tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78832508038877304262024-03-17T19:27:29.173-04:00the common milkweedon nature, simple living and the wonder of it all...Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.comBlogger824125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-27560722601337277212023-12-17T12:52:00.008-05:002023-12-17T13:01:55.719-05:00The Acts of Presence and Acceptance<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The quiet of winter arrived awhile ago and we work to accept it and to know it, even when we least want to. Winter bird friends like the downy woodpecker, Carolina chickadee, <a href="https://youtu.be/Vf6zQk1lA9M?si=-rTz8sF7eyO-_k58" target="_blank">tufted titmouse</a>, and white-throated sparrow perk up the mood. Sometimes an American robin flock is around and one or two will sing. A northern cardinal started singing their spring song a few days ago and it stopped both of us in our tracks as we toured around the Old Field trail. We stood perfectly still, greedily slurping up the refreshment of joy in that song. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5rBL3VsPcz-ToeBUZW4kP7Pxsw52M8Zr-pyv02iSJJfYf_iKzsjlv0B0hngC2XqQJbhH07g_DCf7d9ezcAVjDm7fHT7gtBYP4rYwkhtKArg-5lcZjyyt1a17xpxhzh40B0JZQ_E6LzLIFJtrFfvN5brbKjgbzVORVAwpj8h-RPtsAHD6R8m2PJw9ub04/s4000/20231205_192209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5rBL3VsPcz-ToeBUZW4kP7Pxsw52M8Zr-pyv02iSJJfYf_iKzsjlv0B0hngC2XqQJbhH07g_DCf7d9ezcAVjDm7fHT7gtBYP4rYwkhtKArg-5lcZjyyt1a17xpxhzh40B0JZQ_E6LzLIFJtrFfvN5brbKjgbzVORVAwpj8h-RPtsAHD6R8m2PJw9ub04/s320/20231205_192209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Warmth from the woodstove and bright colors helps us all to settle somewhat into this time of stillness; we aren't still people though and so it's a season of acceptance, but also unease.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhCFsgPdCXXijb1HqSQxTTRojpzHgT93h5eZwTDUy5L74t8QkPPjdKiTwm6iEClEpWLSlOVee6PXe1t10ajeWrZL8YWxwZ_uLoRudqb2lRaG78m2s9d4V7QmVkVVCqwFPyon5rhuni0eBoySTZEyoNZgrhGCJRMQzHsrAesQaxQpxrIDFxC_6xY1TnOhP/s4000/20231205_192137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhCFsgPdCXXijb1HqSQxTTRojpzHgT93h5eZwTDUy5L74t8QkPPjdKiTwm6iEClEpWLSlOVee6PXe1t10ajeWrZL8YWxwZ_uLoRudqb2lRaG78m2s9d4V7QmVkVVCqwFPyon5rhuni0eBoySTZEyoNZgrhGCJRMQzHsrAesQaxQpxrIDFxC_6xY1TnOhP/s320/20231205_192137.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF3Z-BtMu7lfD1UKUVoStdo9vkh3JRcXLKFMg8f9s5hWG0GhBjH806Fakw3enfVc5cHNfrVlAFzoTdWXwRpUgINlpRV1neahklUY31OJ-u6ZICD8Zon8cYMaK1TaBymrdR5Ab9nxcmp46UvnQCTvdlazNAXId5ELtR0jQNWuXlum1hOk-6nMjMHj_tE8i/s4000/20231205_192217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF3Z-BtMu7lfD1UKUVoStdo9vkh3JRcXLKFMg8f9s5hWG0GhBjH806Fakw3enfVc5cHNfrVlAFzoTdWXwRpUgINlpRV1neahklUY31OJ-u6ZICD8Zon8cYMaK1TaBymrdR5Ab9nxcmp46UvnQCTvdlazNAXId5ELtR0jQNWuXlum1hOk-6nMjMHj_tE8i/s320/20231205_192217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The wildlife cam offers glimpses of our wildlife friends and tells more full stories than we often witness. The downy woodpeckers visit the feeders, they visit the bath, they tap on the cup plant seed stalks and we now know that sound. Just the tap, tap, tap with a particular speed and strength tells us a downy is present.</div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwkGkekdto2Rfqq5d8PbDjIO1s471f3tb-1lDHTMbFBXrA63hGhrYB5JclrAIx9ZRbhKUcEt6EvpBfvtZYHs9iT0D8DOabenQH2spmMpXEdxh0pj1RFfUSMzBWCOIHWcAgHvm2Ft4wDxi1oPMQYNZQBjRF13wLvJBtcy_Sc8NrS-OWomWH5tlrg2QJHqH/s5632/WGI_1007.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwkGkekdto2Rfqq5d8PbDjIO1s471f3tb-1lDHTMbFBXrA63hGhrYB5JclrAIx9ZRbhKUcEt6EvpBfvtZYHs9iT0D8DOabenQH2spmMpXEdxh0pj1RFfUSMzBWCOIHWcAgHvm2Ft4wDxi1oPMQYNZQBjRF13wLvJBtcy_Sc8NrS-OWomWH5tlrg2QJHqH/s320/WGI_1007.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p>The Carolina chickadees frequently chatter. Their effusive energy is inspiring. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifntgziE62-R8j8xMnjhsepVfuMnlauIDocr5Dq4vICJuDpGZz1lALY9RQjV8Vzo4Imyb1SKMA_soDuosC5Uw5_qQnBNqSk0fDD73n0wb_lab_dbmZBQelWduXyGwW1w-trgFsp4TPjTKWv5kTMBpQPyHSi99E2tBWrvTUogWn9AbFfm3w6aV895J8ugSM/s5632/WGI_1072.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifntgziE62-R8j8xMnjhsepVfuMnlauIDocr5Dq4vICJuDpGZz1lALY9RQjV8Vzo4Imyb1SKMA_soDuosC5Uw5_qQnBNqSk0fDD73n0wb_lab_dbmZBQelWduXyGwW1w-trgFsp4TPjTKWv5kTMBpQPyHSi99E2tBWrvTUogWn9AbFfm3w6aV895J8ugSM/s320/WGI_1072.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p>While hiking at <a href="https://www.arcofappalachia.org/highlands-nature-sanctuary" target="_blank">Highlands Nature Sanctuary</a>, we noted two resting insects on an American beech tree trunk: a dagger moth caterpillar and...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2ZGYbEx9bNIQnTD9Vv5YwSNmupU8QqTWzxeL3f2UF-LWFKdrU7lcNLCQG9nCBfr6otFv5JExfYl3rx__OlZg4OnfbwXezN8nzRIocwe13JblpT8adCriaNvIhLzrV5qQYaous2s40I-11ChCFR0pba8mWCmhnUD0F8iSEc57_urOCm9_-CzITAbcEupD/s2072/20231104_153317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1798" data-original-width="2072" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2ZGYbEx9bNIQnTD9Vv5YwSNmupU8QqTWzxeL3f2UF-LWFKdrU7lcNLCQG9nCBfr6otFv5JExfYl3rx__OlZg4OnfbwXezN8nzRIocwe13JblpT8adCriaNvIhLzrV5qQYaous2s40I-11ChCFR0pba8mWCmhnUD0F8iSEc57_urOCm9_-CzITAbcEupD/s320/20231104_153317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>a two spotted tree cricket female. The sunshine was out on the tree cricket so she kept moseying on, but the caterpillar chilled in place. We wondered if a Carolina chickadee would like to eat them at this time of year? Or maybe a Carolina wren? Or if maybe the caterpillar had a plan to get the heck off that exposed trunk?<br /><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoA5o0gK9Onotu7iXKhdvnhZqDkFzptZR7cgJ-TW-UBXelPFoRZHrPjyGP_zF5OMMUUXeVhz_fYbQ8MBYduP3uf1BZ4r16qukoot5QS4V6IIU1S2nSiM-cRRzLARMB9DSV0CWTLiN_dKeaQy4_z6KNVPPx1nzw8MktLkDDkAxrYTGhfBpAxZissDTCjfXK/s4000/Two%20Spotted%20Tree%20Cricket%20Barretts%20Rim%20Trail%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoA5o0gK9Onotu7iXKhdvnhZqDkFzptZR7cgJ-TW-UBXelPFoRZHrPjyGP_zF5OMMUUXeVhz_fYbQ8MBYduP3uf1BZ4r16qukoot5QS4V6IIU1S2nSiM-cRRzLARMB9DSV0CWTLiN_dKeaQy4_z6KNVPPx1nzw8MktLkDDkAxrYTGhfBpAxZissDTCjfXK/s320/Two%20Spotted%20Tree%20Cricket%20Barretts%20Rim%20Trail%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Highland Nature Sanctuary and the Appalachian Forest Museum is around the corner from where we purchased our <a href="https://youtu.be/ddTliue3Jbc?si=fZg4i94GRdhZDXcv" target="_blank">other little patch of land</a> to restore to a diverse wild wonderland. It's inspiring to spend time amongst this community of Earth lovers and supporters.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYEV5yk7OVOcksp7Q_1CuE2rnq82AskokrH0iS9YK2WdgkcGGuLiXZozijxbtMnbyHYuOb_17i1azPUFiBwX63qRVvjX0b-BGcmpw6HXi3DbRZShxpAoskZTGBHZg_hflivU7NTJZbzemQh6s2xRsGmuAv7zjw5-8-oxBWotiXimPuc0JEVv6s2y7bqWb/s4032/20230405_095055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYEV5yk7OVOcksp7Q_1CuE2rnq82AskokrH0iS9YK2WdgkcGGuLiXZozijxbtMnbyHYuOb_17i1azPUFiBwX63qRVvjX0b-BGcmpw6HXi3DbRZShxpAoskZTGBHZg_hflivU7NTJZbzemQh6s2xRsGmuAv7zjw5-8-oxBWotiXimPuc0JEVv6s2y7bqWb/s320/20230405_095055.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.arcofappalachia.org/lodging-at-highlands-nature-sanctuary" target="_blank">Lodging</a> is nearby and offers views like this of the Rocky Fork Gorge: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJW8UP2DOTOmIrmtHQJ2PjQOAWt29EccDAxHSWszHIZ1ySnrouXEWFrjcwTOIHInLBACe800v_A5sFdqzYGwf61ihlBbgiJXN4tebaVGW3ccN4ORWI5fSXOel7BMEAJAQ7Pyem_Vc69FKrhq-Ld9JD6AyHVXkg9ILzWnBiwEsxKR0veYbkGoTjDWMMjDq/s4000/Eyrie%20Suite%20HNS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJW8UP2DOTOmIrmtHQJ2PjQOAWt29EccDAxHSWszHIZ1ySnrouXEWFrjcwTOIHInLBACe800v_A5sFdqzYGwf61ihlBbgiJXN4tebaVGW3ccN4ORWI5fSXOel7BMEAJAQ7Pyem_Vc69FKrhq-Ld9JD6AyHVXkg9ILzWnBiwEsxKR0veYbkGoTjDWMMjDq/s320/Eyrie%20Suite%20HNS.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Bats hibernate in some of the caves nearby and we got to tour one on our last visit since the bats had yet to hibernate. It was fascinating to walk through that space and imagine the shelter and optimum temperatures that are offered to the survivor bats, the ones that survive white-nose syndrome and hazards of life. What a gift to be in their space for just a moment.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszushYXbecUzqQ3GdjXKoco5eD_lvTJeyUXxMG9ku6UhOhAGOkQUuLg3n-iiOhVBjgWSrAo01VSVyhu6cgaOw3at2LhkY7To2CsZWkyXift9-eo8D9_u44vJqy61pApz-1s-7yKauQ7fwhpQv1j5g2UsJO9UDzESUnAy0EReRPaqlclCkppXc8HBSmp97/s4000/20231104_131129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszushYXbecUzqQ3GdjXKoco5eD_lvTJeyUXxMG9ku6UhOhAGOkQUuLg3n-iiOhVBjgWSrAo01VSVyhu6cgaOw3at2LhkY7To2CsZWkyXift9-eo8D9_u44vJqy61pApz-1s-7yKauQ7fwhpQv1j5g2UsJO9UDzESUnAy0EReRPaqlclCkppXc8HBSmp97/s320/20231104_131129.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lsMVndTdC-5fue6HTfOp7SCRbsDULYOjnZKoeP4pmyOHPWOVCNqy3ZX9zBZPwd-2YR2a_WT5LnqRBTHFC9webcjerxvq4Mue-awu6WPsbEW6w9GHpb6CdayiqeZ8lr_VEymAPRKmf9j95ypZQolST-eMnr6ozSAUvlrm1vwLjEzyJSkg-hDY6ybVTBgW/s4000/20231104_130951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lsMVndTdC-5fue6HTfOp7SCRbsDULYOjnZKoeP4pmyOHPWOVCNqy3ZX9zBZPwd-2YR2a_WT5LnqRBTHFC9webcjerxvq4Mue-awu6WPsbEW6w9GHpb6CdayiqeZ8lr_VEymAPRKmf9j95ypZQolST-eMnr6ozSAUvlrm1vwLjEzyJSkg-hDY6ybVTBgW/s320/20231104_130951.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Back at home, mourning doves like the seed offered in our bird feeders and in the plants. They often rest by the stream on sunny days, always facing south. They love to bathe and they like to be together. Their flightiness always makes us cautious of our actions at certain times of day, in certain places. They are a favorite of many predators, but they are fast and aware. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTxgtMTx7ZhFdTCNjmzckGoHGxxc5QSun9Nupz_GVmDv8WpZNEt2-BDDMTeMBtSrS2E7-0p0zhkzmoFTk78OdU9l9sQQJtJwxCe1Timn_HsNdJAEzjMe38GCctP6IOufQIOBf3umQb3SoYtpeCXr2Pr4rwpG8ZmXLakT93o8wWgk7zs40y0gfoxbuncsj/s5632/WGI_1226.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTxgtMTx7ZhFdTCNjmzckGoHGxxc5QSun9Nupz_GVmDv8WpZNEt2-BDDMTeMBtSrS2E7-0p0zhkzmoFTk78OdU9l9sQQJtJwxCe1Timn_HsNdJAEzjMe38GCctP6IOufQIOBf3umQb3SoYtpeCXr2Pr4rwpG8ZmXLakT93o8wWgk7zs40y0gfoxbuncsj/s320/WGI_1226.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoNHoUZq7jmPtvmcQwpDbSdC9KW-EqMR87DHXW5Gh7SM5PGJWCF_7lN4_Tu-kqiuIu2qAyrnkaD8LdoLLKAGz-FuuSzKg5YarqF7CJ1QRqr6ccV6IPZnrZMMczbIvTHrbq89p8dOmt8MO1GygqxO465LfLT7RcRGexZ0XICRAy24SN7rs1S8LNDEsl_dB/s5632/WGI_1229.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoNHoUZq7jmPtvmcQwpDbSdC9KW-EqMR87DHXW5Gh7SM5PGJWCF_7lN4_Tu-kqiuIu2qAyrnkaD8LdoLLKAGz-FuuSzKg5YarqF7CJ1QRqr6ccV6IPZnrZMMczbIvTHrbq89p8dOmt8MO1GygqxO465LfLT7RcRGexZ0XICRAy24SN7rs1S8LNDEsl_dB/s320/WGI_1229.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNMHAeSOcMa3fbzzhydDDwsRreAS0_FEjOY-vHAjXO9Caa7XWcIGRC1JvynxfuCp7EG0-fwxyGugCicUTT3Nnf5OWuC2ov4Hd0U_x-qWL1X6obvJULQwS7_D_RfqpC0bQuBgw6ivjOdBNArsTTW7Cfj0d5cacImj652bLrULUIEzGUT9OLVupkFI_dWmK/s5632/WGI_0895.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNMHAeSOcMa3fbzzhydDDwsRreAS0_FEjOY-vHAjXO9Caa7XWcIGRC1JvynxfuCp7EG0-fwxyGugCicUTT3Nnf5OWuC2ov4Hd0U_x-qWL1X6obvJULQwS7_D_RfqpC0bQuBgw6ivjOdBNArsTTW7Cfj0d5cacImj652bLrULUIEzGUT9OLVupkFI_dWmK/s320/WGI_0895.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p>Wild yam seed pods cling to their parent vines and their paper thin seeds slowly work their way out of the pods. Who might like to eat them? Birds? Mammals? Both? </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQccBVDWW2vE5TskN2ID9trvKxYfzdL1OL1KRwjzStQt0QYoRJmCV_xT7eJQgm0UNqMHCN2PEuha7B4StEoXDYmhIlX2IMgji6D4jwqPVApKrcdK5jWHQu6IMr57JyuoLJnmOxuciwnredYk6jL5YQZrEiGHScAOfWwe3wgmQ50geafta5mJv_qhutga2/s4000/20231023_180226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQccBVDWW2vE5TskN2ID9trvKxYfzdL1OL1KRwjzStQt0QYoRJmCV_xT7eJQgm0UNqMHCN2PEuha7B4StEoXDYmhIlX2IMgji6D4jwqPVApKrcdK5jWHQu6IMr57JyuoLJnmOxuciwnredYk6jL5YQZrEiGHScAOfWwe3wgmQ50geafta5mJv_qhutga2/s320/20231023_180226.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm surprised to see Northern flickers still hanging around so seeing two on the bird bath at once delights me; they move around and they aren't always here this time of year. I wonder if they found a cavity perfect for them? This wildlife cam is like a glimpse into a secret world, the real world happening all around, unbounded by the comforts of a first world house.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLtXuRTSYdT-h2QFCYoxJO_47szwpdD1LV8SDnSMJlXwcr6owX7mfkmDeRqYl1inFYpNga8vcfs0bALuxuxaS1NSpaKi5r5Yr7NZuzCayBtdZ5uIFu6THlU1DtTaovN6HOwxavuyg_0Jn8P-kYjViyL_3mVWjorRcttdH5EiY1bQ2drc54v8GBeI6_pD4/s5632/WGI_0910.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLtXuRTSYdT-h2QFCYoxJO_47szwpdD1LV8SDnSMJlXwcr6owX7mfkmDeRqYl1inFYpNga8vcfs0bALuxuxaS1NSpaKi5r5Yr7NZuzCayBtdZ5uIFu6THlU1DtTaovN6HOwxavuyg_0Jn8P-kYjViyL_3mVWjorRcttdH5EiY1bQ2drc54v8GBeI6_pD4/s320/WGI_0910.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Our oldest kitty, Minnie Pearl, likes to join the unbounded world to eat some Beak Grass to help her belly and sit with Steve to take the world in. Even though she is not allowed to hunt outdoors and she hasn't wanted to go outdoors since she became a rescued inside kitty, she reminds us that as life gets shorter, it becomes more precious and old behaviors change. Suddenly the outdoors is interesting again and necessary. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizsUcJ616Ij5BPm4fehTbOOxLL0Wz9x6COyPrk0J4YF2Xv5c_g1Tqy7YI-rPpH2Xc-lk6XZK0JCsLKoikt3xc95SfF1NKwH8RTgRGjmhWTq1xi3L_5_ZilI7Y_wkpFdohyrfecED3x0CWDTCZQBTwhjz_lm7vUAuwNSzAh30of7HOyrQiwdXRByuhQrfc/s4000/20231113_164705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizsUcJ616Ij5BPm4fehTbOOxLL0Wz9x6COyPrk0J4YF2Xv5c_g1Tqy7YI-rPpH2Xc-lk6XZK0JCsLKoikt3xc95SfF1NKwH8RTgRGjmhWTq1xi3L_5_ZilI7Y_wkpFdohyrfecED3x0CWDTCZQBTwhjz_lm7vUAuwNSzAh30of7HOyrQiwdXRByuhQrfc/s320/20231113_164705.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We work on <a href="https://youtu.be/1RSZFslRSbc?si=fd5WHfVKBKrxj1Qu" target="_blank">land stewardship</a> and gather seeds at this time of year and move them around this 3.5 acres we call Persimmon North. The River Oats are stunning so we move it around everywhere. The American Persimmons had a rough year in much of Ohio, but our wild friends still enjoy them so we gather the fruits where we can and make little caches here and there - on this log, at the base of this tree, on this animal path, etc. They are always gone the next day and our smiles get a little bigger. Sharing feels good.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkxPEHI026Ceq4wxrLc8e2rg3nj5Qt-ulTz3YwDiuu3v-_8G_luyhjE9azxr-a9b8psu9X5WAcqS7pr56gAn8WKaGzKcfmx-MCLpCoQmZF1SXlDqmo3DmcjnEYJ2vWMcewn-af_rS5QXEtpMBjDtiDJVgo-ws6Y_rQ6KQYrPXTaER7onNVwC9Blr2CO26/s4000/20231114_124521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkxPEHI026Ceq4wxrLc8e2rg3nj5Qt-ulTz3YwDiuu3v-_8G_luyhjE9azxr-a9b8psu9X5WAcqS7pr56gAn8WKaGzKcfmx-MCLpCoQmZF1SXlDqmo3DmcjnEYJ2vWMcewn-af_rS5QXEtpMBjDtiDJVgo-ws6Y_rQ6KQYrPXTaER7onNVwC9Blr2CO26/s320/20231114_124521.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>We sometimes put the persimmons near the cam so we can see who gathers the harvest. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbF5sZshWdSdt6R9oKqRD-1sf9bWFQiK1GcnXGKx8uaztE6kGlIWkTXcyVssoTkboVGy8vPs3wIyRuasG8bzwWKJqalgytHe8qz5VL-hjsdYCVdVDRnxxNZPcxr-MXgMog00BxoeQia2idMm37PJ7s63Lp20XoxiG5zDmILVpLuN_HwzHl_QsImCQpmsFS/s5632/WGI_1021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbF5sZshWdSdt6R9oKqRD-1sf9bWFQiK1GcnXGKx8uaztE6kGlIWkTXcyVssoTkboVGy8vPs3wIyRuasG8bzwWKJqalgytHe8qz5VL-hjsdYCVdVDRnxxNZPcxr-MXgMog00BxoeQia2idMm37PJ7s63Lp20XoxiG5zDmILVpLuN_HwzHl_QsImCQpmsFS/s320/WGI_1021.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p>Sometimes white-tailed deer find them...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rxS1mHqxzHoC8Wep_EccHg4hB_wdNVGePECneBzFksl-ydfJuEBECFu64UpfD-NjI4VgNzb61LwSCwlEVefbLVUqEQnZIevQjB3ZqOJ2EjpFdwFAMLCrU9Zcj6g20j4i7mUPkEjrpOHqfrBwFJoUra30x5IM7MUhGESqTIlrhjuusgC1vePb2Kk-aegM/s5632/WGI_0891.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rxS1mHqxzHoC8Wep_EccHg4hB_wdNVGePECneBzFksl-ydfJuEBECFu64UpfD-NjI4VgNzb61LwSCwlEVefbLVUqEQnZIevQjB3ZqOJ2EjpFdwFAMLCrU9Zcj6g20j4i7mUPkEjrpOHqfrBwFJoUra30x5IM7MUhGESqTIlrhjuusgC1vePb2Kk-aegM/s320/WGI_0891.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">more frequently on this land, opossums find them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZPUv-VUYmOWKM7bJjERalk0jvfYffC2YDR0tbNCQhnRybaqBY_SCCRHwC9rALMpmPjDD9jMBReL7HWZxSmVAOyc4MrI92N4Wqo7OLycOf8r9SmClIdWvGNBx6XSHvm91suSag4zt1YwvNWdbFrAkTwpvgFfrh-cTyvS7FAWB-IZfvE5HAGrJVgK6RLP4/s5632/WGI_0944.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZPUv-VUYmOWKM7bJjERalk0jvfYffC2YDR0tbNCQhnRybaqBY_SCCRHwC9rALMpmPjDD9jMBReL7HWZxSmVAOyc4MrI92N4Wqo7OLycOf8r9SmClIdWvGNBx6XSHvm91suSag4zt1YwvNWdbFrAkTwpvgFfrh-cTyvS7FAWB-IZfvE5HAGrJVgK6RLP4/s320/WGI_0944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14uingcgW0HFelKkQsEzKAOCdA7rntB2nrO2PHnf5NLPgYfTjFNp7XAGzL79A8yqnCSQhABvk1A8VfwYLjBgEmOjlDE9uwFX9ziiq3dWWm-BC39_cBbPrwmSrOFasGv3X5Vx7mKul5SKl9e2ptRVDJch7KGBci14HdOwsaQO8sx6AUeaLFz8CDjsqa0T3/s5632/WGI_1028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14uingcgW0HFelKkQsEzKAOCdA7rntB2nrO2PHnf5NLPgYfTjFNp7XAGzL79A8yqnCSQhABvk1A8VfwYLjBgEmOjlDE9uwFX9ziiq3dWWm-BC39_cBbPrwmSrOFasGv3X5Vx7mKul5SKl9e2ptRVDJch7KGBci14HdOwsaQO8sx6AUeaLFz8CDjsqa0T3/s320/WGI_1028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>This time, a raccoon showed up too late, but if they find them first, they eat them right up. We talk with friends about animal scat because that is just the type of people we are and we note that if persimmons are in an area, mammal scat is filled with the seeds. It's a bounteous, much sought-after fruit. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwe9_X4h_kpu8GjavRpHMgqwdqhAmNcPsnYBMCDUzJsO_NYGVd1UMqjE8rpqJuMdIwf9VqHppSlvn0NBT-iU-GIvmqLmDcaQ1auXJMk20X5Hf3Lf01s9A4DAAhcpnbY5E9KphhFw87W6IaeHidpLH-cfBjYIF-aDLPYKc7wUhDkZmkf54zKV_7ZYNK8hY/s5632/WGI_0945.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwe9_X4h_kpu8GjavRpHMgqwdqhAmNcPsnYBMCDUzJsO_NYGVd1UMqjE8rpqJuMdIwf9VqHppSlvn0NBT-iU-GIvmqLmDcaQ1auXJMk20X5Hf3Lf01s9A4DAAhcpnbY5E9KphhFw87W6IaeHidpLH-cfBjYIF-aDLPYKc7wUhDkZmkf54zKV_7ZYNK8hY/s320/WGI_0945.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p>We mourn the loss of the most beautiful, prolific and cold-hardy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3xgJg7u5jc" target="_blank">American persimmons here in Morrow County</a>, OH we know about and were fortunate enough to gather from and love. We don't know why they are laying on their sides now and why they are aren't reaching for the sky offering their bounty for years and years to come. We do know a piece of our hearts is cleaved off and buried deep within the black, blocky bark. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6p6-_XBcme6KZAd4-M1L_OY6R9LRg1WdP5TxflRCEvULOny5dbFS1wT02nAZwIDeAlbRJz9YWrCVLq7NxtKmTuxAq6cttxxQm9Pnh134_E8Hh9xPO5eEAbZZT-MWZrUxU6W28twPZpg-oiaxj5ZNPcu17eD413gSIeGDDfhrZPJhI7SZW4c24pAt3iwr/s4032/state%20route%2061%20persimmons%202021%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6p6-_XBcme6KZAd4-M1L_OY6R9LRg1WdP5TxflRCEvULOny5dbFS1wT02nAZwIDeAlbRJz9YWrCVLq7NxtKmTuxAq6cttxxQm9Pnh134_E8Hh9xPO5eEAbZZT-MWZrUxU6W28twPZpg-oiaxj5ZNPcu17eD413gSIeGDDfhrZPJhI7SZW4c24pAt3iwr/s320/state%20route%2061%20persimmons%202021%20(4).jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU8JmV387PlxPj9jwmyQd8S6KultLJ_oS3Srcr2Agvth_V5OwjXpV14hz-LSWjx7mbW9uaHL2UcJ59tqDYPaGdrzsbLkAgiGI4DQ9GgVPbQvRn21fRLuIbxMjyNXJdZLUQjVE5ey4ioh1EdvDo99ne6rXCT-ZOAM8Fa0S5UaMtEItFqablse6LnONo3A-/s4032/American%20Persimmon%20Fruits.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU8JmV387PlxPj9jwmyQd8S6KultLJ_oS3Srcr2Agvth_V5OwjXpV14hz-LSWjx7mbW9uaHL2UcJ59tqDYPaGdrzsbLkAgiGI4DQ9GgVPbQvRn21fRLuIbxMjyNXJdZLUQjVE5ey4ioh1EdvDo99ne6rXCT-ZOAM8Fa0S5UaMtEItFqablse6LnONo3A-/s320/American%20Persimmon%20Fruits.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Dark-eyed juncos don't care about persimmons yet, as far as we can tell, but they do love the little seeds from from various plants and offered seed mixes here on this land. A few years ago on the Natchez Trace, we saw DE juncos feasting on the little seeds of sweet gum trees. Those prickly, beautiful seed balls are filled with the tiniest seeds, filled with life in one way or another - new sweet gum trees or full-bellied dark eyed juncos.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRF-kl1TgxtQyW7UEUcwlZBQfZXaXBxL0B2KEyuaFrXrGX1WdraSoRG59zwsWFsJOx253mR3doc2rNP3rH2NCr5tInVXawfceylowUsQM1L3uu6yp7GHNrKeX6KB1voEKcvHbePE1sgH0OJ27hl4eNvMTg6uFvtjB4YIfKw_CU37l5BrpdyZD3g20M5zm/s5632/WGI_0928.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRF-kl1TgxtQyW7UEUcwlZBQfZXaXBxL0B2KEyuaFrXrGX1WdraSoRG59zwsWFsJOx253mR3doc2rNP3rH2NCr5tInVXawfceylowUsQM1L3uu6yp7GHNrKeX6KB1voEKcvHbePE1sgH0OJ27hl4eNvMTg6uFvtjB4YIfKw_CU37l5BrpdyZD3g20M5zm/s320/WGI_0928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The colors are mostly faded here now, but a few oak trees still hold their leaves. We walked by a mother red oak on our neighbor's land on a day the wind blew from the south. We walked north and the oak captured that wind, dancing and talking. I wondered about the language of the trees; it's not one I can understand in a normal type of way, but it made me happy, grabbed my attention and made me notice. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q1DrGwmfNTE7bY_GAG5HLThB5qIdqC5VU-pOprxOSkxkDQlWdkP1P0rnFV5suO4O0AISPAK798y-pyMMx_52dzNFg5ctj0Pg1jQueugNk5Kt9ENJzDYpc9-ykMooPlpLV6pwrrGyBjzz8n4nvKey_kY3VtUFdzZ2NUOBT-1NughuDLVOLQWsavb2BaZ2/s4000/20231104_162719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q1DrGwmfNTE7bY_GAG5HLThB5qIdqC5VU-pOprxOSkxkDQlWdkP1P0rnFV5suO4O0AISPAK798y-pyMMx_52dzNFg5ctj0Pg1jQueugNk5Kt9ENJzDYpc9-ykMooPlpLV6pwrrGyBjzz8n4nvKey_kY3VtUFdzZ2NUOBT-1NughuDLVOLQWsavb2BaZ2/s320/20231104_162719.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Most of the migratory raptors have moved through, but bald eagles spend much of winter in places near here so when I heard their call while I was tending the land, I turned round and round with my eyes to the sky and I saw nothing but blue. After a short while, the blue jay told me they fooled me and I agreed.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_Xqv3SSWNeHoogoUQvpjrqhRxGup6GL5s5HrOzd2X_O73BypuD4JXiyWKkl419Mg5Ag3xJent-TzWec7Szm4JsN5a-iES5ARwws8Q2Jj7K1W0ZikbNoH-_rMzt8FSOn8d-1brHxm5o_fKCAIPTnWeuCc-d8GZFSF6iOL2RMTc0JPNsK0jDKIcQo3jTYe/s5632/WGI_0969.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_Xqv3SSWNeHoogoUQvpjrqhRxGup6GL5s5HrOzd2X_O73BypuD4JXiyWKkl419Mg5Ag3xJent-TzWec7Szm4JsN5a-iES5ARwws8Q2Jj7K1W0ZikbNoH-_rMzt8FSOn8d-1brHxm5o_fKCAIPTnWeuCc-d8GZFSF6iOL2RMTc0JPNsK0jDKIcQo3jTYe/s320/WGI_0969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The red squirrels are mostly quiet, other than their sounds of chewing, always chewing, on black walnut hulls. One sleeps in a cavity in the sugar maples to the west of the house and we like thinking of the increase in tree cavities, knowing every last one of them is full up. That's where I would be, for sure, preferably south or southeast facing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZmZhd1rCd-xp2WGQtpbjfiu9Mnx_Y4b6Dm_3DQO-gmUU4TS6oyrrnTB8BMJUhFrJFwJOrNBJXyJQGGdUwljGv14JuTW1sV_Cg54ewAKTzsgIYImn-pdd71D5hgGFRErXS1WqscI93e31fwXHXJsnqK9X2lyAybBXPEwn58L3PoNd4npOK_RbaOFacw8t/s5632/WGI_1108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZmZhd1rCd-xp2WGQtpbjfiu9Mnx_Y4b6Dm_3DQO-gmUU4TS6oyrrnTB8BMJUhFrJFwJOrNBJXyJQGGdUwljGv14JuTW1sV_Cg54ewAKTzsgIYImn-pdd71D5hgGFRErXS1WqscI93e31fwXHXJsnqK9X2lyAybBXPEwn58L3PoNd4npOK_RbaOFacw8t/s320/WGI_1108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What will 2024 bring? No one ever knows, but we hope to hike more than ever, tend the land with our new high-tech stewardship baskets and immerse ourselves in this beautiful world. We wish for you so much goodness and so much love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWZATl4HcviRF6qECgx8E6aa_hMY6NaFJ3VxdxVH3sccnv4ks-cLWpS9v0OSoZpkjtJSY7kwVSanLMI0EX_YD99kXge3HfDXCQVoRZwq6vTVwFoNkji8z2gvPWiybKcI_4HVGM847_4PiHsNaT4BQwRkd1mLFFyM6MBiqJ30dd_5jMEhLUMpQlXb8EM2J/s4000/20231202_110229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWZATl4HcviRF6qECgx8E6aa_hMY6NaFJ3VxdxVH3sccnv4ks-cLWpS9v0OSoZpkjtJSY7kwVSanLMI0EX_YD99kXge3HfDXCQVoRZwq6vTVwFoNkji8z2gvPWiybKcI_4HVGM847_4PiHsNaT4BQwRkd1mLFFyM6MBiqJ30dd_5jMEhLUMpQlXb8EM2J/s320/20231202_110229.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ4eE8ncyaHRCTCiwh8G_k7hb6Az5JUhxcYwzDlsqWrnoq4SZ6YHBE9RmydjI70AL6MyMYz2to_okqfkeOnkvhzQ8c2ZjgwGrpX2pvc_vtJWoXOS-qQWxfEip196H9nYa5KgpulgZtOSS1nTlwd8QMVed9c9Wnv3SBBu_CyFJq-t26yMOCTS_U-jZXQZO/s4000/20231129_122053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ4eE8ncyaHRCTCiwh8G_k7hb6Az5JUhxcYwzDlsqWrnoq4SZ6YHBE9RmydjI70AL6MyMYz2to_okqfkeOnkvhzQ8c2ZjgwGrpX2pvc_vtJWoXOS-qQWxfEip196H9nYa5KgpulgZtOSS1nTlwd8QMVed9c9Wnv3SBBu_CyFJq-t26yMOCTS_U-jZXQZO/s320/20231129_122053.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3FGXE4pSHJXkkjUgIw8hSW_EnJeewvU38ZBDokWTPCvRc5pTeulopwu45mDjmbvN_TVy-qno2amlDtHfx4CKTYpqJMKQ30Bifzy818I6j__wth4QzsBZgbCIpxAJL_zO8ciHsJm3iNSa3ZDfaz9Q0pXljqP1a6dLlEn7fg02nUIEjLdH3QLGP_gor7tr/s4000/20231208_131017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3FGXE4pSHJXkkjUgIw8hSW_EnJeewvU38ZBDokWTPCvRc5pTeulopwu45mDjmbvN_TVy-qno2amlDtHfx4CKTYpqJMKQ30Bifzy818I6j__wth4QzsBZgbCIpxAJL_zO8ciHsJm3iNSa3ZDfaz9Q0pXljqP1a6dLlEn7fg02nUIEjLdH3QLGP_gor7tr/s320/20231208_131017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Everything to you all! Bring it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soundtracks for the end of 2023:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://youtu.be/V20v1zjnjY4?si=ax7cJeXn23QAbjfu" target="_blank">Barely There - Daisy May</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzR-squxipg&list=RDKzR-squxipg&start_radio=1&rv=lb-XljBcFXE" target="_blank">Everything's Gone - Lydia Loveless</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://youtu.be/x8ccDb6n5Wg?si=cHnvo0HMyOLDYm7c" target="_blank">Old Pine - Ben Howard</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. My book is currently 48,000 words strong and I'm in the final edits this winter before submission. We will see what happens, but I know I can't wait to share it with you. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-55525069137177568952023-09-17T16:27:00.003-04:002023-09-17T20:44:52.166-04:00These Feet are Made for Walking<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Steve and I will soon be hiking the <a href="https://foothillstrail.org/trail-overview/" target="_blank">Foothills Trail in South Carolina</a> (& NC) - a 77 mile trail that traverses the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains amongst trees and abundant water. We hope to hike early enough in the autumn, that we will be brave enough to dip into the water full-bodied style. We are excited to put our backpacks back on and live for a period of time on the trail. Using our feet and living in such a simple way is one of our most favorite ways to celebrate the lives we live.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kxx9CR68vwRkV-hFGlNspY_NUs4R5n_sSJOjX047ette_g9Iv5njja6pDCVhEVmi5FlLnB-OFxng551ZwgLF-_wh0Cb5V6FDJD90nkefX8h8Q1p2E9t9UkPxNo1FML4Y2ncjUNDtTaKrNzVOHB0IiXCeTP9wO7KQ9APElGWJ4NCdQJpXTLThM3nuWn_9/s4000/20230817_123035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kxx9CR68vwRkV-hFGlNspY_NUs4R5n_sSJOjX047ette_g9Iv5njja6pDCVhEVmi5FlLnB-OFxng551ZwgLF-_wh0Cb5V6FDJD90nkefX8h8Q1p2E9t9UkPxNo1FML4Y2ncjUNDtTaKrNzVOHB0IiXCeTP9wO7KQ9APElGWJ4NCdQJpXTLThM3nuWn_9/s320/20230817_123035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This cool summer we <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHzlTfNFwfo" target="_blank">hiked</a> and we swam...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pug1-wt2fttq2w9tmhmqtkdDVMlWnmPij06KxeRiCOGWscaEaJHp-8ODiRbLXiyBTp16AiX2OE8isvZ5sEmIJjyRbbL8-NbBdIeC8aZK2GiKFu0XTAso2CVpQpvAiwo9jgnHccFwOmK9L2G8in6h4caKRDa0Ce-IpX_YWTEgQoL-cMNO2P0N-vrzVAAf/s1008/Kokosing%20Swimming.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pug1-wt2fttq2w9tmhmqtkdDVMlWnmPij06KxeRiCOGWscaEaJHp-8ODiRbLXiyBTp16AiX2OE8isvZ5sEmIJjyRbbL8-NbBdIeC8aZK2GiKFu0XTAso2CVpQpvAiwo9jgnHccFwOmK9L2G8in6h4caKRDa0Ce-IpX_YWTEgQoL-cMNO2P0N-vrzVAAf/s320/Kokosing%20Swimming.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we basked amongst wildflowers...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePiv3UiYpqrcgXO9KV17PN4TxgsDIxPBm5N9SAbDr8IQBrveNdn-oRq7SwOZojyPyONocnKvoSd04-id63gfxKzZIyqsN_Tm2Zi-3OI-c4vS12XFeJkKLi5zabkV5JwdYzRHlf17KO9e6ih_45rqmImo-itT7DC6fntH0XAMUcXLZWykkz_gN5hsnlh0p/s4000/20230806_113709.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePiv3UiYpqrcgXO9KV17PN4TxgsDIxPBm5N9SAbDr8IQBrveNdn-oRq7SwOZojyPyONocnKvoSd04-id63gfxKzZIyqsN_Tm2Zi-3OI-c4vS12XFeJkKLi5zabkV5JwdYzRHlf17KO9e6ih_45rqmImo-itT7DC6fntH0XAMUcXLZWykkz_gN5hsnlh0p/s320/20230806_113709.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we drank lots of coffee, toured this sanctuary of enchantment,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-hRg2DtjVVveVGFxow491RBN92yGGjwYUUvC7RC-OOGoloqvfRHXOFv93WN4PiqTuCFbL_jdayFtjZtx8F4UfuyKg8-KDVpP7OYtbkasAdnyYH_m5Vns-GsiqfCvLaDkkkCJmSryI4bdTqPlV_jGj6c0T2AamnJzYZ251xmnB9wIlx6mMAOw1-3gD6La/s4000/20230813_114003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-hRg2DtjVVveVGFxow491RBN92yGGjwYUUvC7RC-OOGoloqvfRHXOFv93WN4PiqTuCFbL_jdayFtjZtx8F4UfuyKg8-KDVpP7OYtbkasAdnyYH_m5Vns-GsiqfCvLaDkkkCJmSryI4bdTqPlV_jGj6c0T2AamnJzYZ251xmnB9wIlx6mMAOw1-3gD6La/s320/20230813_114003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and took good care of our cats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVN0FYqKhehmVeKmZ6cIuMFEhmu3nK3fZUfGkoVykiJ5TTdSeYuEvEKBE0fTV_kwGqCI8pf67_ESelbBmMXkKZWdsiNAl8VUnBenQ3oa_GMevn0GEbLcraFYvlq7cTy2EpEngAMWa_L-w0KOuFDRcgj-J1miXhv0mttLeisB4etcerfXMHZusJT4Ueesj/s4000/20230730_135645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVN0FYqKhehmVeKmZ6cIuMFEhmu3nK3fZUfGkoVykiJ5TTdSeYuEvEKBE0fTV_kwGqCI8pf67_ESelbBmMXkKZWdsiNAl8VUnBenQ3oa_GMevn0GEbLcraFYvlq7cTy2EpEngAMWa_L-w0KOuFDRcgj-J1miXhv0mttLeisB4etcerfXMHZusJT4Ueesj/s320/20230730_135645.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQkKpdPP5sMy5aw4pbDRGeHw_HlUAg3usfLvK0uJxQ6RxyM79kIY9n8qJKYhoM56OdgAAAmAQUQI83pqRIJMOvbIt1GeCrLB6jDV9KkhHRZAaqDws3NXCVnO8_jCxKXjvTPGYfAemVtK65Q73TqNm--wtHSssmmSHsCxCzU5Tg6eptnAQI3pGz1ciu304/s4000/20230904_172142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQkKpdPP5sMy5aw4pbDRGeHw_HlUAg3usfLvK0uJxQ6RxyM79kIY9n8qJKYhoM56OdgAAAmAQUQI83pqRIJMOvbIt1GeCrLB6jDV9KkhHRZAaqDws3NXCVnO8_jCxKXjvTPGYfAemVtK65Q73TqNm--wtHSssmmSHsCxCzU5Tg6eptnAQI3pGz1ciu304/s320/20230904_172142.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54t6bJjuBqqOF1wCinmch61-VMS9ISF_ZlnNhpzRF183IdhZqs1Xrg07JL8hrIAdC8wlQ3xqfdpI_GJNjFHCUArsKY64KK6H8w0LRZsvQcFh9ewFAt9PLyc4m2K-w08iwmahDn2WY-GE1fqtdKHWBzXKxDq3eaZQpHbWCU-t_ZINPDK6xDpT2uGbVlSgi/s1890/received_2567589320072455.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="1890" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54t6bJjuBqqOF1wCinmch61-VMS9ISF_ZlnNhpzRF183IdhZqs1Xrg07JL8hrIAdC8wlQ3xqfdpI_GJNjFHCUArsKY64KK6H8w0LRZsvQcFh9ewFAt9PLyc4m2K-w08iwmahDn2WY-GE1fqtdKHWBzXKxDq3eaZQpHbWCU-t_ZINPDK6xDpT2uGbVlSgi/s320/received_2567589320072455.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We talked, we worked and we missed the normal sultry heat that just barely arrived before the coolness of autumn arrived. 20 years of <a href="https://weather.cfaes.osu.edu/gdd/CalendarView.asp" target="_blank">Growing Degree Data</a> shows only one other summer cooler than this one; before I even thought to look up the weather information scientifically, we witnessed the change in the timing of the plants, the insects and all the lifeforms that depend on the latter two. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJx3qZvUzFpCsizU_BpJoD_Xil8ZEh4rJYvzC_cnpvjXge5UPAO-d_t-HAtT9k92GdMbEs-6P47cwWkVHN3zdBGGXk1TB3xJKupmX1dO_eauQyLFw6VUEg105EeIwrmqC5IQpSl7LtcseqQPyoPQxmxwsVM2VgmAe0MgBoUIX7EmYeJvZinhiicASnMm7/s4000/20230729_173006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJx3qZvUzFpCsizU_BpJoD_Xil8ZEh4rJYvzC_cnpvjXge5UPAO-d_t-HAtT9k92GdMbEs-6P47cwWkVHN3zdBGGXk1TB3xJKupmX1dO_eauQyLFw6VUEg105EeIwrmqC5IQpSl7LtcseqQPyoPQxmxwsVM2VgmAe0MgBoUIX7EmYeJvZinhiicASnMm7/s320/20230729_173006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-k2gs_Ehhe3sJY88Vf0acwogWfOXA3uvLQg4heBU-oKbgYIcwUCrLv-5Nk9DLMfyVgZgDG-VCyhbAFtVL_crtvg0CVoDhPfEAAlCimv2pamqG2fnenCnqxAsQc-tHMv_TdwfIa1tdjf1xawB3OoI2BzQFOxYiZxtBiCXWDkaOMNf0bqVC01t_XwjsbPJl/s4000/Passionflower%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-k2gs_Ehhe3sJY88Vf0acwogWfOXA3uvLQg4heBU-oKbgYIcwUCrLv-5Nk9DLMfyVgZgDG-VCyhbAFtVL_crtvg0CVoDhPfEAAlCimv2pamqG2fnenCnqxAsQc-tHMv_TdwfIa1tdjf1xawB3OoI2BzQFOxYiZxtBiCXWDkaOMNf0bqVC01t_XwjsbPJl/s320/Passionflower%20(4).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_c-IU4z6cWLS1pD7RhvAt6bfDIfAzbpNvO3-iAPEX8DAoQEOp3_HVr89Z1bWfwTZrGkCKInpM3p_CR1FhhY2lVPyOWNMFXqNMqoH9C_1jeVNv_PN0WGd0DL0TtJyQ1-Z5PjFbUJuckP5LCE4G4EvZsmAW-sWFKh34NyojAYO2pgB3nLLblIWIJZ7lZjrY/s4000/20230731_171813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_c-IU4z6cWLS1pD7RhvAt6bfDIfAzbpNvO3-iAPEX8DAoQEOp3_HVr89Z1bWfwTZrGkCKInpM3p_CR1FhhY2lVPyOWNMFXqNMqoH9C_1jeVNv_PN0WGd0DL0TtJyQ1-Z5PjFbUJuckP5LCE4G4EvZsmAW-sWFKh34NyojAYO2pgB3nLLblIWIJZ7lZjrY/s320/20230731_171813.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxSSZ5xWdpSukTGzagj2K0S6Btf5kxyVcg9LnAr7QUGJZcCgoamHTPe_uDgqfGjk2BN7A_H3QnLUoqJSYYfMDwzx-6vEg6Rd0HguSwpBtGOMgN9hbgXJVue8ihcBZY_rfTc5FCt8S_QQ-GASmFemoeJomtzzh0BiMK35SGiqqnS5eq06fnsjWr2NA4S6b/s4000/20230809_110906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxSSZ5xWdpSukTGzagj2K0S6Btf5kxyVcg9LnAr7QUGJZcCgoamHTPe_uDgqfGjk2BN7A_H3QnLUoqJSYYfMDwzx-6vEg6Rd0HguSwpBtGOMgN9hbgXJVue8ihcBZY_rfTc5FCt8S_QQ-GASmFemoeJomtzzh0BiMK35SGiqqnS5eq06fnsjWr2NA4S6b/s320/20230809_110906.