Lughnasa Waxing Back to School Moon
Early am picked wild grapes. Kate makes them into a grape jelly. The harvest was not as bountiful this year because we arrived about three weeks late to the banquet. Others had gotten there first. So it goes. More than compensated for by the abundance of raspberries.
After the wild grapes I had an hour long session over skype with United Theological Seminary student. I’m her mentor as she starts out on the long road to becoming a minister in the UU tradition. The fact of listening to her, helping her sort through feelings and plans as she begins her internship, helped me remember why I agreed to do this. Each person in a new endeavor needs someone who has walked roughly the same ancientrail.
After that time I went back into the garden and picked yet more raspberries, greens and some tomatoes. While working in our raspberry patch, I came across this guy sitting high atop one of the raspberry canes. 
He kept me company while I picked the ripe red and golden fruit. He waited yet longer while I got Kate. He waited even longer when I went back inside and got the camera.
One invasive close-up to many got him to move. He leaped away and I lost my friend. After a quick search, he appears to be a gray tree frog, Hyla versicolor.
We also have skinks, salamanders and toads, all reflecting a healthy eco-system here where no pesticides or artificial fertilizers contaminate the plants and wild life.
Having a chance to visit with this guy is one of the perks of that choice.
After lunch, I popped the garlic cloves from my largest garlic bulbs. They go in the ground this afternoon or tomorrow.
