The forest floor is home to a variety of unusual creatures. This morning, I had an encounter with the most elusive resident of them all. A flash from the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was early morning, and the forest was thick with dew, perfumed by the scent of pine. I felt I was walking into a cool cathedral, my Sagrada Família of the Green Mountains. The flash came from under the spiky bough of a 50 year-old stately pine. I pulled back the bough and found a troop of mushrooms. They were tightly clustered, well out of sight, and off the beaten path. On closer examination I realized, I stumbled upon a kingdom of woodland fairies. Some people actually think fairies are nothing more than a whimsical flight of fancy. Nonsense! For someone who regularly slinks along nature’s floor, I have had many mysterious encounters with sprites. I am convinced of their existence. How else would you explain this finely designed housing complex, disguised as a benign group of mushrooms? Fairies are very clever architects. When picking a house-site some fairies prefer the security of terra firma. They scout out dwellings that can house an entire communities of nymphs, such as this fine clump of fungi. For fairies, mushrooms made a premier residence. The caps create excellent, well detailed roofs, sheltering them from the unexpected shower, and the broad and towering stems create grand entrances for each family. Being ultimate gardeners, fairies plant either clover or blooming grass near their front doors so guests don’t accidentally pass by. They also take great care in keeping their residences tidy, so it is not unusual to find a twig propped up against the front door ー a broom in the ready. By the time I lowered my camera, resting it on a mound of moss, the fairies silently fluttered away, but the evidence of their presence was indisputable. So the next time you enter the forest, tread softly and speak in whispers for if you believe you may also stumble upon a magical kingdom. Live in color, Abby Those that don’t believe in magic will never find it
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There’s no way of escaping the complexity of life ー or is there? We spend half our lives accumulating. We are no better than scurrying chipmunks stockpiling nuts for the long winter, who run on the theory, more is better. But is more always better? Now that I am well ensconced in my second half of life, nuts no longer have much appeal. There are times I envy the Buddhist monk who travels the world with only his bowl and saffron robe. OK Abby, snap out of it! That's a bit extreme, however, dare I imagine life without the weight of nuts to slow me down? This new found philosophy became apparent first through my photography. The complex photo has taken a back seat to simplicity. It is now the purity of clean lines and shapes that appeal to me. The elegant, form rich image now feeds my inner self. While composing an image today all I need to do is create an intriguing space to breath, celebrating the moment. Think of it as a meditative moment, from me to you. Live in color,
Abby |
MUSINGSAn image alone sometimes feels insufficient, that’s where Musings come in. A space where words and images come together to tell the story. MAILING LISTI promise not to sell, rent, or share your email address with anyone. Ever.
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August 2024
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