I haven’t looked at anything under the microscope for quite a while. I decided today was the day! (Click on the galleries to enlarge the photos.)
Mushroom Cap:
Underneath the Cap (Gills):
Cutting Open the Cap:
Under the Microscope: Mushroom
Tag: daily post
From Top to Bottom
Yesterday I found this big mushroom in the Greenbelt. It was more than six inches across.
Top:
The edge of the top:
Taking a photo of something I couldn’t see was tricky. The underneath part of the cap, also called gills, isn’t as clear as I would have liked but the view is right:
The next two photos show the stalk and the ring around the stalk:
And finally, the base:
Daily Prompt: Bridge
The Greenbelt lot behind my house is on a fairly steep decline. In the 70’s, most of it was a beautiful, terraced lot; then the blackberry, ivy and morning glory vines took over. These stairs, which until recently were covered by the invasive vines, serve as a bridge between one level and the next.
Daily Prompt: Banned
When I saw yesterday’s Daily Prompt was “Banned”, a memory came to my mind. Before I share what I recalled, let me give some back history.
When my son Sreejit was a teenager he was into heavy metal rock music; he listened to it, played it on his guitar, and sang it. He wore black clothes most of the time. He even asked me to go to a couple of heavy metal concerts with him. It took some persuasion on his part, but I did go to hear LA Guns and Alice in Chains.
I drew a limit though when he decided he wanted a tattoo. There was no way I was going to support him in doing something that would permanently alter his body.
As I think about it today, I realize it was a good example of setting structure as a parent. As defined by Jean Illsley Clarke, there are four kinds of structure; rigid structure, non-negotiable rules, negotiable rules, and abandonment (no structure). Rigid structure and abandonment are forms of unhealthy structure; non-negotiable rules and negotiable rules are healthy. Non-negotiable rules should be based on safety of the child and/or family values. For me, no tattoo was a non-negotiable rule, it was banned.
Fast forward to 2013. Sreejit was visiting Seattle for the first time in several years. (He lives in Amritapuri, India.) His driver’s license had expired since his last visit, so he asked me if I would take him to get a tattoo. I was happy to do that. When he got back into the car, he showed me his new bicep tattoo.
The words are Sanskrit and they mean “Through renunciation alone is immortality attained.” It is the motto of Amma’s ashram, the place where he lives.
Later Sreejit said to me, “I was pretty surprised you were willing to drive me to get a tattoo.” “Why wouldn’t I?” I asked. “When I was a kid you were so against it.” “That’s true, but you aren’t a kid any more!” “Yeah, I figured, what am I waiting for? I’m nearly forty.”
When I reflected on this interaction, I found it interesting that disapproval or questioning his decision didn’t even occur to me. Tattoos were more common in 2013’s culture than when he was a teenager, but that aside, it was truly okay with me for him to live his own life. If his life was in danger, or I thought something he wanted to do was extremely unwise, I would say so, but as an adult living on his own, there was no place in our relationship for rules.
I love having the memory of that shared experience, and appreciate the tangible example of how our relationship has moved to one that is adult to adult….. although for part of me Sreejit will always be my baby!
Written for Daily Prompt: Banned
The Daily Prompt: Tiny
I spent many years sewing tiny dolls that were sold to support Amma’s Embracing the World humanitarian projects. I wonder if making them again will become part of my retirement activities.
Saraswati
Written for Daily Prompt: Tiny
Slugs Underground
Today’s Daily Prompt: Underground reminded me of a list of facts about slugs I included in the PNW GreenFriends Newsletter in August of 2015 (Page 20). Before compiling that list, I had no idea that 95% of slugs live underground. It is still near impossible for me to visualize that reality. Here is that list:
Did you know…
Only 5% of the slug population is above ground at any one time. The other 95% is underground digesting your seedlings, laying eggs, and feeding on roots and seed sprouts.
Slugs do play an important role in ecology by eating decomposing vegetation.
A slug lays 20-100 eggs several times a year.
Slug eggs can lay dormant in the soil for years and then hatch when conditions are right.
In favorable conditions a slug can live for up to 6 years.
Slugs used to live in the ocean, which is why they still need to keep moist
One individual field slug has the potential to produce about 90,000 grandchildren.
