Many Moons Have Passed

"Forest", watercolor, 11" x 15", VClaff 2014

Many moons have passed since last I wrote! I didn't wander off into the forest, 

never to be found again, or spirited away by faeries... no, I am here. I am 

quite well, in fact, better than I've been in a few years. My health is better, 

my grief is there, of course, but less on the surface now. I've been off on 

adventures since last I wrote, and found as the days turned into months 

since I've posted here, it felt harder and harder to know where to begin! I've 

not been visiting blogs much, nor spending as much time plugged in, but I 

imagine it might well be seasonal. 

I spent the early spring in the studio, determined to be in there regularly 

this summer. A few new pieces emerged that feel good to me. Not sure if 

the first two are finished, though they've been sitting for a long while now. 

In these photos, you might see that most are still wet.

"Forest Glow", watercolor, 11" x 15", VClaff 2014

"Hemlock", watercolor, 8"x10", VClaff 2014

"Hemlock Grove", watercolor, 8"x10", VClaff 2014

The winter invasion of mice after Pasha's passing has continued, though I'm getting 

it under control with a relocation program, new foam insulation under the house 

plugging up the mouse entryways, and peppermint oil packs in strategic places. I've 

had a number of small, adorable mice trap themselves in various buckets, this one 

greeted me one morning in the kitchen sink. At this age they are so adorable that 

relocating him or her outside alone was a bit challenging for me! 

Mid June found me in Vermont at the beatufiul farm of my dear college roommate, 

J'Amy. I had a wonderful visit with J'Amy and her family, and stayed with her mom, 

Sue at her little cottage surrounded by amazing gardens. Unfortunately when we 

went on the big garden tour, I didn't have my camera.

At the farm one evening, we were lucky to find a huge cecropia moth seen 

here with J'Amy's daughter, Leeya. We determined that this must have been 

the female as there were as many as 19 others flying around us, all interested 

in this one. It was magical!! 

Back in the forest, a new garden bed went in, and it has been a great year 

for moths, including the enchanting luna moths. 

A long overdue renovation project is underway thanks to a development grant 

I received from a local corporation. New siding to replace old, rotting shingles, 

a drain under the house so no pond forms in heavy rain, new entrance stairs, 

a new downstairs bamboo floor (!!!!) and varioius other wonderful gifts including 

a new gas cookstove and a backup heater so I might be able to go away in winter! 

One factor in my long absence from here has been the presence of workmen here 

every weekday and various projects I am undertaking alongside them. My usual quiet 

summer with the mosses has been overtaken by this project and LOTS of people 

here. It is well worth it, however, as my gratitude for the improvements is over-

flowing! With the completion of the bamboo floor downstairs this week, and a 

few details here and there, I believe the six weeks of work will be coming to an 

end. I am very ready for some quiet time with the mosses.

Once the new stairs went in, I suddenly HAD to paint the doors green... 

maybe I was influenced by the daily visits of the luna moths. 

I was lucky to capture a little video of two on the screen 

one evening. I find luna moths to be quite otherworldly.  

Woodland Wander and The Spring of Many Luna Moths

Wandering out of the studio door, I am gently hushed as the stories of the morning 

fall like leaves to the soft forest floor. My traveling companion beckons me to the 

fallen hemlock with a glance and a swish of his feathery tail. 

Closeby, a hermit thrush sings his magnificient song, while the calls of the tree frogs
transport me to another realm. Pasha is content to stroll along the mossy trunk while 
I bend low to greet a fellow wanderer.  

Small bands of travelers duck under sticks and clamber up steep mossy inclines on 

the way to somewhere. 

I munch a few new hemlock needles, the citrusy, tangy taste staying with me for a long while. 

One small mushroom gets my attention... all alone on the edge of a cliff. 

Orange and green is a theme today, so unlikely yet exactly suited for here. 

Thought I'd share a bit of our walk... 

Back in the clearing, the California Poppies are another orange focal point,  

while the tiny geraniums add a touch of pink. 

Further afield at the river, a stone face magically appears to me, 

while the enchantment of the evening is offered by the luna moths.

I send the magic and healing of the forest creatures to my mother, who is recovering from surgery in the hospital. (feel better Mum!) Just at the moment I type this, a luna moth begins to flutter at the screen behind me. I have never had so many luna moths in one season. They gather, three at a time at the front door or careen around the windows in the evenings. I shut off the light in hopes they will wander off to the woodlands, to hide away amongst the green leaves and sweeping hemlock boughs. 

Spiral Spinoff & A Month of Luna Moths

Spiral #1 - detail

A quick post to announce the winners of the sprial spin-off!

I hope to be back with another post sometime soon...

Spiral #2 - detail

Today I took all the names for the spiral drawing giveaway and put them in 

my crystal singing bowl. I had the grand idea that maybe I could vibrate the 

papers and two would magically turn over to reveal the winners.... well, that 

didn't quite work, so I stirred the stew of names in the crystal cauldron with 

the mallet, deciding that if a bunch of names turned over, I'd just have to close 

my eyes and draw two out. When I looked inside, however, two names were 

visible and a third tucked just underneath. 

Spiral Drawing #1 - will go to Barbara/Stille Linde, Spiral Drawing #2 will go to Stephanie/Faerie Finder over at owl in the dark, and because obviously something
had to be done about the third name, a mystery package will be sent to Christina 
from A Mermaid in the Attic. Winners please email me with your mailing addresses,
you'll find my email on my profile page. I like that the spirals will be going over seas 
to Britain and Europe, and the mystery package all the way to Australia... and kinda 
fun that I won a giveaway a few months ago from Christina, nice to be able to 
reciprocate with a surprise! 

Out and about in the garden, the heavy rains of late have made the moss hill
very happy. Having a new window in the living room is wonderful as now I 
look out to this amazing moss view. I was inspired to put in a woodland garden 
out back, and now I have my breakfast in the rocking chair and watch the ferns 
shift in the morning breeze. If I'm lucky, the wood thrushes sing to me while I 
sip coffee and a chipmunk perches on a stump and watches me.   

It has been a magical month of luna moths, I see them almost daily, clinging to

tree trunks or the side of the house. They are favorite food of something in the 

night, maybe bats, as I find their delicate wings on the grass after someone's 

nighttime feast. Today, as I was heading out to do errands,I spotted one on the 

woodshed. See it right on the bottom corner?  

There is something so ethereal about luna moths, the amazing green 

color with spots of purple details - such a great combination! 

And just in case you can't quite get the scale...

My garden just wouldn't be complete without 

tangerine gem marigolds. The delicate, edible flowers 

taste like citrus, I love them in salads.