I Leave You, Then, With A Tale Of A Mushroom Blue

The girls started school, and I am NOT driving them. Like shells in a shotgun, I have set off in several different creative directions. I am loving it. Amongst the list, I have been painting, drawing, sewing, ... even writing poetry which I haven't done in a gazillion years. Thank me in advance - I won't be putting you through the poetry. There is a lot of pent up creative juice coursing thru my veins.

The air has barely a touch of fall in it. I can tell that the crisp days will be here soon. Shadows on the mountains in front of my living room and a clear view to the mountains in the far off distance, let me know that the chokehold the humidity has had on us for the past few months has been broken.

I notice the biggest difference in the mornings. The low morning clouds get caught in the valley, below, virtually swallowing everything in it's path except the tippity-tops of the peaks.

When I have my coffee with this view, I pretend I live at the edge of the ocean, and those peak tops are mere islands in an enormous sea.

I have been doing my fair share of hiking, as well. If I don't get out in the fresh, early morning coolness, I dodge the mid-morning heat by hiking in the refuge of the trails beneath the thick canopy of hickory, yellow-poplar, and elm, to name just a few that I can actually recognize.

When the canopy above my head gets especially thick, the moisture doesn't evaporate as quickly and the path has a generous coat of vibrant green moss edged in leaf litter that is damp beneath only the very top layer of dried leaf. There, in those fairytale mossy paths is where I go hunting for jewels. Mushroom jewels that is. I see all kinds, all colors. Do you see the one in the lower right of the picture below? It looks like a white mushroom. But it is not.

I have been spotting BLUE mushrooms. Magical blue mushrooms. Some on the edge of the path, some just off the path and peeking out of the leaf litter.

Some of them look deadly.

Their undersides entice my imagination with stories only a child would believe.

Some are soooo beautiful that I simply can not resist.

I gingerly sliced one off with my knife that I keep in my backpack. However retarded I looked, I ran home, panting, water bottle dangling and slapping my side, both hiking poles firmly gripped by one hand, and one hand gingerly holding my blue prize.

The milk that oozed from it's gills tainted my fingers, blue. No worries, I did my homework first, this beauty is edible.

I sliced through it with my trusty knife, it's flesh gave in easily. I inspected it with my little loupe left over from my girls' homeschooling days. I was in heaven. Amazed too ... the colors looked just like the wool I have been using.

I have my lovely (and awesome) Tía Anita Maria to thank for getting me into this next project - rug hooking. I didn't know anything about it until a few weeks ago when she sent me an email with photos of her masterpieces.

For future reference, tía, I would appreciate not getting into any new (read costly) endevours.

So, hereI am with this stunning blue mushroom (Lactarius Indigo) - stunned by it's blueness. It reminded me of the lapiz lazuli earrings my husband gave me on our honeymoon spent backpacking the length of Chile.

I just couldn't leave it at that. Out came my watercolor paints and my brushes.

I made a transfer of the little mushrooms I painted and put it onto fabric. A quick attempt at quilting it to see if it merits further exploration ...

and this is where I am at. I am not sure when I will return, here, to the blog. A part of me feels like I have just begun the journey. I know that it is not ready for "prime time". I have restled with the concept of blogging what I create vs. creating to blog. I am going to let time and creativity form and shape it's own path. So we will see someday, where, when, how ,... and I hate to say this: if, we meet again. I will leave the blog up until April. If before then I choose to either return to this blog, or appear somewhere else, I will let you know via this blog.

I leave you then, with a view of Wednesday's sunset and a tale of a mushroom blue.

Carolina

 

Comments

[Elizabeth Mackey]

I enjoyed this post sooooo much Carolina. The thought of not seeing your beautiful images on here again makes me very sad! I just love your view of the world. I loved the image of you hurrying home with your mushroom prize, I would have done the same. Mushrooms are so magical in both looks and when they are cooked to perfection. I had some really amazing mushroom on my trip to the redwoods last weekend.

You have been doing so many creative things girl! I feel like a huge slug by comparison! Today is the first day I have started back sewing. I'm making the cutest tunic right now that I can't wait to finish!

Oh, and do me a favor, PLEASE don't take your blog down if you decided to go away :(

Keep on making cool things and don't be a stranger my friend.

[The Muse of The Day]

Thanks, Elizabeth. It means a lot to me to hear that you enjoyed the post and it was worth my effort. I once did some hiking in the redwoods. I was in awe. I need to go back there someday. I think in all seasons, the woods there are amazing.

Carolina

[Melissa P]

Oh, Carolina! What a mix of emotions this post has stirred up. I am overjoyed that you are so thoroughly immersed in creative activities, making up for some lost time and throwing yourself into the journey with abandon. I love that. The example of the magical blue mushrooms is the perfect illustration of how one moment of inspiration can be explored through multiple forms.

I am saddened by your decision not to blog, at least for a long while. Your unique voice and bold spirit bring a much needed viewpoint to blogland. However, this is just a selfish reaction, a knee jerk response. I will miss your posts and all the smiles and gasps they engender.

But as your friend, I understand. The need to journey without the distractions of other's expectations (whether regarding subject matter, frequency of postings or other things) is of great importance. I would rather you experience your life to the fullest, than see you burdened and hampered by something so fleeting as a blog.

I've enjoyed every moment spent here and will always be grateful for what you shared. I believe there are beautiful, exciting things ahead of you. I know you will meet them all with alacrity and your inimitable spirit.

[Alicia Armstrong]

Melissa is such a great wordsmith and I am not; she has captured exactly what I am thinking so I will simply add a mighty DITTO to her above comment.

I keep going back over and over your pictures, they so captivating! I don't know which is more amazing, the mushrooms or the beauty you have brought into the world with your response to them. Keep heading this direction, your quilted sample is fantastic! The addition you mentioned to me will put it over the moon.

[Elizabeth Mackey]

I hope you don't mind, but I decided to pin some of your photos to Pinterest, just incase you take down your beautiful blog. I hope you don't mind.

Elizabeth :)

[Mari]

I'm going to miss you! I don't know if you have heard of Moomin by Tove Jansson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin. There is this whole commercial children's thing build around the characters, but the original novels are in my opinion not for children but for adults. Anyhow, the character Moomin has a friend Snufkin who is always away in the winter traveling. Every spring Moomin is anxiously waiting for him to return. I feel like you are Snufkin (my favourite character) heading off to one of those mysterious travels and I'm Moomin anxiously waiting you to return in the spring and worrying that maybe you won't.

What ever you decide to do I hope that you will find some way to share your art with the rest of the world when the time is ready. Take care!

[jo]

sounds a wonderful day. so sad that we may not hear more of it, as we had only just met.

[Elizabeth Mackey]

I miss you my friend! I came on here just to visit old posts, before you decide to take it all down :( Hope you are doing well and working on a lot of fun projects :)

[sheri]

You are, and always have been, an inspiration and a teacher. I love all of the lessons I have learned from you. I think you are an amazing teacher because you are an amazing student of life. You are curious, adventurous, and willing to try. I so admire those qualities in you.
xoxo
Sheri