It’s been estimated that an acre of farmland may support over 250,000 slugs.
A cubic metre of garden will on average contain up to 200 slugs.
Slugs leave their own individual scent trail so they can find their way home.
A slug can stretch out to 20 times its normal length, enabling it to squeeze through the smallest of openings.
A slug has approximately 27,000 teeth – that’s more teeth than a shark.
The above facts are excerpts from: Fascinating Sluggy Facts. Go there to learn many more facts about slugs!
You can also find fascinating information about slugs at:
Reclaiming the Right to Trust
I believe, at the core of every person, there is a part that is both trusting and trustworthy. Due to life’s traumas, however, that part may recede so deep inside that it may seem unreachable. In time, a person may even develop a belief system that says people are not to be trusted.
When people come from that framework, they are likely to see negativity, and even danger, coming from all sides. They don’t trust what others say, and look for ulterior motives. In time, they may become excessively independent. The thought of being interdependent may be unfathomable. The inability to trust often leads to anxiety and depression.
I have been a psychotherapist for almost 30 years. During those years, I have seen so many clients reclaim their right to trust. As they heal from the traumas of their past, they shift from the life stance that people are untrustworthy to an attitude that people are trustworthy unless proven otherwise.
That doesn’t mean that they start to trust without discrimination though. Once they work through their childhood and adult traumas, they stop projecting negative behaviors on everyone and will become much clearer in seeing the true “red flags” that indicate potential problems. They are more likely to surround themselves with a support system of healthy people. They will know their own weak areas and will avoid situations that are likely to pull them into unhealthy behaviors.
Reclaiming the right to trust is not an easy journey, but it is well worth the time and effort.
Written for Daily Prompt: Trust
Photo Credit: pixabay.com
Weekly Photo Challenge: Nostalgia
For the last year or so, I have thought about a microscope I owned as a child. I have no idea how old I was then, but I remember spending hours exploring the microscopic world and being fascinated by what I saw. Since it kept coming to my mind, I decided that “someday” I would buy another microscope.
Then this past summer I realized I could add microscopic shots to the photos I publish on this blog. I felt very thankful for the nostalgic memories that led me to that realization.
I purchased a dissecting microscope and began my new venture using an adapter that connects my iPhone to the microscope. I hope someday I have a system that allows me to take photos that more accurately reflect what I see when I look directly into the microscope, but this is a good beginning.
Earlier this week, I photographed a bush that drew my attention. It’s “flowers” were unusual to say the least. Below you will find microscopic views of three parts of that plant. You can click on the galleries to see an enlarged version of the photos.
Red fruit
Brown “flower”
Black dying “flower”
This is what the whole plant looked like:
Do any of you know the name of this plant? If you do, please share it with me and other readers!
The Daily Prompt: Trees
I laughed when I saw that the Daily Prompt for today was Trees because trees are a major focus of my life right now. I am managing editor for a monthly Pacific Northwest GreenFriends publication. This month we had a special feature section on trees. Last month, I had an interesting experience with a tree that I named the Guardian. (I subsequently wrote two posts about that tree.) And, with the help of a friend, I have started clearing the blackberry vines, ivy and other invasive plants from the Greenbelt lot that is located behind my Seattle home.
Among the trees I have “freed” are two Hawthorn trees. When I showed the big tree to a neighbor, he pointed out that the smaller one to the east of it was actually part of the same tree. In the photo below you can see both of these trees. Also notice the height of the blackberry vines behind the big tree. This whole lot was covered with those densely packed vines a month ago.
I took the photo above last week; below are some I snapped today.
I am thoroughly enjoying my new passion. I think I could spend the rest of my life working in this lot. I’ve seen so many amazing things already… so there will be many more blog posts to come.
Navaratri is Coming!
Navatratri is a nine day Hindu festival that celebrates three forms of the Goddess, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The tenth day is called Vijaya Dasham, the festival of victory. This year Navaratri will be October 1-10.
Friends of mine build a beautiful altar for Navaratri. Every item on it has meaning and many of the statues are handmade. I will never forget seeing this altar for the first time; it practically took my breath away. Oh how it sparkled. Continue reading “Navaratri is Coming!”
Living, Learning and Letting Go 