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We traveled south to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1xArKKko04" target="_blank">Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in KY/TN </a>to chase summer and luxuriate in the lush greenery and the thick insect song. It was joyous! Black bears were feasting on eastern yellow jacket nests; each one - trail side - had been torn open, torn apart and consumed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1qlp16qu52IhQoEkGQ-95eun_JKaxzIllsPnlc5YRQ7bxVo4hE6Y_7IEmezZaxMnBVPL7pkVGl6ITD7oBpxC9uVsiFvx9j-HuTOQBTJfw1s1rAsJhQFVJ8eARDCmct291oGCuqqEBX9rxRC7qaNWgawvi6t-CJ2IjFFuVWRdaxHoLw8vgPUTO3VbRT9L/s4000/20230816_162756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1qlp16qu52IhQoEkGQ-95eun_JKaxzIllsPnlc5YRQ7bxVo4hE6Y_7IEmezZaxMnBVPL7pkVGl6ITD7oBpxC9uVsiFvx9j-HuTOQBTJfw1s1rAsJhQFVJ8eARDCmct291oGCuqqEBX9rxRC7qaNWgawvi6t-CJ2IjFFuVWRdaxHoLw8vgPUTO3VbRT9L/s320/20230816_162756.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAb9q2rEbBNpptGH_KV14Rv3ArIPXzdRm5HN_hoazdvjOMhdQx77AvYwIp76AAg8DLEwXFNU6W7WyapS9urB84z4EkG6PiYgXNyVJaBCn7clZwqVC8KyWN6VeeLz180Umc8PrZRh5Obdl1uVT2LYVuX6MRUuLwFeufZPIwP5HavMBIUkndyloLezgSqIB0/s4000/20230817_120414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAb9q2rEbBNpptGH_KV14Rv3ArIPXzdRm5HN_hoazdvjOMhdQx77AvYwIp76AAg8DLEwXFNU6W7WyapS9urB84z4EkG6PiYgXNyVJaBCn7clZwqVC8KyWN6VeeLz180Umc8PrZRh5Obdl1uVT2LYVuX6MRUuLwFeufZPIwP5HavMBIUkndyloLezgSqIB0/s320/20230817_120414.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We discovered a new-to-us shrub: <a href="https://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2016/6/14/buffalonut-a-parasitic-shrub-from-appalachia" target="_blank">buffalo nut (<i>Pyrularia pubera</i>)</a>, a member of the sandalwood family. This one stumped us for days and it was members of the nature community that stepped in and moved us forward. This is our kind of exciting! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QC8p3Yh2BIWYWmvIpz2mQ-rnYlFU9FhtjwSriY__yYtEBB6SoHcQC4IhXtVY_FWLx5kseNeA2zQ1OVXstD6BRPNirC0zyjaYkDKfPVK30HZBDEdvg9JAGgj6wOBV5JdvMA9clNphSFb7hShFs84VZFIvh0a4C5CV54apWZ1IFcsSfo5Qd3FpGc-2D77C/s2016/received_263964193090392.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QC8p3Yh2BIWYWmvIpz2mQ-rnYlFU9FhtjwSriY__yYtEBB6SoHcQC4IhXtVY_FWLx5kseNeA2zQ1OVXstD6BRPNirC0zyjaYkDKfPVK30HZBDEdvg9JAGgj6wOBV5JdvMA9clNphSFb7hShFs84VZFIvh0a4C5CV54apWZ1IFcsSfo5Qd3FpGc-2D77C/s320/received_263964193090392.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course we found American persimmon, because, of course, we searched everywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4WNqevTa_FSsuxtUIxSoQf8x96s8oXAZKWQMwfS_QxgJrIkCgDT9bxW-TvJRVDCto5KpvQC25XQjzqbuz3uuXMCRPz0_XfyD4y0O7V2pELOrCp46wRcsswHt8MrrYoLLEk-iQhBZ4Z4XTGBDgqdYYmR3wZzLTFWqySjxekwZIoOGRmL7yyFxbNnYdHc3/s4000/20230815_200952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4WNqevTa_FSsuxtUIxSoQf8x96s8oXAZKWQMwfS_QxgJrIkCgDT9bxW-TvJRVDCto5KpvQC25XQjzqbuz3uuXMCRPz0_XfyD4y0O7V2pELOrCp46wRcsswHt8MrrYoLLEk-iQhBZ4Z4XTGBDgqdYYmR3wZzLTFWqySjxekwZIoOGRmL7yyFxbNnYdHc3/s320/20230815_200952.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back in Ohio we marveled at rich color...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rfT6wMJqzjWeYCg9rLZDln29c9TiweIZUpC4Ssa3bRloPfOYHa850e8bFnHtfxh3ZcFVgxipDt0p-rVBU_U0niNQ-hQQB-A5hWK7nuRJON6GC278s4F3w3yU6efXUtm18f6jbyWvhLI0hxDa1CoWALen2wqu3yCWQoJowPnXk77L00D0MoCSBpOXTv2N/s4000/20230731_141327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rfT6wMJqzjWeYCg9rLZDln29c9TiweIZUpC4Ssa3bRloPfOYHa850e8bFnHtfxh3ZcFVgxipDt0p-rVBU_U0niNQ-hQQB-A5hWK7nuRJON6GC278s4F3w3yU6efXUtm18f6jbyWvhLI0hxDa1CoWALen2wqu3yCWQoJowPnXk77L00D0MoCSBpOXTv2N/s320/20230731_141327.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and tall grasses...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSmbg8JJsawfUWFN_S3eL0MY7fPjJinMQk7DcpAdKbFy5c5MlPQORoahjT8ameIj5Z95Iup2YjtD3RslB0w5yQVPe3UzRqkY0ND8pXgyHI3DS_oJlC-GLQQfa22f_PwQg7qAlc4sydoyKlWHMCPkKwx3QHXFfziWiR-UuJebFW7uz8og6HuNS-gllowBT/s4000/20230731_171954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSmbg8JJsawfUWFN_S3eL0MY7fPjJinMQk7DcpAdKbFy5c5MlPQORoahjT8ameIj5Z95Iup2YjtD3RslB0w5yQVPe3UzRqkY0ND8pXgyHI3DS_oJlC-GLQQfa22f_PwQg7qAlc4sydoyKlWHMCPkKwx3QHXFfziWiR-UuJebFW7uz8og6HuNS-gllowBT/s320/20230731_171954.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>and clear water. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9ArlDGjOY90Y1tbXK84jOc8bNHWPP-3pZT6siNhAQnuNnPFy2fcWt1bAb5LVGRwRrlpqcj44YOwBPyTDb-60dP2rCrJb09gVn6UatLEBTRzhRONGVE7hYSBUT79Gb1ep_xGKrWSha-UdpK_AzSZDy9HrmUuMNVTdd6Iq7Elfa8KZbV3wa2oyOScgOfvq/s4000/20230809_111338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9ArlDGjOY90Y1tbXK84jOc8bNHWPP-3pZT6siNhAQnuNnPFy2fcWt1bAb5LVGRwRrlpqcj44YOwBPyTDb-60dP2rCrJb09gVn6UatLEBTRzhRONGVE7hYSBUT79Gb1ep_xGKrWSha-UdpK_AzSZDy9HrmUuMNVTdd6Iq7Elfa8KZbV3wa2oyOScgOfvq/s320/20230809_111338.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We thought about relationships between the water willow above and the sandbars they grow on. We also thought about the fungal network below ground that sometimes becomes evident topside.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9MfsG_5i7NjgsD4ncZYEH34yz1qqgXSMssXOJpBa97cykv4Hc4i8B-9onGZavpXbtU9ZjZLN-q6LaTiru6BH1sr48j7WZ8QY1-7KGamAirdBc4T2lI9QUbeNrj3FyEU6Qiml-Hzu5hxB1Q31IsvtcyV1YHpTUS5k3BBkIUgY71WVwFOr3ovYzZSqbSkl/s4000/20230811_170454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9MfsG_5i7NjgsD4ncZYEH34yz1qqgXSMssXOJpBa97cykv4Hc4i8B-9onGZavpXbtU9ZjZLN-q6LaTiru6BH1sr48j7WZ8QY1-7KGamAirdBc4T2lI9QUbeNrj3FyEU6Qiml-Hzu5hxB1Q31IsvtcyV1YHpTUS5k3BBkIUgY71WVwFOr3ovYzZSqbSkl/s320/20230811_170454.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We found frass in our backyard and knew, even though we could not see them, a large silkmoth caterpillar was feasting in the sugar maples above. Steve wondered about eating concentrated/digested sunlight. Could it be a hiker superfood?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrtV0DSY8K-sEhZtAGoynrH9DZ8A_2aduZ9btaQ8MBjcaVqkxDE-_5SGmDIepcN5aiWEwqU5Hik-lpfeaBDkwxrMx3ghbOSUVr1ZsTu_s8rNx75PMzpxBeMFbyrhIyVQICruVJriaOPc4uBORC0gPNILInDTDbFlZHd0OGv4p_MG843DS8S0Rzg7fwGQb/s4000/20230814_105405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrtV0DSY8K-sEhZtAGoynrH9DZ8A_2aduZ9btaQ8MBjcaVqkxDE-_5SGmDIepcN5aiWEwqU5Hik-lpfeaBDkwxrMx3ghbOSUVr1ZsTu_s8rNx75PMzpxBeMFbyrhIyVQICruVJriaOPc4uBORC0gPNILInDTDbFlZHd0OGv4p_MG843DS8S0Rzg7fwGQb/s320/20230814_105405.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We ogled at prepupal ochre dagger moth caterpillars,<div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdvLAJaBTkOa2MTkzw_C50IUQ6aFPv_JL51PZbHUT3vHBQERHzKupszv_hZWeLRUDDgBFl7AY0OW2QEJXvAU1tIEvY8uOGA37sLWJGcwKmz6VL0ZknHpasIe4xU-vgVO0r3Dk0ysyR9V5mhdp54XqFXu_Y91pdODMRBWycrIM2bQWghPby-hhZrQjUiLq/s4000/20230831_142430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdvLAJaBTkOa2MTkzw_C50IUQ6aFPv_JL51PZbHUT3vHBQERHzKupszv_hZWeLRUDDgBFl7AY0OW2QEJXvAU1tIEvY8uOGA37sLWJGcwKmz6VL0ZknHpasIe4xU-vgVO0r3Dk0ysyR9V5mhdp54XqFXu_Y91pdODMRBWycrIM2bQWghPby-hhZrQjUiLq/s320/20230831_142430.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>spotted apatelodes caterpillars feasting on redbud...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhRFf_Li3vYwgmr5xLQSb-XPGKY4UTk1HhvTxB24bA6WHDoKP3VAfEBtVELe2Lw8bSBvCtkVjNArTRAWzrd--hRTFPnijTVmaqhNfSvXAqCAYjQ9sZDpqm2RQYCCa33OQanHFM8WqlmRE1sdAS_YI4ElhbapOUFvvAxXNa3O--Y82FC1grKNhVYs6VM9W/s4000/20230904_170808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhRFf_Li3vYwgmr5xLQSb-XPGKY4UTk1HhvTxB24bA6WHDoKP3VAfEBtVELe2Lw8bSBvCtkVjNArTRAWzrd--hRTFPnijTVmaqhNfSvXAqCAYjQ9sZDpqm2RQYCCa33OQanHFM8WqlmRE1sdAS_YI4ElhbapOUFvvAxXNa3O--Y82FC1grKNhVYs6VM9W/s320/20230904_170808.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and white-marked tussock moth caterpillars on delicious and gorgeous American plum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEebUiTRpGVoBrI0Y1L0XWSHB_H2YcqYgP_HoSE6um45MmOdUgc-lt5zDnHV2AuKUkHb_jaMO2NU-x-XTuyzn9Q6jR_EbDPCTg6u0N-wN5iLvZjLU5LBAj71eI0xYTMNOtI53fYuzbn_UP_qZXzoni9s7CmUfo-9w09TsohLGqexWUZ5-BD1BogM3LK1E/s4000/20230829_131714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEebUiTRpGVoBrI0Y1L0XWSHB_H2YcqYgP_HoSE6um45MmOdUgc-lt5zDnHV2AuKUkHb_jaMO2NU-x-XTuyzn9Q6jR_EbDPCTg6u0N-wN5iLvZjLU5LBAj71eI0xYTMNOtI53fYuzbn_UP_qZXzoni9s7CmUfo-9w09TsohLGqexWUZ5-BD1BogM3LK1E/s320/20230829_131714.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The darling underwing moth surprised us one day, clinging to our recently stacked wood pile so, of course, we ooed and ahhed and then learned the caterpillars host on poplar and willow. There are plenty of those plants here and the ecological connections continue to become visible. Rewilding works. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEXjhijEi4TRU1K15uzfgAiSLE2okgW-teO7hLRNhUT-DZgTIXe76fTUtjbjXOctrS72rUsmJy5rbPLoZr5zggVSCNufA1yeuB-8VtHKYSmbtyBNfKXeY4trcsTOOSj6gJpAQdjzcBvKAwMN_xB-T95RWIoLueNgX3dTAB7aYWzzgnFJOshX_hypwtFc8/s4000/Darling%20Underwing%20Moth%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEXjhijEi4TRU1K15uzfgAiSLE2okgW-teO7hLRNhUT-DZgTIXe76fTUtjbjXOctrS72rUsmJy5rbPLoZr5zggVSCNufA1yeuB-8VtHKYSmbtyBNfKXeY4trcsTOOSj6gJpAQdjzcBvKAwMN_xB-T95RWIoLueNgX3dTAB7aYWzzgnFJOshX_hypwtFc8/s320/Darling%20Underwing%20Moth%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The turbulent phosphila full on stopped our quick moving feet during one of our 10 mile walks in forest bigger than our 3.5 acre rewilding land. Normally they host on greenbrier, but this one looked pretty content on jumpseed. We hypothesized they either fell off greenbrier and were looking for more, developed a taste for jumpseed or were just on walkabout to find a good pupation site.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL5FnnZlCqDJHqE8NJ-O6PLHiqtW0FPcHW9Wx71IUul4v6676oMpVRsXYiNHa5dBt2Vlhd4VjpKGeEn2hBoA64aSZBO_o8uSy09iJZsSoyhVWfJQKzLfhFbMOLrs1BH4Z8zGTuQzdzioRi3BP1NqEdhEdIbXpNMuPnmzfqJr2Ib-LM-lZqVKSrFO_q5YM/s4000/Turbulent%20Phosphila%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwL5FnnZlCqDJHqE8NJ-O6PLHiqtW0FPcHW9Wx71IUul4v6676oMpVRsXYiNHa5dBt2Vlhd4VjpKGeEn2hBoA64aSZBO_o8uSy09iJZsSoyhVWfJQKzLfhFbMOLrs1BH4Z8zGTuQzdzioRi3BP1NqEdhEdIbXpNMuPnmzfqJr2Ib-LM-lZqVKSrFO_q5YM/s320/Turbulent%20Phosphila%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This world is a beautiful place and one we are so fortunate to explore and care for. Our bodies (and their abilities and inabilities) are the same...ones we are fortunate to have and to use and to care for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Walk on. Roll on. Crawl on. Keep on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soundtrack:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne6eS_SmccQ" target="_blank">Loudon Wainwright III - Swimming Song</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-492972519367100392023-06-27T14:31:00.001-04:002023-06-27T14:34:39.521-04:00Finding a Way Forward, United and Strong<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well friends, we are 13 years into this restoration project and the plants are astonishing in their growth, the fireflies are flashing like never before and I cannot believe anyone thinks saving the world is not possible. The challenge is getting the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTIxag1jWPs" target="_blank">Engine to Turn</a>. How do we do this? How do we bring respect, love and compassion back into the world on a massive scale? I don't know except for one act after another, after another, after another. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bottle Brush grass is looking splendorous and offers foliage to caterpillars, seeds to birds and mammals and beauty to all of us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdb14ONpJc2FbhC4mLISjOX6MH7TzemWF08EWq9QF1qUQ7ntlmP4Dg7WmXJCsaIcgZblQHrr2lLLQIYDpCAm00lF24_7VmtVVLJXGB7OFTRywytQwC0nplFdDbzy9mkl3r57ea3kbKdORGE2V3oWloMHq_1zl7dq9_2TTJrxwUbGVy2a-QSeJ0VSliurmU/s4032/20230622_193526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdb14ONpJc2FbhC4mLISjOX6MH7TzemWF08EWq9QF1qUQ7ntlmP4Dg7WmXJCsaIcgZblQHrr2lLLQIYDpCAm00lF24_7VmtVVLJXGB7OFTRywytQwC0nplFdDbzy9mkl3r57ea3kbKdORGE2V3oWloMHq_1zl7dq9_2TTJrxwUbGVy2a-QSeJ0VSliurmU/s320/20230622_193526.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Eight-spotted Forester moth lays her eggs on Wild Grape and Virginia Creeper...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLAuDeYbhlav-WZmEf-bVgG_CnQMzZeqp0Ptr-Q8XtO8LUiPOWqIVntrG-8Xvr-fISLtveFGS7moioUXtNxJm5vt38nsnL5QmXarPopSxtUeOC-1-AZS-bSins4jDcnAxYf7WIKWdgatWME0ge97EFv4IUzoe7W6aq9NQLb3I6IAn19JLvbNh350dnYwz/s4032/20230610_145658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLAuDeYbhlav-WZmEf-bVgG_CnQMzZeqp0Ptr-Q8XtO8LUiPOWqIVntrG-8Xvr-fISLtveFGS7moioUXtNxJm5vt38nsnL5QmXarPopSxtUeOC-1-AZS-bSins4jDcnAxYf7WIKWdgatWME0ge97EFv4IUzoe7W6aq9NQLb3I6IAn19JLvbNh350dnYwz/s320/20230610_145658.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>and we find her progeny on the grape vine under the windowsill. The Land is more wild than it ever has been and we love how we feel amongst the wildness. It's like a coming home. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniAZ4wwTIMrK-w4cFkxFHvBO_t4KO9ezzW09h7jxr9H-AhRTYArbbIXb8ccW7opl61elAn07hrbllXsKVk2IXybShAjF3HH1Q49LE73Hjecg4_e6qN4wna7z4Z_SINsfjgXQhBDfz0uRKebr2QEMA1cCyqO3n2HHfndqZfwD8eBD-RQ4dYewZuq0yHmHx/s1952/20230618_203059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1952" data-original-width="1632" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniAZ4wwTIMrK-w4cFkxFHvBO_t4KO9ezzW09h7jxr9H-AhRTYArbbIXb8ccW7opl61elAn07hrbllXsKVk2IXybShAjF3HH1Q49LE73Hjecg4_e6qN4wna7z4Z_SINsfjgXQhBDfz0uRKebr2QEMA1cCyqO3n2HHfndqZfwD8eBD-RQ4dYewZuq0yHmHx/s320/20230618_203059.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Young American Persimmons are growing a few female flowers and dropping them as they continue to prepare for the heavy commitment of bringing a seed to fruition.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dqx_SJ4F6fKao_IlsssYmsTQvLlNT9Cvzq-c6T3ei-3wmUyVmLLiByuzFa0OP8w-QSgvvbowpyUqL-HpvNyxa1em2bYaAFtbMvajuCqlNXuEC_ilPHaamdFwIZMoOkTMIDekYGKc5Vanf7-2s_EJL50OrMo3K0-iLztYFQ4RT3x6zzqurdz1ISSL3R6w/s4032/20230613_095630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dqx_SJ4F6fKao_IlsssYmsTQvLlNT9Cvzq-c6T3ei-3wmUyVmLLiByuzFa0OP8w-QSgvvbowpyUqL-HpvNyxa1em2bYaAFtbMvajuCqlNXuEC_ilPHaamdFwIZMoOkTMIDekYGKc5Vanf7-2s_EJL50OrMo3K0-iLztYFQ4RT3x6zzqurdz1ISSL3R6w/s320/20230613_095630.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Blue Flag Iris and Silky Dogwood shade the waters sheltering Green Frogs. The weather didn't work out for an American Toad movement again this year, but next year will be the third try and you know what they say...it's the charm. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2QowUBnR1iENBX7ALaEx6piQhBC9tHUOU8FKbyAhBqnv6GwumJxi9I9X2wtAXk45B3JDidlysoP3clhir4J1JEBRjYuku-MlV7rGqameeOdXcgPHgYi4sk0wAy7vVlSNEYpGmuAKgBy0IT9uLqEHMqbAJjlwb27oqm57FWM3ZxE7a4kSJqV-jpjYZEjk/s4032/20230610_172240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2QowUBnR1iENBX7ALaEx6piQhBC9tHUOU8FKbyAhBqnv6GwumJxi9I9X2wtAXk45B3JDidlysoP3clhir4J1JEBRjYuku-MlV7rGqameeOdXcgPHgYi4sk0wAy7vVlSNEYpGmuAKgBy0IT9uLqEHMqbAJjlwb27oqm57FWM3ZxE7a4kSJqV-jpjYZEjk/s320/20230610_172240.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>White Avens, a native wildflower, is flowering abundantly in the part shade here, right now, on this Land. We didn't plant them, but the seeds found their way there and planted themselves. Now little sweat bees are seeking bloom after bloom after bloom and finding sustenance. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-5Ej0WNAWUQtPFKwd6epLYqMfb9ZaT713c5-e7DlfteR4HF92Trzz8R-ZWxOsNmKcsZT17BYUh-2jYdOXUMzxyBEN_6YqHt8MeSJ-uMC1weI5CxWCiYf6pbmM0L4WyPYnvndWowYcKR3Nbl9Gy1wievI29vWMoF6JeQSBJSr0h_SipfEtcLyyTTXTiEL/s4032/20230621_101340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-5Ej0WNAWUQtPFKwd6epLYqMfb9ZaT713c5-e7DlfteR4HF92Trzz8R-ZWxOsNmKcsZT17BYUh-2jYdOXUMzxyBEN_6YqHt8MeSJ-uMC1weI5CxWCiYf6pbmM0L4WyPYnvndWowYcKR3Nbl9Gy1wievI29vWMoF6JeQSBJSr0h_SipfEtcLyyTTXTiEL/s320/20230621_101340.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Freedom comes with letting plants grow where they want to grow and not keeping them tucked tidily into beds. Edit, sure, but let the plants feel free. Let yourself feel free. It changes everything. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWi2kyHokSWEmaQfKWmEZu1ZVOIFodTSlhct1JdBHnTs-GC8OF9B_IWdq-bZPhBCuW63n0KTCmMraE12WQZd00wLdV36w4HlKzqjxsGXiDBj_6M19-tirvSokVj_1lJNH3YGkrdZuy3zizEgz9dokOM2dRedtjGoNPydER-rKX2gRfI_YVXiSeYzS_oqO/s4032/20230622_193655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWi2kyHokSWEmaQfKWmEZu1ZVOIFodTSlhct1JdBHnTs-GC8OF9B_IWdq-bZPhBCuW63n0KTCmMraE12WQZd00wLdV36w4HlKzqjxsGXiDBj_6M19-tirvSokVj_1lJNH3YGkrdZuy3zizEgz9dokOM2dRedtjGoNPydER-rKX2gRfI_YVXiSeYzS_oqO/s320/20230622_193655.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosYY3ANk8bsrxKYDyYjTxQTuqCvirQ2ix4rg85CAGRhsHpU6eTXLYIgU4Pe4AQkrV5x9gWtBA702AidFBQWxNpygBL3ij6oxdb70CL3jHpQr-9zRjoU0GSzvXyUSN3siXeSga5dk_11Plc7D-lPW9hdtzBmjTkuaasIJUVg-oWx_Md4o8BIu4Xnn7FTMt/s4032/20230610_171624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosYY3ANk8bsrxKYDyYjTxQTuqCvirQ2ix4rg85CAGRhsHpU6eTXLYIgU4Pe4AQkrV5x9gWtBA702AidFBQWxNpygBL3ij6oxdb70CL3jHpQr-9zRjoU0GSzvXyUSN3siXeSga5dk_11Plc7D-lPW9hdtzBmjTkuaasIJUVg-oWx_Md4o8BIu4Xnn7FTMt/s320/20230610_171624.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We enjoy this freedom. Minnie Pearl, our elderly cat, sometimes sits on her rug outdoors with us now (NO hunting occurs). She hated the outdoors after a rough youth, but now in her maturity, she wants to feel the breath of the plants, the breath of the warm winds and the comfort of those who love her. We all can change. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINH_ur7vfpAgtHPFL7QWlwREDdeb8B2C0weMISZ2idVsA4ImIag9xbwxH-SOMbLZxIcMtPTvB4-sey1uRS82z5VoNvAbVV17VrrJJtDX_n-fo_mklVmv3jhZ9cYhJ1y5SsRo02H8dcWmw6qMYYuGFIL9UttNidU5paglTpiZC6P923iYe188gT5nUfV7e/s4032/20230529_131305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINH_ur7vfpAgtHPFL7QWlwREDdeb8B2C0weMISZ2idVsA4ImIag9xbwxH-SOMbLZxIcMtPTvB4-sey1uRS82z5VoNvAbVV17VrrJJtDX_n-fo_mklVmv3jhZ9cYhJ1y5SsRo02H8dcWmw6qMYYuGFIL9UttNidU5paglTpiZC6P923iYe188gT5nUfV7e/s320/20230529_131305.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t80DOivcZEadfHxD6X4saK6Dt08HdiqJOgymB6PDAVgeAOQEsmidgpYJXjm0tMzxZXlzlr3a5D57prye0qWy3dkAyyGcb4M9lVTAcgR9lM51dECPKGvhppkBSWBAY-bE6x5pFzVkMoJG6XVwUmqXK0OVNs-WxwEKF6Zckzoh5NWm-1ay6uSvEZx7k0bC/s4032/20230514_104729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t80DOivcZEadfHxD6X4saK6Dt08HdiqJOgymB6PDAVgeAOQEsmidgpYJXjm0tMzxZXlzlr3a5D57prye0qWy3dkAyyGcb4M9lVTAcgR9lM51dECPKGvhppkBSWBAY-bE6x5pFzVkMoJG6XVwUmqXK0OVNs-WxwEKF6Zckzoh5NWm-1ay6uSvEZx7k0bC/s320/20230514_104729.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And so, we do too, we change. We adapt. We pause. We are thoughtful in our response. We grow. We barely know Persimmon South, our second restoration project amongst the beloved power house of conservation work - <a href="https://www.arcofappalachia.org/" target="_blank">Arc of Appalachia</a>, but we are anxious to. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jayfo7adxWw&t=3s" target="_blank">We planted American Persimmons</a> earlier this spring to start the wildlife habitat restoration of native plants. Steve found the hill top fertile soil eroded at the base of the hill and so we planted there, where nutrients and water collect. With all that feels wrong in this world, we offer our love and our efforts. <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVMMBPt56sbf-B4CUofmcEiVui3ZkxwI_wItmeNYOAgKxYPyDCxwISGt59hHzOQLiIMXHZRM0IPxQ9UMwwKfGrkGcTTwIqkNVa2e6coJfKPggSukhBUSazzroQtUD2V5PevRf3dx6pVvf3DBbRl15A_r1goqe_8kHh42HtgF32enl8OmX9mWJj9mDcMFE/s3024/20230521_095102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVMMBPt56sbf-B4CUofmcEiVui3ZkxwI_wItmeNYOAgKxYPyDCxwISGt59hHzOQLiIMXHZRM0IPxQ9UMwwKfGrkGcTTwIqkNVa2e6coJfKPggSukhBUSazzroQtUD2V5PevRf3dx6pVvf3DBbRl15A_r1goqe_8kHh42HtgF32enl8OmX9mWJj9mDcMFE/s320/20230521_095102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We are grateful for the others that do this too. It takes bravery, a risk or perhaps just a desire to say enough sitting on my bum, running around buying things and just get to work remembering where we came from and how we fit into this beautiful world. <a href="https://unitedplantsavers.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwkeqkBhAnEiwA5U-uM6bSarqqkd8Fs3cArbfrRbdp46Kn8OKWvzWtF3tRxUig2xvk15eNyBoCCp8QAvD_BwE" target="_blank">United Plant Savers</a> is doing just that. <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVXHDgcAxXIIPwIPp8VTNgVLt21DC4qd2IpZ93VKiWKEgZH6Hfzip6FM5GrE7CJkdG8gs4oFMk_NmjIFUl38YLWE4_gpvUMPcrbrX3kc96jjqMa8XcyFkxng6LghbAVHQdvg0wlD6ULYq4BLdO34pfKeeEEAU-yV-deAKwLt8nrLlDgD0xszS7RrU_cZu/s4032/20230510_150616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVXHDgcAxXIIPwIPp8VTNgVLt21DC4qd2IpZ93VKiWKEgZH6Hfzip6FM5GrE7CJkdG8gs4oFMk_NmjIFUl38YLWE4_gpvUMPcrbrX3kc96jjqMa8XcyFkxng6LghbAVHQdvg0wlD6ULYq4BLdO34pfKeeEEAU-yV-deAKwLt8nrLlDgD0xszS7RrU_cZu/s320/20230510_150616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHGJvs4iWTf_rg3rPRt_Ef5AXkZEF8-tJomUDZL4locNwkfqBrFBBjkYbtFK7BMZJ2aB7UhelsZtXFOqT6zygFHmHH_n55jt0cr9GERXPgqZUji_q5DSFpJfOnS9fYZDv64X_rlURdQlAKaI9T_uscxdFihpN5adrHEk1zzRIGer7DcBEPPJu9ThOyfkn/s4032/20230510_155936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHGJvs4iWTf_rg3rPRt_Ef5AXkZEF8-tJomUDZL4locNwkfqBrFBBjkYbtFK7BMZJ2aB7UhelsZtXFOqT6zygFHmHH_n55jt0cr9GERXPgqZUji_q5DSFpJfOnS9fYZDv64X_rlURdQlAKaI9T_uscxdFihpN5adrHEk1zzRIGer7DcBEPPJu9ThOyfkn/s320/20230510_155936.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvACDkkuc6nm5bImVn82JzG-M0hhLg8FKMvVchFyQV6UIaIH3B6tXGP4VC2XildOF6n0tsjXVgF1cfgDWy0bglnD6fP7DGGdmxgWn3ThiZcn6x3vrhRFJrJ9xRvSICM0JUlUWrkotLC7r69tOa1_flnlStGarnN6oDNfY1mk3k4dZInZpHFnnbYyJQzs7r/s4032/20230510_184549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvACDkkuc6nm5bImVn82JzG-M0hhLg8FKMvVchFyQV6UIaIH3B6tXGP4VC2XildOF6n0tsjXVgF1cfgDWy0bglnD6fP7DGGdmxgWn3ThiZcn6x3vrhRFJrJ9xRvSICM0JUlUWrkotLC7r69tOa1_flnlStGarnN6oDNfY1mk3k4dZInZpHFnnbYyJQzs7r/s320/20230510_184549.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A portion of this land was strip-mined for coal...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfhyJkY2aaZb6Yr0yZYGwczqGGA0tRQPfdSirlPsSI7CdX4hNBIUsdat4Qi0-jAr_PMLKRS3BIjUmh-8T-o6TqQv_A_K6S6wRWrVI6pjNxE4W-8AzdYQlCAE5ZAqqnRS4oWGDxJEh5IoG6Yt0Kd6u5G4wWakkZA0kozHNHO23fViG49pGVMS0a1ntYc8_/s4032/20230511_111926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfhyJkY2aaZb6Yr0yZYGwczqGGA0tRQPfdSirlPsSI7CdX4hNBIUsdat4Qi0-jAr_PMLKRS3BIjUmh-8T-o6TqQv_A_K6S6wRWrVI6pjNxE4W-8AzdYQlCAE5ZAqqnRS4oWGDxJEh5IoG6Yt0Kd6u5G4wWakkZA0kozHNHO23fViG49pGVMS0a1ntYc8_/s320/20230511_111926.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and you can still see the coal seams in the high walls. Thanks to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x4ao9Y3QkQ" target="_blank">strength and perseverance of humans</a> to right these wrongs and the hanging on of nature at the edges, this area is diverse, abundant and full of life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RkCjbdmqw0NpXGpdLSNrMpBfeDYxyBAWRUq3BkC3SGDycSUNUwP-rBF_I8zug2jugxFDnMrvqYi2w0kSHaMw2raEqg2vFwHaNq04KVYj5A-BNXNrmjQnSgx4MBEdKhFv43mF-Lk8m_led0sX_LMeskidS_6SFG0uwhuwXZfWtgoSF2CNQmVxYNHmdPcU/s4032/20230511_112024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RkCjbdmqw0NpXGpdLSNrMpBfeDYxyBAWRUq3BkC3SGDycSUNUwP-rBF_I8zug2jugxFDnMrvqYi2w0kSHaMw2raEqg2vFwHaNq04KVYj5A-BNXNrmjQnSgx4MBEdKhFv43mF-Lk8m_led0sX_LMeskidS_6SFG0uwhuwXZfWtgoSF2CNQmVxYNHmdPcU/s320/20230511_112024.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.artbyamandahorn.com/#/" target="_blank">Amanda Horn's</a> art reminds us of the power of seeds and the power of plants. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl5qTU9vGORCviFrtrdtNn5x6oCfBjnxR2EFnKq9wtn5F5Y4kzt2WYmOAFLCNUMuwGIppaNOmJIiI71gPxPyydLJWtEO4esKbpHD4Z6JXrTGWZLZPkTVrkI_ts9lpnXGW4BGdwEkZJFFqyMeBIargEX_BHP7KqNfyttK0nMpi6yK4lZn6vV0NCajl9Cv4/s4032/20230510_202029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl5qTU9vGORCviFrtrdtNn5x6oCfBjnxR2EFnKq9wtn5F5Y4kzt2WYmOAFLCNUMuwGIppaNOmJIiI71gPxPyydLJWtEO4esKbpHD4Z6JXrTGWZLZPkTVrkI_ts9lpnXGW4BGdwEkZJFFqyMeBIargEX_BHP7KqNfyttK0nMpi6yK4lZn6vV0NCajl9Cv4/s320/20230510_202029.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Plants are propagated like this Goldenseal...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDDJCMpaSFoT1JEY-tqwaYMjs1ofGiYynqvebgtTAQVXS5knv8iU7bQG_yeIaZFzU4j1ZgD5pTwXQOxtaQBtlt2ga7juquw0aABKmpYMs5vrP2SoPLdCM3d_UISHVJfUeG910yA570wm0WrI7p4xAxsYBIp5Esk1iwYYQdJ-KWiCd9yJ0I0Eey6KjMEoY/s320/20230510_201013.jpg" width="320" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and plants, like this Toadshade Trillium, grow and reproduce freely in magnificent, protected forest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIkoXRP3UirD35FANNUajVb8VT5beQ2XR9CyRzQpAbVNChL1A8iUVoH0APkNk0ZESFZ-37bDOu_92QlpETEXl_xJaYBx085q-8t3aiJy7qhWYtOW5zYO6rssmnh3kGPSRtW6NNKcMjPpTlCZg08w_KIh2MrjLbzeF3aDJbOVMa8eywLfPcuf6FwjDeaxq/s4032/20230511_122940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIkoXRP3UirD35FANNUajVb8VT5beQ2XR9CyRzQpAbVNChL1A8iUVoH0APkNk0ZESFZ-37bDOu_92QlpETEXl_xJaYBx085q-8t3aiJy7qhWYtOW5zYO6rssmnh3kGPSRtW6NNKcMjPpTlCZg08w_KIh2MrjLbzeF3aDJbOVMa8eywLfPcuf6FwjDeaxq/s320/20230511_122940.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is our optimism; there is your optimism. Even if they don't translate to hope, optimism is all we need. We can get this engine to turn. We can love one another. We can love the nonhuman life of the world. We can stop stripping the trees from the forests for bourbon oak barrels, for palm oil, for yet another field of soy and corn. We can stop pretending our chocolate is not being harvested by enslaved children or that our electricity comes without a high, high price. We can stop filling in wetlands for another lawn of mowed grass or a place to park extra cars. Let's be mindful. Let's be educated. Let's do our research before we believe what is presented to us on social media. Let's get to work. United and Strong. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We love you all! Thank you for your good work in the world. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soundtrack: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH3zoEvfYig&list=OLAK5uy_lZNyvrx-S4tAFoWtfqrWzgVtChAU3lhdo&index=11" target="_blank">I will Find a Way by Jackie Venson</a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-45131227092529037332023-03-19T12:42:00.002-04:002023-06-10T20:26:31.451-04:00The Miles We Walk <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are well within reach of our 75 mile hiking goal for the month of March and it's our tether....to our physical bodies, to our spiritual bodies, to the much larger than us natural, whole world. We are grateful for the opportunity to be in this world and so we walk and we observe. Sometimes we try to capture our joy in selfies and usually it goes awry. For one...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5pFA3jYicFf_pm6WwXOyeSYZCPPmmcByYnVYeRUSsfDX-td39X6OYBCwfu6QGtQmmyz3eipzEWfme9csCiMDJRzAumFxYWPpc83sdM5LCfpwtTLpwFS3dspS9JoPIasYQgkw9dEF-eowwpqRiZZ8-w20YmFjQJKPv82GkkF4wp2WzKy7DfFfLSutFQ/s2592/20230202_170935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5pFA3jYicFf_pm6WwXOyeSYZCPPmmcByYnVYeRUSsfDX-td39X6OYBCwfu6QGtQmmyz3eipzEWfme9csCiMDJRzAumFxYWPpc83sdM5LCfpwtTLpwFS3dspS9JoPIasYQgkw9dEF-eowwpqRiZZ8-w20YmFjQJKPv82GkkF4wp2WzKy7DfFfLSutFQ/s320/20230202_170935.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>and then the other...<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKNq6yy1_vMQkcnPGYjQItKVlxN-7DKp0n1maZzF5EdZ29xxdNJeIeVwc4bhdbQmRKz5vWcThaZBPojCsQ4bIMXL7QM6Vs5WPs_-CrAWZNxGgzn1JKxlls5KpjMoWU0lnxzHVKL6HOBshxOGruzlbXZWH-sodPNx31Yz6gD7pGxpRiAMgZIkGtwHASw/s2592/20230202_170950.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKNq6yy1_vMQkcnPGYjQItKVlxN-7DKp0n1maZzF5EdZ29xxdNJeIeVwc4bhdbQmRKz5vWcThaZBPojCsQ4bIMXL7QM6Vs5WPs_-CrAWZNxGgzn1JKxlls5KpjMoWU0lnxzHVKL6HOBshxOGruzlbXZWH-sodPNx31Yz6gD7pGxpRiAMgZIkGtwHASw/s320/20230202_170950.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>So, we forget about looking at us and walk anyways. We admire the beauty in the world outside of us, tempering overthinking inside of us. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ5QbmSuK1pchB7HLKie8IXKCuKCQGlZ4y-LzR-YThTkK3iln-wbNoHhP99pnQzmavvcTe0hfocvJPj2Ag86HwXc5PSL_1smN9woCNaZf4iHg-JmcE8hyfJ17IDc4rGDUM0VMz_W_QCG1iYP871v2uVqhnkzx22GOGvJYQjbXPwQhCC_0_Py1_ihjOw/s4032/20230208_145549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ5QbmSuK1pchB7HLKie8IXKCuKCQGlZ4y-LzR-YThTkK3iln-wbNoHhP99pnQzmavvcTe0hfocvJPj2Ag86HwXc5PSL_1smN9woCNaZf4iHg-JmcE8hyfJ17IDc4rGDUM0VMz_W_QCG1iYP871v2uVqhnkzx22GOGvJYQjbXPwQhCC_0_Py1_ihjOw/s320/20230208_145549.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX_Xfl5h6aIH1ja9uk3snysV5SC9oCtXVEuCkOFQf8pjk14x86sN55mAzaoSOLUePZawv2r4HkxIavQZ7PFLKgfHKhRoPNY3c5xMU3WMW6xVha8r7dsvFZkuDIN47BPd4tWmUwvJGcMymybAES7Tr-JGWosfIzBsJs7Et0EDtGIPNw1HhyvWHFlMeRg/s4032/20230208_152438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX_Xfl5h6aIH1ja9uk3snysV5SC9oCtXVEuCkOFQf8pjk14x86sN55mAzaoSOLUePZawv2r4HkxIavQZ7PFLKgfHKhRoPNY3c5xMU3WMW6xVha8r7dsvFZkuDIN47BPd4tWmUwvJGcMymybAES7Tr-JGWosfIzBsJs7Et0EDtGIPNw1HhyvWHFlMeRg/s320/20230208_152438.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNAM-FpNDdbJJUian-6G3n2lwOndZlqmLmMcBiI5awlR7c9qk-W-PZJ0ILkMckM629QNNBv075FTJFmCwGc3e0uPWSWA8X9DSINwCFQEy75pjqRdr96K6EhkB663LSUns8GoGH-oEkY45SCDy3mWMSmsJjiy5FXOixSl_V_sUc-zBoNB5tYyTDYIU-Q/s4032/20230226_112258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNAM-FpNDdbJJUian-6G3n2lwOndZlqmLmMcBiI5awlR7c9qk-W-PZJ0ILkMckM629QNNBv075FTJFmCwGc3e0uPWSWA8X9DSINwCFQEy75pjqRdr96K6EhkB663LSUns8GoGH-oEkY45SCDy3mWMSmsJjiy5FXOixSl_V_sUc-zBoNB5tYyTDYIU-Q/s320/20230226_112258.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Because of our nonconventional schedule, folks sometimes think we don't work, but we do. Steve is the primary money maker as a soil scientist doing soil investigations for septic systems. This boy knows soil and his ability to read the land is beautiful. If you think you know something about soil because you've read a lot or worked a garden, you probably don't. Take it from me, someone learning from someone in tune with his environment and observing soil for many decades, it's a wild ride of learning <i>and</i> unlearning. To make the best use of fossil fuels on far flung jobs and to take advantage of different hiking opportunities, I sometimes go along and watch birds or write while Steve operates his one man gig.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGbU1nQLSt3qbB1zG7v8ZcVou2oxfP28U1z8iNSyC4iPQEM9G9ZRwWqGJLk2j8K5IAhq0bgbKNeP7K6lnQYhg73SYTBLO-2yPhdHG1lDGcpC1KPV4Us5UkyqvkjKVH5e9XmZRQ8pZUCyyKC1EwBz8WnheaFFYY4Ge6gkSv6t5DYzSom5AgwYnffDCrA/s4032/20230213_122236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGbU1nQLSt3qbB1zG7v8ZcVou2oxfP28U1z8iNSyC4iPQEM9G9ZRwWqGJLk2j8K5IAhq0bgbKNeP7K6lnQYhg73SYTBLO-2yPhdHG1lDGcpC1KPV4Us5UkyqvkjKVH5e9XmZRQ8pZUCyyKC1EwBz8WnheaFFYY4Ge6gkSv6t5DYzSom5AgwYnffDCrA/s320/20230213_122236.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>He walks far, he bores holes deep, shallow and often in slop, in all sorts of weather, with all sorts of landowners and is more often challenged than not. Here we visited the Darby Plains not intact at this private residence, but at <a href="https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/battelle-darby-creek/" target="_blank">Battelle Darby</a> where we walked after, large acreages of land are protected and feeling the love and goodness of restoration. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfyM1MLV4YBg4_9pcrbhrkWA9X2gNi1SK4QSo_subGrfErSRhohkk9hjw7fXEz6tvglQDgEY42Ix4vmkeILjczYOK-fEj961fi70JSSriF-Vz7E-jOipwi-a_h8QNz27ioYfzQ3ZxejG8l8edlw0IRlNu_tBsz1lSTg3-l4GOhDMXf6vNASVfZDuogg/s4032/20230213_122330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfyM1MLV4YBg4_9pcrbhrkWA9X2gNi1SK4QSo_subGrfErSRhohkk9hjw7fXEz6tvglQDgEY42Ix4vmkeILjczYOK-fEj961fi70JSSriF-Vz7E-jOipwi-a_h8QNz27ioYfzQ3ZxejG8l8edlw0IRlNu_tBsz1lSTg3-l4GOhDMXf6vNASVfZDuogg/s320/20230213_122330.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The farming practices that make homogenous landscapes like the one above also fuel us. We make homemade granola aware of our oats and pepitas and what pecan orchards look like. We buy the best we can with what's available to us, ever aware that our food purchases directly impact the biodiversity of the land surrounding us all. Will our food growing practices continue to improve? We believe so, if enough of us say yes.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcH_k1dSnp2SkQUSc_jtGZ80hS3Wv3dk20TzmQhkOpAtFntMbBGdzIZexa3MpwxhOEK6eONi7QOG5bIDjXye3lQM0Lw3HTDJlcIV-Hnhz0aoAilcj22yL4YQhFZq96xb4fLpV3zGsCyXhaMtXPJVjUMY3cys5HgW9jge2p-9qxzEO1OIcuudaeZ4vn9Q/s4032/20230214_160354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcH_k1dSnp2SkQUSc_jtGZ80hS3Wv3dk20TzmQhkOpAtFntMbBGdzIZexa3MpwxhOEK6eONi7QOG5bIDjXye3lQM0Lw3HTDJlcIV-Hnhz0aoAilcj22yL4YQhFZq96xb4fLpV3zGsCyXhaMtXPJVjUMY3cys5HgW9jge2p-9qxzEO1OIcuudaeZ4vn9Q/s320/20230214_160354.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On our many miles walked, funded by Steve, fueled by Mother Earth, we observe the simplicity and the resourcefulness of the lives around us. I wonder what the ridges and valleys of tree bark might feel like to Winter Fireflies seeking warmth and protection from cold wind? </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2E8x3zGjBa_HMf3JWLHtmq9NQ8uJu70FpJM76UEwsIxRqCa6QzoA7_Sn45rxapOUOpmlj_I2mE6huZA1zkMJXXt54kCmpcec3vnJBGuFLtNRsoL2zfCDcSFAZcNiVyjCERZKsKAe2-6b9gd73moRUNj137beDRFu3asNgdH76NSDxmQWwRyKLmIrukA/s2723/20230301_121439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2723" data-original-width="2394" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2E8x3zGjBa_HMf3JWLHtmq9NQ8uJu70FpJM76UEwsIxRqCa6QzoA7_Sn45rxapOUOpmlj_I2mE6huZA1zkMJXXt54kCmpcec3vnJBGuFLtNRsoL2zfCDcSFAZcNiVyjCERZKsKAe2-6b9gd73moRUNj137beDRFu3asNgdH76NSDxmQWwRyKLmIrukA/s320/20230301_121439.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciwOk-HvlWoUWV0-8aEyqas_qpxiDLKHYzjvanWEADxRP5pe3QH8Na87d3en2NbPQBlWrnr-_-1_3dVBVRKkPqRh8m7BZ2L3krvFtMBstuz9dokpQB7xVwSmCsO4nztqFMbkoqG5PHA8w7LxSItaiEyuWDcvZ7W79z-uhnyd0OMKK8CccE6Y6ZH7kxw/s2063/20230306_115729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2063" data-original-width="1202" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciwOk-HvlWoUWV0-8aEyqas_qpxiDLKHYzjvanWEADxRP5pe3QH8Na87d3en2NbPQBlWrnr-_-1_3dVBVRKkPqRh8m7BZ2L3krvFtMBstuz9dokpQB7xVwSmCsO4nztqFMbkoqG5PHA8w7LxSItaiEyuWDcvZ7W79z-uhnyd0OMKK8CccE6Y6ZH7kxw/s320/20230306_115729.