After the Rain

The sun was out this morning after last evening's storm.  I walked up the street to see if the sun was shining on the neighbor's Rose of Sharon flowers.  They were mostly shaded, and most were not unfurled anyway.

I noticed there were a lot of birds, and several squirrels, out in the yards.  I guess the rain softening things up triggered extra activity by the animals.

Without anything particular in mind, I wandered down the street.   When I reached the end, I decided to walk down into the park.  The tree leaves and grass were rich colors of green in the morning light.  I walked over between some large tulip poplars to a spot where the sun was shining brightly and did a few stretches, facing west so I could see my shadow and enjoy the warmth on my back.

Then I heard the water rushing in the creek, and wandered over to the bank.  On the opposite side was the place where I sometimes sit and meditate.  The water was high this morning, flowing completely over the rock that at other times channels the flow past the log dam.

Walking home, I saw a spider web glistening on a tree by the path.  The web had trapped a large insect, and the spider, also pretty large, was tending to his catch.  The web was suspended about 8 feet up from the outer leaves of the tree.  The whole construction moved with the breeze, the web amazingly strong, and the leaves acting as shock absorbers.  The orb made of fine threads of silk, sticky like glue and glistening with droplets in spots, is a fantastic construction, and worthy of attention for ten breaths.