I had plans to be productive but in reality accomplished nothing. Instead I spent time wandering aimlessly through the woods. I had read online that it was the season to go "shrooming." Particularly for the elusive and highly prized fungal delicacy known as the Morel. There are numerous websites and discussion boards dedicated to this hobby. Needless to say, I didn't find even one. No matter.

I did discover that the fastest way down our hill is to simply sit down and let gravity take its course. Sliding is much quicker, albeit dirtier, than the wooden steps. Before I go walking in the woods I  invariably begin by thinking, "I'll just go down and look at THIS."or "I'll just walk over THERE and see THAT," but before I know it I've gone much further than I'd intended and the daylight is fading.

I become engrossed with nature. For instance, the different types of tree bark. Scaly, smooth, curly, rough and grooved, or horizontal rings like gros-grain ribbon. Then there are the leaves. An almost endless variety, palmate or pinnate, parallel or alternate, smooth or rough. Tiny as a fingernail or larger than my hand. Everywhere I look there is new life. I read that Native American children once ate the pink blossoms of Redbud Trees as treats. I tried one. Not bad. Not GOOD either. We tagged them and the Dogwoods so we don't accidentally cut them down later. Cross shaped blooms and heart shaped leaves. And everywhere Grapevine twining round the trunks, the new grape leaves shining . New life springing from every crevice, triumphant once again.