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wEikws3ERMnEleNQiVIhfwl2SGd5kNeO7QZuA6Pj-1zTh5ibotanFIHcml6CXU7BlnVWlG4dfMQ0XoE3H6lliY5mseuzETIqacCV1xajYjZx0YH_IQ_7PeLpe_XhvoML7iBf2QTWfbRrHdai5wyd0YGLLVSIngiqJQ2lLVOms8lNAhWP62A55tincg/s2149/20230306_131924.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2069" data-original-width="2149" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wEikws3ERMnEleNQiVIhfwl2SGd5kNeO7QZuA6Pj-1zTh5ibotanFIHcml6CXU7BlnVWlG4dfMQ0XoE3H6lliY5mseuzETIqacCV1xajYjZx0YH_IQ_7PeLpe_XhvoML7iBf2QTWfbRrHdai5wyd0YGLLVSIngiqJQ2lLVOms8lNAhWP62A55tincg/s320/20230306_131924.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Spring Treetop Flasher Fireflies join the Winter Fireflies in this ridge and valley landscape we have become so enamored with. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkHXyIpRFwfSEl7Naa7-GFBTIykC1SA3Vd0MaU_7D87pJOKWszE3xNRn6ghUkusqc4t5YzPDEgfzIW247J8O9ZhEFF7kolNZFsjvXS2Gm3Rp0_41EfaDOt5bGRIiMjsIzjvUCs_rHs2_MJU3M9FUlFyS6eAp1BkO-AHpwjo70H3vP9ZZ85y-Ga7cXEA/s3176/20230301_155922.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3176" data-original-width="2219" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkHXyIpRFwfSEl7Naa7-GFBTIykC1SA3Vd0MaU_7D87pJOKWszE3xNRn6ghUkusqc4t5YzPDEgfzIW247J8O9ZhEFF7kolNZFsjvXS2Gm3Rp0_41EfaDOt5bGRIiMjsIzjvUCs_rHs2_MJU3M9FUlFyS6eAp1BkO-AHpwjo70H3vP9ZZ85y-Ga7cXEA/s320/20230301_155922.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxfYSzHJAwyAXH2qhgGYKjdcV_yr5xS8h1jsurl8EPgc_K7okNDNrjuAb_uSO-kbSUDa8lAGHPGTAwRtSvGWA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div>In an almost unbelievable moment of bark exploration, Steve found a Harvester butterfly chrysalis. We find these fascinating butterflies (who live in relationship with aphids and ants in this forest), but this is our first find of their pupation chamber, where enzymes turn the insides to goo and a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. There is magic in miles walked and observations made when the self-mind turns quiet and the awe-mind turns on.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbSkJ0rntnfweaRmM2ejRAbGE0qPVI0YyTK2pdcZeVAAxW98n4M2z_ZZii5r8Mk4wWLjfD1Q-r6yZtcFTpGd9BSBRARHqhHKiP3Fskm8E2hYoBPHzGJCFmiy_JR3Ciy12qxIzeMI9NNW0rQIL2IZ68h1b2x3GbqMuX7TFJPoqr7YNiaJYbCYPBoJgJQ/s4032/20230315_133907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbSkJ0rntnfweaRmM2ejRAbGE0qPVI0YyTK2pdcZeVAAxW98n4M2z_ZZii5r8Mk4wWLjfD1Q-r6yZtcFTpGd9BSBRARHqhHKiP3Fskm8E2hYoBPHzGJCFmiy_JR3Ciy12qxIzeMI9NNW0rQIL2IZ68h1b2x3GbqMuX7TFJPoqr7YNiaJYbCYPBoJgJQ/s320/20230315_133907.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwlu1ycz5s9TF8UQTPaMTmFwOUfaHebTZg8AM-pzqBjEP8zxT35ZiX9hmFR0aXd1hFXZvHfGH500AE_UjRlhOuQTofbbcAFB6g6df2kB0GX-iJFgir4CnKK_cz2jVJt0ZGswsdg3Oqa8W_sePkbSb50YbIrixRzbv92nOBnrKlaghkLzYRl_cESETnw/s797/20230315_133903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="797" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwlu1ycz5s9TF8UQTPaMTmFwOUfaHebTZg8AM-pzqBjEP8zxT35ZiX9hmFR0aXd1hFXZvHfGH500AE_UjRlhOuQTofbbcAFB6g6df2kB0GX-iJFgir4CnKK_cz2jVJt0ZGswsdg3Oqa8W_sePkbSb50YbIrixRzbv92nOBnrKlaghkLzYRl_cESETnw/s320/20230315_133903.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These tree bark landscapes are so like the landscapes we walk.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZEkGjlAjhhv5ZuEIPkXzOT4REym5smdfhsM3hX0UkDHW4EGBKJJg9r3QlAnmJBOBMOP2Chj87bV5WZyTvOJmHKe60fu51DnmGyNMgrCd6e5ExkKbzfbR-TI-gkkMa-bwOTs33PhlqAiiDt0b-nDuH6cgc3jrhHyIgLkT0Ur7qsjwMx0liXHM4bMTXg/s4032/20230306_134056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZEkGjlAjhhv5ZuEIPkXzOT4REym5smdfhsM3hX0UkDHW4EGBKJJg9r3QlAnmJBOBMOP2Chj87bV5WZyTvOJmHKe60fu51DnmGyNMgrCd6e5ExkKbzfbR-TI-gkkMa-bwOTs33PhlqAiiDt0b-nDuH6cgc3jrhHyIgLkT0Ur7qsjwMx0liXHM4bMTXg/s320/20230306_134056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Rattlesnake Plantain...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwU8vfOcMkqV_RqqJwGADFPmOJI_5tik7Z5j3HNj07ry0pkL0WXHGYbXsuK5Cj4UJblAIhNgsQgAkyB0STgwo3hp0Y6jY_t_oYuH4R5Vok_LWJTXE7PyKDka22coH9og2hjEcglOlYIfrNr4lOUfBEW43Z8yjLuU_BnYoA4ZwkXT6G0mB61eN8rjAGQg/s4032/20230306_170032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwU8vfOcMkqV_RqqJwGADFPmOJI_5tik7Z5j3HNj07ry0pkL0WXHGYbXsuK5Cj4UJblAIhNgsQgAkyB0STgwo3hp0Y6jY_t_oYuH4R5Vok_LWJTXE7PyKDka22coH9og2hjEcglOlYIfrNr4lOUfBEW43Z8yjLuU_BnYoA4ZwkXT6G0mB61eN8rjAGQg/s320/20230306_170032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and Wild Sedum and moss also find shelter amongst these trees...in the leaves, on the roots, on the bark.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzolK8WP-KfJbzeOQ2R71YWaYqIjOXtDMWTtFiL-hRmlx-_cXtksufGQreqSk4UiRjOi_79PCnuQkm7zJ-URlR1w6W4azXu8s_edZeCuvxzNInh_Ck7wBEMsbtUrE5fY71on3OXYjb_xTCKnfExfME1MQfpbYO_scsiGeTiv79cX2A_qh9kNRuVk6EPw/s4032/20230315_172948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzolK8WP-KfJbzeOQ2R71YWaYqIjOXtDMWTtFiL-hRmlx-_cXtksufGQreqSk4UiRjOi_79PCnuQkm7zJ-URlR1w6W4azXu8s_edZeCuvxzNInh_Ck7wBEMsbtUrE5fY71on3OXYjb_xTCKnfExfME1MQfpbYO_scsiGeTiv79cX2A_qh9kNRuVk6EPw/s320/20230315_172948.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Shelter is critical for survival for all of us. I wonder about human shelter, in my critical thinking, sometimes overthinking mind. Why is it so extravagant? Why is it so big? Why is it not appropriate for weather without complex systems of heating and cooling? I am keenly aware of the multiplicity of over-the-top shelters Steve and I have. I marvel at the shelters created in our waste. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wa60OPLJwysMBLTaKolf59-U-pIWOxc8KlXIwHd8Xk8NBUQUnlJKyD8uZ7esXJsn2zWQUkft8dPynlb_36UablEAIdM0tTak6jkyxczx2iXm4Z6Jp1IzhxE0WGFEFK-q5T1lEtHjrfz0fPpjJEHMCNBCAqhm-D0aHa1Qqxg9zrK_y29kH8QbB2DxgQ/s5632/WGI_0004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wa60OPLJwysMBLTaKolf59-U-pIWOxc8KlXIwHd8Xk8NBUQUnlJKyD8uZ7esXJsn2zWQUkft8dPynlb_36UablEAIdM0tTak6jkyxczx2iXm4Z6Jp1IzhxE0WGFEFK-q5T1lEtHjrfz0fPpjJEHMCNBCAqhm-D0aHa1Qqxg9zrK_y29kH8QbB2DxgQ/s320/WGI_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAyUca4AlbbhDNZU9MFm89_I_qSQno2rdBgAgCr2tX_C4rBVOUldQxzhe-HbA-rTt6N6okNFdbFLnRqCmOSBcAXYXQGlqa9AwO8QdsWWSVI_i-_m6ureTX-xhvnUf9PKgo4--ITQu14wF2DcQQo3h80rGLDJTK45SZGhltgOGFZq_dwSmuyWRhNAZDA/s5632/WGI_0037.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAyUca4AlbbhDNZU9MFm89_I_qSQno2rdBgAgCr2tX_C4rBVOUldQxzhe-HbA-rTt6N6okNFdbFLnRqCmOSBcAXYXQGlqa9AwO8QdsWWSVI_i-_m6ureTX-xhvnUf9PKgo4--ITQu14wF2DcQQo3h80rGLDJTK45SZGhltgOGFZq_dwSmuyWRhNAZDA/s320/WGI_0037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT8killOE1VYChalfE6BOukzAfFf71XpoAd7dsglGwEhE0vBjml5eNXa0h7U8EKjun-yvs8vmIEFZ6L00pyDl9yUlEP-zHLDfU05_wS7gJDZdmsETVd3R7a3joSRPAB-R4FPrTVpyj7gIZbAoY08INuj95e6vbor4-5C7w8TZvERZZQL_VQf7vGIbgQ/s5632/WGI_0072.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT8killOE1VYChalfE6BOukzAfFf71XpoAd7dsglGwEhE0vBjml5eNXa0h7U8EKjun-yvs8vmIEFZ6L00pyDl9yUlEP-zHLDfU05_wS7gJDZdmsETVd3R7a3joSRPAB-R4FPrTVpyj7gIZbAoY08INuj95e6vbor4-5C7w8TZvERZZQL_VQf7vGIbgQ/s320/WGI_0072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKhWq8HqUtZwIhpuIeynaOc_WNo2HanSUXkNrJXfbb7HFvhfLQmiO2GeF2S3KYlymyB7Nr9aXFuZV29PBPTBD8oV1QrxQ90dmguLo7cn1i16cbfPj4NBclvsKtKvalhrIML2eAwQN9Q0c7tR-FMCi28CzF4dWJujK5zrAUAoax25BxQ_y68f2EFFcuw/s5632/WGI_0102.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKhWq8HqUtZwIhpuIeynaOc_WNo2HanSUXkNrJXfbb7HFvhfLQmiO2GeF2S3KYlymyB7Nr9aXFuZV29PBPTBD8oV1QrxQ90dmguLo7cn1i16cbfPj4NBclvsKtKvalhrIML2eAwQN9Q0c7tR-FMCi28CzF4dWJujK5zrAUAoax25BxQ_y68f2EFFcuw/s320/WGI_0102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPYs-vJhb6daWBhK44eaeuanfdVVYtCpjaRC_7xTrMX1sThCdPiV85vjdHdLPtYG2HVoQeL-S1NCgUbKzVswd0HBVQWCKPJBHky6NapbqyW7yZC_KiNWOovIQSM90wC3Dhjfo4KSACCG0U65pri98aOWCsOGmFlFEGXCfODPHsDDwZpIs-ES7-5jUnw/s5632/WGI_0184.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPYs-vJhb6daWBhK44eaeuanfdVVYtCpjaRC_7xTrMX1sThCdPiV85vjdHdLPtYG2HVoQeL-S1NCgUbKzVswd0HBVQWCKPJBHky6NapbqyW7yZC_KiNWOovIQSM90wC3Dhjfo4KSACCG0U65pri98aOWCsOGmFlFEGXCfODPHsDDwZpIs-ES7-5jUnw/s320/WGI_0184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We reconnect with our Earth ancestry in our walking. We mull over important and hard decisions and sometimes they spill out with clarity:</div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">These four walls cannot contain me and yet they do. They warm me, they dry me, they offer me refuge. We've painted the walls joyful colors and filled the rooms with inspired, treasured handcraft. What we didn't prepare for in our nesting is the care that is necessary for all these things and the cost to our spirits in the care. You see, our spirits run with the coyotes. They soar with the turkey vultures. They stand sturdy as the oak. Our spirits crave sun, rain, wind, barefootedness, contact with soil. Our spirits ask at what cost are we accepting comfort? Our spirits tell us, it is too high. Change. Move your legs. Touch the tree bark and smell the scented gray-headed coneflower seeds. Drink in the richness of the sky and the marvel of a functioning ecosystem. Remember. Rejoin. These four walls cannot contain you, but they will if you let them. Get less comfortable. Be more free. Rediscover where you came from. Nourish your spirits. Nourish the fireflies. Nourish the opossums. Nourish the forests. Nourish the wetlands, the rivers, the deserts, the mountains. Nourish the Earth. Find you again. Howl at the moon. Never forget. </div></blockquote><div><div><br /></div><div>And so we walk and we restore land. We are cognizant that this planet is not ours for the taking, that our spirits require nourishment. The future is bright. Tough choices will be made. The spicy sweetness of the spring blooming Witchhazel envelops us, bringing us home once more.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQGkP54Yd54Hc0VkNPmR43JE0esIvTgscv64FRw3FAHXA2aIzq_IHp5pTEfTB2LPMFytT2lzGuaJFdqG-J00cQFTout5Jif1p4-6J8jBb3n07-V6lSGWcxzo8JAZxz6P-yrpYpBs1Rhkidm0pLtld6HSFT8BMoo5ECGl2vcO5XE_CcpK5pzFWRfQf1g/s4032/20230302_164115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQGkP54Yd54Hc0VkNPmR43JE0esIvTgscv64FRw3FAHXA2aIzq_IHp5pTEfTB2LPMFytT2lzGuaJFdqG-J00cQFTout5Jif1p4-6J8jBb3n07-V6lSGWcxzo8JAZxz6P-yrpYpBs1Rhkidm0pLtld6HSFT8BMoo5ECGl2vcO5XE_CcpK5pzFWRfQf1g/s320/20230302_164115.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Soundtrack: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH3zoEvfYig" target="_blank">Jackie Venson, I will Find a Way</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Recommended Podcast (and Book): <a href="https://onbeing.org/programs/dacher-keltner-the-thrilling-new-science-of-awe/" target="_blank">Dacher Keltner, The Thrilling New Science of Awe</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://youtu.be/s5BKmlQghog" target="_blank">Forest Advocacy NEEDED for this beautiful place:</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Vc9o6LFLeZCTRdvpRe3WO6lA_UH2W06pU5EJy-b7tKKIveb1Te_i9cpS1fQnuLYiTlgGMPjaldrC0q7Tr_EOwDV-TvCbpwW80OF37Mi4uhzr1chOTAfs-0t4PSPz3uJ4a0nKX8-2HEV-14J9d_rzCQOupVTL_lBGGkWJrk9xUHmfc2EludChZEvrxQ/s4032/20210507_195807.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoPkgv1w1Ya1wjrK2vR-zt654tehe465Tz3_j0xW1R3ZUxX-_flmLaBstsrVfYKpua1Q8xjt_qdbEFH82uZnYQLQOsxCw2khdZx94mtYHLvONNecT3P-fmvjjpZmwna0GTC8gfZZNzToKDHmJ_EpLmLAgL9nwe1d4LkhYiGA0bdYsV9C6xgHqZ4cAlQ/s4032/20210507_195828.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoPkgv1w1Ya1wjrK2vR-zt654tehe465Tz3_j0xW1R3ZUxX-_flmLaBstsrVfYKpua1Q8xjt_qdbEFH82uZnYQLQOsxCw2khdZx94mtYHLvONNecT3P-fmvjjpZmwna0GTC8gfZZNzToKDHmJ_EpLmLAgL9nwe1d4LkhYiGA0bdYsV9C6xgHqZ4cAlQ/s320/20210507_195828.jpg" width="180" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Vc9o6LFLeZCTRdvpRe3WO6lA_UH2W06pU5EJy-b7tKKIveb1Te_i9cpS1fQnuLYiTlgGMPjaldrC0q7Tr_EOwDV-TvCbpwW80OF37Mi4uhzr1chOTAfs-0t4PSPz3uJ4a0nKX8-2HEV-14J9d_rzCQOupVTL_lBGGkWJrk9xUHmfc2EludChZEvrxQ/s320/20210507_195807.jpg" width="180" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk8MpEkUoKSIJ7-3-XDADYYNkYr63so15fPyJUXlUQGo1M1ES6lsRqreCfB3w6RdS0zrIkR7xsDA8PEZDc77m-CVBFnnwS4QxH4xeREi6iJMzffYhys28DErY6y817awNLjB-ieWfL0fIhkH-UQmsJt0S8LLT_4kCNvoRv3aq5UN90IgfO1vXC8b1ew/s4032/20220930_124620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLk8MpEkUoKSIJ7-3-XDADYYNkYr63so15fPyJUXlUQGo1M1ES6lsRqreCfB3w6RdS0zrIkR7xsDA8PEZDc77m-CVBFnnwS4QxH4xeREi6iJMzffYhys28DErY6y817awNLjB-ieWfL0fIhkH-UQmsJt0S8LLT_4kCNvoRv3aq5UN90IgfO1vXC8b1ew/s320/20220930_124620.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-89650366444234267682022-12-21T16:48:00.005-05:002022-12-21T16:54:20.948-05:00Coffee and Pumpkin: Fueling the Adventure<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What's the adventure? Well LIFE! What a gift to be here, in this moment. Truly. Look at these insect lives all prepared for winter. Holy moly, we are agog, day in and day out at the wondrous nature of life, in all forms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP79Kj3CIy_je-437m39_YfaG4WDcAEhdj14lumtI1HcccJqy-3HfcSFI3T7wUEzgMGm-ZECbmlc7V_a1zltN0iQ_-Hk8HIZEiMf7oyI3pM9LoMOCmxDf5wn8l5RzrSVRKomoBM3zbqXeDybUqK-Qnb6b4N9YdtPbwnR_MTbl8O8tk_6vQgD8V6SByQ/s4032/20221215_143600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP79Kj3CIy_je-437m39_YfaG4WDcAEhdj14lumtI1HcccJqy-3HfcSFI3T7wUEzgMGm-ZECbmlc7V_a1zltN0iQ_-Hk8HIZEiMf7oyI3pM9LoMOCmxDf5wn8l5RzrSVRKomoBM3zbqXeDybUqK-Qnb6b4N9YdtPbwnR_MTbl8O8tk_6vQgD8V6SByQ/s320/20221215_143600.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCzhKFXU_l1fKKV4Ww9Usko4sTshg2DljhWNN0JDuvwEFGtn2TnabKMzai-jjIoUVo-vEvQq6Q8o3M4Uu6FSETlOWLGMI2uwlmctRNDLMgA71lBaASyUV5MEK_q89uzDGzZjUUvxr4dSqZ5bMYMuAL9wUBCEOOuWODAmJGEPKUp44CJ30IAUcQq_WDQ/s4032/20221220_123351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCzhKFXU_l1fKKV4Ww9Usko4sTshg2DljhWNN0JDuvwEFGtn2TnabKMzai-jjIoUVo-vEvQq6Q8o3M4Uu6FSETlOWLGMI2uwlmctRNDLMgA71lBaASyUV5MEK_q89uzDGzZjUUvxr4dSqZ5bMYMuAL9wUBCEOOuWODAmJGEPKUp44CJ30IAUcQq_WDQ/s320/20221220_123351.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Question Mark or Eastern Comma chrysalis on American Elm...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZS5mK8lHPTW1dt_9HN9pHd7nuYcg8SN5y4UywhT_VUn2wS3QsTdmkHaNv9Vavfmo45A_ie6V9r60d-IFpPxJSi8EwcJ575JlB4wSwffJ_P3Vs1pvNr1lIo20PWtcyjgYdt0yU4DRFxvGyXjyIDUgDqWQTdRDgyN4BYA5s1w8sseZYusb1ZS7VSPee8w/s4032/20221220_140001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZS5mK8lHPTW1dt_9HN9pHd7nuYcg8SN5y4UywhT_VUn2wS3QsTdmkHaNv9Vavfmo45A_ie6V9r60d-IFpPxJSi8EwcJ575JlB4wSwffJ_P3Vs1pvNr1lIo20PWtcyjgYdt0yU4DRFxvGyXjyIDUgDqWQTdRDgyN4BYA5s1w8sseZYusb1ZS7VSPee8w/s320/20221220_140001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYoS6VURAsdkVE7p8teFfkhUf10k5Qq4RHWlz_m8ysidGSx769DHOzBFxlYA8aD_aNI15WR1RzzdD0C764opauTRYNARtxATmUaGiI3kui0xioVkaFJ-Efc1u3xOIgaSmd-msA8bQ_v7_nefr-D9dYig87BwFUZZtDGSaNH52YqUpRkMAazzqc1JMIQ/s4032/20221220_140031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYoS6VURAsdkVE7p8teFfkhUf10k5Qq4RHWlz_m8ysidGSx769DHOzBFxlYA8aD_aNI15WR1RzzdD0C764opauTRYNARtxATmUaGiI3kui0xioVkaFJ-Efc1u3xOIgaSmd-msA8bQ_v7_nefr-D9dYig87BwFUZZtDGSaNH52YqUpRkMAazzqc1JMIQ/s320/20221220_140031.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't say this tritely and I don't say this ignorant of the many challenges in this world, but we <i>are</i> alive and we have a duty to honor this gift. Steve and I personally have some chaff still to shed, but we are making progress. Our hearts are in nature, specifically exploration, observation, restoration and hiking. That sounds like enough to fill up the rest of these precious lives so that's what we are running with. We have found (as has everyone before us that followed their heart), you really do have to choose. Life DOES move on. You DO get older. Choose wisely once you know what's important to you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGCstN7an216hf4LY8mLhMBDI_9Ky_x7ZGt_F9LdkJ0xq77vKIPCTazxBWcCHGxxvzCaVmqE5hn2Y1py_KcIrIaajR9igpTuqQlPE2jvxBf_ImrIa4EJ0XCmB8dwl1AbLxF_YUUgZxgjnQelCUfEhlxKNsRB0Z3XZwIzDzhU04EcJr0-o2cHayNMynw/s4032/20221211_125208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGCstN7an216hf4LY8mLhMBDI_9Ky_x7ZGt_F9LdkJ0xq77vKIPCTazxBWcCHGxxvzCaVmqE5hn2Y1py_KcIrIaajR9igpTuqQlPE2jvxBf_ImrIa4EJ0XCmB8dwl1AbLxF_YUUgZxgjnQelCUfEhlxKNsRB0Z3XZwIzDzhU04EcJr0-o2cHayNMynw/s320/20221211_125208.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As most of you know, we love coffee. <a href="https://birdsandbeanscoffee.com/products/organic-dark_roast" target="_blank">This one</a> is our favorite and our sacred ritual every morning of drinking from the same well worn, ceramic mugs, while tending cats and watching all the birds in the still standing and tippy plant stalks is how we roll around here this winter 2022/2023. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On days when we head to Mohican State Park/Forest for hiking we also stop <a href="https://www.thebrickhousegrind.com/" target="_blank">here</a> for treats and an Americano. What you see in the photo is of course, a pumpkin muffin. I love most muffins and most baked items, but I really, really love pumpkin because not only does it taste so very yummy, but it fills me up. I don't like to eat right away in the morning, but once I do eat, I am usually hungry for the rest of the day so filling me up is a big deal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmyCY4IOsNDu2Uj2YHKlbDuPjixxevCQF9jhoMI453UgShX4_iS8A1Fer2qquo6_GhJZEBNwWsHeXk5fUdoP9dEohZRYWQP2B_3azpgZ2EdoZgRGy5PyS_7gUuPspuzBbM1o2AtVIDH_yxXgCVxQ4lfJapN22kgIp3rwy5aXkASEovu_mk3dtS-2HJw/s4032/20221202_112800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmyCY4IOsNDu2Uj2YHKlbDuPjixxevCQF9jhoMI453UgShX4_iS8A1Fer2qquo6_GhJZEBNwWsHeXk5fUdoP9dEohZRYWQP2B_3azpgZ2EdoZgRGy5PyS_7gUuPspuzBbM1o2AtVIDH_yxXgCVxQ4lfJapN22kgIp3rwy5aXkASEovu_mk3dtS-2HJw/s320/20221202_112800.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I get lucky around here because I am also married to a pie making man and he knows my adoration for pie and pumpkin and he also has to deal with me when I'm not full so he works to keep me full. ;)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARdHIfiZJJldfgyCz2_C-f-zuaWCJWqBGBSQImFO5wDqOt5-yeZQ5999modhum4Zc1-txgm3-9uV5ORia4XMpgJhBdCBLdaM4U6f7DhZ1AOmvfIfZkME833EoHFBzFgbC5P-x22mJsri274RiH6Zq6GmiX3gwZt5dErDX4GJ7Pu2pOdu8fOgEcGrv6Q/s4032/20221204_140932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARdHIfiZJJldfgyCz2_C-f-zuaWCJWqBGBSQImFO5wDqOt5-yeZQ5999modhum4Zc1-txgm3-9uV5ORia4XMpgJhBdCBLdaM4U6f7DhZ1AOmvfIfZkME833EoHFBzFgbC5P-x22mJsri274RiH6Zq6GmiX3gwZt5dErDX4GJ7Pu2pOdu8fOgEcGrv6Q/s320/20221204_140932.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Some days this caffeine fuels indoor paperwork and regular chores, </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KXakdNXHtyyY5vIV35KLa60O7eXY4dxpVgRZhpu6ZL704_nOBn_ux9OwPB0FM-X0wLZK-LqTbFq0r_VpDujIOwE5p32j1DRCyjxRq_heSRp8RSnpjfgEBBQrDpTU8hEg6XKgoyPayn0Q-IYWr2bt4WLVd0DOoYWtQ9B7sVulMo9uAcBkUAKB0eD1Hg/s4032/20221211_162008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KXakdNXHtyyY5vIV35KLa60O7eXY4dxpVgRZhpu6ZL704_nOBn_ux9OwPB0FM-X0wLZK-LqTbFq0r_VpDujIOwE5p32j1DRCyjxRq_heSRp8RSnpjfgEBBQrDpTU8hEg6XKgoyPayn0Q-IYWr2bt4WLVd0DOoYWtQ9B7sVulMo9uAcBkUAKB0eD1Hg/s320/20221211_162008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>and other days we use it to explore in all weather and at all times of year. Beaver at Gleason Family Nature Reserve in Morrow County made an incredible impoundment that attracted a late migrant American Bittern early December. As they were flying over and south, how could they not see it? Impossible. The water is so big and so flashy brilliant, it beckons life from all around. And how could we not see the bittern, just a foot off the trail and put to flight by us chattering humans? Also, impossible. So we delighted and exclaimed and felt like the luckiest people around.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ti3gZp9CsGY7QelT3IGqiawxENxLlMq6FPzY2G9FyWoAnuZbc6JVrtAVITKMokagwYJoueVqf6jqfPHa3Od4GMdlI3RXNlogyi0KgTmd6GzsQ3f3X9lCm_wq9E5Kv9O45mGsfz1uVHGgA654f7ZKlAHAew7sTQ_JRuId87hQIH1QkOxqYhHXeBI5RQ/s4032/20221205_124819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ti3gZp9CsGY7QelT3IGqiawxENxLlMq6FPzY2G9FyWoAnuZbc6JVrtAVITKMokagwYJoueVqf6jqfPHa3Od4GMdlI3RXNlogyi0KgTmd6GzsQ3f3X9lCm_wq9E5Kv9O45mGsfz1uVHGgA654f7ZKlAHAew7sTQ_JRuId87hQIH1QkOxqYhHXeBI5RQ/s320/20221205_124819.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Hiking big miles is harder when we have a morning ritual that lasts as long as it lasts and the days are dark by 5 p.m., but we get out anyways and hike as long as we can. 6 miles on this day took us through chestnut oaks and white oaks and black tupelo. We ate lunch in this spot right here:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JgVduSzp8s7xE6HKhtPiaTaWROaB0CgV76alreE-3RXJ_K8tmoEN8CzWdZGlT3SzsvU1QBuoqcUtJGUOCn92iF4q6zgC9UQLIf7F28OEE_cN5Lkhjvz2-8lbKKig32O9gfM63vzmpmjPusT1nvE54W0Z_qjNHoUJjL7jijj8FqoWpRVAyXkLRGhLXg/s4032/20221208_180551.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JgVduSzp8s7xE6HKhtPiaTaWROaB0CgV76alreE-3RXJ_K8tmoEN8CzWdZGlT3SzsvU1QBuoqcUtJGUOCn92iF4q6zgC9UQLIf7F28OEE_cN5Lkhjvz2-8lbKKig32O9gfM63vzmpmjPusT1nvE54W0Z_qjNHoUJjL7jijj8FqoWpRVAyXkLRGhLXg/s320/20221208_180551.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and marveled at these itty bitty mushrooms at home in the leaves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5Eo9UaN91itbZVB3_m0pKB0MI64e7DqpzQQyIsx8XVyUgadlNer4EH-PZcyy5-BWv6ewGLB6_DBgD-9IvBmmUxmlKqjg535K0UXOGYug8L-YKdP5lBVv_b-Is7b7NOyvoLqw99gXC5FpU9EEdV5UQBTkpuJ_FNX6R7VNKWS-5IbynrYRUIbkVnIk3g/s4032/20221208_180614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5Eo9UaN91itbZVB3_m0pKB0MI64e7DqpzQQyIsx8XVyUgadlNer4EH-PZcyy5-BWv6ewGLB6_DBgD-9IvBmmUxmlKqjg535K0UXOGYug8L-YKdP5lBVv_b-Is7b7NOyvoLqw99gXC5FpU9EEdV5UQBTkpuJ_FNX6R7VNKWS-5IbynrYRUIbkVnIk3g/s320/20221208_180614.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">We sometimes lunch in another spot and watched, at the very end of summer, a Bald-faced Hornet queen go directly into a hole in this rotting log. This is no doubt her overwintering spot and so flabbergasted were we to be present and paying attention, I am still pondering this hole and all the other holes and crevices where little creatures are tucked in and safe for winter. So much hardier than we, are they.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiJe2YpMSNP-9srBWC7LiMcJqxHIEkyr-GwJJ_h9MNmHsZQ36Q81Wm6EBd7j8Vsu0XTam1NF-qed_w4ycJgJHl8LrIdXM7dR2B9w4dhU_UlFpEsoB4jhP4cXRskMkWxmyGSz-SjrX-x4JlewxBqsPyZs1ccWPItFPkeRWvhK_z84sGX4hES9YvATXEQ/s4032/Bald%20Faced%20Hornet%20Winter%20Slumber%20Hole%20at%20Mohican%2010.22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiJe2YpMSNP-9srBWC7LiMcJqxHIEkyr-GwJJ_h9MNmHsZQ36Q81Wm6EBd7j8Vsu0XTam1NF-qed_w4ycJgJHl8LrIdXM7dR2B9w4dhU_UlFpEsoB4jhP4cXRskMkWxmyGSz-SjrX-x4JlewxBqsPyZs1ccWPItFPkeRWvhK_z84sGX4hES9YvATXEQ/s320/Bald%20Faced%20Hornet%20Winter%20Slumber%20Hole%20at%20Mohican%2010.22.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p>The red squirrels that live on these 3.5 shared acres don't need caffeine, but somehow maintain boundless energy. These black walnut caches in all plant joints around are seriously cracking us up. Look right in the middle of this pokeweed and you will see a black dot. That's an intact and ready to eat black walnut. They are everywhere around here. Though my father would love it, we hope they aren't planning for a snow this deep.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouy_M_ydbODn4A3WdNp38nn8qGkQNY1Bbl5AdusSQw0F9p2MeYmyRHzNz7dJZe_o2vdJZxE7lqs_48otm8pa4V95nBqhPFp7RnBAILoudDyklQ6Bbrc2Og9PzRCXcdj5pVBeO3Z5_5LxJlS9Wax2XG6mycwuBA91gYbzVPoojyhBJpUIHq9igE5UcLQ/s4032/20221209_132024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouy_M_ydbODn4A3WdNp38nn8qGkQNY1Bbl5AdusSQw0F9p2MeYmyRHzNz7dJZe_o2vdJZxE7lqs_48otm8pa4V95nBqhPFp7RnBAILoudDyklQ6Bbrc2Og9PzRCXcdj5pVBeO3Z5_5LxJlS9Wax2XG6mycwuBA91gYbzVPoojyhBJpUIHq9igE5UcLQ/s320/20221209_132024.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13s7_036DhY" target="_blank">brush pile enhancement</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoxUgI5BRm0" target="_blank">stream water bar addition</a> are fueled by a deep desire for restoration. It's something fundamental in us. We have to do it and then it's so miraculous we have to do more. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjekhkbP4w7rgZ_EpCLB99wq86RG_04zw483Dn14y_VJKJfQ20H1ytKBo8gRSDMM3Iqqur343qaza5s6h96Q4paaT2dI70FpvhJeiegGuTEp8cXEBR_uDDO04yHZ6tRm63uoTvVMta1BrupyHCqneQwoCt7WsrdF1YLYYiMHLXtzpqgo6M-6qYtM7EQ/s4032/20221209_134757.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjekhkbP4w7rgZ_EpCLB99wq86RG_04zw483Dn14y_VJKJfQ20H1ytKBo8gRSDMM3Iqqur343qaza5s6h96Q4paaT2dI70FpvhJeiegGuTEp8cXEBR_uDDO04yHZ6tRm63uoTvVMta1BrupyHCqneQwoCt7WsrdF1YLYYiMHLXtzpqgo6M-6qYtM7EQ/s320/20221209_134757.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUUwDF_4KkXFz4LdB93BMAC3wGJ3jA7ehc24HGfDv4YSbIfQV0iM_FMmemNxEeUgZ3fI82iaccBBIy39gqhbOBHqV0DrJg9gSpKHp5zDZm1nYjV5eT5bMd1YtG96N9t48A77FukBe2CscpY69qC8gs-j-u9sZoJjjsjOmxZqNRuxWkWUHf7S5QYfgzg/s4032/20221209_140354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUUwDF_4KkXFz4LdB93BMAC3wGJ3jA7ehc24HGfDv4YSbIfQV0iM_FMmemNxEeUgZ3fI82iaccBBIy39gqhbOBHqV0DrJg9gSpKHp5zDZm1nYjV5eT5bMd1YtG96N9t48A77FukBe2CscpY69qC8gs-j-u9sZoJjjsjOmxZqNRuxWkWUHf7S5QYfgzg/s320/20221209_140354.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZ9Kzox3aQupmvsDGS10Rt8qB-JM0g3_vcjWx4YIpe1drudYZ6ylDvHgY5mL3SDwO1ilTBOoMShXV2AQLBoRz-TMzEQTflxksZTdVosJ6C_GXzvH_I5yCm7_6OIuiEweVp9FmRJCsvGkLxVBjVJwyqlY0E-RyWcKCGll-7kQ4UrB_4_t2jNwX6x97BQ/s4032/20221209_140402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZ9Kzox3aQupmvsDGS10Rt8qB-JM0g3_vcjWx4YIpe1drudYZ6ylDvHgY5mL3SDwO1ilTBOoMShXV2AQLBoRz-TMzEQTflxksZTdVosJ6C_GXzvH_I5yCm7_6OIuiEweVp9FmRJCsvGkLxVBjVJwyqlY0E-RyWcKCGll-7kQ4UrB_4_t2jNwX6x97BQ/s320/20221209_140402.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Water connects us all and if you watch the video above about our stream restoration, you will hear I mention maps. Maps are fantastic. They are the keys to the landscape and giant worlds to explore in your mind and then on foot or however you can. This little hand drawn map from long ago shows the headwaters of so many major Ohio rivers and streams, all originating here, in this little loved and fairly abused (where isn't though really? we are from the Great Black Swamp...) Morrow County. Magic is in the making though here friends. Magic, I tell you. Committed humans, righting many wrongs. It will be longer than our lives no doubt, but it's beginning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeZe1aQpgKm-zxD5sPnHp4LGgmH2A-BoNNx7tnPt5kr4V-A4lsSwPbx2bODZIRRppjfzoRBPhUC87XFLVICnynIGTTvR3H4oprRy6YdjN2OwHxKl_DFD9QVeibE_sb41jDZjl6053VSTqhPJEPZLdzBD-2oOiZzJ7ctv4rosi8kyQtCv3KryTfOTKcA/s1890/received_616628120159286.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="1888" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeZe1aQpgKm-zxD5sPnHp4LGgmH2A-BoNNx7tnPt5kr4V-A4lsSwPbx2bODZIRRppjfzoRBPhUC87XFLVICnynIGTTvR3H4oprRy6YdjN2OwHxKl_DFD9QVeibE_sb41jDZjl6053VSTqhPJEPZLdzBD-2oOiZzJ7ctv4rosi8kyQtCv3KryTfOTKcA/s320/received_616628120159286.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>As an affirmation for the restoration, little gifts of apples and persimmons, and their desire to live, this Eastern Cottontail alerted us to someone coming in from the east. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTTQ0fvx6OemGlsG0DlkfCCe9p8WzBQuywwCIira32cK0gks6w4gJkHYETt0FnvKdv_7yqOBzI7jl_0ePre7obvd7uDCcPHHcQeo81HIiOggGMzF2Mg9LqHU2IM9npHDcFJWendoWBAn2hg9I3PPgRGo9RmLSKhukG5kIfay2Y85TOMaD6TdfiLHarA/s5632/WGI_0320.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTTQ0fvx6OemGlsG0DlkfCCe9p8WzBQuywwCIira32cK0gks6w4gJkHYETt0FnvKdv_7yqOBzI7jl_0ePre7obvd7uDCcPHHcQeo81HIiOggGMzF2Mg9LqHU2IM9npHDcFJWendoWBAn2hg9I3PPgRGo9RmLSKhukG5kIfay2Y85TOMaD6TdfiLHarA/s320/WGI_0320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Oh, and how right they were. A Red Fox. Not common around here due to all the human fear, but still here. This one decided the apple was their snack instead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlqmwlpbQtyY-0orWdYUMVDTtYtRfOeNylYVqQ0CrP1AXvGYzI9hhOgDB-wq8AqJf0x_MKoa2IfNmsq97yHR1nlgWmWqZeicINJMgXS67XT4ll9o8VEK9-MsYK590A755ID2UrDOCStbaueo8TM5ZGdrch9uBhO7EOJrr2Llr6VWN8lbQnYwBdA_Ixw/s5632/WGI_0321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlqmwlpbQtyY-0orWdYUMVDTtYtRfOeNylYVqQ0CrP1AXvGYzI9hhOgDB-wq8AqJf0x_MKoa2IfNmsq97yHR1nlgWmWqZeicINJMgXS67XT4ll9o8VEK9-MsYK590A755ID2UrDOCStbaueo8TM5ZGdrch9uBhO7EOJrr2Llr6VWN8lbQnYwBdA_Ixw/s320/WGI_0321.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcRfrj7lo-R-qiSbQQFV1Um64Kah_r0mQFde0Nw0VJ6Q1T5W6Jrso6fQWdhVfxH5Jc35t_RQURbmMl_QTK18rhsh_GMwPkyRKl-2dNJ6t78VNewXdZfASTEUVFL83g9SQgNtG8akSaxa9T4fPHCSm_O_dqhxLrt0iGaosMSFu8Gr1qtbmSFou5XFDFQ/s5632/WGI_0322.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcRfrj7lo-R-qiSbQQFV1Um64Kah_r0mQFde0Nw0VJ6Q1T5W6Jrso6fQWdhVfxH5Jc35t_RQURbmMl_QTK18rhsh_GMwPkyRKl-2dNJ6t78VNewXdZfASTEUVFL83g9SQgNtG8akSaxa9T4fPHCSm_O_dqhxLrt0iGaosMSFu8Gr1qtbmSFou5XFDFQ/s320/WGI_0322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />And with that, we wish you a very Happy, Happy Winter Solstice. We made it! From here, it's just brighter and brighter and brighter. <p></p><div><br /></div><div>Soundtrack:</div><div><br /></div><div>because it's time...</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nlkcIsIAyE" target="_blank">Things We Do by Indigenous</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1GU1qQ1zQ" target="_blank">The Weight by Robbie Robertson</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NK93OE2XBo&list=RDMM&index=4" target="_blank">Scenic World by Beirut</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38PQT8_hVyo&list=RDMM&index=2" target="_blank">Umbrella by Chicago Farmer</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's be good humans.</div><div><br /></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-42451609867231649342022-09-23T20:06:00.001-04:002022-09-23T20:11:08.868-04:00Summer of Sweetness and New Beginnings...<div class="separator">I missed the first flock of 30 broad-winged hawks kettling higher and higher into the sky, but I didn't miss the next 20; Steve made sure of that, dear love of mine. </div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jQAF_s7qaFyyEs9mZjfNc0zCGYKVxFzM4H8KEgRq_w7pDaPlQiWMtDI5aVjGkQzDVoKu6N82NBAxcFrA9cfb2dYPY4ly1t8gYbtwfkkf_CDLxRklDArQp7D7K78W7YyvVt9n1IThu8frX2dCDq3i5kavxWrDeSALKEM3exxHY4-88111YQZkJw1W9A/s4032/20220905_193017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jQAF_s7qaFyyEs9mZjfNc0zCGYKVxFzM4H8KEgRq_w7pDaPlQiWMtDI5aVjGkQzDVoKu6N82NBAxcFrA9cfb2dYPY4ly1t8gYbtwfkkf_CDLxRklDArQp7D7K78W7YyvVt9n1IThu8frX2dCDq3i5kavxWrDeSALKEM3exxHY4-88111YQZkJw1W9A/s320/20220905_193017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We haven't missed the thousands of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDee_L0CeiM" target="_blank">monarchs</a> and green darner dragonflies resting and feeding in the plants or cruising over. Migration is a time we pay rapt attention. Everything is changing, everything is in flux and we find ourselves caught between two worlds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbXbxYYnnl6p822Vad8uZPfSkEAv8F7GOgunYqyTcak748q0TOr6t9q3g5og7Xom5f5OVyaidaxmRtEoGpfBliP6ApKyxBlx13w-_xjRM3phlOlW1B3w_30cIcB5w0JJG9Ka9woa71arw4P4HUMnECDeUDYj2ZZWAcGEP2swIWx8Am0GstocLVmW7SA/s4032/20220923_134926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbXbxYYnnl6p822Vad8uZPfSkEAv8F7GOgunYqyTcak748q0TOr6t9q3g5og7Xom5f5OVyaidaxmRtEoGpfBliP6ApKyxBlx13w-_xjRM3phlOlW1B3w_30cIcB5w0JJG9Ka9woa71arw4P4HUMnECDeUDYj2ZZWAcGEP2swIWx8Am0GstocLVmW7SA/s320/20220923_134926.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqnSMvRms14QoubsYaAEzefBrvA4umgmNOHgXTygojZ4-RSzEhQCTZmw8GD0slWqPMBtsH37zFG3DO-0VorxCHD1uexZRqaA7rX68y44BpoMUSI6pW4DLZY_HQN8kyitg4oNhaPdhkCuRGsGiavYvW0tAkj4CmDsliA3sBn5JnZITX6hSlHDx9rxiCg/s4032/20220922_194526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqnSMvRms14QoubsYaAEzefBrvA4umgmNOHgXTygojZ4-RSzEhQCTZmw8GD0slWqPMBtsH37zFG3DO-0VorxCHD1uexZRqaA7rX68y44BpoMUSI6pW4DLZY_HQN8kyitg4oNhaPdhkCuRGsGiavYvW0tAkj4CmDsliA3sBn5JnZITX6hSlHDx9rxiCg/s320/20220922_194526.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every morning we get up, make our coffee and sit at our table with the cats and look out the south door towards the cup plant, <i>Lactuca</i>, pokeweed, ragweed, spicebush and Mother Black Walnut. We wait with anticipation for the sun and start excitedly sharing directions where to look and descriptions of color patterns when the warblers and other migrating birds and insects come into view. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievehFradNnL8v8by0Uulx0hD0ORjJmtj3kjTuzBqzFNzEiDsGrJjlasfbHSZZjAAlIhEg2KGWaaOsL5zeZ28abwF-rLzPTuxKkO-n5Uz9g4Zus6-KWdPY6cq7oc3bI6ZeQ8FfwMzsMnJ8CpOYcQ4wSdCuKjX743AnTR30PHlVi4HeFqb1VUJWdirsBg/s4032/20220909_195503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievehFradNnL8v8by0Uulx0hD0ORjJmtj3kjTuzBqzFNzEiDsGrJjlasfbHSZZjAAlIhEg2KGWaaOsL5zeZ28abwF-rLzPTuxKkO-n5Uz9g4Zus6-KWdPY6cq7oc3bI6ZeQ8FfwMzsMnJ8CpOYcQ4wSdCuKjX743AnTR30PHlVi4HeFqb1VUJWdirsBg/s320/20220909_195503.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0xqOt-goTWSg88nKyqhtM-qY5vyth3VTOG0Y7zx5WyQBlK0HAMV7lyAUvTRZIyGmGVDlHupVRK4yy-SQXf6_3SCrfn1MAY0IpUF16ZWWv5sqXqE6h6ssNLnSvgrEd7pYaxpwE0ZxV3sbxolDEEyvazL3YgI12pvgannpGktG_lPbFsx4Cgnv5F68CQ/s4032/20220912_182431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0xqOt-goTWSg88nKyqhtM-qY5vyth3VTOG0Y7zx5WyQBlK0HAMV7lyAUvTRZIyGmGVDlHupVRK4yy-SQXf6_3SCrfn1MAY0IpUF16ZWWv5sqXqE6h6ssNLnSvgrEd7pYaxpwE0ZxV3sbxolDEEyvazL3YgI12pvgannpGktG_lPbFsx4Cgnv5F68CQ/s320/20220912_182431.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>In the afternoon, we lay in our west facing chairs and watch the western sky, a highway leading to lands far, far away. I can't get over it. How we don't have to chase migration. How these plants growing right here on this land are so filled with insects and fruits and seeds, that birds and insects migrating to Mexico, Central and South America are stopping here to refuel. It's these native plants and the connectivity of the plants. It's AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING. It makes logical and scientific sense ecologically, but knowing that we helped with the restoration and said please come back and that they responded in such a huge way, still makes me giggle in awe and love and pure devotion to this planet. