(+1 inset!)

There's a big storm brewing in southern Oregon...I looked outside this morning and found ominous signs of heavy clouds overhead. Last night I read a report that warns of heavy snowfall over 2,000 feet for the next few days. We are at 1,500 feet though and it's doubtful that we'll get snow. But the forecast does suggest snow probability for the next week. Who knows. Predicting the weather is such an iffy proposition.

Although it wasn't horribly cold (32 degrees) I did my 15-minute minimum walk this morning and dashed inside before I was overly affected by the temperature. It's nice to retain feeling in my fingers and toes! I did managed to take a picture of the storm clouds and you'll see this as one of my insets today.

I spent a very pleasant morning visiting contacts here on ipernity and then I finished up some sporophyte and moss pictures I'd taken a couple of days ago. Isn't it wonderful to find lovely subjects in unusual settings? The combination of sporophytes, moss and snow was very exciting to me. Even better, many of my pictures turned out well! Even though I do my best to post quality pictures, I'll be the first to say that I delete piles and piles of images for every one that is a "keeper." Those pictures are crisp, have proper focus and the potential to be an eye-catching image when I'm done with it. Sometimes I'll work on a picture and realize that it's not worth the effort to process. More rarely, I'll go to delete a picture and discover that it's actually quite special. I love that. So often we are taken by surprise at our pictures!

Today's image is something unusual...I call this one Kung Fu Moss! As I was cruising around taking pictures of sporophytes and bits of snow, I kept my eyes open for moss that I could capture. I was hoping to find something different and interesting and then...look at that! This moss was growing in such a unique way and I loved its funny shape! I was reminded of the classic kung-fu stance with arms up, legs spread and ready to leap into action!

Pam, I was reading about left-side neglect today...I am guessing that the exercises they suggest haven't helped you at all? I wonder if, over time, you will find improvement. I sure do hope so. The only thing that's happened to me where I can relate to you in this regard is the optical migraines I get sometimes (I haven't had one in a few years). They only happen when I am under a lot of stress and very exhausted. I become aware of a rapid shimmer in my vision that becomes more acute over about 10 minutes. I then notice that my peripheral vision is just GONE. It's terrifying, especially the first time it happened because I didn't know what was the matter with me. This blindness lasts for 30-45 minutes but usually doesn't include a headache at all despite the name of this affliction. Whenever this happens to me, I immediately stop what I'm doing and go to bed. I take an hour-long nap and when I wake up I'm ok again. The difference is...yours isn't going away. It really sucks, Pam. I hope that you will eventually get your sight back...I feel so sad for you my dear friend. *big, big HUGGGGGGS* My thoughts go out to you.