Wren

With the intent to not anthropomorphize, certain species of jumping spiders truly do seem curious about interactions with humans. I felt so seen and observed.
In some of the photos you can see a little water droplet on its head. 🥲
My best guess as to what species it is so far is Phidippus putnami.

It was difficult to keep it in focus and in frame because it was so tiny, but I also wanted to have plenty of time watching it with my eyes and not just through my phone, hence the drifting of my phone at various points. 😂

I feel so honored to have had such a special interaction with this tiny creature. I've never felt so observed by something so small. I made sure I was giving it the choice to interact with me, and not forcing it. Pardon the dirty nails, I was digging through dirt and leaves for mushrooms.

Such a beautiful project, and I loved hearing about your process! This reignited my desire to read the novel. It is long overdue.

I'm grateful to live and work in a place like Durham, and I hope it continues to grow in ways that I can be proud of.
Things are feeling hopeless and crushing, but we have to do our part.

During my hike, I inadvertently recreated a favorite childhood Norwegian folktale, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, with my current favorite Pokemon, Skiddo.

Finding Monotropa species in the wild is so surreal. It feels like seeing some kind of ethereal, otherworldly life form slip from some other reality into ours.
This is Monotropa hypopitys, or pinesap.

Some of my most incredible hiking finds are from trails I hadn't intended on taking, or by making some kind of side quest. This is only my second time finding a species from the Monotropa genus. These are pinesap, and are plants that lack chlorophyll - closely related to ghost pipes. Truly special.

Somehow spotted every ant horror film at Orbit DVD? Also, now I need to watch all of these ant horror films? 🐜

Somehow I continue to randomly find ant-themed horror without looking for it. First I found 3 at Orbit DVD in Asheville, this time it was McKay's in Winston Salem.
Will report back when I inevitably find more. 🐜🐜🐜🐜

My first chicken of the woods. 🥲 It's pristine. Leaving the forest with about 2lbs of it. I left some in case another lucky forager might stumble upon it.

More Carolina North Forest finds.

Carolina North Forest has been very whimsical lately. The mushrooms are exploding and I found a beautiful opossum skull.

Truly a mood some days.

Hershel would not have been able to climb up to Catawba Falls. He would not have been able to sniff the fresh mountain air or splash in the water under the falls. Nonetheless, he was the happiest creature I have ever met - perfectly content with a life full of cuddles and carrots.

He is so missed.

Despite everything, this birthday was so special and rejuvenating. Devin and I ran away to the mountains for the weekend. It was one of the most memorable birthdays I've had, and I'm grateful.

Somehow spotted every ant horror film at Orbit DVD? Also, now I need to watch all of these ant horror films? 🐜

They are literally tiny puppies.

Found the most lovely fungal and moss arrangement on a stump today. Solid fungi-to-moss ratio.

I was also super excited to find some kind of Tubifera, a genus of slime molds, which aren't actually mold at all, but are protists.

Recently, I learned that jumping spiders have an advanced visual system that allows them to see the moon.

In addition to that, their photoreceptor cells become larger and more sensitive with age. One researcher described, "For a jumping spider, getting older is like watching the sun rise".

Needed this more than ever.

"The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself" - Carl Sagan

Yes to plants on a spaceship 🌿

Second time making Tom Kha Gai. It's such a cozy soup.
Tofu
King oyster mushrooms
Lemongrass
Galangal
Coconut milk
Chicken stock
Thai chili paste
Thai chili oil
Cilantro
Lime juice (can't find kaffir leaves anywhere)

Whenever I'm sad, I just look at textbook and journal illustrations of tardigrades and everything feels a little better.

I can’t believe this needs to be said.

TransGENIC mice

are not

TransGENDER mice