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT9yEbaU9DncWzfRtPgstX-WUk5FDFlxfjaelV-pwURdQBYT8qfynQGbn9HBCJ5d_PWltwWgyOD57lI4mzQUcHct9XL420j30bXbWLqr5QRpFxSYaU7gf-sNh2gcVrVJM0HHh0ujSA4Riy4yuGPO407NgQjQOO7IsDos0fIthNHY5M_p62so5-fRR7w/s4032/20220905_192932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT9yEbaU9DncWzfRtPgstX-WUk5FDFlxfjaelV-pwURdQBYT8qfynQGbn9HBCJ5d_PWltwWgyOD57lI4mzQUcHct9XL420j30bXbWLqr5QRpFxSYaU7gf-sNh2gcVrVJM0HHh0ujSA4Riy4yuGPO407NgQjQOO7IsDos0fIthNHY5M_p62so5-fRR7w/s320/20220905_192932.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpKBHz46Fss5qCqj0pNn45Pwkj2xoI2dRsCztWs3vc2Z1Wwhu2bF8nyG7Y6TNNuBvPZoGGYrstsBqvy6tUWflvd4bG4s-kkXe0bR4V7K8CdVaqy0n3n5ySWhlLzRnviD3GukWA86WpgrI_0oXjNfKnvvDGyT2r5SXiBgfWKtjJZpHbcextlQgsFpYIw/s4032/Walnut%20Caterpillar%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpKBHz46Fss5qCqj0pNn45Pwkj2xoI2dRsCztWs3vc2Z1Wwhu2bF8nyG7Y6TNNuBvPZoGGYrstsBqvy6tUWflvd4bG4s-kkXe0bR4V7K8CdVaqy0n3n5ySWhlLzRnviD3GukWA86WpgrI_0oXjNfKnvvDGyT2r5SXiBgfWKtjJZpHbcextlQgsFpYIw/s320/Walnut%20Caterpillar%20(4).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIwJu-fD9GlnYsOi1XzHkKq5TB4_3jrsi1OTaoW8kG77pzJtyGQWhFEc-A_Olk7xrweInFMPAErmHwJ5OP7RJmdgqezwrLvOC_Z47AuNcdKHeevAJUuwgabmO7qnlVeykWlrlzdrqrONjuMtJbILUnVr8MQclXvOwmnY5EvtEEBghWhGpvOzGxwAa-Q/s1888/Spotted%20Apatelodes%20on%20Spicebush%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1888" data-original-width="1888" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIwJu-fD9GlnYsOi1XzHkKq5TB4_3jrsi1OTaoW8kG77pzJtyGQWhFEc-A_Olk7xrweInFMPAErmHwJ5OP7RJmdgqezwrLvOC_Z47AuNcdKHeevAJUuwgabmO7qnlVeykWlrlzdrqrONjuMtJbILUnVr8MQclXvOwmnY5EvtEEBghWhGpvOzGxwAa-Q/s320/Spotted%20Apatelodes%20on%20Spicebush%20(2).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wmxwtYfQ9b29swf3g397JSdto3eOkzPvixOSwls0LabZWt-6EsdJpBcS3S-Q0pBThJ7YKgbZjwmwXe6xXR63JobOjP2mlMzFNHALx6hMOkLzkWKqgIsIauG405wdUCmmlPsgT31GSJG1eiaMFVIUIUaVwwFCioK2lA5uDbDNGMEbm2UUSJcY8uC7Og/s3024/20220526_172030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wmxwtYfQ9b29swf3g397JSdto3eOkzPvixOSwls0LabZWt-6EsdJpBcS3S-Q0pBThJ7YKgbZjwmwXe6xXR63JobOjP2mlMzFNHALx6hMOkLzkWKqgIsIauG405wdUCmmlPsgT31GSJG1eiaMFVIUIUaVwwFCioK2lA5uDbDNGMEbm2UUSJcY8uC7Og/s320/20220526_172030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Part of this stopping here by migrants, I am certain, is because resident birds and insects are abundant and loud right now, because they also find plentiful food here. The American Goldfinches are a daily chorus of 30 or 40 birds. The juveniles are catching up with their parents and it's a wonder to witness them feasting on the abundant cup plant seed crop. We found <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPZ6R1uegEs" target="_blank">one of their old or abandoned nests in a goldenrod</a> and I know part of the trust of these migratory birds to stop here on mornings when they don't have to, is the certainty in the voices of their bird relatives, that this place is safe and full of food.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_19uhtO9Vx2nuWGQmchDHcX-xaR13zbyFy3IRg5_kiUE3qN9OmA2fHfYHBU4bsXlh1Jm_AHOANk0WoQoED3y_DH7EkHomYC-3Mzz-vHW4FS3QEcgYJQ9b0NTltZuVTqM2c-AgK2YHkKm2dU2DoOSBsEuDOqS2FxjnUjqGy7qEN7WNP2ns7Aa5UyvFQ/s4032/20220914_173727.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_19uhtO9Vx2nuWGQmchDHcX-xaR13zbyFy3IRg5_kiUE3qN9OmA2fHfYHBU4bsXlh1Jm_AHOANk0WoQoED3y_DH7EkHomYC-3Mzz-vHW4FS3QEcgYJQ9b0NTltZuVTqM2c-AgK2YHkKm2dU2DoOSBsEuDOqS2FxjnUjqGy7qEN7WNP2ns7Aa5UyvFQ/s320/20220914_173727.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyWGyRqZp__fNm20WKD3YuotiRSAxF5zFWuiShNOSM1s17sit6Y3CO3DrfXgrXEEnaku3YPSeOMrBSvxTlySvrpepfMak9_zqyjEmM6jcgZkVvWoNs3AZHSYDI4u-kMxlLBPwJ9N98jRe5IyRHKeiUI_gFaJh9IQgfNU0f16tzmK36uxCB8HsVJz-9Q/s4032/20220914_180801.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyWGyRqZp__fNm20WKD3YuotiRSAxF5zFWuiShNOSM1s17sit6Y3CO3DrfXgrXEEnaku3YPSeOMrBSvxTlySvrpepfMak9_zqyjEmM6jcgZkVvWoNs3AZHSYDI4u-kMxlLBPwJ9N98jRe5IyRHKeiUI_gFaJh9IQgfNU0f16tzmK36uxCB8HsVJz-9Q/s320/20220914_180801.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVUXJYc9wT5oFPf3GDWF1gLxkpcXqJ3Jof8CvmiB5ElwI6iAAS1x7-gsRGB7axsdiFqXHdnaZIIF2Mo2RnyUiY_LNe8SNoK_HLGAAujTaEFuHFq0ehF2P1bNSAhZZDHeHq0IwTlzglo70hNzqPg22V6j9Vryu21tzU4-v4GmGic-Ffnp24bx7nJX7Qg/s4032/20220914_180814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVUXJYc9wT5oFPf3GDWF1gLxkpcXqJ3Jof8CvmiB5ElwI6iAAS1x7-gsRGB7axsdiFqXHdnaZIIF2Mo2RnyUiY_LNe8SNoK_HLGAAujTaEFuHFq0ehF2P1bNSAhZZDHeHq0IwTlzglo70hNzqPg22V6j9Vryu21tzU4-v4GmGic-Ffnp24bx7nJX7Qg/s320/20220914_180814.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>I'm glad they feel that way, because we do too, on land that is more their land than ours. We pass through these places on footpaths made for us humans, by humans, but we see them along the way.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBFy957oycer8DNii2urxdLnGpgigQdILs4Eg5CHS77wHw5w-HKUt5TIbICMcQLWzY2PhTaUOdYkh7oaN0z4N8ksmxwyMEZj-kiguAPGQXQd5OEf8HYNB_CSD4Lznjl-Qs6lZjLcyWbTqqHSc9ZMAnttNseoEf2n3gGuOp8xKqw0D9THMXhNrwI8G-A/s4032/20220815_191916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBFy957oycer8DNii2urxdLnGpgigQdILs4Eg5CHS77wHw5w-HKUt5TIbICMcQLWzY2PhTaUOdYkh7oaN0z4N8ksmxwyMEZj-kiguAPGQXQd5OEf8HYNB_CSD4Lznjl-Qs6lZjLcyWbTqqHSc9ZMAnttNseoEf2n3gGuOp8xKqw0D9THMXhNrwI8G-A/s320/20220815_191916.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSCOs-JmOqMpOsz2PTYkrdlPj3MbgBhWD3KyK7_VT19J5a4G9FNL-BanxCrUG2txac3Oo3gbEX8_LuKsWfEHYijHs4klGuDDhuXCW5E8H90hMyXSPiSao28ZOUQK-98xZrGAxfwuWKpcraNlUCQG2GbldkKjQFfCVqQMbEfeaLlsPb2HtqBVTZERwHw/s4032/20220922_150829.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSCOs-JmOqMpOsz2PTYkrdlPj3MbgBhWD3KyK7_VT19J5a4G9FNL-BanxCrUG2txac3Oo3gbEX8_LuKsWfEHYijHs4klGuDDhuXCW5E8H90hMyXSPiSao28ZOUQK-98xZrGAxfwuWKpcraNlUCQG2GbldkKjQFfCVqQMbEfeaLlsPb2HtqBVTZERwHw/s320/20220922_150829.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwWybQvRGQjz24Df56l9zB4vnLPRmpaFw1SVofWdiaYzOH8tJ8K8V0iv_2sQgHMhQgTWXsY2hYeWIIDeKTKjQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjRZRPuhfQSHtcz7T42qZyCPp0mSEp2I53usKESRxshiTItDrD13MCdha10EzlVy3bYYdyWvjjVMZVlK-q9L5x6tdLIEquxVNUSAY2J0AtuH4yXBUa9CKo-K8xKF3wUQ6KH7BDmSkBURCtBQ6MGOhXUQpVdoap2yr6vewE8QXT4MEkAIyO0HvIOH8BA/s4032/20220902_153009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjRZRPuhfQSHtcz7T42qZyCPp0mSEp2I53usKESRxshiTItDrD13MCdha10EzlVy3bYYdyWvjjVMZVlK-q9L5x6tdLIEquxVNUSAY2J0AtuH4yXBUa9CKo-K8xKF3wUQ6KH7BDmSkBURCtBQ6MGOhXUQpVdoap2yr6vewE8QXT4MEkAIyO0HvIOH8BA/s320/20220902_153009.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx97aOwPxn51OqjRYwijsrXMiG5m-GzvmZ2QJuP78U6eGQ_slxcj8d3YB_I45sAKimiFvdBM8m_fDMsB1D8wg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We always work to honor them by saving them and giving them space when theirs is being taken away. In this moment, it's goldenseal and allies. You can see the video we made <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZlja9M2oeY&t=181s" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_a2lB2evZXnzWlVB7khslqA1wLQahMNBq-okJAVBuUC5zPoTdO1YE_25_mU526kSR5VnvWroXDW-qZvHH1iGhSVlm7M6kwo4kptkH9Wclx7bMHuzXINY60HGJ9l5QcA-BjzCfVSQpf-yGj0e7ZWCLdmAOI9JmI4FpLz9Y8KNFIMlZ8ncrm3JAjNL3g/s4032/20220909_114836.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_a2lB2evZXnzWlVB7khslqA1wLQahMNBq-okJAVBuUC5zPoTdO1YE_25_mU526kSR5VnvWroXDW-qZvHH1iGhSVlm7M6kwo4kptkH9Wclx7bMHuzXINY60HGJ9l5QcA-BjzCfVSQpf-yGj0e7ZWCLdmAOI9JmI4FpLz9Y8KNFIMlZ8ncrm3JAjNL3g/s320/20220909_114836.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We can't move the Mother Trees that bind them together in a mycelial web in this forest, but we hug those trees and wish them well in this world and thank them. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsi80tH_VlwAoMyisvBL5R93XN-l8xyzKWHQfN4EJ2IFnMczCKdywPOCGcNJ4052hKvaDiH8HEL-eY3v3qQqnDezHpM3rjBPhhj8Np1mW5f8nCyDyqrVHn3C-5J0VPUaXLMt_W3yOYPmj94PxcG2zJGPd0v3vCGPuIFF668liFriZ4B9UH5k3hFGu9g/s4032/20220909_120036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsi80tH_VlwAoMyisvBL5R93XN-l8xyzKWHQfN4EJ2IFnMczCKdywPOCGcNJ4052hKvaDiH8HEL-eY3v3qQqnDezHpM3rjBPhhj8Np1mW5f8nCyDyqrVHn3C-5J0VPUaXLMt_W3yOYPmj94PxcG2zJGPd0v3vCGPuIFF668liFriZ4B9UH5k3hFGu9g/s320/20220909_120036.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCKRdFBBOaUvV-OGNZ8_SJgionsQAQrGSc9mXlDEqKU_7yiV8OmT5tUB_0qrEu-Fk7hyA4J_gW_QcpedoDwwXESjGovHo8kr-HYXr7H3najsZ5hCswLJnc8vhoWBDTIbMkj_4n7_Lg-FA4bfJdA38Fo4zxyfQ82q42sF6GCpbukbtT_cOoCf10A2jqw/s4032/20220716_155035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCKRdFBBOaUvV-OGNZ8_SJgionsQAQrGSc9mXlDEqKU_7yiV8OmT5tUB_0qrEu-Fk7hyA4J_gW_QcpedoDwwXESjGovHo8kr-HYXr7H3najsZ5hCswLJnc8vhoWBDTIbMkj_4n7_Lg-FA4bfJdA38Fo4zxyfQ82q42sF6GCpbukbtT_cOoCf10A2jqw/s320/20220716_155035.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also hug the Mother Persimmon we annually gather from and even got the word to do so from a fellow Persimmon World follower who said, "That is a Grandmother!" Absolutely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGj0DyRVQRmDbcZn2W9lLLFbaGG11nl3G5Ct8MVAIB-hIydEbW3Svp3xOxKLcpI5VZ4EXAZklG79T7qFm1hncaf4KsVCe8G791EOBSbN4dOvHEsJwvg4Ky1QPuDVpxISZhIpYqdLDYxrGb9H4QD0-IE133fE9ib9ZVwfLYXzaJ_JckG0ApUZ_sngJ9g/s4032/20220909_195428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGj0DyRVQRmDbcZn2W9lLLFbaGG11nl3G5Ct8MVAIB-hIydEbW3Svp3xOxKLcpI5VZ4EXAZklG79T7qFm1hncaf4KsVCe8G791EOBSbN4dOvHEsJwvg4Ky1QPuDVpxISZhIpYqdLDYxrGb9H4QD0-IE133fE9ib9ZVwfLYXzaJ_JckG0ApUZ_sngJ9g/s320/20220909_195428.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9seaDpWlY9C34dRGjFM0KapuG40ZPe5mB2KE9LZwgmMqRlaI5IQSBfgO3TQGx2O7eCq9TkU0hjlaNpBMA554QWHKnii8GKwk63rFv-wuKJg5cffL0XiGEWLjf-cE-nhLzXWhA8eMenWxFANMSZs2hCsDtoT60hBjnWcSrLbxifl3ojntEKfceMXhSg/s3397/20220909_195537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3397" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9seaDpWlY9C34dRGjFM0KapuG40ZPe5mB2KE9LZwgmMqRlaI5IQSBfgO3TQGx2O7eCq9TkU0hjlaNpBMA554QWHKnii8GKwk63rFv-wuKJg5cffL0XiGEWLjf-cE-nhLzXWhA8eMenWxFANMSZs2hCsDtoT60hBjnWcSrLbxifl3ojntEKfceMXhSg/s320/20220909_195537.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpADzfHMePSWaAIqnUb4RTyPtp_Wk1LstQ7jWB6GD4ouoaY2alhQujXcbBEsxUvq-h82aBiPmBnSp826B3jWpxVZ_03FY6yhncdcfIJbWyg053bjF5zjpHamCBdUQ2Ka4860fFIx6h12bLtUm92YaWzhJE3Hw5zVsz_37SFNB_P7o_Wo46rlYlpi2_uQ/s4032/20220909_195553.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpADzfHMePSWaAIqnUb4RTyPtp_Wk1LstQ7jWB6GD4ouoaY2alhQujXcbBEsxUvq-h82aBiPmBnSp826B3jWpxVZ_03FY6yhncdcfIJbWyg053bjF5zjpHamCBdUQ2Ka4860fFIx6h12bLtUm92YaWzhJE3Hw5zVsz_37SFNB_P7o_Wo46rlYlpi2_uQ/s320/20220909_195553.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJhSuJgkorktK696nfhZRQR0dxxDMdMK5bXr7qyw0C0lfYwqHdzTVeJLx4LwLAOU87CblMw2WJ0PaXZZbOgZITzp_Y_RBcOBfjllIzjjISkeYo6Gfsj_J6f6ZHvCP5wowJ0vaR044VPqvOKT-nTDhZLxCs8p8NfL7VkKtsguauDWYFwk_0Q3F-Xxuaw/s4032/20220911_170205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJhSuJgkorktK696nfhZRQR0dxxDMdMK5bXr7qyw0C0lfYwqHdzTVeJLx4LwLAOU87CblMw2WJ0PaXZZbOgZITzp_Y_RBcOBfjllIzjjISkeYo6Gfsj_J6f6ZHvCP5wowJ0vaR044VPqvOKT-nTDhZLxCs8p8NfL7VkKtsguauDWYFwk_0Q3F-Xxuaw/s320/20220911_170205.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Progeny:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUI-64Gf7AJAM4hd_1Ei7X9pl85wW0ahWaZzRMQhU5e2xxCY_z5N5xP5Dc6Vv2AHH8X94wNwrypsGf4dl_XCQ6YIXJAByz9jGu7WefAziwdW_4zxfZ2I30k38HT6aPteUzVtDEXF-A5T_2FGjSFqoJcL423PRYpw0XhOOmMPkNWoy937Dkfh5W9QTxg/s4032/20220820_122255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUI-64Gf7AJAM4hd_1Ei7X9pl85wW0ahWaZzRMQhU5e2xxCY_z5N5xP5Dc6Vv2AHH8X94wNwrypsGf4dl_XCQ6YIXJAByz9jGu7WefAziwdW_4zxfZ2I30k38HT6aPteUzVtDEXF-A5T_2FGjSFqoJcL423PRYpw0XhOOmMPkNWoy937Dkfh5W9QTxg/s320/20220820_122255.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I told Steve I want to follow the birds and butterflies and warm weather and in the future we will, but not quite yet. This year we had/have other plans. Like discovering the magnificent Carrion Flower at our niece's wedding celebration... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJIyifq1wfzmwyQz8-SnQI2dem5BNQAiA6TLZCsBO_bZxOHJHMyUxo46m7ydRkJ90kMjnZH7774QGzZNv-Onvp6KRvffXSBL5uL-N4fVJbuwQvDpXNA2bYd6E8ExxWFEVd1cSuPqY5NU8Cw03z4RsMoPHbSodsAgMIe_vFoRNNAQJPDRTCvJA-0aEkQ/s4032/Carrion%20Flower%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJIyifq1wfzmwyQz8-SnQI2dem5BNQAiA6TLZCsBO_bZxOHJHMyUxo46m7ydRkJ90kMjnZH7774QGzZNv-Onvp6KRvffXSBL5uL-N4fVJbuwQvDpXNA2bYd6E8ExxWFEVd1cSuPqY5NU8Cw03z4RsMoPHbSodsAgMIe_vFoRNNAQJPDRTCvJA-0aEkQ/s320/Carrion%20Flower%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm3l-N90WKem15Z0IwIwLv4Pm5gb-IuZ6yedgn50M7U1e0k8vSZwZVLaB2tDYp-5garNU1nnXTVFM0WDQpO8amRaSVpao8kxV9EZ-2ohtmj8KkWMigmh-272zVuUVNcMLHliEAZCEVY37vllC25amdGw_O7_poB-1JOd_0W-anPXwQa-MuB1GFLu2yQ/s4032/Carrion%20Flower%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm3l-N90WKem15Z0IwIwLv4Pm5gb-IuZ6yedgn50M7U1e0k8vSZwZVLaB2tDYp-5garNU1nnXTVFM0WDQpO8amRaSVpao8kxV9EZ-2ohtmj8KkWMigmh-272zVuUVNcMLHliEAZCEVY37vllC25amdGw_O7_poB-1JOd_0W-anPXwQa-MuB1GFLu2yQ/s320/Carrion%20Flower%20(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and spending time with family...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG4oEwNnPkUC7AfxTdPCun_CvqqhoMdV7sb4rgpV2Y9JHVotYAZBF6mHFuG2kz5zJ8DgQ-vgydbwr2huN3X0esYf7zXCTFldOHdBdSaJBQKex8X_VcKd6kerZyjsKvgTroboIn8DoRjh4Wc8J7w6yaWhHRWvhjEY5vCaJyDvirmSfWAogfmzPkm9-Eg/s2048/Whits%20Wedding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG4oEwNnPkUC7AfxTdPCun_CvqqhoMdV7sb4rgpV2Y9JHVotYAZBF6mHFuG2kz5zJ8DgQ-vgydbwr2huN3X0esYf7zXCTFldOHdBdSaJBQKex8X_VcKd6kerZyjsKvgTroboIn8DoRjh4Wc8J7w6yaWhHRWvhjEY5vCaJyDvirmSfWAogfmzPkm9-Eg/s320/Whits%20Wedding.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>and friends... <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4n5YIWNTvd2Qpvs3okMDzaUC_DXuwRL-yXn-IiibOwCgzTQEOJZblnJ4aHLFHVUvQRplYnePWNkRby2xSrHlzKmCLNboiqfGK9ZU4xE751iStIwKANtSfQZey8k_8RaVwmYhBqFfeccwBZY11IT0JLT5Ie5IXezKhi_o3FwrLwCP8vo8PGF85kEPHQ/s4032/20220810_140637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4n5YIWNTvd2Qpvs3okMDzaUC_DXuwRL-yXn-IiibOwCgzTQEOJZblnJ4aHLFHVUvQRplYnePWNkRby2xSrHlzKmCLNboiqfGK9ZU4xE751iStIwKANtSfQZey8k_8RaVwmYhBqFfeccwBZY11IT0JLT5Ie5IXezKhi_o3FwrLwCP8vo8PGF85kEPHQ/s320/20220810_140637.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>and 3 kitty cats that are happy to be lounging in a stick built house. <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJtIIv7YGmEFHf4cB4y_7m6yGz1k4p0ZGHK31j1awMdpmlIji03_QvtYN0CaRelh1w3Lwwe8Ep_gAidnEWvcCv9T4pKmOVILCQbXwJu_e-F0AW3N77RfJca798kud-FQQ6JzCIHUGdE1pXM0GT0jO9gLRB7xH-OmfHl2jPuct_14zjFRG5s2-UrJNLQ/s4032/20220822_140024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJtIIv7YGmEFHf4cB4y_7m6yGz1k4p0ZGHK31j1awMdpmlIji03_QvtYN0CaRelh1w3Lwwe8Ep_gAidnEWvcCv9T4pKmOVILCQbXwJu_e-F0AW3N77RfJca798kud-FQQ6JzCIHUGdE1pXM0GT0jO9gLRB7xH-OmfHl2jPuct_14zjFRG5s2-UrJNLQ/s320/20220822_140024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zoHlogD3ikKwcFvU3q-WHODMaacrYmpt9UZB36J-TejRrT1pqboLfpzsUHOcpQUyljtOHN6ok8Y9pWMnPHVRfKJbWGD917Jn69DoDWMOqIMoJMnUSYkrV6wV_U_WgyjvTrTeVbYTF9qwPPTztEN2D1qdA2LPIMyUjaLXjwLtA6A8osbE6FaJPjVoOg/s4032/20220901_135524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zoHlogD3ikKwcFvU3q-WHODMaacrYmpt9UZB36J-TejRrT1pqboLfpzsUHOcpQUyljtOHN6ok8Y9pWMnPHVRfKJbWGD917Jn69DoDWMOqIMoJMnUSYkrV6wV_U_WgyjvTrTeVbYTF9qwPPTztEN2D1qdA2LPIMyUjaLXjwLtA6A8osbE6FaJPjVoOg/w240-h320/20220901_135524.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are also getting back to our roots. Pure nature. Less home projects. How could we do anything else when there are black ratsnakes to ogle?</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dW6Xt6nki3dqYk4sjTeLxgrRDiai44GMW9OCyNP3ONlxXTgxzCw5Q7c_jDxHP-AIDDZIYRCbjgHS9WvHiuW52b6hb93IoGkO2PBk6fcSB5F0Tp4DSRivJ4sWe3PS7LIozrhqZV1BSDLlcu2Up_myMd3dJ6b29AVLU3rJGP-5Q_zyKHxHtrvfgDtk7Q/s1890/Rat%20Snake%20Beauty.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="1888" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dW6Xt6nki3dqYk4sjTeLxgrRDiai44GMW9OCyNP3ONlxXTgxzCw5Q7c_jDxHP-AIDDZIYRCbjgHS9WvHiuW52b6hb93IoGkO2PBk6fcSB5F0Tp4DSRivJ4sWe3PS7LIozrhqZV1BSDLlcu2Up_myMd3dJ6b29AVLU3rJGP-5Q_zyKHxHtrvfgDtk7Q/s320/Rat%20Snake%20Beauty.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>And <a href="https://www.listeningtoinsects.com/" target="_blank">late summer songsters</a>?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsY4dPmgZ2cGLOTMU5WYq1s_r7tPZT__d4u6jr6PsDLNvm8IxylgjwOcnsbFoBg5La2Jz9eLyXvfLWyyDBN_4cj6dT59427LGzppPCYTF1UZE9qRKylNMdXTvj2CMRZbthwV_7mClyVqagd11CcXqp1WURUKASSy0c7EJhX--bCXdWUEW72Tgf7Gi4EA/s4032/20220820_123857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsY4dPmgZ2cGLOTMU5WYq1s_r7tPZT__d4u6jr6PsDLNvm8IxylgjwOcnsbFoBg5La2Jz9eLyXvfLWyyDBN_4cj6dT59427LGzppPCYTF1UZE9qRKylNMdXTvj2CMRZbthwV_7mClyVqagd11CcXqp1WURUKASSy0c7EJhX--bCXdWUEW72Tgf7Gi4EA/s320/20220820_123857.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_SxR-XAx7_oI23lbE_3YnfPoSlMmszlAHIN6dwNejidGFRqQnenybzb75VNjBcjmQ6-l4ZOOOHzgIwY1ev3ieoplnHBpV0LRA8brSt-gLS33u8XqQrtlQpe9G3glNvqhatKbG2GsZI-7PwJ6BpNQX6Y3ttkEOjQ3F4YD_NATsRn6QZIZZRXe6XeDXg/s4032/20220816_122246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_SxR-XAx7_oI23lbE_3YnfPoSlMmszlAHIN6dwNejidGFRqQnenybzb75VNjBcjmQ6-l4ZOOOHzgIwY1ev3ieoplnHBpV0LRA8brSt-gLS33u8XqQrtlQpe9G3glNvqhatKbG2GsZI-7PwJ6BpNQX6Y3ttkEOjQ3F4YD_NATsRn6QZIZZRXe6XeDXg/s320/20220816_122246.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div>And hoverflies to receive love from? Ok, maybe they did want my salt, but maybe also they were saying hi? They aren't saying they weren't so I'm saying they were.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1o3juXVN4CqECEJZFKRwmwBdTCrWXgVgjys27wuq5jBSm3G7A96CUX6GxrPNwT17YQC9LiU6m8AzFFL362vrw8vSLXgVaPCFD58aMP3IZBTUnNkQ76weY8DDVuSx7FtnhlinAhp_iW9XLJ_tvmgnWEu2wq6xhy7I3S8LgrxfjikgAZJ9mZmF-5123A/s4032/20220816_122242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1o3juXVN4CqECEJZFKRwmwBdTCrWXgVgjys27wuq5jBSm3G7A96CUX6GxrPNwT17YQC9LiU6m8AzFFL362vrw8vSLXgVaPCFD58aMP3IZBTUnNkQ76weY8DDVuSx7FtnhlinAhp_iW9XLJ_tvmgnWEu2wq6xhy7I3S8LgrxfjikgAZJ9mZmF-5123A/s320/20220816_122242.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Morrow County is blowing up with development faster than we ever dreamed and if everyone would share space, we would be doing a dance of joy, but they aren't, so instead, we agree with the sentiment of this mammal:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0oIXIBnF3ZX7DqlQ4X_8tvoNvPFNDNu0J9znBhRf44IoSd3Qk9ZdvFjbqTnd7hyzadpiy8OkWSVt-RtIk5kD9NE3oCsU72VKOOG2OnbqWqBXigVYvXcSHsz0PdjpuofdHhfKrpeh3Efn3mV-llRXgSCkM_qpKNyRCHPj5GI5VPCVWJprgwa39zddiQ/s4032/20220608_105813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0oIXIBnF3ZX7DqlQ4X_8tvoNvPFNDNu0J9znBhRf44IoSd3Qk9ZdvFjbqTnd7hyzadpiy8OkWSVt-RtIk5kD9NE3oCsU72VKOOG2OnbqWqBXigVYvXcSHsz0PdjpuofdHhfKrpeh3Efn3mV-llRXgSCkM_qpKNyRCHPj5GI5VPCVWJprgwa39zddiQ/s320/20220608_105813.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>And to counter the devastation somewhere safe and somewhere we can afford, we bought another property. This one in Highland County in southern Ohio. This 10.2 acres will be loved, tended and restored by us and then donated to the <a href="https://arcofappalachia.org/" target="_blank">Arc of Appalachia</a> eventually. We hope to find a place for our 3.5 acres in Morrow County....so all these lives are safe and protected. We can't wait to hike further onto this land this winter - the winter that we are staying put to tend land in Morrow County, land in Highland County and ourselves. The <a href="https://youtu.be/HV2y7ATCJYo" target="_blank">cabin is already moved</a> to a new home and the land is breathing a sigh of relief. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlApr4atQI1Kz-a7InYdv0RXpnuonlPjdjqpH6z5RdHlRTcSfKkSUgkuBAfooVksUv8Jeef8Ec37fwfH6eKTanRm1z8ZQhXg6DBL9gLE19xGQdf6IAXfMKcYbsgkuWOidCCGbGFJm778Ay6NPL2PY-LrhffGO_00iiGtshE2G38zWoSn2RlcYbwKKNNw/s4032/20220627_141512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlApr4atQI1Kz-a7InYdv0RXpnuonlPjdjqpH6z5RdHlRTcSfKkSUgkuBAfooVksUv8Jeef8Ec37fwfH6eKTanRm1z8ZQhXg6DBL9gLE19xGQdf6IAXfMKcYbsgkuWOidCCGbGFJm778Ay6NPL2PY-LrhffGO_00iiGtshE2G38zWoSn2RlcYbwKKNNw/s320/20220627_141512.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sadness enveloped this land for a while, but now new hope is given. Death and decay always lead to rebirth. Thank you, Tim G., for your much needed clarity and generosity of friendship. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNmc2QnaWiJcXUwQSpNV6wtW-RF1zbDcSbYCICmwUUwHBqS3kQfif1ZUJQYNtr3ATObEucJFy5nXpS7TpT2HW__nqdZu2KoR7sYus4VCfcs-Sh_XZl2OqzPuhmKIegJP1zn4IWI3Ub6UeDIgO3TbNQBJQKLWm3ZFHirG-9Ss6nsc4mrtX2HV0YBhmOA/s4032/20220822_105429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNmc2QnaWiJcXUwQSpNV6wtW-RF1zbDcSbYCICmwUUwHBqS3kQfif1ZUJQYNtr3ATObEucJFy5nXpS7TpT2HW__nqdZu2KoR7sYus4VCfcs-Sh_XZl2OqzPuhmKIegJP1zn4IWI3Ub6UeDIgO3TbNQBJQKLWm3ZFHirG-9Ss6nsc4mrtX2HV0YBhmOA/s320/20220822_105429.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLSJN3w2lvhAz9qjKdtZ4KHIG2cYU5M2lN1QypHl5lAWx7xWT2XfdsbHYJhP-EYn0W__RMIxXUYDOBRz844n2fuj50fGdZwN0VehrfD0Qwk0MHkwtbc3AJzR4qwjsceWlUGsWPY-aSnyJ1L0p3s4Voh_oqg4sEQRj3r_in7Qp4rfHBqLpdXHC2EZwOQ/s4032/20220826_140149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLSJN3w2lvhAz9qjKdtZ4KHIG2cYU5M2lN1QypHl5lAWx7xWT2XfdsbHYJhP-EYn0W__RMIxXUYDOBRz844n2fuj50fGdZwN0VehrfD0Qwk0MHkwtbc3AJzR4qwjsceWlUGsWPY-aSnyJ1L0p3s4Voh_oqg4sEQRj3r_in7Qp4rfHBqLpdXHC2EZwOQ/s320/20220826_140149.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And with that friends, we bid adieu. We wish you a Happy Autumnal Equinox and a season full of richness of heart and spirit. Thank you for protecting this Earth with us. It heartens us to know we are all united together, in community with one another, working for abundant, respected and diverse life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOIEmSHxg-cctcNbBtQidz3BuZpdJBPOPhSXhgw2H43WAVLlW31Z2zxUqfEQKcdwCRvzNDZagAcQFgimVtr1OgLXtV9e0cHCu7SiKRCuyNxXavewkKDBsbrSHTMGhWsTwSwF6Jwib5HiJbmh0Zk-A9l8HvSC4bZIUM0E7iM5wlpttheQoCZuLeSZlQw/s4032/20220815_182919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOIEmSHxg-cctcNbBtQidz3BuZpdJBPOPhSXhgw2H43WAVLlW31Z2zxUqfEQKcdwCRvzNDZagAcQFgimVtr1OgLXtV9e0cHCu7SiKRCuyNxXavewkKDBsbrSHTMGhWsTwSwF6Jwib5HiJbmh0Zk-A9l8HvSC4bZIUM0E7iM5wlpttheQoCZuLeSZlQw/s320/20220815_182919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHSMiFsgV_j4WRybKDHHDUCkejWMh8FIiorqhEgQAs3MxisCY5GrsO6-AxyNY2Ybgj4PjdP_lj2_x_39YkfYc05BipD_yecZi9i74hn6McJT7JUj9BcOzGmRN7RUcjzUsv4tbpJCtqJXSjaAwM7BoQKU0ccpnFT4d_1Bj0sPAf4hA1WEZBIydTNgRiA/s4032/20220912_125408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHSMiFsgV_j4WRybKDHHDUCkejWMh8FIiorqhEgQAs3MxisCY5GrsO6-AxyNY2Ybgj4PjdP_lj2_x_39YkfYc05BipD_yecZi9i74hn6McJT7JUj9BcOzGmRN7RUcjzUsv4tbpJCtqJXSjaAwM7BoQKU0ccpnFT4d_1Bj0sPAf4hA1WEZBIydTNgRiA/s320/20220912_125408.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soundtrack:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF-29l_bugw&list=RDpF-29l_bugw&start_radio=1" target="_blank">Transcends by Jackie Venson</a></div><div></div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-7149752044348878922022-06-11T18:48:00.001-04:002022-06-11T18:50:33.362-04:00Stories from this Land<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">House Wrens are nesting on our porch again. They probably don't think of it as "Jen and Steve's porch," but probably as a sheltered space with a perfect sized house facing southeast. We are frequently scolded by them, but I think they know we are trustworthy. We have to be much more careful in the winter when the Carolina Wrens spend the night in the straw baskets. There are always two, tucked in together, trading baskets depending on the day and weather conditions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMDwS6wymlNQEVqv8UzEqloCVOAwZ_oNurBlQAeuHlFlPA9awcZyxVnUnonptFRX2aiGmGGFvSlOqGeMfQ5FeI6XAFXvZIgd2eyiWJaJodwwrLBu6E0S26BtwlbcZmih5o5MAlEVWU7LbVc0-IEyscaJiR0jiKT38pf1jkjqgxvy1wE0aRG355PqS4A/s4032/20220608_125354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMDwS6wymlNQEVqv8UzEqloCVOAwZ_oNurBlQAeuHlFlPA9awcZyxVnUnonptFRX2aiGmGGFvSlOqGeMfQ5FeI6XAFXvZIgd2eyiWJaJodwwrLBu6E0S26BtwlbcZmih5o5MAlEVWU7LbVc0-IEyscaJiR0jiKT38pf1jkjqgxvy1wE0aRG355PqS4A/s320/20220608_125354.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Sharing space on this 3.5 acres is an important and necessary act of nature activism, but it's also a return to wonder for both of us. The front plantings are growing, feeding and screening us from the road activity and the whole feels like a fairy tale setting...a place where magic happens.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnZrf6rDKOzTPeAnyfPId36NKRDBqZVmQlxhIGM1IeBb6q1sO2GTG95chjFygc3Gy-q_HJseilNJIuCJaBhL6tJU6g7d9ex9sfi4Xb6cb7P-S2gmerOOWQfabTW2Djl-Q4CAOJuYMukkp-rINS_GmluPTTHv2ogHE4iIe7s-17zK7aE7lkB2wZMepvg/s4032/20220608_125342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnZrf6rDKOzTPeAnyfPId36NKRDBqZVmQlxhIGM1IeBb6q1sO2GTG95chjFygc3Gy-q_HJseilNJIuCJaBhL6tJU6g7d9ex9sfi4Xb6cb7P-S2gmerOOWQfabTW2Djl-Q4CAOJuYMukkp-rINS_GmluPTTHv2ogHE4iIe7s-17zK7aE7lkB2wZMepvg/s320/20220608_125342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxUOZeQxJG1GYXq61A2l50e2nZmvM88aAp6KDM2EV8xkIzDI7uAcy1LjsZ_eb1cmv_Yk7xW29XptFc8txtW_RkYI8GFpchksQjSEqiJbPJH-0-QuCx87seye-0mo0QoJMewkvpCHspoFzFlyIhNQuSMsiX4dJbgilaN9igcoTas6Y7cq--y-K8Ubr1g/s4032/20220608_132728.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxUOZeQxJG1GYXq61A2l50e2nZmvM88aAp6KDM2EV8xkIzDI7uAcy1LjsZ_eb1cmv_Yk7xW29XptFc8txtW_RkYI8GFpchksQjSEqiJbPJH-0-QuCx87seye-0mo0QoJMewkvpCHspoFzFlyIhNQuSMsiX4dJbgilaN9igcoTas6Y7cq--y-K8Ubr1g/s320/20220608_132728.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, American Robins and Northern Cardinals gobble the serviceberry along the front sidewalk and out in the berry planting. To have trees fruiting that we planted to feed birds and other wildlife is beyond satisfying. I don't know how quite to describe it, but it's almost as if we knew this would work, but couldn't really imagine seeing it working and then suddenly, it IS working. Beautifully. Perfectly. Like Mother Nature knows exactly what she is doing.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRHjYk5JUZSuil75CjAo-Kah21nhi1aPHAekx1i893n55EU4Q3EutUXyOX-0l0LUdGpp6up1qLzABwFffnYXbjbCZh0Y00ld3Z62TjZZ0Ib7axrvW_V5txtV9jZSqmiledqMpvyrqV-WGFD5j0EqLK55DHGSmZgO5PB7tPSliOE5JcuYWbTC0gZQ5fw/s4032/20220608_131947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRHjYk5JUZSuil75CjAo-Kah21nhi1aPHAekx1i893n55EU4Q3EutUXyOX-0l0LUdGpp6up1qLzABwFffnYXbjbCZh0Y00ld3Z62TjZZ0Ib7axrvW_V5txtV9jZSqmiledqMpvyrqV-WGFD5j0EqLK55DHGSmZgO5PB7tPSliOE5JcuYWbTC0gZQ5fw/s320/20220608_131947.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FWqI3Jy_AVPJReUAnfHf6WOYPmAhsWfTCuIvQeS67MacAwcByZFV5W22n-70gf0-p1pNF0sn8Y9c0Ty514O7k14mL_S4f57KCrf3ROPTQyp1Ll5N1-6RehNA8aghspsFP8fujSeQsEvIurh_1e-v3Hjuc7PJ1kvQ8EYFkjETEWV5kXD0LGkzJ9bYjQ/s4032/20220608_131924.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FWqI3Jy_AVPJReUAnfHf6WOYPmAhsWfTCuIvQeS67MacAwcByZFV5W22n-70gf0-p1pNF0sn8Y9c0Ty514O7k14mL_S4f57KCrf3ROPTQyp1Ll5N1-6RehNA8aghspsFP8fujSeQsEvIurh_1e-v3Hjuc7PJ1kvQ8EYFkjETEWV5kXD0LGkzJ9bYjQ/s320/20220608_131924.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrBrVBqlKNI" target="_blank">The Redbuds, for the first time since planting, have set heavy fruit</a> and there is no doubt once ripe, they will be eaten by so very many. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ENjufhynWvLZLDchSEQoG9J2hvBJLSPzC5yKkxwGEdq0Du3FTWk4PLtT0AcuoUv2_90pn-iX_yycSpl7ltcmvOZU-se7wnLn4qvjWv0nZ-22zh2xaqkrjtUq0XewXbHuA7-ZzEPnv31B8fIJ88qgqzrl6LbRtdHof8qe6XXWuy5lXgJOXA8PV-cNcQ/s4032/20220608_132413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ENjufhynWvLZLDchSEQoG9J2hvBJLSPzC5yKkxwGEdq0Du3FTWk4PLtT0AcuoUv2_90pn-iX_yycSpl7ltcmvOZU-se7wnLn4qvjWv0nZ-22zh2xaqkrjtUq0XewXbHuA7-ZzEPnv31B8fIJ88qgqzrl6LbRtdHof8qe6XXWuy5lXgJOXA8PV-cNcQ/s320/20220608_132413.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The plants everywhere here are filling in, connecting with one another, boggling our minds. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUCqGs7NI4mzKAmbqJ-XzmV3yOTRAXxCYUziitMaVcyn8wd7xBUGi_t05J7-VOqZ9fKaFn4SIPrayrRtEpZe7bjYPOCvr7bpcfK9cGr9gElCSnry8lzgPR9d7cG8Rpe-n67PIQBjuRburxijuZETH4uA6boagjm99x6WLKMnzdK4WaOA10gD4_UqlMA/s4032/20220529_174355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUCqGs7NI4mzKAmbqJ-XzmV3yOTRAXxCYUziitMaVcyn8wd7xBUGi_t05J7-VOqZ9fKaFn4SIPrayrRtEpZe7bjYPOCvr7bpcfK9cGr9gElCSnry8lzgPR9d7cG8Rpe-n67PIQBjuRburxijuZETH4uA6boagjm99x6WLKMnzdK4WaOA10gD4_UqlMA/s320/20220529_174355.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdY4ORABQW40HK8193txpUY2KDdg2Sw95ViTojJIqFnjfeZD75xQK7w3aCgJ_GGOJXUg9X5jXAPTUKpaOuFi2zS_y6wSyIy0gvBMQ3-cgkVRVcVtZSZOeMcW91SeLd2jzAkBfg5L4mscYyzVthuE9YiotMeviGeTax7aJb9jA5VfkQgnLz0Xz5VqlNw/s4032/20220608_124930.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdY4ORABQW40HK8193txpUY2KDdg2Sw95ViTojJIqFnjfeZD75xQK7w3aCgJ_GGOJXUg9X5jXAPTUKpaOuFi2zS_y6wSyIy0gvBMQ3-cgkVRVcVtZSZOeMcW91SeLd2jzAkBfg5L4mscYyzVthuE9YiotMeviGeTax7aJb9jA5VfkQgnLz0Xz5VqlNw/s320/20220608_124930.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-zgR1cI93twkb3PvwoyT3_SEjvYcDw1M0HsnUXqPPq4cu8jFLFJX16SQCLMHfrwWtTEe6bfNJnafwD9rKjTjFROQ9tZJe70jv8wyQ4glt7NSv3VBGg6bE-onkdJYSoieFKwJGldiXmU4htpjiSgRP0MwaqGIIzQ4kvmMwxeByYPPLKAGh5HtsfVQ9A/s4032/20220608_125003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-zgR1cI93twkb3PvwoyT3_SEjvYcDw1M0HsnUXqPPq4cu8jFLFJX16SQCLMHfrwWtTEe6bfNJnafwD9rKjTjFROQ9tZJe70jv8wyQ4glt7NSv3VBGg6bE-onkdJYSoieFKwJGldiXmU4htpjiSgRP0MwaqGIIzQ4kvmMwxeByYPPLKAGh5HtsfVQ9A/s320/20220608_125003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Trails lead all of us living here through these enchanted places. What makes them enchanted is not only their beauty, but also their ecological function. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2X3Mus2i0850K-hwqvKpN6sfQk31f7ozz2PJRfEo7HCnXSaksbygrWk6BI7wjtgJapcnC1Ct6UgC1KTDLrxiq8rWv4UehNQmtnGe0wdsGxXdwMb98jBYa2sr6btbGbZpEsngQtMOxxH_nHU6kaHWRKj20mjmwmTRJRKQeQa_dUEIwW3RsdFcRcc9Kw/s4032/20220608_130327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2X3Mus2i0850K-hwqvKpN6sfQk31f7ozz2PJRfEo7HCnXSaksbygrWk6BI7wjtgJapcnC1Ct6UgC1KTDLrxiq8rWv4UehNQmtnGe0wdsGxXdwMb98jBYa2sr6btbGbZpEsngQtMOxxH_nHU6kaHWRKj20mjmwmTRJRKQeQa_dUEIwW3RsdFcRcc9Kw/s320/20220608_130327.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOEh4IMn5bOdB-f4i1YMiaQ-Z-sqzqQxlip109X8hKRcHEZQssluNrYwJBwJyDRtE7lYq4R65FcAWx1BrkM6EJBKE0hTndVNskkTHPfWZnRmnfw27lcEL4a4yy_pdJg5OAbxKGzVmvhmRaIiELydVb3nqzfN0EP9QyYxTxUiOZ3_XRYDrI-bWEQVf4g/s4032/20220608_131125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOEh4IMn5bOdB-f4i1YMiaQ-Z-sqzqQxlip109X8hKRcHEZQssluNrYwJBwJyDRtE7lYq4R65FcAWx1BrkM6EJBKE0hTndVNskkTHPfWZnRmnfw27lcEL4a4yy_pdJg5OAbxKGzVmvhmRaIiELydVb3nqzfN0EP9QyYxTxUiOZ3_XRYDrI-bWEQVf4g/s320/20220608_131125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLqNPvCgUzq0Tkq7H1YI4CUfrOI7Zq-kd2iDhNKh0oRqDYacJCneNt8gIX8OLZ3LNCliO1rJVJsR8wzFXWw6-1pXVS7LzH_C8Jomxlb52mtRCa3LNNSAk5j3TSHA6ZzaBIHbEua5Fy5KyRKLFVc8tCRZK9q8DtklPX4i5L06-8a3VTgsG26V9lfyMdw/s4032/20220608_131537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLqNPvCgUzq0Tkq7H1YI4CUfrOI7Zq-kd2iDhNKh0oRqDYacJCneNt8gIX8OLZ3LNCliO1rJVJsR8wzFXWw6-1pXVS7LzH_C8Jomxlb52mtRCa3LNNSAk5j3TSHA6ZzaBIHbEua5Fy5KyRKLFVc8tCRZK9q8DtklPX4i5L06-8a3VTgsG26V9lfyMdw/s320/20220608_131537.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>These plants, insects, soils, animals...are all in relationship with one another. They support one another through shared and known history. Planting and letting grow, these native communities of plants, harnesses an ancient knowledge that is needed for survival, not just for our non-human kin, but also for us humans too. Nature is where we came from. Nature is what allows us to live. Nature is where we belong. Nature needs and deserves our help. </p><p>Ohio Spiderwort:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBalDTdJopWa0vA9K-hbSn04A3AiHky58zQMDqIc39J083xy9BFA5370GmAnyeX3in_pxcv-rwGvFle-2g4JchL1hn7dMQN9lp7WediihnJef9XguHq5QH498c_0lnT1giyNkWWrrNtGHuRIzX8Qw6oILXEX0g-ndojG_nu9zVzW_B8NFZBfmhKQ36CA/s4032/20220608_134740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBalDTdJopWa0vA9K-hbSn04A3AiHky58zQMDqIc39J083xy9BFA5370GmAnyeX3in_pxcv-rwGvFle-2g4JchL1hn7dMQN9lp7WediihnJef9XguHq5QH498c_0lnT1giyNkWWrrNtGHuRIzX8Qw6oILXEX0g-ndojG_nu9zVzW_B8NFZBfmhKQ36CA/s320/20220608_134740.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>American Bladdernut:<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zWp0pREpOnjswiGgfY7z6TY-VJSfmbLsCmCaeo_9ZQ-OYZXltjg7XxQR7BLGw3Ku6-6yNtC63eeM4dqIn8v3qXZThUIRr2VRdUfQ41imIX3sh4c6RCR_t_yY0QU1gvMWk2uP6R6Nnb0DcRcovel7ahRJPtJlMv6g3YyUp-MlFvedftrClN_lfNEdeg/s4032/20220608_131725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zWp0pREpOnjswiGgfY7z6TY-VJSfmbLsCmCaeo_9ZQ-OYZXltjg7XxQR7BLGw3Ku6-6yNtC63eeM4dqIn8v3qXZThUIRr2VRdUfQ41imIX3sh4c6RCR_t_yY0QU1gvMWk2uP6R6Nnb0DcRcovel7ahRJPtJlMv6g3YyUp-MlFvedftrClN_lfNEdeg/s320/20220608_131725.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Wood Frog:<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzLB1AFJuoAR-ymNvWAvr1qC94T2a-aK0UdbVWRAzepnJF05CqP6ELD2qb0BDPIglk7a8_oBo9yMsP6rvmKnw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p style="text-align: left;">Yellow Slant Line Moth:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvSCA6x4DN8TtnmmNzKIMI1GmG1nSZwSBVaA7o-TUR6hYY7eorgJkPiV1PUzNTvaaAXiwLvc2QIPYuoSdwiuYzfXxOxUYdz84_RG759hhh5vQ8u6dxnlkp2qGTvvdNX254PoeoflVu-3tRzREKU4vihUJqJ5yeUubDCdopqoloihNkZ9oN7XRGjDOBQ/s4032/20220515_193654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvSCA6x4DN8TtnmmNzKIMI1GmG1nSZwSBVaA7o-TUR6hYY7eorgJkPiV1PUzNTvaaAXiwLvc2QIPYuoSdwiuYzfXxOxUYdz84_RG759hhh5vQ8u6dxnlkp2qGTvvdNX254PoeoflVu-3tRzREKU4vihUJqJ5yeUubDCdopqoloihNkZ9oN7XRGjDOBQ/s320/20220515_193654.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><div style="text-align: left;">Winter Firefly:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ50jFtklFnc2FNFTL09_6MMv1X5NKwVxjiSrngM4orMYCl1PlD7Z7mISg3WRsoCd6AGHNxMFbvta8bnPkrRY2PTKvyLzV4D3BT5GTh_md-YxkGlhNH1UQn6s0sxZCrs9AUUXXntvyXTAcBp7_iuEUrB7ygonkH4hTqSw5M9a_zXSd6fvo7eGyavCrRg/s4032/20220513_175410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ50jFtklFnc2FNFTL09_6MMv1X5NKwVxjiSrngM4orMYCl1PlD7Z7mISg3WRsoCd6AGHNxMFbvta8bnPkrRY2PTKvyLzV4D3BT5GTh_md-YxkGlhNH1UQn6s0sxZCrs9AUUXXntvyXTAcBp7_iuEUrB7ygonkH4hTqSw5M9a_zXSd6fvo7eGyavCrRg/s320/20220513_175410.