Traveling Chariot

Slow down, look up, seek the stars in the dark December sky, gather together, warm by a fire, watch bright flames dance, admire the bones of trees in their stark leafless beauty, in the quiet spy a deer, an owl, a fox, turn off electric light, light a dozen candles, believe.  

Blue False Indigo flaming up the woods. 

Spring is blessed with bountiful blooms, not only flowering bulbs but beautiful flowering trees like crabapple, dogwoods, and fruit trees. But by far, my favorite, and the most intoxicatingly beautiful tree I know is the saucer magnolia. I have a few small ones that I hope one day rival this gem in town. 

My tiny morel finds finally grew into a tasty size. Looking for more but finding none. Needing more sunshine here. 

These miniscule morels were found Saturday 3/24 - my tiniest finds ever. They were in a spot I knew to look otherwise they would never have been spotted by me. I left them there for maturing and will harvest at a later date. Now my woodland walks become foraging hunts.  Happy Hunting!

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, hop over Emerald Post Blog to explore the culture of Ireland, traditions, and Irish celebrations during this festive month. Also there are sales afoot in the Emerald Post Shop and Giveaway happening for Emerald Post E-Newsletter subscribers. Sign up HERE to get the Emerald Post Herald and automatically be entered to win some Irish goodies .   This lot up for a Giveaway as well as two other smaller Emerald Post bundles. 

Though it seems an impossibility that I should ever catch up posting with all the trips I've taken, I suppose there is no harm in trying. So back to Scotland I'll take you, where I visited in 2014! We drive toward the Isle of Skye though Glen Shiel which was quite scenic with rugged rocky mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and low clouds cloaking the mountains tops. We stopped at the well known Eilean Donan Castle, which is stunning on the exterior but actually quite strange inside. Most of the castle is off limits as I believe a family still lives there, there is modern furniture about and family snapshots on desks and walls. I would probably skip this visit in hindsight. Glen Shiel Scenic Drive Glen Shiel Scenic Drive Glen Shiel Scenic Drive Eilean Donan Castle - very picturesque but the interior is quite strange, many rooms of limits while the others have modern furnishings, family snapshots, like the family currently lives there.  Eilean Donan Ca