Three Part Green

It started raining soon after I awoke. The steady rhumba of the drumming rain held me in my cocoon an extra half hour. I wonder if butterflies do the same when emerging from their crysalis.

Morning movements: Open the shades. Roll out the mat - pretend I still do yoga. I grind the beans, simmer the water and combine. The rain beat goes on.

I think of the forest and the mushrooms that might be waiting for me. If I find some oysters, I can make khinkali. And that convinces me to go.

Rain boots on. Rain jacket on. Camera in pocket. Ready to roll.

Cool out. I regret not grabbing a coffee for the trail. I'd probably spill most of it anyway, but spilled coffee is tax paid to the gods. No regrets.

The first thing I see is the crab spider in the milkweed. I opt for macro setting and get close. The spider cares not.

Look at that droplet on the abdomen- so tiny! I'm continually amazed with this camera. I'm hand holding in macro setting a moving spider on a swaying milkweed leaf. Unbelievable.

Into the forest, and onto the path. I don't know who made this path, but it's been here as long as I've been here.

It's a good forest path. It winds, and curves around the small hills and berms. It offers a fetching leading line drawing you on.

I go to the back creek that trickles when it's dry, but flows good with all this rain. I see this scene.

All I've ever wanted was to be be able to draw or paint this. This mood. But here it is in the raw, and it's beautiful.

The walk goes on, and I don't find any mushrooms for the khinkali. Not today. But, that's a small matter, it can wait.

I do find a nice chunk of chaga. Once dried chopped and powdered, it will make a fine earthy tree tea. I roasted it once, and got the birch flavor to come out, making it taste a bit like vanilla. But mostly it tastes like tree bark.

It was a good walk. It's nice to know a piece of land to connect with it. When I walk it, I know where I am.