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Carpenter Bee on Gooseberry:<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw3phw9okJUqNaUakeZIUgsed9BfgqX6N_muFgq4KjXUeiDtIQ9twTBszM_vr_MsQd-iF_gM4ord-1Kg93-Yg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Feeding Sign from?:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JpRU5vNqEBmU16tPPQvwvdx162fQsCRJCfBzXx8CCu-xR63fHzJyeY5JoUYe1CeCHUpAY4-GNBGEakdK7AQMWkmjBSi5iT4pP0KSjWTGZKg9JSY9ofBdGEnEw_elqAVK6tw7plNTlh51dY3paSJQ0UmNvfaf52I4fFxfct-4HqWWZRwG4elPqGkeOg/s2564/20220521_124646b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2564" data-original-width="1258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JpRU5vNqEBmU16tPPQvwvdx162fQsCRJCfBzXx8CCu-xR63fHzJyeY5JoUYe1CeCHUpAY4-GNBGEakdK7AQMWkmjBSi5iT4pP0KSjWTGZKg9JSY9ofBdGEnEw_elqAVK6tw7plNTlh51dY3paSJQ0UmNvfaf52I4fFxfct-4HqWWZRwG4elPqGkeOg/s320/20220521_124646b.jpg" width="157" /></a></div><p>Nature is not just in our National Parks, which is only about 3-4% of the land in the United States, INCLUDING Alaska. Nature is in our local parks, along our roadways, out our back doors. It has to be. If it's not out your back door or front door or patio, have you thought about how to welcome nature back? <a href="https://homegrownnationalpark.org/" target="_blank">This moment is the perfect time to begin. </a></p><p>Some At-Risk plants we've planted here to return them to land they cannot return without help, are beginning to settle into their native soil. Black Cohosh is going to flower here this summer, for the first time in how long? Decades? A century? More? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNs7va3QJk8BezGtzVTdvmsE3bCoq0poagbrUxJ33Isc7VW98ByO7Gbf_sWsROxHed-Vug0HRP14WJmNqsSXQ1DaCphBM94AwoHsEqKkB0AUhLaVICSg7EaWlwovEQlYQRlTRus82GIWJYXual8A9B8_QNtJrWz1PsFlqn6yjr5Fg2vLCNfEWCzbwuw/s4032/20220608_132225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNs7va3QJk8BezGtzVTdvmsE3bCoq0poagbrUxJ33Isc7VW98ByO7Gbf_sWsROxHed-Vug0HRP14WJmNqsSXQ1DaCphBM94AwoHsEqKkB0AUhLaVICSg7EaWlwovEQlYQRlTRus82GIWJYXual8A9B8_QNtJrWz1PsFlqn6yjr5Fg2vLCNfEWCzbwuw/s320/20220608_132225.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYucw-a1Cn_bkd_Xf7dAavEUTamzWKzGH3OSiqkjhAWOjDkVtVWCtatfCZzx7PQwk0IeoMJvjWGzCRS9G_hqynV3KdmXjJNbkolgIzRaEU_XjqxQwmVtBb0nImk8qzeGjFv5r3i6fjdAVhAYxgsGQcAp6h_tfPinIuwvASi1CGLjrKXz2um7w2gxXeQ/s4032/20220608_132251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYucw-a1Cn_bkd_Xf7dAavEUTamzWKzGH3OSiqkjhAWOjDkVtVWCtatfCZzx7PQwk0IeoMJvjWGzCRS9G_hqynV3KdmXjJNbkolgIzRaEU_XjqxQwmVtBb0nImk8qzeGjFv5r3i6fjdAVhAYxgsGQcAp6h_tfPinIuwvASi1CGLjrKXz2um7w2gxXeQ/s320/20220608_132251.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>American Spikenard is growing healthy leaves and will someday be the giant bush-like plant it has the potential (ancient knowledge) to be.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDt6DziYeOCvKWOHX2XsiLV66gHmcfCT8HKaSfy-oBlBCRRpwC4f8sCeEcAKT2pGtwnUyD03KWz2AFK4ml9W9IfCvY3NQbPrqErAaCQNY8x76SfxZf_Tot40Bk2uDUPe2jPGWDdMXKNBwumf7lp-tjyRtlxtV3bEXPnrnOcf_OVXVKkia4q6vVYAw7Q/s4032/20220608_132547.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDt6DziYeOCvKWOHX2XsiLV66gHmcfCT8HKaSfy-oBlBCRRpwC4f8sCeEcAKT2pGtwnUyD03KWz2AFK4ml9W9IfCvY3NQbPrqErAaCQNY8x76SfxZf_Tot40Bk2uDUPe2jPGWDdMXKNBwumf7lp-tjyRtlxtV3bEXPnrnOcf_OVXVKkia4q6vVYAw7Q/s320/20220608_132547.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A few American Plums survived the cold spring and will grow pink fruits to make more plants and feed hungry bellies in the process.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5YSuSx5JAi4SG8JCyY5HUSCrOHcDRgAHTnXxjpCZ71amoJvwrJrFO17X_PVKV89Rs3_skTsayJ3kwsArGJu1Q0-yRDTwTqE1k1klNmoE4ijr2mh9OmN_yIy7GayXbVmBXDGI-b2RsC29H223UXIf1xTphFo2YUZ8eqr-9tkMpMJklrH21JyEbfuLkA/s4032/20220608_130251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5YSuSx5JAi4SG8JCyY5HUSCrOHcDRgAHTnXxjpCZ71amoJvwrJrFO17X_PVKV89Rs3_skTsayJ3kwsArGJu1Q0-yRDTwTqE1k1klNmoE4ijr2mh9OmN_yIy7GayXbVmBXDGI-b2RsC29H223UXIf1xTphFo2YUZ8eqr-9tkMpMJklrH21JyEbfuLkA/s320/20220608_130251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Steve and I have now planted American Persimmons all over this 3.5 acres. Experiencing the tremendous numbers of animals that benefit from persimmon in all forms and knowing 70-80% will be males (non-fruiting), we planted dozens more this spring. We now have 50+! One persimmon is flowering here this spring and we have many babies popping up their hopeful heads. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswJ6BoH2AQsHMiB9zt43EHXj8Xj_ZCHc85DwPJqGKDp78_6YU2wlDqJ6odCnDsLyBzZnPNkxQU8LzasPYZqso0xH5mVGlPu7sE5JVTs5ZzkDzD7PGm1V3228kK8MD4oeDEbZMqBmV2Y0xacBkVLATWpYJz7EYTh54juOnmpdn2IwvfQC5W9ueTjeGSQ/s4032/20220608_125622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswJ6BoH2AQsHMiB9zt43EHXj8Xj_ZCHc85DwPJqGKDp78_6YU2wlDqJ6odCnDsLyBzZnPNkxQU8LzasPYZqso0xH5mVGlPu7sE5JVTs5ZzkDzD7PGm1V3228kK8MD4oeDEbZMqBmV2Y0xacBkVLATWpYJz7EYTh54juOnmpdn2IwvfQC5W9ueTjeGSQ/s320/20220608_125622.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrFDSA1gcOWQ8oE2-5sbpe-drSUlu36KWWXiHp4jDR0pxrEbiRLzorJOvSbM4QnXHVIsXmnhgvuvonKzQVcPGQA5IgEYamDVRA5bpuH6aHVf4y0l4-LUDO5DVjPhM6VA5cvbcOInBXopUpCorqmrXngVVTob_6-b3jttsqD2kXH_SFijqewaMeyQDqg/s4032/20220608_130529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrFDSA1gcOWQ8oE2-5sbpe-drSUlu36KWWXiHp4jDR0pxrEbiRLzorJOvSbM4QnXHVIsXmnhgvuvonKzQVcPGQA5IgEYamDVRA5bpuH6aHVf4y0l4-LUDO5DVjPhM6VA5cvbcOInBXopUpCorqmrXngVVTob_6-b3jttsqD2kXH_SFijqewaMeyQDqg/s320/20220608_130529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZkWYIZqfJ2PpDSL7UO9aBqMR-bLwA_Qxzzm0JMszVImOb9yjQvw1qo4ukdnb1JfCpY0mjk7N1j7NN9TrD7cgGiiFmn00mQ2wYoyVnGZ9xBd_ENMR3Lyz2ja_6JgJ_Q_xn9g0NgXl6VGoI7MM669qgyyVFSKJYd4dlzv0fYr76gPp-yw2BtJiGhKMCg/s4032/20220608_131443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZkWYIZqfJ2PpDSL7UO9aBqMR-bLwA_Qxzzm0JMszVImOb9yjQvw1qo4ukdnb1JfCpY0mjk7N1j7NN9TrD7cgGiiFmn00mQ2wYoyVnGZ9xBd_ENMR3Lyz2ja_6JgJ_Q_xn9g0NgXl6VGoI7MM669qgyyVFSKJYd4dlzv0fYr76gPp-yw2BtJiGhKMCg/s320/20220608_131443.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Sassafras are dioecious just like American Persimmon so after a tremendous flower set this spring, there is only one fruit growing. We need to plant more so pollination is successful! Planting densely isn't wrong; it's how Mother Nature plants and grows because some plants thrive, some plants die. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzosUDbofVioiJBG5peSBY2ULvhmKHZHpPatly7r3gETtHew-poa99hGCdXOfuziTeIgwxjJWAzJv9lmomIOWhLkyNZ-6zV6H6RMM63ZrZ8ucK6q3cLzRlmD6gKIFGbZ72orxpfN1I9tjuxD45PK25CDMSqdBSQoHQaT5Zo7giXokns2yd-BoBMu3Sw/s4032/20220608_125438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzosUDbofVioiJBG5peSBY2ULvhmKHZHpPatly7r3gETtHew-poa99hGCdXOfuziTeIgwxjJWAzJv9lmomIOWhLkyNZ-6zV6H6RMM63ZrZ8ucK6q3cLzRlmD6gKIFGbZ72orxpfN1I9tjuxD45PK25CDMSqdBSQoHQaT5Zo7giXokns2yd-BoBMu3Sw/s320/20220608_125438.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqj8A97TpgZx3vTu4EE9cf7Hj5dRSs5ib4fqojo54jjPsrH9HEVYku6k66roUY7_qJe0u1I_R4v1inHrrvFbDJ7xigqtEYqsrliG9UDoGGw3AGu_KwoLIWyVqmFM-GFZcT7V0kfuweeeFVgC_l9IFVJjNbTu5ZfneQfxFbDtW72l_KcMChcKa9DsUww/s4032/20220608_125502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqj8A97TpgZx3vTu4EE9cf7Hj5dRSs5ib4fqojo54jjPsrH9HEVYku6k66roUY7_qJe0u1I_R4v1inHrrvFbDJ7xigqtEYqsrliG9UDoGGw3AGu_KwoLIWyVqmFM-GFZcT7V0kfuweeeFVgC_l9IFVJjNbTu5ZfneQfxFbDtW72l_KcMChcKa9DsUww/s320/20220608_125502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We work for the Earth. We work for ourselves. We work for humanity. Thank you to all of you reading and sharing space and planting plants with relationships to one another and the land and all life. Thank you for being scrutinized and doing it anyways. Thank you for remembering we are part of a beautiful, magnificent, functioning WHOLE.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_-B4YkNzwtupYtLApvujV2YrArYCOb2K2h5gEWJ30MOPnLx0rRVsAUO2WIh7bpBMncqvRMSbUEFcaXMjA--W-qvh7QqA_oWLfGSK3ZIuw0qdk3OyNE-YLPqNDApDY_U5B_KHZclaxXWLo5h0t_3B47NdaADHdeO7Bcnk5-K8YyNO2t3Cx7axSe0eRg/s4032/20220608_125643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_-B4YkNzwtupYtLApvujV2YrArYCOb2K2h5gEWJ30MOPnLx0rRVsAUO2WIh7bpBMncqvRMSbUEFcaXMjA--W-qvh7QqA_oWLfGSK3ZIuw0qdk3OyNE-YLPqNDApDY_U5B_KHZclaxXWLo5h0t_3B47NdaADHdeO7Bcnk5-K8YyNO2t3Cx7axSe0eRg/s320/20220608_125643.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eWinNM2V8tjkYbGHHJqI4gmNdrTN3kbngFshsrTbbyxL_Zu4jVY_1rGdOujgB620Oqe7yE_qfoTFm7QMaf06u8eejM9bzgukgUAxGneO2SirB6xz5kDQQzhaIKhtcAFo8lf9jl0Nir1XErnNuRQpM2m6Gstk_8GkPe4F21ZjarHUPcXiCRUJsewKGQ/s2592/20220321_182827.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eWinNM2V8tjkYbGHHJqI4gmNdrTN3kbngFshsrTbbyxL_Zu4jVY_1rGdOujgB620Oqe7yE_qfoTFm7QMaf06u8eejM9bzgukgUAxGneO2SirB6xz5kDQQzhaIKhtcAFo8lf9jl0Nir1XErnNuRQpM2m6Gstk_8GkPe4F21ZjarHUPcXiCRUJsewKGQ/s320/20220321_182827.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLprU4T642jv5qp0UY-FebbDR_wgjNFXG-ZFKpw-HvRqC6ugZcCy6GXjcWPYHpN8CozxdvUwfR4mCmNRL0HC5r2DQvXfrrGm0cyoQYCuCOVDLfvWlC7tf-rVEkoQMHb6M8uo0wFBJUxPtiS0MWaLMr7rQ96s0adrxOw5ZRWaS7dFclJwi8ZdblLCYUbw/s4032/20220515_223221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLprU4T642jv5qp0UY-FebbDR_wgjNFXG-ZFKpw-HvRqC6ugZcCy6GXjcWPYHpN8CozxdvUwfR4mCmNRL0HC5r2DQvXfrrGm0cyoQYCuCOVDLfvWlC7tf-rVEkoQMHb6M8uo0wFBJUxPtiS0MWaLMr7rQ96s0adrxOw5ZRWaS7dFclJwi8ZdblLCYUbw/s320/20220515_223221.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKL4X0PZz7M" target="_blank">Keep on Keepin' On</a></div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-82931900369992174412022-03-22T19:43:00.007-04:002022-03-22T19:51:52.884-04:00Travels with Cats and Homeland Spring Wonders<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This hole pictured? We came up and out of there. It's the tightest squeeze we've been through yet, but we did it together through shedding extra everything and team work. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPWQAEzsl9XYvpTXDeU8dB8rqLPRu1LW2zarJf1Qp_gNMASeiwFR8llwdVan96fNwi806vwIpA0DStFC7B2jlyYbFoASd694MQMcHSIhYbXkcfJRY2-5L_xkDonSAD07jKPpYjt71Vpn8ZK1cnY27KwfeFltE0hswAmD4RQ9ydqrudnluec2iA73e-qg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPWQAEzsl9XYvpTXDeU8dB8rqLPRu1LW2zarJf1Qp_gNMASeiwFR8llwdVan96fNwi806vwIpA0DStFC7B2jlyYbFoASd694MQMcHSIhYbXkcfJRY2-5L_xkDonSAD07jKPpYjt71Vpn8ZK1cnY27KwfeFltE0hswAmD4RQ9ydqrudnluec2iA73e-qg=s320" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Big wrenches make big things happen and it helped us hit the road with our three cats for two months this winter. The other things that helped us are exactly the same things that helped us get out of the hole above: shedding extra everything and team work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyy0VlC_VW1j3dY5qvW0IQEexDe_cA1P4km4-RvQ40HB8jlQlWqi-NQ4jeyoT_OYB-wuOkIJCVVo7vokqqjfslZuzeZv1L8ny8ATTX5_YjfZRjSowMCXfVW6FLHVCvVL8b4ps2vCvMq1EFlCqnDTthEh6wEW6QUjMHMVU1MenxL2HkV7d35bkHOGYGFA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyy0VlC_VW1j3dY5qvW0IQEexDe_cA1P4km4-RvQ40HB8jlQlWqi-NQ4jeyoT_OYB-wuOkIJCVVo7vokqqjfslZuzeZv1L8ny8ATTX5_YjfZRjSowMCXfVW6FLHVCvVL8b4ps2vCvMq1EFlCqnDTthEh6wEW6QUjMHMVU1MenxL2HkV7d35bkHOGYGFA=s320" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdVFkw1CBRPMCeIIzLIrTQp1zS5ojAnm1-N_dUlIXgT6_oHo7Z1ppjqzRAyEFzTfxImZvBRE8JOCQMm24QfAeKzXcO5zoWhoVvGP-eqs2GqAtrOG_ikS-vnjMrZaKLgcqC4vFd1sPcI_Kg4DwAUXQH8jvZuC0z0htWC10HUVdxARAv3azL0Y7gCz9gMQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdVFkw1CBRPMCeIIzLIrTQp1zS5ojAnm1-N_dUlIXgT6_oHo7Z1ppjqzRAyEFzTfxImZvBRE8JOCQMm24QfAeKzXcO5zoWhoVvGP-eqs2GqAtrOG_ikS-vnjMrZaKLgcqC4vFd1sPcI_Kg4DwAUXQH8jvZuC0z0htWC10HUVdxARAv3azL0Y7gCz9gMQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p>It's not an easy prospect for people like us to travel with cats, but it also isn't easy for people like us to leave them home and we just have this absolutely unyielding desire to commune with trees, mountains, rivers, open air, new places, new faces.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc98GyjfIl-vmLhFHyKmUn6u_5JNY_DihaFez0llIWMpByZ04Zz-U17ODZk8Y1kJBScGOadFwpq1jn6e4XVQ4ioGqyfv8Aq8hYUNjxjSx3jRhmZ5i9bn96HUhJqBC_oCrquc0KAjdr5rGJ-tZeGJXpGYLILHnX3RZa98XcyzAEdttZM_7aIcVGoXfM4w=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc98GyjfIl-vmLhFHyKmUn6u_5JNY_DihaFez0llIWMpByZ04Zz-U17ODZk8Y1kJBScGOadFwpq1jn6e4XVQ4ioGqyfv8Aq8hYUNjxjSx3jRhmZ5i9bn96HUhJqBC_oCrquc0KAjdr5rGJ-tZeGJXpGYLILHnX3RZa98XcyzAEdttZM_7aIcVGoXfM4w=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, we bought a travel trailer that had the right floor plan for cats that don't like one another and told the little fur friends this was our only option so they best get on board. Peace reigned in some moments and not in others, but we all persisted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia0YugXV5H46tEoiBILYaFOHolOntyU1yZddp_5Fqbh6b4_3XmR0kEeO3FEj_98cCidHQydfCBhaPBrTDvs2phxRrgeGySPUKC3QJF4Khw0JK6Ij5qYFUmSUHNGbnVuilZ1eiryfPhQdeYrJPBXDAU5k5AGS6cZQq96BNh59k3R109BJhZlC76czTjgQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia0YugXV5H46tEoiBILYaFOHolOntyU1yZddp_5Fqbh6b4_3XmR0kEeO3FEj_98cCidHQydfCBhaPBrTDvs2phxRrgeGySPUKC3QJF4Khw0JK6Ij5qYFUmSUHNGbnVuilZ1eiryfPhQdeYrJPBXDAU5k5AGS6cZQq96BNh59k3R109BJhZlC76czTjgQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>The beauty of this world was everywhere we looked, in the people and in nature. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCqrfE1DHaz20n8E1f9pVUa17w6UMTCOLp44aAHMwllWiUyTkGHRooazPu-cANYrRCJLcjvtqrrSMLAc-xWS5bAY6ndr1xHi6CDzMFW9K64yPkLTcDoXWWZFSmuVk45zmKzyReksgubgFgiSmqvcGpEHIKRft0E35VnVCyFr1N-GvSGdVDJh3sXbWHVA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCqrfE1DHaz20n8E1f9pVUa17w6UMTCOLp44aAHMwllWiUyTkGHRooazPu-cANYrRCJLcjvtqrrSMLAc-xWS5bAY6ndr1xHi6CDzMFW9K64yPkLTcDoXWWZFSmuVk45zmKzyReksgubgFgiSmqvcGpEHIKRft0E35VnVCyFr1N-GvSGdVDJh3sXbWHVA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUZSyBGQk67Wzsq-xmYpZURsnTLu9yYcPTXFE0jJUsLGM8clxw_ZWqbm4tLHyIARAagzlZlwbJMyxO0cVkmQCz9nINgBoC7EnPEMzjkgJOu2HNP_VsEhV3CnTb--0OBsecv-nv1uHhg9w1x3TanW99p2T0VUKiZYsJKfn7sL4yCZODOXeUfXvVMh2SfQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUZSyBGQk67Wzsq-xmYpZURsnTLu9yYcPTXFE0jJUsLGM8clxw_ZWqbm4tLHyIARAagzlZlwbJMyxO0cVkmQCz9nINgBoC7EnPEMzjkgJOu2HNP_VsEhV3CnTb--0OBsecv-nv1uHhg9w1x3TanW99p2T0VUKiZYsJKfn7sL4yCZODOXeUfXvVMh2SfQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy--0czsplRy2DsGkewU8CwfoEGLR08pGkx_pPRTCyIqm-COYzcFWGg6MipYK_PP8DQMpqkUgJJdQ8Q8ZIT3A1c8dwBU7UsuwmzhCQTjdmIffL4eO-_X9RnL5ibVPttmpuO0XqC5WxC6gxoWYfo9O20beWbPPUHlesjjKawvtBJuWG75_6rQDpclRgAA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy--0czsplRy2DsGkewU8CwfoEGLR08pGkx_pPRTCyIqm-COYzcFWGg6MipYK_PP8DQMpqkUgJJdQ8Q8ZIT3A1c8dwBU7UsuwmzhCQTjdmIffL4eO-_X9RnL5ibVPttmpuO0XqC5WxC6gxoWYfo9O20beWbPPUHlesjjKawvtBJuWG75_6rQDpclRgAA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVOB7t8_or8-YjCeET2RLMcIdZ2DxLqBMVix0DGVUtOQKucoG3vlEb1Xfk3FfwOrF61ZYZ6BeSxIHAJeEFTRT7eMBxzlHM5FnkeXww0q-Nk4TZbkLfDjMuQNfZXXbUBgNDpy0ZHF9HWq-fOi9Es68dKCrx8fOmsGCsoszwCVCnOMq_f27S9aamlYluvw=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVOB7t8_or8-YjCeET2RLMcIdZ2DxLqBMVix0DGVUtOQKucoG3vlEb1Xfk3FfwOrF61ZYZ6BeSxIHAJeEFTRT7eMBxzlHM5FnkeXww0q-Nk4TZbkLfDjMuQNfZXXbUBgNDpy0ZHF9HWq-fOi9Es68dKCrx8fOmsGCsoszwCVCnOMq_f27S9aamlYluvw=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Funny moments happened over and over and we laughed, a lot! Those Chacos we saved with screws (after glue didn't work) since they were still good, except the soles came off? Well, they punctured my feet in a few places over time. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKDeUKqlKVbnsyhAT_89nIHB7IUACcJngEACH4wjD80KfcySXj5XgxENqP5hCWhsPZ-eWZJAMw5CAVA7d5BK_M16warnEDf9_eu1VWhrS_Ed6OisH8h0W_v3PCzYk6EfuGJ7calQ0-1FoLcwTEgLOZKQKD9ZVOeSuAMQg0ywHmFAniyDeSBzW1a98_Tg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKDeUKqlKVbnsyhAT_89nIHB7IUACcJngEACH4wjD80KfcySXj5XgxENqP5hCWhsPZ-eWZJAMw5CAVA7d5BK_M16warnEDf9_eu1VWhrS_Ed6OisH8h0W_v3PCzYk6EfuGJ7calQ0-1FoLcwTEgLOZKQKD9ZVOeSuAMQg0ywHmFAniyDeSBzW1a98_Tg=s320" width="180" /></a></div><p>The screws were too long you see and I didn't notice right away because my feet callouses are so thick. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I tore a giant hole in my beloved hiking pants, mid-hike, while bending over to admire Mexican Buckeye seed pods. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuV0TXDr0G6kA3YAUa_MqAIqbcv1opu2CJvXw_QPzT8fxh80k3vzSpOfYEBQhen81XHVSTy4l6cFvHxjBveZ-5xd_D7J2qEkJxa0LGoX3O9GZ1h6XBaZOtrnTZlqikUJt_0BcCzLqVJx1a6GQQT1JHPOhU-wDztBg11p9ysQcD5ERMBwSw-Z_Op7pDOA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuV0TXDr0G6kA3YAUa_MqAIqbcv1opu2CJvXw_QPzT8fxh80k3vzSpOfYEBQhen81XHVSTy4l6cFvHxjBveZ-5xd_D7J2qEkJxa0LGoX3O9GZ1h6XBaZOtrnTZlqikUJt_0BcCzLqVJx1a6GQQT1JHPOhU-wDztBg11p9ysQcD5ERMBwSw-Z_Op7pDOA=s320" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They were so worth it, don't you think?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdWI-XLDlaBkVxL0vxiE1uF0HZU-aJjV1JGesnCfQkgVu9qlyZgfebPKMPP8ruPrLhMYe1y7HQ9Y06B22_IjYIvNkLNMWKCpY_lE2Ma1NTByfBMhg47fEuBgNVUtkVgZZLNU6RxDB2BVfAqkys-EWnHbGR668d4kRj6Fvvv-vvIbifWnANMl4uj_aMrQ=s4032" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdWI-XLDlaBkVxL0vxiE1uF0HZU-aJjV1JGesnCfQkgVu9qlyZgfebPKMPP8ruPrLhMYe1y7HQ9Y06B22_IjYIvNkLNMWKCpY_lE2Ma1NTByfBMhg47fEuBgNVUtkVgZZLNU6RxDB2BVfAqkys-EWnHbGR668d4kRj6Fvvv-vvIbifWnANMl4uj_aMrQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Did I mention the beauty we found? Our first Buck Moth flight was other worldly. Magical black, white and red marvels, everywhere. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEIt48GchhheG6qBbC1jnSZNdz2gntsWqLPooRmt2Bo6M3XAQJhM1SX3hUmuFFpfq2LVs_OnM-IOnB4--Bpg4-VU5yO2nYmVpLwuS1cHfPurFzgBBgUG40R24KU-y0SZguGwUwGOLtYiKPSZmq5_gzdtNOzo4qrzXgxywx6ZpHkSPClH8mtAHUeIQyCw=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEIt48GchhheG6qBbC1jnSZNdz2gntsWqLPooRmt2Bo6M3XAQJhM1SX3hUmuFFpfq2LVs_OnM-IOnB4--Bpg4-VU5yO2nYmVpLwuS1cHfPurFzgBBgUG40R24KU-y0SZguGwUwGOLtYiKPSZmq5_gzdtNOzo4qrzXgxywx6ZpHkSPClH8mtAHUeIQyCw=s320" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHhtQwelhMEwS4Yn54Z4uUxoVAoFSdtZPUqygEVseU87TrktrXGsZpHXEQstHyNam-RatyVcu5EDot2WZvmCmNTfQeKLGPxka8JCGznr3wbD3ERSCTSVectfmAP8ecyfxwmCEyIYDd5Tus71-d32MwbVR6rfzH_4RhWWKcr7vvRDWxM_3Tlku62E_e_g=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHhtQwelhMEwS4Yn54Z4uUxoVAoFSdtZPUqygEVseU87TrktrXGsZpHXEQstHyNam-RatyVcu5EDot2WZvmCmNTfQeKLGPxka8JCGznr3wbD3ERSCTSVectfmAP8ecyfxwmCEyIYDd5Tus71-d32MwbVR6rfzH_4RhWWKcr7vvRDWxM_3Tlku62E_e_g=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p>Texas Hercules Beetles crawled and I sat at their feet agog. We oohed and ahhed and never got enough. </p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2v7Zonc3GMl30J-AHKEPS-5NjRBQH8oCN59tMSZ5pDEEo2Q7eYsS76xi5h2BTKNp9TVAMDh1qkdV6G8RH5nfYGT400KdEejP7Mq6tROTa2ykjEOlzy09fjCKjzNqAJLXwJiNeQdb5VPOcto3KY2lyn6enFvlGKuSCxK3z-3xxUJHIN46ksCb8KMbm_w=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2v7Zonc3GMl30J-AHKEPS-5NjRBQH8oCN59tMSZ5pDEEo2Q7eYsS76xi5h2BTKNp9TVAMDh1qkdV6G8RH5nfYGT400KdEejP7Mq6tROTa2ykjEOlzy09fjCKjzNqAJLXwJiNeQdb5VPOcto3KY2lyn6enFvlGKuSCxK3z-3xxUJHIN46ksCb8KMbm_w=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p>Orb Weavers WOWED.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizLwhpZw8s2PhftoZOffql9Mpk8m8bFn-IDQfCaQQvLDqBcHriTrS_rm0-aNdNOktmgLrZSYmJjQ2q8_vcdeB4mOs-AWMGRZUVaKDbHoQpo_L97Wv2MdxLv1sT6cPLC7IvLWz6gRpGrz1DmqCc92xSC0WJuZ735fcDfj3pJJPprj9f-5_R9AStXsPHfw=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizLwhpZw8s2PhftoZOffql9Mpk8m8bFn-IDQfCaQQvLDqBcHriTrS_rm0-aNdNOktmgLrZSYmJjQ2q8_vcdeB4mOs-AWMGRZUVaKDbHoQpo_L97Wv2MdxLv1sT6cPLC7IvLWz6gRpGrz1DmqCc92xSC0WJuZ735fcDfj3pJJPprj9f-5_R9AStXsPHfw=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>New places put our little family into perspective with this world. It's never what we think it is; it's always so much more.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9nD0d0I0yrGkUoRjclV2TBl7XkLM2tWsJ3fvXP10__llUmFsP3ZaXcSpYC6aoIe0_c_ptUdLFnyKsflnErwD8b97IjtkZ0NAfO-9sHG2m2IR48td-hium_REh9JKkB_q10yqtUcGiv6c9BCuiBf5nzKTiBtaN-KwyBiikSyvT719Hl9D1El5ZV0KD3g=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9nD0d0I0yrGkUoRjclV2TBl7XkLM2tWsJ3fvXP10__llUmFsP3ZaXcSpYC6aoIe0_c_ptUdLFnyKsflnErwD8b97IjtkZ0NAfO-9sHG2m2IR48td-hium_REh9JKkB_q10yqtUcGiv6c9BCuiBf5nzKTiBtaN-KwyBiikSyvT719Hl9D1El5ZV0KD3g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx0Jyu5l5-g9tgxoOgUI50AnNOINw8ZKcH0xQoSE19EN8WRcpmkDwINMmXWPcGaCs4w1v0qTslhxdQe0EYOpZk0eVqVF8z_ZIf4Eo88uU36rBsdBHSmdMkmlg5xeP-zDYzr-AYtvjAG_ds7WHUkQvr4ICxS9HEfe7KeaV3o-0a_FHPRke-0eaWkZVLqA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx0Jyu5l5-g9tgxoOgUI50AnNOINw8ZKcH0xQoSE19EN8WRcpmkDwINMmXWPcGaCs4w1v0qTslhxdQe0EYOpZk0eVqVF8z_ZIf4Eo88uU36rBsdBHSmdMkmlg5xeP-zDYzr-AYtvjAG_ds7WHUkQvr4ICxS9HEfe7KeaV3o-0a_FHPRke-0eaWkZVLqA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We took care of one another and the land. Always. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiWfkBO_4QXdKU3rZ8iORO3Z9Wf2kaggILodbSpZD4DZNHHgeNBGBzpCViGmcDb-iwMa0VmweVxsmOopiTRKoan1-_BVPjy66vhW4-G32MVv-IYV8o-8-1tMhY8DY5AwzvJbi1iYsx3-HMa2ejlBlPqJ1sOsTWTbs0TGpoPSJHPzo5TQVw2nNxh4NwRQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiWfkBO_4QXdKU3rZ8iORO3Z9Wf2kaggILodbSpZD4DZNHHgeNBGBzpCViGmcDb-iwMa0VmweVxsmOopiTRKoan1-_BVPjy66vhW4-G32MVv-IYV8o-8-1tMhY8DY5AwzvJbi1iYsx3-HMa2ejlBlPqJ1sOsTWTbs0TGpoPSJHPzo5TQVw2nNxh4NwRQ=s320" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Mostly friends, we soaked up nourishment and felt our hearts grow fuller. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyp1F_L2F-N20JnXcYxEXXwImh0NKCgPAOUJM0MMe7jaO9xAEvNYNuPl35aSEtWojgvl4nYVnGsXuI-gegSnNDj0P73z46oOUtVbm3-selV3Rov3YThPg_9XJXrKHM8EbwroLrL1wjkD9faxHCPno9oUmT4gp2TNYomEIp_H20S_wMO6yuK46r-6NnEQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyp1F_L2F-N20JnXcYxEXXwImh0NKCgPAOUJM0MMe7jaO9xAEvNYNuPl35aSEtWojgvl4nYVnGsXuI-gegSnNDj0P73z46oOUtVbm3-selV3Rov3YThPg_9XJXrKHM8EbwroLrL1wjkD9faxHCPno9oUmT4gp2TNYomEIp_H20S_wMO6yuK46r-6NnEQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBWUuzs5etQFYpCo6xtkd5GjR-m_Ax0auN0IrBIZTb-8RDY-JdRLwZBsXWNB3q9QzaxJRYlRuV8p2CNzahp1UstSyLVY5rOLFZzU6SfdYVWjPsDFehpAfgu0yX2ZE2LDg1pl2ajFXL-6z826ma5c0o67rm_CEcEHKNB7CURO31zH-GgxuNBFkWRs2d3Q=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBWUuzs5etQFYpCo6xtkd5GjR-m_Ax0auN0IrBIZTb-8RDY-JdRLwZBsXWNB3q9QzaxJRYlRuV8p2CNzahp1UstSyLVY5rOLFZzU6SfdYVWjPsDFehpAfgu0yX2ZE2LDg1pl2ajFXL-6z826ma5c0o67rm_CEcEHKNB7CURO31zH-GgxuNBFkWRs2d3Q=s320" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIthgXpKO_U0EShBKTk87aM8Id-vv4XmsvzJfQd4OedJrqUNMEu-_RnS-hhyiG6m7pb1H5BvAdLC7bMlZ3c7htuD_W5lHexxwBC8IpDq5rY8yCfKM2LkNPwH6XFLWVH-NUp7cqJdH_R9IkUaqMDRoFhacgCTiQsDRuey8abUs8LefFm2MtzWv4UcdDfA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIthgXpKO_U0EShBKTk87aM8Id-vv4XmsvzJfQd4OedJrqUNMEu-_RnS-hhyiG6m7pb1H5BvAdLC7bMlZ3c7htuD_W5lHexxwBC8IpDq5rY8yCfKM2LkNPwH6XFLWVH-NUp7cqJdH_R9IkUaqMDRoFhacgCTiQsDRuey8abUs8LefFm2MtzWv4UcdDfA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We met our new best friend, the Texas Persimmon. The importance to wildlife was evident everywhere we went where it grew because the fruits are tasty, small and easily eaten by mammals and birds. The roots stitch together soil and hold river banks in place. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9Tf50AZslzFnV2IbSTxoRRA7CKWA9JJeNhUmAwcEInfZrtI1DPG_1NiJnRnIfrLZLgBOXzDP5hCnYLXWWacPUcwyc3U6MgrVM0sGqiho33_aRLchW4K3x6sr-RQ4D0iqodYCC2AOIpm4jCrrnuDi2x5U5UnrNMcb9rhSNUsi1YhLU4GvocOPN_uoGgQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9Tf50AZslzFnV2IbSTxoRRA7CKWA9JJeNhUmAwcEInfZrtI1DPG_1NiJnRnIfrLZLgBOXzDP5hCnYLXWWacPUcwyc3U6MgrVM0sGqiho33_aRLchW4K3x6sr-RQ4D0iqodYCC2AOIpm4jCrrnuDi2x5U5UnrNMcb9rhSNUsi1YhLU4GvocOPN_uoGgQ=s320" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg18zvsU4VO9rq5WWSlyYnlihKuaJE5UiUGfSVZUT7rdzsYLBKvV5qzpgB7dmyhhaJ9YKMDsWAe_ek8wjVpFNeGZDLjbLv_uureKqea24uPsTyWf8jn3Ic6ESeYVMp_JLr0FvK_VH0zt9iggAIX10xiLqvluOABgl_fMaJLLctLOoWQo0tfgcOFytPetQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg18zvsU4VO9rq5WWSlyYnlihKuaJE5UiUGfSVZUT7rdzsYLBKvV5qzpgB7dmyhhaJ9YKMDsWAe_ek8wjVpFNeGZDLjbLv_uureKqea24uPsTyWf8jn3Ic6ESeYVMp_JLr0FvK_VH0zt9iggAIX10xiLqvluOABgl_fMaJLLctLOoWQo0tfgcOFytPetQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We spent most of our time in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSWNWWREtsI" target="_blank">Texas Sun</a> this trip and soaked up those open spaces. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZNpxgYlj0PY7g2m7QCMmUZOOW-rKhZw5THXz9Wgg8RGCksePRJttoCa936vpey5SgbDo-sKCkc2xmKrt3TO54fIoPOAqLI3zf3n1ZJ3HDtTsB99T5tcnavDBo8QetU7MP-PuVqV2lwDjl4lzHsIP0Uuuy9rP3UvJY9g1zSL8hDug6o9mxVypKRKVALA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZNpxgYlj0PY7g2m7QCMmUZOOW-rKhZw5THXz9Wgg8RGCksePRJttoCa936vpey5SgbDo-sKCkc2xmKrt3TO54fIoPOAqLI3zf3n1ZJ3HDtTsB99T5tcnavDBo8QetU7MP-PuVqV2lwDjl4lzHsIP0Uuuy9rP3UvJY9g1zSL8hDug6o9mxVypKRKVALA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE5lj9pLJLHIieJopY-44GF5FwT-Xwx2YFSTTrIKMA3qqhRCRI3aVsKRRU28ySPbMzK9HJPcGuNA_QqMLiUdfCThglTDiVmQRSBGhp8-49MLYLx9Nu3DeU7CmlTllXC3Go-bICgkebKFCzOlVxzcXIQfOKQp_SrIstdl9WJXVrKt2jEZOCjplPq-mv_w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMgwinTMb1LpL5EO-yKDwyTImLV4VjuGxF6F5WPkaTHuSt6ht0PecZ19n9-cfuUAqfL-MIoSBi8yg9u6BUhe5G5YevZEHbYBwboaxskfg5j1VfgMayOuv9d9zqKmBgT6IQzwhRVNbnvu5A2HEgELfuDNH5Nm46pGDS3DGK_9MURFqd8f9piSXk31L1Tg=s2592" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMgwinTMb1LpL5EO-yKDwyTImLV4VjuGxF6F5WPkaTHuSt6ht0PecZ19n9-cfuUAqfL-MIoSBi8yg9u6BUhe5G5YevZEHbYBwboaxskfg5j1VfgMayOuv9d9zqKmBgT6IQzwhRVNbnvu5A2HEgELfuDNH5Nm46pGDS3DGK_9MURFqd8f9piSXk31L1Tg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzDUeVyd8NpjyTkLFYckuDnlb42nas3_gEwu6T3tQZGZjkHDQOttnRHlQ0e1AD_aRzt7MCEctqiIN2AOTBsIrgVukVEd6R5VtoMBY2R6JQsXHdPCsbnRNNq9wXTjiVC5qN07RHbOiswqiCX1muuQQJdk7U9wSCOnvU0ANcA5rKUB8HhdbGX3ohhcyZtQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzDUeVyd8NpjyTkLFYckuDnlb42nas3_gEwu6T3tQZGZjkHDQOttnRHlQ0e1AD_aRzt7MCEctqiIN2AOTBsIrgVukVEd6R5VtoMBY2R6JQsXHdPCsbnRNNq9wXTjiVC5qN07RHbOiswqiCX1muuQQJdk7U9wSCOnvU0ANcA5rKUB8HhdbGX3ohhcyZtQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQ6RAIREgot7493TCRHXyw89aCENeNshK0UolaeHxAL4jrxqbIwuYYVABEfGxvukeqRSLvj6JiXVj1j8b1z9KJbbrL5S1MDK4XtVLa5WWVym8_wj4Q_sjsBl8BnHGvNMPlM9A6z2GxBKm1TyzZNvMouzpZfR1CK9Q6_zP1mwWo7RgfgGgVVL0W7Ye7nQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQ6RAIREgot7493TCRHXyw89aCENeNshK0UolaeHxAL4jrxqbIwuYYVABEfGxvukeqRSLvj6JiXVj1j8b1z9KJbbrL5S1MDK4XtVLa5WWVym8_wj4Q_sjsBl8BnHGvNMPlM9A6z2GxBKm1TyzZNvMouzpZfR1CK9Q6_zP1mwWo7RgfgGgVVL0W7Ye7nQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9pqA6wytPUPP_ylf6Y7ghuhk2QIwr0GkVWMgXzaRyZQpxdXJnEjf0iJaobqUao0wRDrBY0CaV_QaMSzcfbFuWbeFnNBrD4Ccq0Jb9yKtvbsrTQQuERSMNj4X8OKHe2rpTL1A8H0HMbXky56qq3LZ0w1f5Xv0xliGwysD7DF71k1Ct0ykLzZUb8E-eDQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9pqA6wytPUPP_ylf6Y7ghuhk2QIwr0GkVWMgXzaRyZQpxdXJnEjf0iJaobqUao0wRDrBY0CaV_QaMSzcfbFuWbeFnNBrD4Ccq0Jb9yKtvbsrTQQuERSMNj4X8OKHe2rpTL1A8H0HMbXky56qq3LZ0w1f5Xv0xliGwysD7DF71k1Ct0ykLzZUb8E-eDQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgj0V_5L4ATdkv_mJa7VPIHRmcw5D02g4ovzk90N1rAjNz11gD-dwQCTUbi3H1wsqpKjCJOzp3kWulKW9CwPO7_uX5TrC5L4n-pc2E52_biZQns4ENy0Fr_tyegjTL6dZdiAyMEcwFI4aqWOJOVEVUl-4oe40owEGq3bqxo7ULBPOr7CIRjs-ESTywZZg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgj0V_5L4ATdkv_mJa7VPIHRmcw5D02g4ovzk90N1rAjNz11gD-dwQCTUbi3H1wsqpKjCJOzp3kWulKW9CwPO7_uX5TrC5L4n-pc2E52_biZQns4ENy0Fr_tyegjTL6dZdiAyMEcwFI4aqWOJOVEVUl-4oe40owEGq3bqxo7ULBPOr7CIRjs-ESTywZZg=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlbyK955YL9Gi3zOOVt_Z9gRct6ziq0WG57kot3aJLSDxExxd-D7qOdPhIXFtU3H7QYZv6SlCdyXUR8vj43wQwB1tvvQ5-o9V1lGuzHxryvoWLgRGOSNY6Lp7X1URxpHai5UCQ1-4Pi_tW3O-0OKFqunhtpSlRM9HPRlqdOp6tCXAvH7rs4jhi-LBV-g=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlbyK955YL9Gi3zOOVt_Z9gRct6ziq0WG57kot3aJLSDxExxd-D7qOdPhIXFtU3H7QYZv6SlCdyXUR8vj43wQwB1tvvQ5-o9V1lGuzHxryvoWLgRGOSNY6Lp7X1URxpHai5UCQ1-4Pi_tW3O-0OKFqunhtpSlRM9HPRlqdOp6tCXAvH7rs4jhi-LBV-g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Hiking does something profound in our bodies and hearts, which is why we seek it so often. It's like a prayer of love to the world to us. Please don't be afraid of that word or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MdJ37VC6PE&list=RDMM&index=4" target="_blank">this song</a>. Think big, broadly, openly. That's what we mean. By offering kindness to one another, to others, to our cat family, we nourished our spirits and we grew more of what we can offer the world, what we want to offer the world. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCx8kxcYeAbMADUdTLMTAECc3mzcggqEIUxus6Auuo5E4Ho7nwfDOWCwXik5N5tnGELzzYOBF9NgiHmen5wkHphU1EW9B1jlIKu2XJNma2gco_YoCj45f2BGGi-RVWN3I82leJ24oXJ-W8mZWk8t8bkXQBXY_pi4Rs0MbKNFBWvWkZx2NOvZBzb373YQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCx8kxcYeAbMADUdTLMTAECc3mzcggqEIUxus6Auuo5E4Ho7nwfDOWCwXik5N5tnGELzzYOBF9NgiHmen5wkHphU1EW9B1jlIKu2XJNma2gco_YoCj45f2BGGi-RVWN3I82leJ24oXJ-W8mZWk8t8bkXQBXY_pi4Rs0MbKNFBWvWkZx2NOvZBzb373YQ=s320" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyiw8s51iZ8_27J1BR_qu293OLGylB7JWckW6ThzTgIbmAhyPikyNoi1PL-G9IqPSqcTEdCcQMnxL6lRNBPp0liqOCulhOp3pTgx4uy0O8cksvpQhl0BJxKmLJvOhja_GGGOsTCsWpQkweM2-PTbguJNdPx-OZ5OGlWmvMPZ1ASLGfs-kL_RCFnmXP6g=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyiw8s51iZ8_27J1BR_qu293OLGylB7JWckW6ThzTgIbmAhyPikyNoi1PL-G9IqPSqcTEdCcQMnxL6lRNBPp0liqOCulhOp3pTgx4uy0O8cksvpQhl0BJxKmLJvOhja_GGGOsTCsWpQkweM2-PTbguJNdPx-OZ5OGlWmvMPZ1ASLGfs-kL_RCFnmXP6g=s320" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinTGuZicKUXpPvlnnhKBD52TJaZCrLu8Fox7A4DwcYx568pviChY1DBO8PAPcziUZfTDSGZrktnmR0Hm8pNnblt7KzzqqTnjAMoCS5ENGwnP4-u6heMaesppLxlx1FujbAprF1P4KOFlnpyW7QUN_vwiIZj4NsI9sjo3XDi-RbZza32f4w1bHVeIPjrw=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinTGuZicKUXpPvlnnhKBD52TJaZCrLu8Fox7A4DwcYx568pviChY1DBO8PAPcziUZfTDSGZrktnmR0Hm8pNnblt7KzzqqTnjAMoCS5ENGwnP4-u6heMaesppLxlx1FujbAprF1P4KOFlnpyW7QUN_vwiIZj4NsI9sjo3XDi-RbZza32f4w1bHVeIPjrw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />The kitties survived, we thrived. I don't think we would be home yet if we hadn't needed to make money, but then we would have missed the wondrousness of spring arriving in Ohio. From winter to spring we go. Onward.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6_Jvsg6HTyNnE5Zzs5rqzPaLOpY2F1-vSk7yGfGQ15ffmgz3bE1y0bJevu4mfJqlhGtdls8w-BVrqQ4O5kX3-JRzIaIXM-wpdb7JlUGqwqIuUolOfpgG30Cs44ajUZGFtlsHB-j9koB2JpkS_4N5XMWeYP7tUdGY_tcDEgRRp0wtkUfQ-pPiVXlGIDQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6_Jvsg6HTyNnE5Zzs5rqzPaLOpY2F1-vSk7yGfGQ15ffmgz3bE1y0bJevu4mfJqlhGtdls8w-BVrqQ4O5kX3-JRzIaIXM-wpdb7JlUGqwqIuUolOfpgG30Cs44ajUZGFtlsHB-j9koB2JpkS_4N5XMWeYP7tUdGY_tcDEgRRp0wtkUfQ-pPiVXlGIDQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK-__MDQzqcU5-ihPwugeBV_Xzcjp1YvghjMamCEXmia1g7PNfa2qNbXPzuKt8uVf2WwlLgpaDaL1CkAqYt5q2BWY5O-IbCX-bNHCGUlPxQ0x7GONMZ2xATgfyhqgSBQJ2MkKH9hCQIkdyMphQ3dnCmX1b8LUfYouPYhBaurKuV5yu7Pem7jQ65Tvx-A=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK-__MDQzqcU5-ihPwugeBV_Xzcjp1YvghjMamCEXmia1g7PNfa2qNbXPzuKt8uVf2WwlLgpaDaL1CkAqYt5q2BWY5O-IbCX-bNHCGUlPxQ0x7GONMZ2xATgfyhqgSBQJ2MkKH9hCQIkdyMphQ3dnCmX1b8LUfYouPYhBaurKuV5yu7Pem7jQ65Tvx-A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mrs. Groundhog said, "Don't you fret kiddies. Sunshine and warmth are returning."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjG2ejYFIU5cXo8z3gnwh2JwjBPAn4jrJDTZES2bHoYfi7uvvkvHfcN9JFJ5X_zvjbyLSqFhzWz_QJh0g9evT0iVXwPQcAW3p3PeMoxSEZ97YWy6L4Y1ODtf4HcEFNQGTnOA4s4BlBZzNIAcYIOLzJdRpDjXLrO14ALfE9OJWVYuI5kbQIZYvvANQ0HtQ=s5632" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="5632" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjG2ejYFIU5cXo8z3gnwh2JwjBPAn4jrJDTZES2bHoYfi7uvvkvHfcN9JFJ5X_zvjbyLSqFhzWz_QJh0g9evT0iVXwPQcAW3p3PeMoxSEZ97YWy6L4Y1ODtf4HcEFNQGTnOA4s4BlBZzNIAcYIOLzJdRpDjXLrO14ALfE9OJWVYuI5kbQIZYvvANQ0HtQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>The Winter Fireflies told us the same.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh8pP4nnSKgfm1OIB75auP3FOA6HpkWXfOktr1ijdXZWdmWki3MjeKE2WlBi2AJ4JP2ntcwJ2Cqe69DIbByfNCVTMQn24g7VUFeHcUI_MS0rCZ-3tYccKM2oENXnV0n-b2zgE9SKEuHmkvkb6vvBlnBUXzQEC-sZ9yRud4-bRduGPir8pUf0gZ5oXXRw=s3023" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="3023" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh8pP4nnSKgfm1OIB75auP3FOA6HpkWXfOktr1ijdXZWdmWki3MjeKE2WlBi2AJ4JP2ntcwJ2Cqe69DIbByfNCVTMQn24g7VUFeHcUI_MS0rCZ-3tYccKM2oENXnV0n-b2zgE9SKEuHmkvkb6vvBlnBUXzQEC-sZ9yRud4-bRduGPir8pUf0gZ5oXXRw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>The Sugar Maples agreed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgb4p0_NVZZgrPYpCDf8tR9KOT6GnxbkGZTmLLvgJCG0TB419oiKJSgYtx2k0EjOaostBbATjJvU8qDLNz7n_8WfMUGDseMpKinb2cCRtzQ6Xda2rZz4L2Zs7F6Q1r3D2buAcHJf1cqwL6Mh4hTKTmy3tkR1pTFHQrjSmJmlFpFmviSD8nvFffLpGBq1Q=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgb4p0_NVZZgrPYpCDf8tR9KOT6GnxbkGZTmLLvgJCG0TB419oiKJSgYtx2k0EjOaostBbATjJvU8qDLNz7n_8WfMUGDseMpKinb2cCRtzQ6Xda2rZz4L2Zs7F6Q1r3D2buAcHJf1cqwL6Mh4hTKTmy3tkR1pTFHQrjSmJmlFpFmviSD8nvFffLpGBq1Q=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>The gushing Kokosing said, "Of course it's so." </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUfGx97ISfQRVRsX0m18Tb9Mh06NMG7Qk7ySFojTqeCFNUs8UCNAIE2iNBwNT4_W_NOHfys4ZDINqAWYdNh-AQYyY4-rZ_ARBE8QqYHXOWIFXLLoT3diadkgdztfxYB-jNCjLfbxGCqnKTEBFRICtyks0iAyMHjD4eSHmZgZNk4HuqGgXaZkoUxd9iGg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUfGx97ISfQRVRsX0m18Tb9Mh06NMG7Qk7ySFojTqeCFNUs8UCNAIE2iNBwNT4_W_NOHfys4ZDINqAWYdNh-AQYyY4-rZ_ARBE8QqYHXOWIFXLLoT3diadkgdztfxYB-jNCjLfbxGCqnKTEBFRICtyks0iAyMHjD4eSHmZgZNk4HuqGgXaZkoUxd9iGg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Spring dear ones. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We wish you frog song and bird song and the most flavorful maple syrup you ever could eat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also wish you nourishment and love. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4A3q7wkO8_Zly8wFXTRxZqod4C0CREdqETeRNk4KpKza7wUtm7oajwAAikNnyhwPJudR1c-XpJHtyXHxCjbOJC-xoG66-qTC2cupO1N8SXnIVl3TdZKKs5ctQ1shVRu5M8RG60zbgXnJP5Y4uwrklsz0BH6iCHzsJd5a5vtG2kZp3h-Np3uVDNiF9ug=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4A3q7wkO8_Zly8wFXTRxZqod4C0CREdqETeRNk4KpKza7wUtm7oajwAAikNnyhwPJudR1c-XpJHtyXHxCjbOJC-xoG66-qTC2cupO1N8SXnIVl3TdZKKs5ctQ1shVRu5M8RG60zbgXnJP5Y4uwrklsz0BH6iCHzsJd5a5vtG2kZp3h-Np3uVDNiF9ug=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-24849845760062534522021-11-13T16:02:00.002-05:002021-11-13T16:07:36.444-05:00Short, but Meaningful Days<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's that time of year when we feel like we just wake up, get tired and it's time to go to bed again. Do you find this to be true for you too? We were inspired by an online acquaintance to get up with the sun and go to bed when our bodies tell us it's time, even if it's 9 p.m. or 8 p.m. Ha! I didn't think we would be able to get up early because I've always hated it and found it almost impossible to do, but I also cannot stay up at night when it's this dark. My body is hollerin' for rest and relaxation (music, knitting and reading), which almost always then makes me want to go to sleep. Steve and I try for one tv show together, often pulling the plug early. TV shows are soooooooooo one storied now and we just aren't that big of fans. Getting up with the sun and going to bed not that long after the sun sets seems to be working. I am sure we will adjust somewhat as the darkness descends 45 more minutes earlier at the Winter Solstice, but if not, that's ok. We are doing our best and that's what matters in this moment and always, really.