Heading out of town tomorrow. To the ocean. Lost Wednesday and Thursday due to unexpected ear drum malfunction. Still waiting to hear out of my left ear but at least the pain has abated. So here. Before I lost the sense of hearing–the wonder of smell. Fresh cut hay. I think I would have followed this truck wherever it was going if I hadn’t been on my way to pick up young man child.
I look at the picture now and wonder–how to convey the profound impact of that moment? Of opening a car window because it was hot–and there, where before there was nothing, was this overwhelming welcomed aroma. Moist. Rich. Filling. Smell. The most direct-to-the-brain sense organ. And the accompanying memories. Of putting up hay. One eye on the weather and one eye on the field. The heat. The total immersion into humid, hay saturated air. Totally consumed by….
And later, while pausing on my way to the garden to admire a brown toad, another admirer-of-toad — an Eastern Garterd Snake. Not this one. But one just like it. It was fast as blue blazes and I didn’t have my camera.
Garden has a sense here of balance this year. Of critter comfort. Of birds finding worms and wasps finding insects. Of toads helping out and hopefully staying safe. Of garter snake patrolling. On duty. And the garden feels happy.
From this, a cloth–a snake cloth:
and this one–just starting–with Jude Hill’s weaving class in mind–
and finally to remember next year. Mullein begins to bloom in June. And leaves from second year plants are best harvested in the spring.
And finally, a huge “thank you” to dear friend-of-many-talents. Sidekick from many years ago who, much to my delight, has relocated to Asheville for the summer. I was OUT OF IT. On ear drum pain meds–it was bad–and I was faced with completing my one responsibility for vacation which was to bring our first meal, prepared, to the ocean on Saturday. Like an angel of mercy she showed up and took over with utter competence and skill and this is what we’ll be enjoying on Saturday night. With greens from the garden. It was enough to make me weep. Another reason I love that woman.
following thread 
..oh ear pain simply sucks…it is so interesting to get an ear ache as an adult and then watch small children with ear aches…they truly are amazing …i love that they can be so primal with pain..oh that sounds awful..just years of pediatric nursing and preschoolers…i admire small people so very much
love your memory of hay and your present day appreciation..last year the meadow here was hayed and there were 36 big rolls..i gee up with hay stacks and the rolls still seem strange to me..so feel better, have a wonderful adventure..your words and pictures conjure up a memory..as always back to her..so here to you and so many of the observant women who visit here…
Mindful
by Mary Oliver
Everyday
I see or hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for —
to look, to listen,
to lose myself
inside this soft world —
to instruct myself
over and over
in joy,
and acclamation
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,
the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant —
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,
the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help
but grow wise
with such teachings
as these —
the untrimmable light
of the world,
the ocean’s shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?
have such a time
cynthia
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thanks for this, Cynthia. it’s lovely and just so perfect…finding perfection in “…the ordinary, the common, the very drab….” that is the wonder of it all.
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I am curious as to what you will use the dried mullein leaves for? I live in Wisconsin and have many plants growing along the roadside . Thanks, Joan
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Mullein has lots of uses–you’ll be amazed at how much is online–here’s a sample:
http://www.altnature.com/gallery/mullein.htm
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am going to take my time with this post while you’re gone but just quickly, do Call out my
name to the Ocean for me….Call out that i send love to that Ocean. This gives me such
pleasure to ask you and know that you will.
BIG love and blessings on your ear drum….
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i will do .this. with a glad heart. and a lot of love. for you. for. ocean. for earth
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oh a garter snake! I found one frozen in the on the sidewalk when I was walking to school in Tulsa when I was about 7 years old, it was beautiful… and the smell of fresh cut hay… and your new cloth… have a good visit to the ocean and hope your ear feels much better!
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garter snakes and childhood seem to go hand. in hand, don’t they? and I wouldn’t have thought Tulsa got cold enough i n winter to freeze! …did you try to thaw it out?
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No I wanted to but couldn’t work out how to get it out of the frozen puddle in the sidewalk!
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I still remember the pain of an ear infection when I was a young child. It’s the worst! I have so much empathy for my little ones at work when the have ear infections. I could smell that hay…brought back memories of my years in No. Nevada, the Carson Valley. Lots of ranch land and that moist green scent. Reminded me of one of my mom’s favorite teaching books: http://www.amazon.com/Haystacks-Needle-Other-Complete-Modern/dp/0688414451 Have a great time, the food looks de-lish 🙂
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it seems that now is a time when senses are acute….things we might not have noticed
before, or have noticed but maybe been preoccupied otherwise?
but i see this here and know it in my own experience now…
the snake is such a blessing
and From Your Garden….just so so Fine
i love all of it, just love it and that love transfers to this Place here……
the Cloth is witness.
i just realized that i am commenting in the wrong box…so….just look UP and it’ll be ok…
LOVE,
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