What's in a name?

Reaching through the leaves on the forest floor (as well as the mulch surrounding a tree in front of a neighbor’s house), autumn orange fingers with glossy mud-covered fingernails thrust their spindly bodies into the light.  Better known as elegant stinkhorns, these unique fungi dare a forest guest to take a closer look and come to his own conclusion about the relevance of a name.

Fresh air

This afternoon I took a walk with my friend Bea in a nearby community park with an adjacent natural area.  I was noticing the colors – a brilliant yellow goldfinch sitting on a hot pink bull thistle flower eating seed with his camouflaged mate, a perfect blue sky with billowy silver-tinted clouds, bright yellow discs with comparably colored petals radiating from their center to form cup plants – while Bea perceived the scents.

“I love the way it smells,” she said.  I looked at her in wonder.  What did she mean?  I didn’t notice anything special about the smell of the area.  Bea, who works indoors during the week could discern the smell of the earth and water mingling – textures forming an invisible tapestry. 

I began to smell it, too, as the breeze filled my body with air and left me feeling renewed.  Maybe you should get outside for a breath of fresh air today, too.

Summertime supper

We had the best roasted corn I’ve ever eaten at Brother Johan’s birthday on Saturday night.  Here is a poem inspired by that night (written the next morning 8/14/11..)

“Summertime supper”

Beneath papery husks and silky hairs

buttery sweetness

squirts.

Sticking between teeth

Smoked peppered kernels leave a cob

naked.

P.S.  That pesky poison ivy rash on my arms is just about gone now -- Amen!

Treating poison ivy

Tonight I gave in and scratched.  It felt great to rub my short fingernails against the translucent blisters on my arm for a while.

I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't resist.

It all started a couple of weeks ago when I was pulling poison ivy out of some areas I was afraid people might traverse at the nature center where I work.

I wore gloves, but didn't don long sleeves (too hot in July!).  A leaf gently grazed my arm.  It wasn't broken, so I dismissed the chance touch.

A small rash appeared on my neck, then another on my right arm, followed by second on my left.

Today fantasies involving the use sand paper or steel wool on these itchy patches began dancing through my head.  What harm could a fingernail do?  Just a little scratching here and there.

Ahh.. It felt better as I continued to rub, but I couldn't keep going.  It wasn’t right. 

Now the itchy sensation is creeping back, inviting me to keep scratching.  I must stop for the night. 

Do you know how to stop the itch?