nature calling

i stepped outside my door yesterday when my son spotted this praying mantis. he had gotten hold of a grasshopper and was slowly eating his insides. we all got down on our knees and stared at the horror. beautiful. we could hear the crunching sounds and watched as the teeth sawed through the hard outer shell of the grasshopper. occasionally a leg would twitch. i was fascinated at the efficiency of the mantis and at how undisturbed it was by our presence. they really seem to be zen like sometimes. their attitude of prayer calling me to meditation.


and then i remembered that i had seen some glorious fall foliage all around the property earlier and went on a little photo expedition to try and record some of this fantastic transitional beauty.

although it is california, and many of these trees are not native, i'm thankful for these transplants that dot my local landscape like little wildfires this time of year.

and it is so great to have all of these reminders so vividly shouting out that the change is coming again.