Early Fall – Kansas 2013
Critters from the weekend
Buggin’ Out
This praying mantis shared my porch with me this morning as I ate breakfast.
Fungus Among Us
Saturday a group of friends and I hiked the 4 mile looped trail around the Woodridge Area of Clinton Lake in Douglas County. The rain we’ve had over the last week spurred lots of mushrooms and fungi out of the ground. I’ve never seen so many varieties before on one outing. Today I’m heading out for a quiet night at a cabin at a county lake to watch the annual Perseid meteor shower. It should be a good show. And I’m sure lots of photos will come out of my evening and morning explorations. Til next time…
Polyphemus Moth #2
I encountered my second ever Polyphemus Moth over the weekend. And strangely it was in the exact same spot as the first one that I saw over two years ago, give or take a few inches… This one seemed to be sleeping. As it got dark, it moved a bit, and by morning had left. As far as I know, they move about at night and only live about a week or so.. Here’s a link to the photo of the first one I saw in 2011, taken after it had dropped to the ground off the door: https://ruralpearl.com/blog/?p=2737
Country Driving
I’ve been taking a few days off after several weeks of straight work & travel… Back to the grind tomorrow to prepare for The Uptown Art Fair coming up in Minneapolis, MN. Today, I hit the gravel roads for some re-connection to my favorite things.
Born Again
My friend Laura and I discovered this cicada emerging from it’s shell on my front steps this morning. I, of course, had to grab my camera and get all up in it’s face… rather intriguing.
Off to Wisconsin, I am, for the Art Fair on the Square. Til next time..
Gone Fishin’
Some good outdoor time spent today before the midwest spring storms roll in… Rural Atchison, KS.
Nature
Nature by Henry David Thoreau
O Nature! I do not aspire
To be the highest in thy choir, –
To be a meteor in thy sky,
Or comet that may range on high;
Only a zephyr that may blow
Among the reeds by the river low;
Give me thy most privy place
Where to run my airy race.
In some withdrawn, unpublic mead
Let me sigh upon a reed,
Or in the woods, with leafy din,
Whisper the still evening in:
Some still work give me to do, –
Only – be it near to you!
For I’d rather be thy child
And pupil, in the forest wild,
Than be the king of men elsewhere,
And most sovereign slave of care;
To have one moment of thy dawn,
Than share the city’s year forlorn.
Visitors
I may have to make my work table move next to the window in my dining room permanent. It’s nice having company while I’m working.
