Rivers, Snakes, Art and Felines...

A week or so ago, I went down to the Chattooga with a friend, after the flooding had subsided. It was amazing, as always, to see just how high the river had been during flooding. There was a snake up in a tree that must have found the limb as he was swimming and the river was at that level. Amazing.

This is where the water level had come up to during the flood. I can't imagine that much water in the river, but so it was.


This snake must have had quite a ride before he found this branch to light upon, and rest as the water level dropped...

Yesterday's "Art at the Cabin" was lovely. It was so heartening for me to have friends in my home, sharing and interacting with my art. Thanks to all who came to share.




This morning, as Sundew was playing in my hammock, I thought about the mini-hammock Rob brought me from Costa Rica. Actually, he brought it for Honeybear, but she didn't use it so I set it aside. This morning I set it up for Sundew then went to take a bath. After my bath, I looked out the window to find Sundew, lounging away on the hammock. Wonderful!

Art at the Cabin...

Late summer colors...

I went out on the screened porch this afternoon to grab a quick nap before an appointment, and I got sidetracked when I noticed this yellow spider hiding on this yellow flower. When I took them outside to photograph them, I got sidetracked by the poke berries and their leaves. Of course there was no time for a nap, but the colors were worth it. Only sorry the poke leaves colors don't come across so well on the web. Just imagine they're redder and greener...

Hidden Treasure...

I was out in my woods behind the cabin today, looking for chanterelles, which I would normally have lots of, but these last couple of years the drought has done away with them. Anyway - I only found one chanterelle, sadly, but there were lots of other fun mushrooms to look at (though not edible) and then I happened upon this little lady, peeking shyly out of the dirt and leaves. Now she lives by the pond. Interesting how her hands are held up to her head - almost like she is doing what I sometimes want to do when the neighbors run their machinery - which they started doing as I considered where to place her. Any name suggestions??

Winding down...

The summer has slipped away for a moment, the air has chilled and the breeze has picked up. Leaves are dropping silently from the trees, almost unnoticed, but for a color passing behind branches, as if a bird has flown - only straight down. I look out and think that there is golden late sunlight on the leaves of my black gum guardian, only to notice that one of his branches has shifted to bright yellow when I was not looking. I am on the front porch talking about work with a friend, when I look down and see a cicada and a large bee - one of the ones that has been bothering me during hotter nights - and they are dangerously close to each other, but in such slow motion they seem to pose no mutual threat. Slowly they spar, and the bee trudges away as if drunk - wobbling a bit, side to side. In fact, they are moving so slowly you'd almost think they could actually be reading this page of the NYT magazine, if only it were turned the other way...






Really, the air has grown cool and the season is passing, and their time here, now is coming to a close. They have no need to waste energy fighting, when living is what they are busy with. Savor the moments we have, and focus on what's important. Those big, scary things that get too close for comfort are busy with their own pursuits....