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ziC3yeLkpJM/YY7wPTvRfQI/AAAAAAAATl8/0QCTUnNtjMEWYcor_SxVvjijBFKkgm1qgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210928_185943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ziC3yeLkpJM/YY7wPTvRfQI/AAAAAAAATl8/0QCTUnNtjMEWYcor_SxVvjijBFKkgm1qgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210928_185943.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We are in the latter half of American Persimmon season and we are still delighting in their delicious fruits. This plant is magic, I tell you. I know you've heard me say it before, but seriously. We just found perfectly ripe, perfectly delicious fruits after hard frosts and freezes here in Ohio. <a href="http://www.artgrange.com/" target="_blank">Some of our bestest friends </a>also find these fruits to be a marvel and they made this gorgeous and fun bumper sticker to help spread the persimmon love. If you want one, just message me your name and address and I will mail you one for free. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmDtY0cKgTU/YY7wMSEo23I/AAAAAAAATl0/z2teBuqv5Iw65mfRZ1oEFYGLjlXZJsnnACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211012_113411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmDtY0cKgTU/YY7wMSEo23I/AAAAAAAATl0/z2teBuqv5Iw65mfRZ1oEFYGLjlXZJsnnACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211012_113411.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AGrQmDzOlAE/YY7wNK5d2dI/AAAAAAAATl4/kkcpXpulDCQ4NFkt-Da8w0G71eITtM2mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Jennifer%2Bwith%2BMama%2BPersimmon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AGrQmDzOlAE/YY7wNK5d2dI/AAAAAAAATl4/kkcpXpulDCQ4NFkt-Da8w0G71eITtM2mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Jennifer%2Bwith%2BMama%2BPersimmon.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We postponed selling our bareroot American Persimmons until early spring 2022 and made <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwC-r9jP0GQ" target="_blank">a very short video to tell you why and give you a look at these strong seedlings</a>. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWu2VKYwX6k/YY7wSB2jF2I/AAAAAAAATmE/2B7axGrG3UIwT2uKy7dsT5ZdgGKvrqctgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211110_131744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWu2VKYwX6k/YY7wSB2jF2I/AAAAAAAATmE/2B7axGrG3UIwT2uKy7dsT5ZdgGKvrqctgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211110_131744.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>What is Steve pointing at so happily? You guessed it! Some of the best tasting persimmon fruit we've had yet and just look at how pretty they are hanging there dangling in the warm autumn breeze. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHRdSeHSxLk/YY7wRtJErSI/AAAAAAAATmA/dXjtwKQhIj0OkBR3n9x3L2HFfgHQFQMCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211110_131155.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHRdSeHSxLk/YY7wRtJErSI/AAAAAAAATmA/dXjtwKQhIj0OkBR3n9x3L2HFfgHQFQMCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211110_131155.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This summer and fall we hiked and hiked and hiked and found bits of ourselves again amongst such community members as Mother Beech:<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CoAOmp7b3yc/YY7xM6BkWII/AAAAAAAATns/ipzi-kjNQi0TtXKP5-EcGvTpu3jnj14TACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211111_174031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CoAOmp7b3yc/YY7xM6BkWII/AAAAAAAATns/ipzi-kjNQi0TtXKP5-EcGvTpu3jnj14TACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211111_174031.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you've not read <a href="https://suzannesimard.com/finding-the-mother-tree-book/" target="_blank">Suzanne Simard's Finding the Mother Tree</a>, please do so now. It will change everything for you when you see trees and mushrooms and contemplate sentience. <i>Yes, even sentience.</i> Please don't wait. We need connection in the world just as much as we need kindness and love. Let the trees and the long twisted strands of mycelia offer enlightenment. It's time to listen again. They've all been whispering to us for so very long...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYPNNcbVUZI/YY7wzi4f5sI/AAAAAAAATmw/CdJNDjaTLDEb0q8qfWtX8KyT3K30gKQ5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210924_205527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYPNNcbVUZI/YY7wzi4f5sI/AAAAAAAATmw/CdJNDjaTLDEb0q8qfWtX8KyT3K30gKQ5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210924_205527.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLvIp4VJi4w/YZAMXvR-h5I/AAAAAAAATog/pfcqtAtBw3kmhdUexkizCg8i-8DLMDwZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210924_205438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLvIp4VJi4w/YZAMXvR-h5I/AAAAAAAATog/pfcqtAtBw3kmhdUexkizCg8i-8DLMDwZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210924_205438.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Photo by Michelle Stitzlein:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T88RH4zhVM0/YZAMNE3lYTI/AAAAAAAAToU/q2wDk4UjwxEzmLV1ZRv4dN0moFHWq5bEACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210923_172237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T88RH4zhVM0/YZAMNE3lYTI/AAAAAAAAToU/q2wDk4UjwxEzmLV1ZRv4dN0moFHWq5bEACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210923_172237.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llG9aYnlEcI/YZAMP5mTLbI/AAAAAAAAToY/SnmSS00dwUk9P4xLzG1hB7qEh-Yna4ydQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210924_205645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llG9aYnlEcI/YZAMP5mTLbI/AAAAAAAAToY/SnmSS00dwUk9P4xLzG1hB7qEh-Yna4ydQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210924_205645.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6KExIQzqPBA/YZAMVADFjqI/AAAAAAAAToc/9MuyJlzIWogoZ-LDtwzddtX-Ga1S1R2GgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210924_205744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6KExIQzqPBA/YZAMVADFjqI/AAAAAAAAToc/9MuyJlzIWogoZ-LDtwzddtX-Ga1S1R2GgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210924_205744.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hthZZdx7IPQ/YY7wZSTXLgI/AAAAAAAATmM/CwX2x9L1QRQ1pIxnV6sr-3a8UWw12yXoACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210814_141303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hthZZdx7IPQ/YY7wZSTXLgI/AAAAAAAATmM/CwX2x9L1QRQ1pIxnV6sr-3a8UWw12yXoACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210814_141303.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The forest web holds us in her embrace and offers such gifts of beauty. Look at these colors and textures and behaviors and feel their existence in this world. We get to behold these lives! We hold so much in our power and one of our most important acts seems to make sure everyone in this world has something to eat. That's within our power and is power in the offering.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pawpaw Sphinx:</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EOI9jgGvwZY/YY7wZd2oc8I/AAAAAAAATmI/sjAVZbG-pdEfEHbvipVDop-RNWlW-hyIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210816_103747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1334" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EOI9jgGvwZY/YY7wZd2oc8I/AAAAAAAATmI/sjAVZbG-pdEfEHbvipVDop-RNWlW-hyIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210816_103747.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Oakworm:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5eU-SxgNYUs/YY7wyks7o1I/AAAAAAAATms/HzLdphqoefsFP9G97GF2AIOp_zzYfhDvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210921_122151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5eU-SxgNYUs/YY7wyks7o1I/AAAAAAAATms/HzLdphqoefsFP9G97GF2AIOp_zzYfhDvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210921_122151.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Datana Caterpillars:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PSySD-WvaJI/YY7w1jWYV8I/AAAAAAAATm0/foO1tDnZuDYE-S5Twa42XtAgJDDLw1yUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210924_210020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PSySD-WvaJI/YY7w1jWYV8I/AAAAAAAATm0/foO1tDnZuDYE-S5Twa42XtAgJDDLw1yUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210924_210020.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NE1xX9VvUs/YY7w2ehQB1I/AAAAAAAATm8/HAiUeqbI08clk5jne96FrFaGoY5_0PVwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210924_210802.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NE1xX9VvUs/YY7w2ehQB1I/AAAAAAAATm8/HAiUeqbI08clk5jne96FrFaGoY5_0PVwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210924_210802.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NpmRk6bZHI" target="_blank">Imperial Moth Caterpillar:</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMHx2UA1zHA/YY7w2Mow86I/AAAAAAAATm4/0LZmNLyHTBAbdTl344xTOq6_BtOsuVXGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210924_210412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMHx2UA1zHA/YY7w2Mow86I/AAAAAAAATm4/0LZmNLyHTBAbdTl344xTOq6_BtOsuVXGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210924_210412.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time passes and we seek more and more refuge away from the human trappings that so easily become and define our lives if we let them. Steve listened to some program the other day where the speaker posited that there is "no box." Isn't that right? We don't have to stay in the box, we don't have to break out of the box. No. None of that is necessary, because there is no box if we don't decide there is a box. Hmm. I don't know much, but I know sunshine offers me warmth, water offers me renewal, trees offer me breath.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6wyDz3KJwrU/YY7xDUS5i8I/AAAAAAAATnM/0XrFpSmH4cws_arJQkmUW9kUlDd071T9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211108_161548.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6wyDz3KJwrU/YY7xDUS5i8I/AAAAAAAATnM/0XrFpSmH4cws_arJQkmUW9kUlDd071T9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211108_161548.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bxQ2DpSH1r4/YY7xF32Gb7I/AAAAAAAATnY/b7GI4d9r4nUNVxDB7Rv4o_vuj-NRp8w_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211111_173831.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bxQ2DpSH1r4/YY7xF32Gb7I/AAAAAAAATnY/b7GI4d9r4nUNVxDB7Rv4o_vuj-NRp8w_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211111_173831.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EVZ1-_GERhE/YY7xFUT0OvI/AAAAAAAATnU/LdM6IyMd7dcvy6i5vn3T7TRkHfkAMDcCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211111_173850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EVZ1-_GERhE/YY7xFUT0OvI/AAAAAAAATnU/LdM6IyMd7dcvy6i5vn3T7TRkHfkAMDcCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211111_173850.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I am grateful.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1NLMYdtf3BY/YY7xH_FXV9I/AAAAAAAATnc/pNTQG4RYA7M29j5BoJr1r9x3KNp6g176ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211111_173906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1NLMYdtf3BY/YY7xH_FXV9I/AAAAAAAATnc/pNTQG4RYA7M29j5BoJr1r9x3KNp6g176ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211111_173906.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I am in love.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFVBw0zjKzA/YY7xIcEc2DI/AAAAAAAATng/xfdDq0qE7QQ6mXyzpIX1I_XvRG_3Y-x7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211111_173925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFVBw0zjKzA/YY7xIcEc2DI/AAAAAAAATng/xfdDq0qE7QQ6mXyzpIX1I_XvRG_3Y-x7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211111_173925.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I am ALIVE!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrX4mAzh3Q0/YY7xKZO0OgI/AAAAAAAATnk/qun2g0xiq-QQ26sNlyBsgeq4BUOsiHpjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211111_174011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrX4mAzh3Q0/YY7xKZO0OgI/AAAAAAAATnk/qun2g0xiq-QQ26sNlyBsgeq4BUOsiHpjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211111_174011.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We offer your seeds of gratitude and hope you hold them in your heart and in your spirit and that once you are full up, you share and spread your own. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hj-pZ2Gb4qw/YY7wcxTdDVI/AAAAAAAATmU/OoKbDFANh2Qp9AKZx2sY025Ux-SxQK_8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211012_110344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hj-pZ2Gb4qw/YY7wcxTdDVI/AAAAAAAATmU/OoKbDFANh2Qp9AKZx2sY025Ux-SxQK_8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211012_110344.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Life is love or it's not, but we choose love, always. No matter what finds us, what scares us, what is more than we ever dreamed of baring. We choose love and gratitude for this one life that is ours!</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhnc5n0wZB4/YY7xBtc5-HI/AAAAAAAATnE/bb8YfvmFiCUcUc3uoz6FWIPMEKiLH95qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211031_140940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhnc5n0wZB4/YY7xBtc5-HI/AAAAAAAATnE/bb8YfvmFiCUcUc3uoz6FWIPMEKiLH95qwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211031_140940.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Soundtrack: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pllRW9wETzw&list=RDMMUVGhman-0qI&index=2" target="_blank">Cloudbusting by Kate Bush</a>. "I just know that something good is going to happen. I don't know when, but just saying it could even make it happen."</div><p></p></div></div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-60063058516410627812021-07-28T13:32:00.014-04:002021-07-28T16:38:28.668-04:00Hitting the Reset Button<p>Happy summer dear friends. What a glorious time of year! The plants are humming with life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S0yctn_aUdM/YQF0xiS-juI/AAAAAAAATck/MsHAPjj6t78rWR1iKs-CWr7kSpLAAIbJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210707_095720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S0yctn_aUdM/YQF0xiS-juI/AAAAAAAATck/MsHAPjj6t78rWR1iKs-CWr7kSpLAAIbJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210707_095720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The skies are painted with billowy clouds. We walk barefoot on warm Earth. We swat life-sucking and life-giving mosquitoes. We listen to bird song. Insect song. The last of the frog song. Our hearts sing with joy and soak up all the goodness and richness of this intense season. These 3.5 acres are filled with more life than we ever imagined and we are lucky enough to witness the return of diversity. The Cup Plants are in full bloom and welcomed us home after a sojourn out in the world soaking up ecosystems other than our homeland. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C1TeMgSkJqM/YQF0CJpsSKI/AAAAAAAATcc/vm-ZbhzWIs0dnwjQ-GfBzkRD8wNIZWCQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210725_170214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C1TeMgSkJqM/YQF0CJpsSKI/AAAAAAAATcc/vm-ZbhzWIs0dnwjQ-GfBzkRD8wNIZWCQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210725_170214.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>What felt like drudgery, now feels like ease. Sometimes, that mighty reset button needs smacked in the biggest most forceful way and we did just that. We left. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qWkWG2WSods/YQF131BifHI/AAAAAAAATcs/zvg54Go8fV8lB3QU00-bOfxazmo63egXACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210715_165122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qWkWG2WSods/YQF131BifHI/AAAAAAAATcs/zvg54Go8fV8lB3QU00-bOfxazmo63egXACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210715_165122.jpg" /></a></div><p>The flowers. The kitties. The persimmons. The showers. The easy water access. We left the ease of home life and found wild water. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GkoHSN5sBg/YQF2WiinQuI/AAAAAAAATdA/mgMaUqtsCEwTn4Kos-qm2bAqDY_And9EgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210719_191647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GkoHSN5sBg/YQF2WiinQuI/AAAAAAAATdA/mgMaUqtsCEwTn4Kos-qm2bAqDY_And9EgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210719_191647.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PCZwd7ZVi8A/YQF2VITZfdI/AAAAAAAATc4/nIverbE24oQzVEwelwn_6Ss3YUOdLF_UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210715_142746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PCZwd7ZVi8A/YQF2VITZfdI/AAAAAAAATc4/nIverbE24oQzVEwelwn_6Ss3YUOdLF_UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210715_142746.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GS7jSKZBpU/YQF2VBtnd6I/AAAAAAAATc8/MPK4arQ4ycYWQ16j2K0BGK6XwqP2XGY9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210718_135515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GS7jSKZBpU/YQF2VBtnd6I/AAAAAAAATc8/MPK4arQ4ycYWQ16j2K0BGK6XwqP2XGY9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210718_135515.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Nesting White-crowned Sparrows singing their local dialects. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxuZldlu553tiGQECVsEeHoh1HJ_gJbL3eT8rO1ZIa9Qxj_SxVwLo38DR4JxIaO2uaqI2zMpx-HvyVOexxG0A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>We walked through heavy and prolonged rain storms and crossed streams without trying to keep our feet dry and then savored any and all sunshine and wolfed down food like it mattered, because it did. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glQOuTlvLAY/YQF5_a17W1I/AAAAAAAATdc/P1_xRX3E0MA-mjfIyqTeYcUv6TgEiW20QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210717_163147.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glQOuTlvLAY/YQF5_a17W1I/AAAAAAAATdc/P1_xRX3E0MA-mjfIyqTeYcUv6TgEiW20QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210717_163147.jpg" /></a></div><p>We dunked in lakes and rivers at every opportunity. Some water was warm. Some was cool. Some was COLD. It all felt life giving. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N9tCeoKFxaM/YQF6cvzPmXI/AAAAAAAATds/Tk7OXSeOQ6YenYKH9-AaxHrHMwiKb4a7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210719_161615.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N9tCeoKFxaM/YQF6cvzPmXI/AAAAAAAATds/Tk7OXSeOQ6YenYKH9-AaxHrHMwiKb4a7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210719_161615.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQCa7j1MPdY/YQF6cGilAVI/AAAAAAAATdo/mfNXzJ1BycUyICh05G0G6xJd8e929_diQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210723_140503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQCa7j1MPdY/YQF6cGilAVI/AAAAAAAATdo/mfNXzJ1BycUyICh05G0G6xJd8e929_diQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210723_140503.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcj2RD34yZo/YQF6b6T9E7I/AAAAAAAATdk/tILkFJ6kveoHNV3dl1sf6z26dwIc6ZRlACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210723_140627.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcj2RD34yZo/YQF6b6T9E7I/AAAAAAAATdk/tILkFJ6kveoHNV3dl1sf6z26dwIc6ZRlACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210723_140627.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Most places we camped had no cell service and what a gift. The loss of that tether offered freedom with the birds and the pikas and insects. No distractions. Yes, we experienced some annoyances in the form of mosquitoes, horseflies and flies. They all found us to continue their own lives, but we also found glaciers, wetlands, wetland wildflowers, hundreds if not thousands of elk and a forgotten piece of ourselves.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XCrzi4aizi0/YQF644Qb0LI/AAAAAAAATeE/I8rcj71UcMIjuAebwfYPehBPxE1OxqN0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210717_185630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XCrzi4aizi0/YQF644Qb0LI/AAAAAAAATeE/I8rcj71UcMIjuAebwfYPehBPxE1OxqN0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210717_185630.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKS3iTgVPww/YQF7s1UtCpI/AAAAAAAATek/zSQO6OnD2-4EhUV0N1TcprSdDPz-InbcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210718_130139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKS3iTgVPww/YQF7s1UtCpI/AAAAAAAATek/zSQO6OnD2-4EhUV0N1TcprSdDPz-InbcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210718_130139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjxEHVGMp54/YQF7VTUen3I/AAAAAAAATec/ONZw0B4r4zY2tiENbisGO38QEUN4hK4jACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210718_181931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjxEHVGMp54/YQF7VTUen3I/AAAAAAAATec/ONZw0B4r4zY2tiENbisGO38QEUN4hK4jACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210718_181931.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xnpnvnd8hbs/YQF66A0Ib2I/AAAAAAAATeM/muoyz4cO7tsgaqIUlPg6PfONDHplIIvQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210719_191913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1456" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xnpnvnd8hbs/YQF66A0Ib2I/AAAAAAAATeM/muoyz4cO7tsgaqIUlPg6PfONDHplIIvQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210719_191913.jpg" /></a></div><p>We heard over and over again and finally saw a bawling Bobcat (or Lynx, dang it for not knowing tail patterns better). We changed our clothes in open air when no one was around. We traveled through empty campgrounds and busy campgrounds. We slept. We couldn't sleep. We hiked. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhRXo97BIqY/YQF8hSsRcqI/AAAAAAAATes/XNHDoaxy2cYRFFfGhpXmCpWXO9o2Rp2RwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210717_092959.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhRXo97BIqY/YQF8hSsRcqI/AAAAAAAATes/XNHDoaxy2cYRFFfGhpXmCpWXO9o2Rp2RwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210717_092959.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycEKyYV77cg/YQF8iRaTa6I/AAAAAAAATe0/k_YEo2IhaREfnDgyHHPChjsUo1lXTZZBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210718_132502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycEKyYV77cg/YQF8iRaTa6I/AAAAAAAATe0/k_YEo2IhaREfnDgyHHPChjsUo1lXTZZBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210718_132502.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hVSf3B3Ep64/YQF8iyz7oqI/AAAAAAAATe4/c-MDDijz-ygdfHpPL4B48YTlYkHmfuKNACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210718_150629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hVSf3B3Ep64/YQF8iyz7oqI/AAAAAAAATe4/c-MDDijz-ygdfHpPL4B48YTlYkHmfuKNACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210718_150629.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We breathed hard. Above timberline captured us. We wanted to stay. I cried when we left and Steve understood. The White-crowned Sparrows still sing in my head. Their world is still in my heart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfbrn_gNONk/YQF9OlL5bgI/AAAAAAAATfc/ecsNi-X0wHcf1sRF8zDUwmsN7VvHMTldQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210718_132350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfbrn_gNONk/YQF9OlL5bgI/AAAAAAAATfc/ecsNi-X0wHcf1sRF8zDUwmsN7VvHMTldQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210718_132350.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qehl2BQc6CU/YQF9OTxXqhI/AAAAAAAATfY/SDGpPrm3tRwKZBo8qPLaK0zX8Qr-jjQkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210719_080331.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qehl2BQc6CU/YQF9OTxXqhI/AAAAAAAATfY/SDGpPrm3tRwKZBo8qPLaK0zX8Qr-jjQkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210719_080331.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mK77W2PY_d4/YQF9OXclJeI/AAAAAAAATfU/bGWoCTbdaEg-LlyQu2YZw_WKWdllhGdIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210719_080422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mK77W2PY_d4/YQF9OXclJeI/AAAAAAAATfU/bGWoCTbdaEg-LlyQu2YZw_WKWdllhGdIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210719_080422.jpg" /></a></div><p>They guide me forward and remind me that reentry into home life doesn't have to be more than it has to be. Much of what we experience in this life is a human/societal construct and we can pick and let the chaff fly free. Only do what is necessary and life giving. Skip everything else. Don't waste this life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-638NYCOdQrA/YQF9oH8-D-I/AAAAAAAATfo/8C-kAtfjxkYdvoPhSv8SVFNWPed4Q102ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210721_074254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-638NYCOdQrA/YQF9oH8-D-I/AAAAAAAATfo/8C-kAtfjxkYdvoPhSv8SVFNWPed4Q102ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210721_074254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7d66qWDAe8/YQF9oXPz95I/AAAAAAAATfs/02cg6edv_sIrYPq0yIw-BY451ABMgf-nQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210721_111929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7d66qWDAe8/YQF9oXPz95I/AAAAAAAATfs/02cg6edv_sIrYPq0yIw-BY451ABMgf-nQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210721_111929.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jP0UeBghotY/YQF9ov1zUVI/AAAAAAAATfw/833z96NcoVcTFbpb2QB2Fr2eRhqRE2y4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210721_115128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jP0UeBghotY/YQF9ov1zUVI/AAAAAAAATfw/833z96NcoVcTFbpb2QB2Fr2eRhqRE2y4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210721_115128.jpg" /></a></div><p>Seeing the kitties upon our return made our hearts so happy. We wish we would carry them with us and that they would like it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WcS92Aop4o/YQF-Mj5Tt3I/AAAAAAAATgE/iCwIo03vbxkhNmlfs155xzKHZsBznBu8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210610_132609.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WcS92Aop4o/YQF-Mj5Tt3I/AAAAAAAATgE/iCwIo03vbxkhNmlfs155xzKHZsBznBu8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210610_132609.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHa60kEGLR0/YQF-Mt9GjBI/AAAAAAAATgA/bDunV3fXvU0AdHOuVKIrehWuOAhh--mUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210616_133232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHa60kEGLR0/YQF-Mt9GjBI/AAAAAAAATgA/bDunV3fXvU0AdHOuVKIrehWuOAhh--mUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210616_133232.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_i_BJ76XxuE/YQF-egF63RI/AAAAAAAATgQ/AKym-0h_j9Y1iYJu7qKYrVpAePInE4ePgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20191117_134114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_i_BJ76XxuE/YQF-egF63RI/AAAAAAAATgQ/AKym-0h_j9Y1iYJu7qKYrVpAePInE4ePgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191117_134114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Filling up the Berkey water filter feels easy now; the water so delicious. The first night home I said we are never leaving again and Steve said ok. The very next day Steve was researching highline trails for us. The untethering of our spirits from shoulds and coulds coupled with the giant drink of life from wild places and respite from human constructed craziness is a pull we cannot ignore for apparently more than one day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mEQ7ThtOvU/YQF_AE4la7I/AAAAAAAATgY/EeusIJAjwl8jgW7s4rzuLhv95oVWhjg5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210722_081535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mEQ7ThtOvU/YQF_AE4la7I/AAAAAAAATgY/EeusIJAjwl8jgW7s4rzuLhv95oVWhjg5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210722_081535.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6ZUnmXgvqg/YQF_AF8jn7I/AAAAAAAATgc/ZZDLpRjScdUQWpvGH65pgo93j30g63NRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210721_164133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6ZUnmXgvqg/YQF_AF8jn7I/AAAAAAAATgc/ZZDLpRjScdUQWpvGH65pgo93j30g63NRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210721_164133.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5XCGyePIqk/YQF_AOrZsrI/AAAAAAAATgg/cRQd5fd1gtMinyEmSK_NOIAgDgn9dbKpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210719_161655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5XCGyePIqk/YQF_AOrZsrI/AAAAAAAATgg/cRQd5fd1gtMinyEmSK_NOIAgDgn9dbKpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210719_161655.jpg" /></a></div><p>Recently I read some thoughts from George Monbiot pieced together here: "To be at peace with a troubled world: this is not a reasonable aim. If you don't fit in, if you feel at odds with the world, if your identity is frayed, if you feel lost and ashamed it could be because you have retained the human values you were supposed to have discarded. You are a deviant. Be proud." I have no more illusions about saving the world. It's impossible to do alone. There are many of us working in our own small ways and that gives me hope. I am not optimistic in terms of humanity, but I am hopeful. I am completely optimistic and hopeful in terms of the Earth. Life will change and we accept that now. In this brief moment where we exist on this beautiful planet, we will be kind and work towards good. We will do our best to love and remember our place in nature. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPift2wTihg/YQGAKh4tuGI/AAAAAAAAThA/n-iubn-fuEobuzW-zIaEY-TX--btXAWVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210714_143210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPift2wTihg/YQGAKh4tuGI/AAAAAAAAThA/n-iubn-fuEobuzW-zIaEY-TX--btXAWVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210714_143210.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8yHfFi_oAU/YQGAJY_th8I/AAAAAAAATg4/_TUDwfx1mF8BfYRmIwteD-5Hy9rVQIq-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210714_195855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1326" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8yHfFi_oAU/YQGAJY_th8I/AAAAAAAATg4/_TUDwfx1mF8BfYRmIwteD-5Hy9rVQIq-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210714_195855.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49fMl_w6y7s/YQGAKdb4qNI/AAAAAAAATg8/HLcl0XytM_4rUM5OResP3FI8N32-jneowCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210715_165320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49fMl_w6y7s/YQGAKdb4qNI/AAAAAAAATg8/HLcl0XytM_4rUM5OResP3FI8N32-jneowCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210715_165320.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9T5sb50ZkFU/YQGALXWd8mI/AAAAAAAAThE/pigN37t987kDfW2vYY9gKA7LbrNuImBzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210719_092953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9T5sb50ZkFU/YQGALXWd8mI/AAAAAAAAThE/pigN37t987kDfW2vYY9gKA7LbrNuImBzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210719_092953.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sowhsltp2A/YQGAL74o0rI/AAAAAAAAThI/-axeHgo4HqQ1B5mBfkuYcDFG6nmRFbThACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210719_124138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sowhsltp2A/YQGAL74o0rI/AAAAAAAAThI/-axeHgo4HqQ1B5mBfkuYcDFG6nmRFbThACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210719_124138.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rF3a03b3baI/YQGANKJZv_I/AAAAAAAAThM/YjJbXYdf_JU6tr7KpAK9Kp6BoG-2GWz_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210721_095928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rF3a03b3baI/YQGANKJZv_I/AAAAAAAAThM/YjJbXYdf_JU6tr7KpAK9Kp6BoG-2GWz_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210721_095928.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F9y0w5WrXBE/YQGAOv1FgoI/AAAAAAAAThU/NdzCAi5dyEAV9ac6hc-_laFpJkAbC3UqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210721_113839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F9y0w5WrXBE/YQGAOv1FgoI/AAAAAAAAThU/NdzCAi5dyEAV9ac6hc-_laFpJkAbC3UqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210721_113839.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I_A2tmbeZKA/YQGAPWaFpzI/AAAAAAAAThY/2J10Sly1Es4AjDYdnt6eg92FtYEPum7CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210721_114223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I_A2tmbeZKA/YQGAPWaFpzI/AAAAAAAAThY/2J10Sly1Es4AjDYdnt6eg92FtYEPum7CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210721_114223.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We will laugh and swim and look at fish and listen to elk and and marvel at above timberline nesting birds and alpine butterflies. We will soak up the richness of lush vegetation and the life it supports. We will remember our place as humans, as animals, as mammals, and our place in nature, not separate from nature. We will continue to evaluate how we live and make necessary changes. We recognize that nonhuman life is not subservient to human life and that much is lost in translation and that greed and power are often the reasons for incorrect translation. We offer gratitude for our life, our love, and our memory of where we came from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5rpRtaT4RM/YQGAJex68MI/AAAAAAAATg0/pzkt3lzCPlQjLOwfHY49lYxJyL27mKSfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210714_141001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5rpRtaT4RM/YQGAJex68MI/AAAAAAAATg0/pzkt3lzCPlQjLOwfHY49lYxJyL27mKSfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210714_141001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YjodKntqFYw/YQGAQtcVqPI/AAAAAAAAThg/3UWEatngyL4bRnAQLuwaD-yMcV-JYABKACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Always%2Bseeking%2BAmerican%2BPersimmons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YjodKntqFYw/YQGAQtcVqPI/AAAAAAAAThg/3UWEatngyL4bRnAQLuwaD-yMcV-JYABKACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Always%2Bseeking%2BAmerican%2BPersimmons.