WILD!

I've been waiting and watching for these beauties to appear this year.

Wild Iris

They are just exquisite!

And check out who was hiding inside...

I am totally grateful and speechless!

More Flowers Blooming

More colors are showing up daily!  I love it!

Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)

Beautiful, yellow, and wild! Does anyone know the name of these?

Did you notice the little bug smiling for my camera?

Purple Clover (Trifolium)

Wild Strawberries (Fragaria)

They are the size of the tip of your little finger, but with more flavor than any cultivated variety!

Hoary Alyssum (Cruciferae - Mustard Family)

Thank you! Thank you!  They each make me smile!

Summer Solstice

How to Feel the Sap Rising

(a poem for summer)

by Christine Valters Paintner
(and some pictures by me)

Walk as slowly as possible,

all the while imagining

yourself moving through

pools of honey and dancing with

snails, turtles, and caterpillars.

Turn your body in a clockwise direction

to inspire your dreams to flow upward.

Imagine the trees are your own

wise ancestors offering their emerald

leaves to you as a sacred text.

Lay yourself down across earth

and stones.  Feel the vibration of

dirt and moss, sparking a tiny

(or tremendous)

revolution in your heart

with their own great longing.

Close your eyes and forget this

border of skin.  Imagine the

breeze blowing through your hair

is the breath of the forest and

your own breath joined, rising and

falling in ancient rhythms.

Open your eyes again and see it

is true, that there is no "me" and "tree"

but only One great pulsing of life,

one sap which nourishes and

enlivens all, one great nectar

bestowing trust and wonder.

Open your eyes and see that there

are no more words like beautiful,

and ugly, good and bad,

but only the shimmering presence of your

own attention to life.

Only one great miracle unfolding and

only one sacred word which is

yes.

Animal Sightings

On my slow Sunday, I saw many more animals than I usually do when I have my camera ready.
This sweet Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), about 3 feet long, was lounging on the Rails-toTrails after a large Sunday brunch. My references say they are the most common species of snake in Michigan, and that they feed on "frogs, toads, tadpoles, and small mammals." That lump looks like a small mammal to me...a mouse maybe?

Next, I saw this beautiful butterfly. A Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is my best guess. It seemed to be enjoying the Crown Vetch immensely. I've also seen many of them enjoying Julie's lilacs this year.

Then a mama Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) laying eggs right at the edge of the pavement! She looked grumpy to me. Maybe she didn't want her picture taken at such a time, or maybe she was just puuussshing!

I was even blessed by a visit from a very small, very green bug. It landed on my arm while I was riding my bike and refused to leave for the longest time.  It walked around and around my hand and fingers. Then it left as suddenly as it appeared. It never told me its name, but I was grateful for the visit!

Best of all was this Black-capped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus) who flew right in front of me while I was standing by Hersey Creek.  It landed on a branch, then flew to another, then back to the first branch. It did this so many times, I asked it if it wanted its picture taken. I only had my phone camera, but I started trying to take its picture. Every time I finally got the bird in focus, it would flit away. I have about 15 pictures of trees and branches, but no bird! It was a little like playing "Where's Waldo?" as I went through the pictures to find one to share. So here's Waldo, my playful Chickadee.

If I discovered anything today, it is that it is much easier to photograph flora than fauna! Fauna walks, runs, slithers, flies, flits, or grimaces at me while I try to get a picture. Flora only moves in the wind.

One Minute Meditation

On a Sunday bike ride along the White Pine Trail Linear State Park just north of Tustin, Michigan, I stopped at the wetlands to just be, look, and listen...

Here's one of our friends who had so much to say.

I hope you can also take a little time to be still in your real world...It's so beautiful!

Tending the Work of MorningStar

Then...

Now...

Not much has changed in 30-plus years... but, of course, everything has, as have we all! Thanks, Julie, for all your hard work all these years for MorningStar and all of us in this physical realm, and more especially in the spiritual and emotional realms! Thank you for your long term tending. I am grateful.

Yellows and Whites

The wildflowers around my home are mostly yellow and white/yellow this week. Here are the beauties who especially caught my eye.

Yellow Hawkweed (Hieracium pratense)

Showy Goat's-beard (Tragopogon pratensis)

Here's my best guess on this one...

Dwarf dandelion (Krigia virginica)

And now the whites with yellow centers: I'm even seeing a few of the miniscule strawberries appearing!

Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca)

Oxeye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)

Thank you, Little Gems!

A New Bench for MorningStar

At the small labyrinth at MorningStar, there has been a bench for many years. I think Brian and Karen Cool made it from salvaged wood after Elise had created the labyrinth. It served well, but...

I wanted to use the old bench as a template for a new one. Well, not entirely new, of course.  I wanted it to be made from salvaged wood also. I've collected a significant amount of pressure treated lumber from my property (previous owner) and from people's trash. Since it's not safe to burn, it's time to make it into something new!

The first new learning for me was to make a dado joint with only a table saw and a chisel. Previously, I've only made butt joints where you just butt the two pieces of wood and nail/screw them together.
First, making numerous cuts.

Then cleaning it up with a chisel.

The piece fits right in.  Sweet!

I ripped down some cracked 2x6 scraps to create good 2x2 blanks for legs. Then notched them to help support the base. Trial and error meant having to make 5 legs...have to learn somehow.

All pieces sanded and ready for staining...

Magic!

Next, just put them together. Two or three extra hands would have helped.

Taking a break.  Time to use the "not right" fifth leg to restore the old bench.

Not good enough for sitting, but fine for resting tools while I work.

Now, ready to measure, cut, and sand the pieces for the seat.

Sanding is not my most favorite activity, but staining that sanded wood...exquisite!

Here it is all assembled!

After Julie and I took turns sitting on it, we decided the beautiful straight edge would actually feel better if it were softened. So a little sanding and re-staining...the finished product.

Even though the wood is pressure treated, I will varnish the bench to help it keep its dark color and keep any of the boards from leaking sap. It should be setting near the labyrinth in just a few more days. Come rest!

I'm so pleased to see all this scrap lumber offering itself as a place of rest rather than dumped in a landfill. Looking at the bench, smelling the wood, feeling the smoothness of the finish... It all makes me smile.