• animals,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Keep’n it simple…

    Prairie dog at Pineridge Natural Area

    Not sure how you feel but I have wanted my millions of followers of this blog to have the option to receive notification through email anytime I posted something new and exciting on my blog. So, I tried two different plugins and had difficulty getting either one of them to do what I wanted. I never could figure them out, nor did I feel comfortable with them, nor did I understand all the terminology, nor did it seem simple. So, I decided the best way to keep it simple was not have any of it. When I’m honest about it, I want the half dozen people who do read my blog to just drop by when they want or use an RSS feed. Yes, keep’n it simple.

  • animals,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes

    They Teach Us

    In the Western tradition there is a recognized hierarchy of beings, with, of course, the human being on top—the pinnacle of evolution, the darling of Creation—and the plants at the bottom. But in Native ways of knowing, human people are often referred to as “the younger brothers of Creation.” We say that humans have the least experience with how to live and thus the most to learn—we must look to our teachers among the other species for guidance. Their wisdom is apparent in the way that they live. They teach us by example. They’ve been on the earth far longer than we have been, and have had time to figure things out.

    Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

    What a beautiful morning we have here in Colorado. Blue skies and sunshine. I have not read her book but think it’s one I do want to absorb some of her words and spirit. I also noticed Krista Tippett has a podcast with her that I want to listen to. Hope everyone has a wonderful day, enjoy it!

  • animals,  coffee life,  coffee shops,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area

    Passed

    My barista had trouble this morning when making my lotus flower latte art. So we agreed to just call it abstract latte art this morning. The real test was how it tasted. Passed.

    Before going to the coffee shop I spent some time at Pineridge Natural Area. If you use a magnifying glass you’ll see the four coyotes making tracks over the snow covered ice on Dixon Reservoir. They were having a good time.

  • animals,  Avian,  Barry López,  quotes

    Separated Ourselves

    “A fundamental difference between our culture and Eskimo culture, which can be felt even today in certain situations, is that we have irrevocably separated ourselves from the world that animals occupy. We have turned all animals and elements of the natural world into objects. We manipulate them to serve the complicated ends of our destiny. Eskimos do not grasp this separation easily, and have difficulty imagining themselves entirely removed from the world of animals. For many of them, to make this separation is analogous to cutting oneself off from light or water. It is hard to imagine how to do it.”

    Barry López

    I would even suggest that man has turned humans into objects! Many do not see the connectedness we have with one another. As William James says “We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep” but many do not see it.

    It was -3 degrees at 7:30 this morning and we’ve had light to heavy snow throughout the day. Not expecting to get above 10 degrees today. Probably not going on that picnic today, either.

    Robins gathering as they nibble on berries from a nearby tree
  • animals,  haiku,  writing/reading

    Always Alert

    the antelope grazes
    in a golden field of grass
    yet always alert

    ms

    On my drive the other afternoon I came across four antelope enjoying the warmth of the sun while grazing. I stopped and watched them, aware they were watching me. With respect we kept our distance of more than six feet. Have a super weekend!

  • animals,  natural areas,  poems,  poetry,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area,  writing/reading

    Your True Self

    A deer at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    “It’s not possible to save the world by trying to save it. You need to find what is genuinely yours to offer the world before you can make it a better place. Discovering your unique gift to bring to your community is your greatest opportunity and challenge. The offering of that gift — your true self — is the most you can do to love and serve the world. And it is all the world needs.”

    Thomas Berry