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yi86jEJJhNM/YQGAQYT-vII/AAAAAAAAThc/MQfxTvkJmfEGXFS1Cp6A682cUiaiVD8MgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210721_120603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yi86jEJJhNM/YQGAQYT-vII/AAAAAAAAThc/MQfxTvkJmfEGXFS1Cp6A682cUiaiVD8MgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210721_120603.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We embrace our deviance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. FeedBurner, our email subscription service, appears to be going away in August 2021. If you rely on emails to update you on our posts, please know at some point some you will not receive them anymore. Our blog will still be up and running and we will continue to post every couple of months. Thanks for following along with us. You all are one of our reasons for hope! xxx</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-60864142632037165012021-05-26T15:39:00.011-04:002021-05-26T15:43:34.252-04:00Gifts of Life<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This spring has been an odd one and a challenging one in so very many ways, but those ways don't need more reflection or discussion...it was enough to live them, to mourn them, to cry because of them, to love them. Let's all acknowledge what's good in our lives and what moves us forward in joy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of those for us is the generosity of friends. A conference long ago crossed our paths with Stanley Stine's and he surprisingly gifted us <a href="https://www.willowsvermont.com/home.html" target="_blank">20 native Willow (Salix sp.) cuttings</a> to increase the biodiversity of this piece of land. Willows are spectacular plants in themselves and offer so much to wildlife in so many different ways; definitely one of the <a href="https://www.ecolandscaping.org/06/designing-ecological-landscapes/native-plants/superfoods-in-the-insect-garden/" target="_blank">"superfoods in the garden"</a>. You can see the happiness in Steve's face as we planted these marvels; plants just have this magic about them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc1L1bomQzc/YK6UC7Y5OzI/AAAAAAAATP4/ZFVIYa9EH-c5xuCbA-cDxGRe-oLiXmdbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210508_125307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc1L1bomQzc/YK6UC7Y5OzI/AAAAAAAATP4/ZFVIYa9EH-c5xuCbA-cDxGRe-oLiXmdbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210508_125307.jpg" /></a></div><p>The endurance feat of bird migration was a true gift for our spirits this spring. The warblers were all around us, on the day pictured, feeding quickly and efficiently on any and all available foods. The temperatures were so chilly, but their persistence and resiliency made us smile and offered a good kick in the pants.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IEVpISOcDbc/YK6bPTShHHI/AAAAAAAATQs/SO2LBIBnvLgbGiHcdyFDyGvJ023iZal6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210511_185322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IEVpISOcDbc/YK6bPTShHHI/AAAAAAAATQs/SO2LBIBnvLgbGiHcdyFDyGvJ023iZal6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210511_185322.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The fine greenery of Mother Earth is returning and we spend as much time as possible immersing ourselves in the gifts of the sun, warmth, and insects. We love that our humble abode is starting to appear part of the land around us. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPo8s4cWAy0/YK6UE0JDXVI/AAAAAAAATQA/7XaJjCScD8MXdIpaKLbHuW9YNUr4YtqZACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210519_110736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPo8s4cWAy0/YK6UE0JDXVI/AAAAAAAATQA/7XaJjCScD8MXdIpaKLbHuW9YNUr4YtqZACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210519_110736.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jR76JnbnPw/YK6UFmguc6I/AAAAAAAATQI/ERHjj36py2EPiohk5bXC11xNvD4fX5S7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210519_113606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jR76JnbnPw/YK6UFmguc6I/AAAAAAAATQI/ERHjj36py2EPiohk5bXC11xNvD4fX5S7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210519_113606.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The American Persimmons are leafing out and we are grateful for their slowness and their protection from these back and forth springs; they fit as our spirit tree in more ways than one and we didn't even know. It's like <i>they</i> found us...<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgiW0oZ4mRo/YK6UDGtyLOI/AAAAAAAATP8/Md5Kkglwz-8iFuLfzl-T_TnYHD5BNRi5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210519_113317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgiW0oZ4mRo/YK6UDGtyLOI/AAAAAAAATP8/Md5Kkglwz-8iFuLfzl-T_TnYHD5BNRi5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210519_113317.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Small Carpenter Bees inspire our hearts and minds too; they are here and thriving. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvN2N0p8ODk" target="_blank">Watch the relationship of Goldenrod pith and nesting bees we just saw here on this little patch of Earth.</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_xfPnqsop3M/YK6UFy_zl-I/AAAAAAAATQM/3jdrj_1aHpQ3MUq1XKdqVlpd0h4SLD3SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210523_095536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_xfPnqsop3M/YK6UFy_zl-I/AAAAAAAATQM/3jdrj_1aHpQ3MUq1XKdqVlpd0h4SLD3SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210523_095536.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Our land restoration is well on her own way. Now, we just get to watch the magic unfold and that means less hands on management is needed. For those of you that have followed us for a long time, you know that means it is time to get back to hiking in a BIG WAY. We swapped out all our old campers and 220,000+ mile cars for this new to us stripped down truck that allows us to go back to the beginning.</p><p style="text-align: left;">2021: </p><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTSvgGURtts/YK6Y3WZxAyI/AAAAAAAATQk/nyOnAznQF7sEDZNdAUoNOcUmpvOBgFXpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210521_180118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTSvgGURtts/YK6Y3WZxAyI/AAAAAAAATQk/nyOnAznQF7sEDZNdAUoNOcUmpvOBgFXpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210521_180118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>2007:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-UEYU2Ng28/YK6fLetxb3I/AAAAAAAATQ8/BH83xqXFoJg73W6acM924AAFa5lDCD2YgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN2696.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-UEYU2Ng28/YK6fLetxb3I/AAAAAAAATQ8/BH83xqXFoJg73W6acM924AAFa5lDCD2YgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSCN2696.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqfZGBotaus/YK6jAE6UUzI/AAAAAAAATRc/bRqQxhNcGeMLMJHXWs17j13CmVXevN5lwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN2670.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqfZGBotaus/YK6jAE6UUzI/AAAAAAAATRc/bRqQxhNcGeMLMJHXWs17j13CmVXevN5lwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSCN2670.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEqDd9A_-KE/YK6gIbbFrOI/AAAAAAAATRQ/NAVg7l_GFcQkrEKd3EQ_v6Gobc4Nl2AdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN2685.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEqDd9A_-KE/YK6gIbbFrOI/AAAAAAAATRQ/NAVg7l_GFcQkrEKd3EQ_v6Gobc4Nl2AdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSCN2685.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My, how time flies. My, my, my. Best get on with living! ;)</div><div><br /></div>This song is it, right here, right now. I think Tift Merritt tapped into the spirit of the planet with this one. Music for both of us is the best piece of humanity and this song might very well be my life song. I have many chapter songs, but this one, LIFE. I'm sure many of you know it. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZUzfvSGEKA" target="_blank">Turn it on</a>, look out the window, go sit on the Earth, close your eyes, whatever you can do, wherever you are, to hear this. Do you feel the same?<br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p>We love you all. Thank you for following along with us and sharing with us. </p></blockquote></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-1707450984763251802021-03-16T14:10:00.009-04:002021-03-16T14:17:18.107-04:00Winter Fireflies, Sunshine and Life on the Farm<p>And just like that, it's spring. The birds we so recently watched soaring south are soaring north. The maple sap is running or finishing up. Frogs and salamanders moved to the vernal pools in the first warm rains and I hear the frog songs as I type. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klkldoukL0I" target="_blank">Winter Fireflies</a> are basking on the warmed south side of trees and we are savoring every last delicious minute of the season of rebirth.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnaROmjVja0/YEvq8Po8Z6I/AAAAAAAATJw/C3f3yc0Izzg-68-t2pRai6zAbCu6OdvCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210303_142752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnaROmjVja0/YEvq8Po8Z6I/AAAAAAAATJw/C3f3yc0Izzg-68-t2pRai6zAbCu6OdvCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210303_142752.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i>Ellychnia corrusca</i> are pretty fascinating fireflies. You must<a href="https://ugapress.org/book/9780820348728/fireflies-glow-worms-and-lightning-bugs/" target="_blank"> read about them</a>; they will make your life richer if you know them and it sure makes for a fun end of winter scavenger hunt. So far we've seen them on 10 species of trees at Mohican State Park/Forest: <span style="font-family: inherit;">b<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">lack oak, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">white oak, p</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">ignut hickory, sugar maple, black cherry, red elm, red oak, American beech, tulip tree, Pinus sp.</span></span><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBjtZEXN9WE/YEvq8PSKrOI/AAAAAAAATJs/5rmoR9mZ2_sXHOoKJK2hnkBip5bZyy3FQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210303_151414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBjtZEXN9WE/YEvq8PSKrOI/AAAAAAAATJs/5rmoR9mZ2_sXHOoKJK2hnkBip5bZyy3FQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210303_151414.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gC2B02KOaco/YEvq7ovOuMI/AAAAAAAATJo/9sLuETN-oO8zdGdabK4BLjGTURk9WphhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210304_104325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gC2B02KOaco/YEvq7ovOuMI/AAAAAAAATJo/9sLuETN-oO8zdGdabK4BLjGTURk9WphhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210304_104325.jpg" /></a></div><p>The raccoons and deer are moving about, I assume, grateful for the retreat of the deep snow that blanketed the Earth for quite some time this winter. We loved watching the fluffy white stuff fall and we loved watching it melt and smell the thawing earth. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o6QrydjecNE/YEvrTD6gYzI/AAAAAAAATKA/onRReGdndhAaUDLmkHvyF3OpfiWIme3awCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/01200021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o6QrydjecNE/YEvrTD6gYzI/AAAAAAAATKA/onRReGdndhAaUDLmkHvyF3OpfiWIme3awCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/01200021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vi0Kbn-_1Qk/YEvrTMni1HI/AAAAAAAATKI/O5EijHLm5woFh97mY32CSqtmfWWrEtzGACLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/02010003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vi0Kbn-_1Qk/YEvrTMni1HI/AAAAAAAATKI/O5EijHLm5woFh97mY32CSqtmfWWrEtzGACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/02010003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">A Gray Catbird spent the winter here up until the day before the last big snow storm </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q25huGFnT8Y&t=4s" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">when the food ran out.</a><span style="text-align: left;"> Poor timing isn't it? You know what that means....yep, planting more, more, more!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_v6rmo7uUVQ/YEvqvWGZT_I/AAAAAAAATJg/irsG1SXlfTIPwdShrrm-rv4roNwRiIVRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s4608/IMG_4748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_v6rmo7uUVQ/YEvqvWGZT_I/AAAAAAAATJg/irsG1SXlfTIPwdShrrm-rv4roNwRiIVRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_4748.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I'm spending time putting thoughts on paper and then the computer and Steve made me a repurposed table to handle my chaos. I love it. Garage sale legs and an old bulb crate we used for winter produce came together just right. There is so much stuff already in existence, isn't there? A little creativity is all that's needed...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNZ_Q0Z8I3I/YEvrU4GUDAI/AAAAAAAATKU/8EYquz-SNWgLbdcFIKLAcqpvHam_kuePACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210214_172700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNZ_Q0Z8I3I/YEvrU4GUDAI/AAAAAAAATKU/8EYquz-SNWgLbdcFIKLAcqpvHam_kuePACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210214_172700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Our little Oreo (aka Wuk) helps me on occasion...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdN9t1gFPR0/YEvrU-EElSI/AAAAAAAATKY/Ru8YD8e2XtIqB3j8t5m59bquQBbc2aPZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210217_141737.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdN9t1gFPR0/YEvrU-EElSI/AAAAAAAATKY/Ru8YD8e2XtIqB3j8t5m59bquQBbc2aPZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210217_141737.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>and celebrated with me on my first deer shed. </p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mW82fsE0pwE/YEvrU0XOfSI/AAAAAAAATKc/kOLUMBHZNjgAV63HNPlcstj_ZAd2EYtIACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210219_163237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mW82fsE0pwE/YEvrU0XOfSI/AAAAAAAATKc/kOLUMBHZNjgAV63HNPlcstj_ZAd2EYtIACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210219_163237.jpg" /></a></div><p>Steve and I handled cat chaos with cat gates and now we can breathe again and the oppressed cat (Minnie Pearl) eats and drinks without fear. Can you hear the long exhale? It's been rouuuuggghhhhhh.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDgrzptqUxo/YEvrWYXKW4I/AAAAAAAATKg/fNRyzWGc08gaoTPa7VKXUJpzQwjqo7jgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210227_143401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDgrzptqUxo/YEvrWYXKW4I/AAAAAAAATKg/fNRyzWGc08gaoTPa7VKXUJpzQwjqo7jgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210227_143401.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UwFdeRkIElk/YEvrWiqQUuI/AAAAAAAATKo/sNx1-qlUK8MzCvu1_32z7rznneeAX9zMACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210302_131204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UwFdeRkIElk/YEvrWiqQUuI/AAAAAAAATKo/sNx1-qlUK8MzCvu1_32z7rznneeAX9zMACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210302_131204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Bird houses didn't work well here so we finally <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-b2qt7yG5M" target="_blank">threw the towel in</a> and that's also a great, great relief. (Sometimes, we just have to quit fighting a path that isn't changing or improving.) We will continue, as always, to promote snags and natural tree holes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bmUnBMFoVIY/YEvrZLbuXoI/AAAAAAAATK0/qj38Mzv5mIIptgto-8mNUzhNsRVsuP0uwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210302_141330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bmUnBMFoVIY/YEvrZLbuXoI/AAAAAAAATK0/qj38Mzv5mIIptgto-8mNUzhNsRVsuP0uwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210302_141330.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Woodland sedges are reunited with our little woodland and it made us so happy to have our hands back in the soil, to enrich a beat up fence row and to accept the generosity of these plants to grow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqDraUhAKAY/YEvrZLWSF6I/AAAAAAAATKw/ppZNv7b-eLk00GFve8awnjsvcSZjtO7jQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210302_143043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqDraUhAKAY/YEvrZLWSF6I/AAAAAAAATKw/ppZNv7b-eLk00GFve8awnjsvcSZjtO7jQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210302_143043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Thanks to some coordination with a neighbor of ours, the road trash is picked up on our stretch for the time being. This is what Steve and I picked in a couple of hours! Hmmm. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzg4EC4qRHU/YEvrY01-FeI/AAAAAAAATKs/GssP9B83gFoqH66DnHhQCkxVooUmWvgBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210307_144931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzg4EC4qRHU/YEvrY01-FeI/AAAAAAAATKs/GssP9B83gFoqH66DnHhQCkxVooUmWvgBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210307_144931.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The dove covey makes us smile every single time. Flighty birds, they are and we get it. They've spent a large portion of this winter here and we are going to miss them when we stop feeding the birds this spring, but we need the birds to disperse for their own health. We also feel conflicted about the bird seed bags (see above). What do you all do with them?</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kuunmstuvpw/YEvrZ0aEl0I/AAAAAAAATK4/oCv_Gfe-V1Qw89CqKZsnb-inDer_RNFdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s4608/IMG_4742.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kuunmstuvpw/YEvrZ0aEl0I/AAAAAAAATK4/oCv_Gfe-V1Qw89CqKZsnb-inDer_RNFdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_4742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Richard Louv put into words what we feel when we are in the magic of the planet. That's who we are. The rest of it, who knows what that is. That's not our essence and what a gift to know it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SG3M5CtMpHM/YEvrWuayaOI/AAAAAAAATKk/-pJ15ypVcMgpr-EfG7OQ-k-MA3idcD3qQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210301_161300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SG3M5CtMpHM/YEvrWuayaOI/AAAAAAAATKk/-pJ15ypVcMgpr-EfG7OQ-k-MA3idcD3qQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210301_161300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><u>Soundtrack:</u></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9lond4SXgk" target="_blank">MILCK - Quiet</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3kXDMPwfMc" target="_blank">Joseph - White Flag</a></p><p><br /></p><p></p></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-20548429300589769072021-01-06T14:47:00.015-05:002021-01-06T14:58:17.933-05:00Bring it 2021!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy New Year Dear Friends,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We made it. WE MADE IT. Whew. Doesn't it just feel marvelous? Like a long, long, long exhale. Yes, we have a long ways to go and much to overcome, but we are doing it - right now. We are strong. We are resilient. We suffer loss and we honor those we lose. We uplift those who need us and we remain steadfast in our devotion to goodness. If we aren't offering our own light to the world, what are we doing? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qW6vYEoBoPQ/X_YC210YFVI/AAAAAAAATDM/zF3ezo8pqOkjP9fqAQ4DRMqZ28iPlHOVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/12010029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qW6vYEoBoPQ/X_YC210YFVI/AAAAAAAATDM/zF3ezo8pqOkjP9fqAQ4DRMqZ28iPlHOVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/12010029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYh1q0a2f0Q/X_YC6AaXk4I/AAAAAAAATDQ/z3cL82gawiATQcVOyUzfJtuiQwzqcwWrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201130_164742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYh1q0a2f0Q/X_YC6AaXk4I/AAAAAAAATDQ/z3cL82gawiATQcVOyUzfJtuiQwzqcwWrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201130_164742.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJYJqc1IG9c/X_YBECswaqI/AAAAAAAATCU/hfpjWwLZIEgxnkNT4dSA3gvXtLQUOfoagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201225_091405.jpg" /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p>We celebrated the return of the light with our own lights, not as brilliant as the sun, but hope-filled on long dark nights.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uknmmPUiSPQ/X_YBAJSYqQI/AAAAAAAATB8/vlc3Z5_fVDAUZ9qPsTuaPRv0AdrSSl-_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201204_190232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uknmmPUiSPQ/X_YBAJSYqQI/AAAAAAAATB8/vlc3Z5_fVDAUZ9qPsTuaPRv0AdrSSl-_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201204_190232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>We sit in the sun every precious moment those luscious rays fall on our patch of Earth and in this moment, we salute you...</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="318" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HkFAiAuWyCs" width="407" youtube-src-id="HkFAiAuWyCs"></iframe></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">We made soap for the first time in a long time to gift our friends and family and it felt good to make something from scratch that is the best we know how to make. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Swa0tiP8XUI/X_YDGk9doCI/AAAAAAAATDc/WcozQcQQVDowB0S5dxzaQKWB6lrT64cAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201213_100725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Swa0tiP8XUI/X_YDGk9doCI/AAAAAAAATDc/WcozQcQQVDowB0S5dxzaQKWB6lrT64cAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201213_100725.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The plant nursery is ready for 2021 and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu-t0QgjwbY" target="_blank">the changes feel right</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMuvm57km-E/X_YDHcDcgkI/AAAAAAAATDg/7_8TlPhl6L46DRBFX4yxWbTrrOXRDzBwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2534/20201222_143940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="2534" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMuvm57km-E/X_YDHcDcgkI/AAAAAAAATDg/7_8TlPhl6L46DRBFX4yxWbTrrOXRDzBwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201222_143940.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3xgJg7u5jc&t=1s" target="_blank">American Persimmons in Morrow County</a> keep giving their most delicious fruits. This little collection of goodness set our minds to wonder, as always. They were collected at the end of December and we started harvesting from this tree in late September. Yes, you read that right. We still cannot believe the generosity of this particular tree species.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Hi6Bq5u3Wo/X_YDGg-o5qI/AAAAAAAATDY/tovPNZXO_YYOSgpQY-GgX8hHbFagWS6LACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201223_145026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Hi6Bq5u3Wo/X_YDGg-o5qI/AAAAAAAATDY/tovPNZXO_YYOSgpQY-GgX8hHbFagWS6LACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201223_145026.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIhKxtS8Qi4/X_YDMzzaSXI/AAAAAAAATDo/jwgOP8jlKykmz98KemuPZD_MLNd9gc4GACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210102_143651.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIhKxtS8Qi4/X_YDMzzaSXI/AAAAAAAATDo/jwgOP8jlKykmz98KemuPZD_MLNd9gc4GACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210102_143651.jpg" /></a></div><p>Part of our light we give to the world is offering a helping hand to cats in need. This is not either of our life dream, nor is it something we love, but it is a need right in front of us and so we buck up and do the work. </p><p>This little kitty came inside (Oreo aka Wuk):</p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2Kwva1hwAc/X_YDcKtDTHI/AAAAAAAATD4/WJPCeT3b9SA9pcbqb94rmEw1DDmB3d4gwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201225_102010.jpg" /></div><p>This little kitty (JJ) went to the <a href="https://wyhumane.org/" target="_blank">Wyandot County Humane Society</a>:</p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mf5BB8K2h0/X_YDbrllR9I/AAAAAAAATD0/YHCB386sB10yikZEvSdJ-WL_76I_tRaBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201205_160945.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>This little kitty (Orangey aka Autumn) went to the <a href="http://www.hsofmc.org/" target="_blank">Morrow County Humane Society</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xE5jHGyWzXU/X_YKEndYrEI/AAAAAAAATEg/WJtnHCE0gHwtr9Sc5CL_z-zVEX0BDWtMACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201106_141359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xE5jHGyWzXU/X_YKEndYrEI/AAAAAAAATEg/WJtnHCE0gHwtr9Sc5CL_z-zVEX0BDWtMACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201106_141359.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And yes, friends, this is all from late 2020. This puts us at least 10 cats helped since we moved here 10 years ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>The wood fire keeps us and our first stray here (Alvin), toasty, warm and peaceful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgIhudHigx0/X_YDc_F9XaI/AAAAAAAATEA/kwpe-0EHgHM6gTBwbnE1onGZbx7DYWjCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201231_180759.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XgIhudHigx0/X_YDc_F9XaI/AAAAAAAATEA/kwpe-0EHgHM6gTBwbnE1onGZbx7DYWjCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201231_180759.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>When everything aligns, I write so I can share stories of this land. <a href="https://tinyseedjournal.com/2021/01/01/the-night-the-whippoorwill-sang/" target="_blank">The Night the Whippoorwill Sang waits for you here. </a><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LAxtA1Mh5jI/X_YDdb4WzqI/AAAAAAAATEI/L_9aJp_bJM8YqdL0mimbouNEvAIz-HwywCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210101_104949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LAxtA1Mh5jI/X_YDdb4WzqI/AAAAAAAATEI/L_9aJp_bJM8YqdL0mimbouNEvAIz-HwywCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210101_104949.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Darkling Beetles tucked away in this piece of firewood make us smile every time we find another gathering. We move their world of wood to the porch and nestle them in. The porch wood pile is growing and growing as it does every year. This is the never burn pile. Long ago, someone stayed in our house and burnt up this never burn pile. Hurt and anger and sadness lingered and sometimes finds us anew for different reasons, but we move on and perhaps not forget, but put the energy to use in a better way. We plant more trees. Protect more rotting wood. Offer a smile to the rattling car driving down the road. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JVaZ7KM4uLM/X_YDdaycNGI/AAAAAAAATEE/9SmnDDy-yhUjIn4mzU-KLYp2uUxGEId2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201230_180717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JVaZ7KM4uLM/X_YDdaycNGI/AAAAAAAATEE/9SmnDDy-yhUjIn4mzU-KLYp2uUxGEId2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201230_180717.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy 2021 dearest ones. We hope this year is brilliant for you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soundtrack: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKNdDvb15yI" target="_blank">Joaquim Cooder - Over that Road I'm Bound to Go</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i07j5xKrKHo&list=RDGMEMc6JZQrQ__ROET3gGdz-TrwVMwo4HVz8aWXE&index=8" target="_blank">Joaquim Cooder - Calm My Mind</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs-ju_L9pEQ" target="_blank">The Bengsons - The Keep Going On Song</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76O76Sft580&list=RDGMEMc6JZQrQ__ROET3gGdz-TrwVMwo4HVz8aWXE&index=11" target="_blank">The Bengsons - One Hundred Days</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8-4tjPxD8" target="_blank">Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen</a> (best turn this UP!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM6jn891seU" target="_blank">Sharon Van Etten - Seventeen</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNxygr_0wAE" target="_blank">Amy Ray - Let It Ring</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-43192572340620292072020-10-11T13:15:00.025-04:002020-10-11T17:40:09.718-04:00Finding Freedom<p>Sometimes things happen and change the way you move about your day and suddenly your life is that much richer, that much more connected and that much more worth living. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5qhsFIRxXiI/X4MzbZt-dCI/AAAAAAAAS1Y/_0XEt3pgYJgXdfvr1-DSsbwR6fS67VHHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200727_101139.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5qhsFIRxXiI/X4MzbZt-dCI/AAAAAAAAS1Y/_0XEt3pgYJgXdfvr1-DSsbwR6fS67VHHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200727_101139.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--kPxRNhGMww/X4M1WThdwKI/AAAAAAAAS4A/Jdyhch9O6-wCUq9jnjnltmOLT2IMEMqHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200808_151131.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxFEEabnsVY/X4M2ZhJvlLI/AAAAAAAAS4Y/-SFG63l_4ikYeXK821Ei8ys_AUJxpI67ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200819_182833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxFEEabnsVY/X4M2ZhJvlLI/AAAAAAAAS4Y/-SFG63l_4ikYeXK821Ei8ys_AUJxpI67ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200819_182833.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">In this moment, I'm not talking about a big health scare or the current polarization of our society or the edginess and fragility that comes with discord. Instead, I am talking about two chairs. Yes, two scavenged chairs Steve picked out of the trash and that we put behind our house. I've showed them in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o76WK_Jalpc&t=1s" target="_blank">a video here</a>. There is absolutely nothing special about these chairs in their appearance, but in their promotion of lounging, they are novel to us. We come from a clan of workers and that's what we do. Day in. Day out. It's productive. It's often wonderfully mind numbing. It's societally acceptable and lauded. Something about this existence for ourselves though has nagged us for years, hence, the <a href="http://www.thecommonmilkweed.com/about.html" target="_blank">About Us on our website</a> and all our moves and starts and finishes and zigs and zags. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVSpOvWR-Iw/X4M3wv5PgNI/AAAAAAAAS4g/6TPuKEBDcrYex5eBbAto0W3bOcESCBEswCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200923_143556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVSpOvWR-Iw/X4M3wv5PgNI/AAAAAAAAS4g/6TPuKEBDcrYex5eBbAto0W3bOcESCBEswCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200923_143556.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0n9FFNzmHUY/X4M3yH-21fI/AAAAAAAAS4o/zDEMnELh8iU_yxVxGPXQvcCKLPrD1K2FQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201007_083256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0n9FFNzmHUY/X4M3yH-21fI/AAAAAAAAS4o/zDEMnELh8iU_yxVxGPXQvcCKLPrD1K2FQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201007_083256.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dV__MbfMmTk/X4M3yS2XtJI/AAAAAAAAS4s/8XksyNrAq7QPcwNvZ7UDvpwa0UzcecAnACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201007_191617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dV__MbfMmTk/X4M3yS2XtJI/AAAAAAAAS4s/8XksyNrAq7QPcwNvZ7UDvpwa0UzcecAnACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201007_191617.jpg" /></a></div><p>These chairs, in the late afternoon sun, call to us. We feel the daylight and sunlight waning. We know these days are to be savored, so we sit, we lay back, we watch the sky, we feel the warmth and the breeze, we witness the vultures soaring south for weeks, we see the warblers eating food in the black walnut south of us. Sometimes, we notice a vulture that looks different and we see it's not the common turkey vulture, but rather the black vulture. We pull out our binoculars and we ooh and ahh. Then through those magnified lenses, we see monarchs soaring hundreds of feet above the earth, green darners and chimney swifts too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpa2OVHIPvM/X4N5ujPjMkI/AAAAAAAAS7M/bmv78zNJ4EwhqIQTDyQXbqLkLn6-e6aGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200724_200905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpa2OVHIPvM/X4N5ujPjMkI/AAAAAAAAS7M/bmv78zNJ4EwhqIQTDyQXbqLkLn6-e6aGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200724_200905.jpg" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTOU2ae1zFo/X4M4Q3bZ_nI/AAAAAAAAS5A/XmLPfaZGY2UyT6-R9AlSiewuFW0kN0hZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200729_112435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBON22_Bd54/X4N6C0rX16I/AAAAAAAAS7Y/pKryDYEqztoYeTzZDqvTnCXZeTJv40xiACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200729_112326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xBON22_Bd54/X4N6C0rX16I/AAAAAAAAS7Y/pKryDYEqztoYeTzZDqvTnCXZeTJv40xiACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200729_112326.jpg" /></a></div><p>This morning we woke to wet and cloudy skies and saw that overnight blue-headed vireos and house wrens flew down to this little patch of earth to spend the day eating before heading south once more. Those chairs slowed us down this summer and fall. We now wake to trees full of birds and we SEE them. We also hiked. We swam in cold rivers. We hugged big trees. We cried over salamanders and clean water. We saw more caterpillars than we have in our whole lives. We met black bears and copperheads and seed ticks and loved flocks of warblers everywhere we went. We met horseflies on the sweetest little beach at Pickett State Park where we swam after our big hikes. We ran the beach getting away from those horseflies (impossible) and laughed harder than we had in years. