Maybe I spend too much time in the patch of woods within our yard. At least once during the day you can find me, camera in hand, wandering around, looking for changes. Maybe a new mushroom or turned leaf will catch my eye.

The other day it was this spider web. The sun was glinting off what looked like a sticky trail within in. Very odd.

The more I studied this photo, the more intrigued I became. Turned on its side, the sticky trail is surely a dragon in disguise. Can you see his head turned just so? The arched neck? The long, lovely wings spread wide? Tell me you see him too!

It makes sense since this is the part of the woods where the faerie was seen.

The web changed yet again when I took a photo with the flash.

I do think this part of my yard is special. It keeps drawing me back in. The bear the other day thought so too when he took a nap in the same area. Is it in my imagination?

It’s that time of year again. Time to don ye ole medieval clothing and get thee to the New York Renaissance Faire! This, of course, means getting laced up into my bodice and being Wench-for-a-Day. I know you must think I’m nuts, but I really could dress like this all the time. (I’ve spared you the full view.)

Here are some scenes from the Faire.

I fell in love with this fairie costume:

Rick wanted his photo taken “getting into m’lady’s panties.”

This sign spoke to me. I wonder why ...

What’s a Renaissance Faire without a joust?

Even a wise wizard needs a nap once in a while.

It was very hot and very humid at the Faire. If we had been dressed in shorts and t-shirts it would have been bearable, but in full costume we were close to heat prostration—whew! We couldn’t wait to get home and jump in the pool even if the water was as cold as it usually is in early June. It felt wonderful and certainly cooled us off.

So, I’ve hung up my bodice until the next time. Sigh. Back to reality.

All I can say is that we must have the tastiest acorns in New Jersey right here in our back yard. Mr. Bear paid us another visit late yesterday afternoon.

I went out on the deck with a glass of wine to watch for Rick’s arrival home (which is my normal daily routine) and I heard the now familiar sound of the heavy rustling of leaves. Not a squirrel. I turned my head and there he was: up the same tree, only this time not quite as close to the top. Silly bear. I ran for both cameras, then down into the yard I went. My plan was to keep him treed until Rick got home, which was in just a manner of minutes. I knew he wouldn’t come down with a crazy lady saying unintelligible things and pointing a funny looking thing at him!

Rick arrived a few minutes later and I motioned him into the back yard. We watched for awhile and were rewarded with this silly sit.

It was obvious the bear was hot and really wanted to come down out of the tree, so we retreated into the house. I watched from the window and saw him start his descent, so I went out onto the deck and took these vids. If you listen closely you will hear a hummingbird buzz by, then I pan to the hummingbird feeder. Throughout the first vid you can hear them coming and going!

Come again soon, Mr. Bear, you’re always welcome!

I knew the minute I saw this blue jay’s feather stuck in the ground while mowing the front yard today what it meant to me. Okay, seasons; okay, life: I surrender! It looked like a white flag of submission to me. I hereby surrender to the seasonal swing into fall which I totally embrace. I hereby surrender to coming to terms with my Mom’s death which I am still struggling with. I surrender, but I’m not admitting defeat. Of anything.

I know, I know. Most people don’t like spiders. I don’t really either, but this one had a message for me: find the good things in life and smile.

I had to marvel at this magnificent web. I was caught in its spell with the early morning sunlight streaming through it. The most perfect spider web I’ve ever seen. Such a work of art! A shame that this very same evening we had a big thunderstorm and the next morning when I went out to check it was only to find it washed away.