Mushrooms Everywhere

A good year for mushrooms and they are popping up everywhere, so many different ones.

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More Mushrooms

Being Peace

If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.
~Lao Tzu

Can You See Me

Deer in the woods, can you spot it?

A Huddle Of Hens

Keeping warm together.

Ringing the Gong at Sunset

Photograph: Sharron R. McMillan

Nov. 11, 2018 at sunset, I rang our gong 100 times.

It was actually a very moving experience for me.  I wasn’t going to ring the gong one hundred times, I thought I’d do a few gongs and call it done but I didn’t stop, I kept ringing and ringing it, gong, gong. Something took hold of me and I counted as I got into the rhythm.  GONG forward, gong back, to 99, then 100.  I stopped and the silence was deafening.  I just stood there, tears running down my face, a lump in my throat.  Imagine the feeling of being in the war for years, fear, death, uncertainty then to hear the bells ringing, incessantly, first fear, then wonder, then interest, then freedom.  Wow!  It affected me deeply.  Three generations now have known peace. May it never end.

©2018 Sharron R. McMillan

Deliberate Dishonesty

It is the empty and untrained brain that is tempted to deliberate dishonesty.
~ “The Art of Writing Prose” Roger Sherman Loomis

Peace and Quiet

Enjoying the quiet of the woods today –
towhees talking,
ravens gossiping,
silence,
crunch of gravel underfoot
Peace.

This is what we need to progress towards,
more peace
in our towns,
in our world,
in ourselves.

©Sharron R. McMillan

Rain on Grape Leaves

Did you know that grape leaves keep pickles crisp in the place of using alum?  We use one
good-sized leaf per jar and it works like a charm.

Mushrooms on Stump

Herb Robert is Still Blooming

Herb Robert

Geranium robertianum

In traditional herbalism, Herb Robert is a remedy for toothache and nosebleed and  in healing of wounds. The name refers to abbot and herbalist Robert of Molesme. Freshly picked leaves have an odor resembling burning tires when crushed, and if rubbed on the body the smell repels mosquitoes (and probably anything else including friends).
The active ingredient is tannin, a bitter compound called geranlin, and essential oils.
It was carried to attract good luck, and due to its analogical association with storks, to enhance fertility.

 

Starry Eyed

Head Stand

Hearts in Nature

Primrose – a cheery surprise in the Fall garden

Primula

For medicinal purposes the whole plant is used.
Flowers and leaves are gathered in the beginning of the blossom time.
A decoction of the flowers are used as tea against dizziness, sleeplessness, headaches, and neurasthenia paralysis, physical stress, to strengthen nerves and against cough, an expectorate for bronchitis, blue cough, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, flu, rheumatic pains.
The root is taken out in spring or in autumn when the plant begins to fade. The liquid extract of the root is a component of the Czech preparation “Solutan” – a well-known medicine against bronchial asthma and bronchitis.
In homeopathy the plant is used during kidney diseases and neuralgia.
Diuretic, sudorific, sedative, and spasmolytic qualities;
Contains vitamins C and A.
There are no side effects documented for primrose use.