What did I see today?
I saw a fairies’ gypsy camp.
The tents were toadstools, brown and gray,
Among the bracken, soiled and damp.
~An excerpt from “The Fairy Camp” by Danske Dandridge,
Danish poet and garden muse
In tales of yore fairies were depicted as pixie-like creatures with gossamer wings, colorful clothing, and magic wands. Do you believe in them? The child in me did, and my adult self has had a hard time convincing her otherwise. It was an especially hard sell when I’d come across toadstools like the ones above. Such as they never failed to prompt thoughts of fairies that lived in enchanted realms and oftentimes were sighted among flowers, hills, streams, and woodlands. The storytellers of such tales claimed that the elfish beauties rode on fairy steeds or took to wing in order to flit from flower to flower. They also said that when a host of fairies gathered together to sing and dance, they were often found in a “fairy ring of toadstools.” When that was so, we, the readers, were admonished to step lightly around the toadstools or to tip-toe gingerly past them. Ah, what sweet childhood days were those! Now the innocence of my youth and my belief in fairy tales may be gone, but not unlike a toadstool that extorts its “living from the living,” I secure my salvation from living in Christ.
For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. ~2 Peter 1:16 ✝
Sacred Touches 
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These are interesting , delicate, and so colorful! Natalie, I’ve been busy taking mushroom pictures too; since my daughter noticed them under our cedar trees.
Blessings ~ Wendy
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Oh I hope you post them on your blog. I love mushrooms. The ones I seen here aren’t all that colorful, but I’ve seen some in photos that were so lovely. Blessings, Natalie
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They make such interesting photo subjects, but they are hard to get down to see. Is that not the way of many things in life.
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Good observation! That is indeed to way it is in life. Blessings, Natalie
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What a delightful idea to see them as fairies’ gypsy camps! Each year I’m fascinated by the variety of mushrooms and now with the fairies in mind I need to tread even more carefully. Best wishes 🙂
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Indeed, we do need to step “gingerly” around them because I’m still not completely convinced that fairies aren’t real! I’ll bet you get some really nice mushrooms in the area where you live. If you do I hope you’ll post pictures of them some time. Have a lovely day, Annette. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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Wonderful post Natalie! I love the reference to fairies. Any time I see a mushroom ring I try not to step in it. Of course, being sent to the fairie realm would be fascinating…
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. Oh, wouldn’t being sent to their realm be fascinating and lovely. There’s a little poem about fairies at the bottom of the garden. I’ll see if I can find it and maybe do a post on it. Have a great day. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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