Sunset the other night was gorgeous. The woodshed is full before autumn. And the desert 4 o’clocks are blooming their psychedelic purple.

Another delightful thing was an illusion the other morning: a scrub jay perched on the peach trunk that looked azure-teal, an amazing color that I first thought for a split second was a genetic anomaly, until it flew off and I realized the color was an effect of the light shining through something green onto the tree, transforming the blue jay into an astonishing teal jay.

Im glad I took the garbage out late tonight, around 10. I stumbled upon a lunar eclipse. For just a second I experienced the confusion that must have struck early humans before they knew what it was. I was grateful for science and that I understood quickly what was happening. I’d had no idea there was a near total lunar eclipse—96.2% according to space.com, and the best one anywhere on earth until the last day of 2028. I wonder what our world will be like then? After I drove the garbage up the driveway I made a cup of chamomile tea and sat out on the deck with a happy pup on my lap and stars in my eyes, watching the earth’s shadow melt away revealing the bright full moon, meditating on the miracles of this universe.