Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Nowruz, lichen and doll beds

Happy Nowruz if you celebrate. It's Iranian, but not much to celebrate there  this year. Still marking it in the hope that its concept -- a new day, an end to cold and darkness -- comes true there. Everywhere, really.

Yesterday's walk, finally the wind dropped enough, yielded all kinds of spring. The flock of mourning doves, until last week flying in a group, were flying in pairs. I heard the shouts of the redwing blackbird, and the hammering of woodpeckers.

And I saw this



Beautiful crust type lichen, like red gold hair shining in the sun, spread over the downed  tree. My searches have not yielded a name for it beyond red lichen (!). 

But the State University website yielded this valuable information. See the end.

 I took the pictures to preserve as much as I could of the tree trunk in case that helps identify it. Can anyone help? 

On the way home here's a cheerful little sign of spring


And I came home to afternoon tea with toasted cinnamon soda bread


And my sock in progress. I think of Rose every time I pick it up. 

Halfway through Lent and winnowing continues. Here's the current offering


Twin doll beds, 12"by5", seen here one head, one foot, which came via Freecycle some time ago with other doll furniture. 

The Dollivers took the chairs and the garden bench but rejected the beds. 
So here's hoping good dolls, deserving dolls, not dolls fighting with each other, get these nice beds...

Happy day everyone and thank you all for thoughtful responses to my question about spiritual practice and the brain. This is a great group of friends, much valued by your humble blogwriter.

Battling the forces of darkness on another front 



31 comments:

  1. We are starting to warm up. Good the wind calmed so you could get out and I have no idea about the lichen. Someone will be delighted by the doll beds! I have soda bread in the oven , thanks to you reminding me.

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    1. I hope the beds go. You never know! Glad you made the soda bread, it's so good.

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  2. Looks like Spring is bustin' out all over!

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    1. I might even get to take my coat off soon.

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  3. The windshield had frost on it this morning when we left at six to go into town. I think it is almost seventy degrees now. Our weather!
    I know very, very little about lichen. I wish I could help you there. It is striking. Of that I am sure.

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    1. I live in hopes that someone knows about the lichen.

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  4. I'm enjoying the cooler temperatures here while they last. Interesting about the uses of various lichen. Glad you are enjoying the day.

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    1. My favorite was the landscaping for miniature train setups.

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  5. I thought the doll beds were a lemon pastry.
    Happy Walking!

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    1. Wishful thinking! Can you insert your name when you comment, please? It would be nice to address you by name.

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  6. It is definitely different there than here, but I did discover some snowdrops today.

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    1. Proving their name, considering you're among the snow covered blogistas.

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  7. You must live in a very beautiful area to have trees like that close by.
    Maybe there is a play group of daycare Centre that would love those dolls beds.

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    1. Some freecyclers are teachers, so you never know. I've no idea where there are play groups or daycare, so I'm hoping people will see and respond. And yes, it's beautiful here. Central NJ, which comedians who've never visited make jokes about!

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  8. Toasted cinnamon bread. Yum. I don't really see a lot of lichen here but up north, it's plentiful!

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    1. The bread was really good. I love lichen and always want to know more about it.

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  9. Interesting use for lichen. Still below freezing here so I'm more than happy to stay inside and putz with needle and threads.

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    1. I just liked the juxtaposition of lifesaving antibiotics and the scenery for model trains!

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  10. Spring is well underway there! Lucky you.

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  11. And lichens are used for dyes. That is an extraordinarily bright orange one.

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  12. Somewhere there are a couple of dolls that will love those beds!

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  13. Could that be a fallen sugar or red maple, from the bark?

    Could the lichen (such a beautiful one!) be a fungus? I haven't found it yet, but in looking, I came upon a wonderful website from the NJ Mycological Society: https://www.njmyco.org/common-nj-mushrooms.html.

    Haven't made any progress with lichens proper, but did find these references recommended on several websites - may be available from the library?
    Hinds and Hinds. 2007. Macrolichens of New England. NY Botanical Garden Press.
    McMullin and Anderson. 2014. Common Lichens of NE North America. NY Botanical Garden

    Chris from Boise

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  14. We don't have sugar or red maples at all.we do have Norway maples. I hadn't thought of checking for fungi, thank you. Maybe that will get me to an answer. I forgot about the mycological people. I used to be on their mailing list.

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  15. I don't think I've ever seen lichen like that. Chris may be onto something with the fungus idea. Have you found any answers since posting this?

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    1. Not yet. The only site where I found a picture, the notes said they hadn't identified it yet. I might check at the preserve, and see if they can help.

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