years when few berries formed, the birds have had them all to themselves.  

This year it was loaded with berries.  I covered it thoroughly with bird netting before any ripened. First picking: 2 quarts with probably one more quart to ripen still on the bush.  After that, I’ll take the bird netting off so the winged-ones can glean.  Sorry, birds, the majority of berries are going in my tummy this year!

Fit for a Queen

Fresh! I delight in the bounty of summer!  These eggs are from a local farmer who lets her chicken free range. Giant raspberries from the local Farmers' Market laced with nothing except fresh air, rain water, and compost. The tomatoes, blueberries, and sprig of dill are from my own garden. And I love Lundberg short grain organic brown rice since growing it at home does not seem a possibility.  This was breakfast, though I've had the identical meal for dinner.

Eating a homegrown tomato right off the vine is truly a sacred experience for me. My senses flood...the redness, the gentle firmness, the unmistakable smell of the tomato plant that stays on my hands after picking, and the flavor of acidic, sweet pulp and sensation of slippery seeds. I love how I have to slurp to attempt to keep most of the treasure from landing on my shirt as I dive into the mystery of sun, soil, water, warm days and cool nights, and seed turned plant and fruit with all my senses. For this and much more, I am grateful!

Blue Butterfly!

Red-spotted Purple (Liminitis arthemis)

This beauty surprised me with a visit again today. Yesterday as my shoes lay outside a friend's home, another just like her landed on them.  Then she walked down inside! She turned around, one complete circle, then emerged, rested, and flew off.  Yet a moment later, she was back, flying around my legs and even brushed me with one of her wings. I believe she wanted to catch my attention...It worked!

When I see a butterfly, I always think of transformation or metamorphosis...the ability to change. I think she came to me to remind me that I am able to change, see things differently, choose to act differently, if old ways no longer serve me. May it be so. I would like to move from a old place of deep skepticism/distrust of all things unseeable and unprovable to an increased openness to all the mystery and magic around me.

Un-Common!

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

 
Yes, it's called a Common Mullein... 
hardly "common".  This gigantic mullein was growing at a rate of about 4-6 inches a day before it started to flower.  I am not tall (5'3"), but I am dwarfed by this beauty which is a good 6 inches taller than the door to the garage.  Amazing the power of the life force!

 I looked up info on this plant which is so abundant in my area, and it is has many other common names: Flannel Leaf, Velvet Plant, Jacob's Staff, Shepard's Club, and Girl Scout Toilet Paper. I believe this plant could serve a whole troop of Girl Scouts if need be!


I do love the velvety soft leaves and strong stalk. I typically restrict my plant hugging to trees, though I've been known to stroke the leaves of chard in the garden, but this great plant seemed quite strong enough to receive my full physical affection!

A First Post

"My life depends on engaging the most ordinary physical activities with the most exquisite attention I can give them. My life depends on ignoring all touted distinctions between the secular and the sacred, the physical and the spiritual, the body and the soul. What is saving my life now is becoming more fully human, trusting that there is no way to God apart from real life in the real world.”

-- Barbara Brown Taylor
      from An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith

The purpose of this blog is to help me remind myself of the beauty, awesomeness, mystery, and sanctity in every moment and every thing and being in this existence. I want to tap into and share from my daily sensory experiences and thoughts, from some of my poetry and previous writings, and be open to share from any experiences outside what I can understand with my mind or senses. I also want to express my gratitude for what is.  My intention is to post at least weekly.

May what I share also be a blessing to all who encounter it.