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sIgicgpA0I4/X4M4ymEA3gI/AAAAAAAAS5I/3jz5EGPgbj04LlfVUFbyYE0sNCjIswMvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200909_121433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sIgicgpA0I4/X4M4ymEA3gI/AAAAAAAAS5I/3jz5EGPgbj04LlfVUFbyYE0sNCjIswMvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200909_121433.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rFXwJ-PAQ80/X4M4y6YDC5I/AAAAAAAAS5M/bm8eqSpxXuIy7G64di1wxDu_1mTrmnUPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200909_204125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rFXwJ-PAQ80/X4M4y6YDC5I/AAAAAAAAS5M/bm8eqSpxXuIy7G64di1wxDu_1mTrmnUPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200909_204125.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zE3DpNrYKk/X4M4zmkC0pI/AAAAAAAAS5Q/pGpk8K_y4v0V0X4qDSyaYNwIhTkJuALUACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200909_205140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zE3DpNrYKk/X4M4zmkC0pI/AAAAAAAAS5Q/pGpk8K_y4v0V0X4qDSyaYNwIhTkJuALUACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200909_205140.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XT7BNqgExHs/X4M42t656iI/AAAAAAAAS5Y/9cw4e9ANOmgbikurmX3zm4uCFsEpe85vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200909_205824.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XT7BNqgExHs/X4M42t656iI/AAAAAAAAS5Y/9cw4e9ANOmgbikurmX3zm4uCFsEpe85vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200909_205824.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NyeSkGUiiHw/X4M40flRnMI/AAAAAAAAS5U/jo90IV4i-iEJEfAuMruWgdAKwfa3dGdhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200911_150000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NyeSkGUiiHw/X4M40flRnMI/AAAAAAAAS5U/jo90IV4i-iEJEfAuMruWgdAKwfa3dGdhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200911_150000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOYo74XpvC0/X4M43z3YNyI/AAAAAAAAS5c/8ChV3pSisQoYBasCs_18LVPiGFwVpF21QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200911_203109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOYo74XpvC0/X4M43z3YNyI/AAAAAAAAS5c/8ChV3pSisQoYBasCs_18LVPiGFwVpF21QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200911_203109.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFpU8ZLOMYM/X4M44Ntoh5I/AAAAAAAAS5g/5Kc0FFgJ-XgMedfsckgzubt8aoZaHM9NQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200912_180214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFpU8ZLOMYM/X4M44Ntoh5I/AAAAAAAAS5g/5Kc0FFgJ-XgMedfsckgzubt8aoZaHM9NQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200912_180214.jpg" /></a></div><p>We felt freedom find us again. Freedom from want. Freedom from longing. Freedom from overthinking. All because of those chairs and a deep desire to live differently. To not let life pass us by. To not get so busy we can't witness the one life that is ours. This desire settled in so long ago, but one distraction after another attracted us and we took a long time to figure out we needed to weigh the trade offs. To say no. To sell campers and choose freedom over comfort. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WWuzxnuURV4/X4M5J-TghwI/AAAAAAAAS6A/U52lKzXsQgkNV0NzAO7sJEsccYTVNjW6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200913_145809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WWuzxnuURV4/X4M5J-TghwI/AAAAAAAAS6A/U52lKzXsQgkNV0NzAO7sJEsccYTVNjW6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200913_145809.jpg" /></a></div><p>Persimmons are calling our name right now and the moment is ripe. It's time to get outdoors and look for these magnificent life giving trees. It's time to eat these creamy, rich, sweet fruits and bask in the autumnal light and feel great gratitude for everything good. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VnzWjlzUvrs/X4M5cPh2OlI/AAAAAAAAS6I/ZOpq7kOZsDUjH73kaucdJBoikpHXFIRhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201009_124709.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VnzWjlzUvrs/X4M5cPh2OlI/AAAAAAAAS6I/ZOpq7kOZsDUjH73kaucdJBoikpHXFIRhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201009_124709.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RAW64r1LBY/X4M7CP_WxmI/AAAAAAAAS64/wsimGnyEbYEYFb4iVdvPYmALWF4OdrJ0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200725_104728.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RAW64r1LBY/X4M7CP_WxmI/AAAAAAAAS64/wsimGnyEbYEYFb4iVdvPYmALWF4OdrJ0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200725_104728.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">Our feet are sore from longer hikes than we used to take and we love that our bodies can do this. We can cover big miles in a day and that's part of the slowing: allowing ourselves the time to hike all day long and recognizing, we are strong and powerful and this is our life. This is the life we dreamed. To be outdoors. To feel the movement in our bodies. To have no words to express the love and appreciation we have for forest and old trees and fast moving streams and mountains and marmots and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Magdalena-Mountain-Robert-Michael-Pyle/dp/1640090770" target="_blank">grylloblattids</a> and kind-hearted people. This is the life friends. Anything extraneous, let it go. Find ways to let more of it go. The only thing that really matters is connection - to one another, to the Earth, to good, to love, to humbleness. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3pcD-qREURI/X4M5oEtLbWI/AAAAAAAAS6U/Z-LHsepDmyED8oS4vayCcG-f5dZ_Iyk1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201010_163428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3pcD-qREURI/X4M5oEtLbWI/AAAAAAAAS6U/Z-LHsepDmyED8oS4vayCcG-f5dZ_Iyk1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201010_163428.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaqOcem0NJg/X4M5n4luzII/AAAAAAAAS6M/sf05C6bBzd0GjwQTwIXnC_Ox6SPf5AQdACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201010_192714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaqOcem0NJg/X4M5n4luzII/AAAAAAAAS6M/sf05C6bBzd0GjwQTwIXnC_Ox6SPf5AQdACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201010_192714.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWj254sJP7I/X4M5oFltq2I/AAAAAAAAS6Q/-RMBjKo5aTYFMG9wCQd5-l775kMbASxiACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20201010_122514.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWj254sJP7I/X4M5oFltq2I/AAAAAAAAS6Q/-RMBjKo5aTYFMG9wCQd5-l775kMbASxiACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20201010_122514.jpg" /></a></div><p>Amongst all the craziness that is happening in this world, we found peace this summer through honing in on our desires for the outdoors, for freedom, for giving back, for LOVE. May you find peace in your own way and may you find it quickly and share it with everyone you meet. Maybe it all just starts with permission to slow down and recognizing that nobleness, worthiness and value do not come from conventional norms accomplished, but rather from realizing that our life is a gift and that the opportunity to see and acknowledge nonhuman life as worthy and essential is the missing piece of human happiness. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qNVswbmdpQ/X4M51-lwLHI/AAAAAAAAS6c/Vx1xBZCF4tMm4a6bmpDFv_GfZ0-sClD-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200915_152708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qNVswbmdpQ/X4M51-lwLHI/AAAAAAAAS6c/Vx1xBZCF4tMm4a6bmpDFv_GfZ0-sClD-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200915_152708.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Autumn Sound Tracks:</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWDVFLDnv74" target="_blank">Nothing to Find - The War on Drugs</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay6MLO2pd30&list=RDMM1LmX5c7HoUw&index=7" target="_blank">Colors - Black Pumas</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NrctCGvwoA" target="_blank">I Didn't Know a Damn Thing - Amy Ray</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73QVSKbtO80" target="_blank">By and By - Caamp</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNDXmM0y9-Y" target="_blank">Take it With You When you Go - Kathleen Edwards</a></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-32308747596315948702020-07-23T15:37:00.000-04:002020-07-23T15:41:52.549-04:00Summer Abundance in DiversityThe richness of summer is wrapping us up tight in her warmth, humidity, and fireflies and we are soaking up every single last minute of it. It's hard to believe that just a few months ago, we repurposed our high tunnel into a shade house and the Earth was not yet greened...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RThQHjzlPp0/Xxmf1hQJb-I/AAAAAAAASpk/KhwBt54p1d0HB-aEsUWngeGLm46juZHswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Shade%2BHouse%2Bfrom%2BScrap%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RThQHjzlPp0/Xxmf1hQJb-I/AAAAAAAASpk/KhwBt54p1d0HB-aEsUWngeGLm46juZHswCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Shade%2BHouse%2Bfrom%2BScrap%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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and at the same time, the song sparrows laid their first eggs amidst the snow flattened goldenrod stalks. What looks like not much to us in early spring is clearly very important habitat.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_G55O4lAw8/Xxnewcb0qaI/AAAAAAAASvY/dnAtkj579AIG0t-Z4yW2vRARZnrQBefvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Song%2BSparrow%2BNest%2BMay%2B2020%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_G55O4lAw8/Xxnewcb0qaI/AAAAAAAASvY/dnAtkj579AIG0t-Z4yW2vRARZnrQBefvACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Song%2BSparrow%2BNest%2BMay%2B2020%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Here's the nest all tucked in:<br />
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Now, that we are in full summer greenery, we found our first male Long-horned Bees nestled to bed under the head of this Gray-headed Coneflower just a few weeks ago. The marvelous lives of other species continues to drop us to our knees, puddle our jaws in our laps and make us giggle out loud. We've always loved so much about life, but when we really opened our eyes with less analysis and instead, pure wonder, we realized the magic and the joy of living is all around us. It's not in what we acquire or desire, but in the richness of other nations that we share this planet with.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ViRuwQ7KRNc/Xxmf0E5d8fI/AAAAAAAASpc/dSfpAMx3eEgIG4ShnTOuDS_Cyhb-pI73gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Male%2BLong%2Bhorned%2BBees%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ViRuwQ7KRNc/Xxmf0E5d8fI/AAAAAAAASpc/dSfpAMx3eEgIG4ShnTOuDS_Cyhb-pI73gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Male%2BLong%2Bhorned%2BBees%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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The Common Milkweed plant hosts so many different insects and the shared resource of one type of plant for so many types of insects offers many lessons for us humans.</div>
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Milkweed Beetles...<br />
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AND Monarch Caterpillars. </div>
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Diversity of life in all her shapes, colors, forms is everything, really; the meaning of life is most certainly woven into that tapestry. Here's some of what we've witnessed so far this summer.</div>
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Red-winged Blackbirds delight us daily with their songs and flash of vermilion red:<br />
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Raccoon Families so much smarter than us make us laugh and marvel:<br />
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The shy Groundhog always evokes an "awwwww":<br />
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<i>Cyrtophorus verrucosus</i> (Beetle ant mimic) nectars on Bladdernut we planted. We've never seen this insect before and we totally were fooled into thinking ant...until a closer look revealed the hidden identity.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eijDu8nxeOk/Xxmj2QwLdwI/AAAAAAAASqg/O2DA0Ogm3kYK7gd1x93pnRBEqmnMVtuQACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200518_184755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1600" height="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eijDu8nxeOk/Xxmj2QwLdwI/AAAAAAAASqg/O2DA0Ogm3kYK7gd1x93pnRBEqmnMVtuQACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200518_184755.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Northern Ring-necked Snake at Mohican State Forest:<br />
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<a href="https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PHPU3" target="_blank">Miami Mist, (<i>Phacelia purshii</i></a>):<br />
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<a href="https://goorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org/species/platanthera/orbiculata/" target="_blank">Round-leaved Orchid (<i>Platanthera orbiculata</i>)</a> at Mohican State Forest:<br />
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Golden-backed Snipe Fly on our home recovering woodland trail:<br />
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<i>Eristalis dimiata</i>, one of the flower flies, won me over with those crisp white lines on a black background. Truly, I cannot (Jennifer) get enough of the invertebrates. Their lives are so important to the rest of all life and their shapes and colors...be still my heart.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aJNGN5Dyh_I/XxmknTkLEWI/AAAAAAAASs8/hmTf2gWGa3YAGZBF3dnHo1yCTGeN9EevwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Eristalis%2Bdimidiatus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aJNGN5Dyh_I/XxmknTkLEWI/AAAAAAAASs8/hmTf2gWGa3YAGZBF3dnHo1yCTGeN9EevwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Eristalis%2Bdimidiatus.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Owlfly eggs with trophic eggs laid on the bottom left of the photo. This is another new one for us.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wWOMhEKxhus/Xxmka4Vi-wI/AAAAAAAASsQ/s9j4itZ5HJch0cXuDb2CGJg0QrZHOZMtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200708_110242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wWOMhEKxhus/Xxmka4Vi-wI/AAAAAAAASsQ/s9j4itZ5HJch0cXuDb2CGJg0QrZHOZMtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200708_110242.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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A marvelous shelter, of who? We don't know, but that stitching...look at that stitching!<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Long horned beetles are fascinating to us because they are often so colorful and varied in their life cycle. Here's a Rustic Borer at home on our downspout:</span></div>
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<i>Tycocerus</i> sp. beetle on Purple Coneflower with a native bee. The beetle larvae live in decaying oak, hickory and other hardwoods. Look how they are sharing...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eKBM3k0aqQg/XxmkcuFWk3I/AAAAAAAASsc/g1VOCmO6IjESAJu26n2DJeLl7gVi1iv6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200711_164824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1227" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eKBM3k0aqQg/XxmkcuFWk3I/AAAAAAAASsc/g1VOCmO6IjESAJu26n2DJeLl7gVi1iv6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200711_164824.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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My pal, the Painted Hickory Borer:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKJzn21x5cU/XxmknOAlkcI/AAAAAAAASs4/Lbh1H4C6I94BWpWVMFb5YpKo9In1PaF_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Painted%2BHickory%2BBorer%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1432" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKJzn21x5cU/XxmknOAlkcI/AAAAAAAASs4/Lbh1H4C6I94BWpWVMFb5YpKo9In1PaF_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Painted%2BHickory%2BBorer%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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I'm not for sure on this one...any thoughts?<br />
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Of course there are checks and balances for wood boring beetles and one of them is this beautiful wasp in the genus <i>Xorides. </i>That tail is for laying eggs on their hosts (aka food). And what might that be? Yep, you guessed it: wood boring beetle larvae, pupa or pre-emergent adults.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZyh2eGrcgg" target="_blank">Thousands and thousands and thousands of red aphids on the Cup Plants made us further our knowledge of "bird food</a>" and appreciate the complex web of life and checks and balances. The connections are deeper and richer than we humans will ever likely fully comprehend so it sure is fun and enlightening to observe.<br />
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We aren't great mothers because we can't stay up late very well, but thankfully some show themselves during the day so we can oooo and ahhh over them.<br />
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Giant Leopard Moth on our house; hosts: deciduous trees and low plants, including cabbage, cherry, maple, sunflower and willow.<br />
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Clymene Haploa at Mohican; hosts: <i>Eupatorium</i> sp., oak, peach, willow.<br />
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Early Button Slug Moth at our nature preserve; hosts: beech, birch, black cherry, chestnut, oak and witch hazel. All these tree and shrub species also grow here.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9F-GOMW-kw/Xxm6dmFS6eI/AAAAAAAASu0/PmtdkSaN7qU4PBhFHTS_EFQ6B55VzACyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Early%2BButton%2BSlug%2BMoth%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9F-GOMW-kw/Xxm6dmFS6eI/AAAAAAAASu0/PmtdkSaN7qU4PBhFHTS_EFQ6B55VzACyACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Early%2BButton%2BSlug%2BMoth%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yellow-collared Slug Moth also on our house; hosts: beech, hickory, ironwood and oak. All these trees grow here now.<br />
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Eight-spotted Forester Moth caterpillar; hosts: grape, <i>Ampelopsis</i>, virginia creeper.<br />
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On a recent hike, multiple showers rained down from the sky and we got wet and cold and then wet and hot and the best part was being outdoors in the weather. So often we seek shelter from inclement weather and not having an alternative puts us into the real world and just look at the real world: Lush and beautiful and mighty.<br />
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Steve the hawkeye man spotted this ancient species, the Gray Petaltail Dragonfly, flying around the campground at Mohican State Park. Uncommon and oh so special to see! The dragonfly larvae are interesting, living in moist leaves on the edges of wet areas, not fully emerged in the water. Diversity friends! It's the magic of the world.<br />
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If you live in Ohio or travel through Ohio, make sure you visit the <a href="https://arcofappalachia.org/" target="_blank">Arc of Appalachia preserves.</a> They are a special non-profit doing some exceedingly important conservation work in southern Ohio. Here's a few pics from Rock Run Wilderness and Chalet Nivale. Enchanting, both places.</div>
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Eastern-eyed Click Beetle:<br />
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Eastern Box Turtles. One whole and one with an old injury, but both keep on, keepin' on. A good lesson for me and Steve.<br />
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Black Cohosh is definitely one of my spirit plants. I don't know why. There's just a connection there, like with American Persimmon. ;)<br />
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Chalet Nivale clean, clean water. What a gift to see.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hO-KQgpBlpg/XxmkVYZ2VAI/AAAAAAAASsA/007DicI3-wUaK8WoQQSpIzYwu1-HUZURQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200701_114558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hO-KQgpBlpg/XxmkVYZ2VAI/AAAAAAAASsA/007DicI3-wUaK8WoQQSpIzYwu1-HUZURQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200701_114558.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Mushrooms tell us fall is coming...</div>
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but for now we are reveling in the fireflies...</div>
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and<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fireflies-Glow-worms-Lightning-Bugs-Identification/dp/0820348724" target="_blank"> learning there are oodles more</a> than we ever knew.<br />
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The rains found us these past two days and the land feels the renewal as do our spirits.<br />
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xoxo,<br />
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j&sJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-81325008534884482162020-03-31T11:32:00.000-04:002020-03-31T11:32:12.683-04:00Finding Joy in this Extraordinary SpringLife roars around us right now; always the spring eruption enchants us with the sounds, the sights, the feel of the warm breeze, the air vibrating with purpose and with celebration. Do you know what we mean? Do you feel it? We can't stand to be indoors because everything is happening OUTDOORS. <br />
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Redwing Blackbirds sing in concert with American Robins and Northern Cardinals and the Carolina Wren that's taken to sleeping on our porch every night.</div>
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And what about the frogs? Oh the frogs - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni9cY63BTiQ&t=182s" target="_blank">they are the star of the show right now</a>. The watery warm nights elicit such zeal, such hunger, such determination.<br />
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Ceremonially we tour this little patch of ground we call home and find that our tours take not 30 minutes, but an hour and 30 minutes.<br />
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How will we accomplish anything else? Maybe we won't and maybe that's ok. Maybe really, we are here to love and celebrate and to offer kindness, respect and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD0irYl16dQ&t=3s" target="_blank">our land restoration powers</a> and not let one more day pass us by without acknowledging the pure miraculousness of it all.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plJiFg2ASq4" target="_blank">American Hazelnut blooms in males and females;</a> a surprise and delight to find in mid-March.<br />
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The Silver Maple says, "Look at me; I flower so early; I am hardy; I offer food resources to bees early in the spring; I, too, help pollinators. I, too, offer beauty to you flower-starved souls. Look up."<br />
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Harbinger-of-spring and Trout Lily say, "Yes, what Silver Maple said. Also, look down. Look all around. Listen to us."<br />
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Moths, in their tight shelters, stay dormant until the right blend of warmth, sunshine and considerations other than those we humans know are met.<br />
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Unknown species:<br />
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Polyphemus or Luna Moth:<br />
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Promethea Moth:<br />
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Others don't make it to this season of renewal, at least in the way we think of life. In their death though, begins new life. The radical recycling of nature fuels all future life and that makes us think differently about death.<br />
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Old life births new life. A mighty Chinquapin Oak fosters a young Hackberry. Thinking of what we cannot see: the twining of roots, the sharing of nutrients, the communication of life events, creates a pause in our walk. We sit, we stop thinking and we mostly feel the richness of it all.<br />
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A beech nut stowed last fall waits for discovery by the hider or another hungry belly or to tumble to the Earth and create new.<br />
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The Scribbler moth emerged from winter slumber and writes chapters on our hearts on such topics as endurance, resiliency, purpose, rest, idleness, beauty....<br />
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Green-headed Coneflower rises strong from the soil, amongst last year's Cup Plant stalks. They invite us to also be strong; to never give up; to bring light to the world.<br />
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The sunshine offers the golden warmth only created by that one celestial being in the sky. The feel on our skins, on our Minnie Pearl's furred body, on the greening plants is a balm, a tonic so needed at this particular moment in time.<br />
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Peaty soil ringed by Burr Oak leaves didn't ask, but begged to be smelled: to be picked up, rubbed between our fingers and inhaled. The Earth scent confirmed what we always knew to be true. "I am alive," the soil says. "I give you life. I deserve respect. Tiger Salamanders burrow in me here. I hold life. I give life. I am life."</div>
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The Red Velvet Mite climbs the mighty tree tower. "I am here, too. I offer you enchantment." </div>
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And we, your friends, celebrate the Father Red Oak, the Red Velvet Mite, the wisdom of the Earth and all her inhabitants. Our days are filled with joy because we slowed down the achievement quest and now recognize, the biggest and best achievement of all is to truly live our lives like it's our one and only. </div>
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Love,</div>
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jennifer and steve</div>
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P.S. Curious about the plant nursery? <a href="http://www.thecommonmilkweed.com/nursery.html" target="_blank">Find details here</a>. </div>
<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-66035428531162321502020-02-24T12:53:00.000-05:002020-02-24T12:55:22.117-05:00Winter Happenings...Hello dearest friends,<br />
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We've been traveling! We took our little Winnebago Itasca Spirit, Toyota out for a journey south to warmer lands...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8g6L72IJB8/XlP-eVT5D7I/AAAAAAAASbs/yIiuFbfhkLkwfmntxNugLXqTBs26ohq_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200115_210054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="966" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8g6L72IJB8/XlP-eVT5D7I/AAAAAAAASbs/yIiuFbfhkLkwfmntxNugLXqTBs26ohq_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200115_210054.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
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and found tremendous beauty in northern Georgia...<br />
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and incredible<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAF1E8Id3xs" target="_blank"> concentrations of life in southern GA.</a><br />
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Our three cats traveled with us and found refuge in the sunshine...<br />
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our laps...<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--smFw30vNso/XlQF1vw5E_I/AAAAAAAASd4/KE5GsfWtzIATyI5RCc5ibcxBWI750aRRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200114_142552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--smFw30vNso/XlQF1vw5E_I/AAAAAAAASd4/KE5GsfWtzIATyI5RCc5ibcxBWI750aRRgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200114_142552.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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and the stillness of the camper. (Moving, not so much.)<br />
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The cold found us in southern GA and we had to make our way home anyway so we headed into deeper cold in northern Alabama to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes, one Whooping Crane, thousands of waterfowl and overwintering songbirds made our quick stop not enough. We cannot wait to go back!<br />
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Now, we delight in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhX4gqtgpTc" target="_blank">frost and ice of February in Ohio</a>...<br />
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and more than cherish any sunshine that illumines our little patch called home.</div>
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The winter treasures we behold are more subtle than the spring and summer abundance we share, but with an observational eye, the beauty of warm days finds us in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0GHePGL6tg" target="_blank">healthy and strong cocoon of a polyphemus or luna moth overwintering on the native American Hazelnut we planted</a> many moons ago. The winds have long since dropped this cocoon into the leaf litter below the plants reminding us daily why we don't clean up leaves. The diverse and abundant world of life in the leaf litter zone is more beautiful than we ever dreamed; truly the fodder for wonder.<br />
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We celebrated the joy of a 53 year old birthday boy swinging in the snow and smiling all the while.<br />
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And of course, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCs7IxxlUDA" target="_blank">we stratified</a> the phenomenal native American Persimmon seeds we collected with grand hopes of great germination and strong root growth, which we will offer for sale next fall during their dormant period.<br />
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Two books we are currently devouring that we highly recommend if you want to help save the world or just add great enjoyment to your life:<br />
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<a href="https://indigescapes.com/npabook" target="_blank">Native Plant Agriculture Vol.1 by Indigenous Landscapes</a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Best-Hope-Approach-Conservation-ebook/dp/B07NMH5GH5" target="_blank">Nature's Best Hope by Doug Tallamy</a><br />
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And finally, we are loving our dearest, oldest coon cat - Bounder. She is aging and life is shifting for her and we remember to hold our loves as tight as we can. Life isn't going any slower and for that incredible gift of clarity, we discern what is important and what isn't really, at all. Our mantra regarding much of life now is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OezjWN44Ejc" target="_blank">Good Enough</a> and then we spend that "extra" time living and loving and embracing, gratefully and with reciprocity and joy.<br />
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<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-49949690094695805952019-12-18T13:07:00.001-05:002019-12-18T13:13:59.373-05:00Beauty, Light and Joy - Happy Winter Solstice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Winter is almost officially here and we will soon start to add daylight back into our days. This is an event we look forward to every year, in the same way we eagerly anticipate hearing the first American woodcock after returning from warmer lands and singing wood frogs recently thawed and fully awake and present in the warming rains. These events mark our calendar, our hearts, and our assurance of sanity and a return to abundant sunshine, insects, singing birds and of course - greening, growing plants.<br />
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Winter is part of our lives and we work ever so hard to enjoy each day. Notice, I said work. Sometimes it's effortless, but a lot of times in this season, it is work for us.<br />
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Adventures with towering trees,<br />
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forests, rocks, and new snow,<br />
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and very loved friends,<br />
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make our hearts happy and make this work of winter easier. (Thanks N for the photo of us below.) Steve and his two t-shirt method for staying warm clearly works for him, but me? I'll take the puffy coat, snow pants, long johns, winter hat and snow boots.<br />
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Steve's nicknamed me Photon, though it could also be his nickname, because in this season of dark we savor each brilliant moment of sunlight. The warm colors of our house capture this light and brighten our spirits and make us ever grateful for the bold palette inspired by nature.<br />
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Our leaning, but cheerful and almost sunbathing little Norfolk Island Pine holds Christmas ornaments I made with my family as a kid. We keep nurturing this little tree and another upstairs who we hope will someday recover from the root prune the nursery gave them because we just can't give up. I mean, life is LIFE - the brilliant, beautiful, sacred, wonder of it all.<br />
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Thunderstorms in December ushered in sunshine and a magnificent double rainbow. Standing on the porch in my barefoot, I found tears of joy trickling down my face. What beauty is in this world!<br />
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This most certainly includes a loaf of fresh baked bread...<br />
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and the continuation of our persimmon adventures. This is their shining moment in the fruit world and so we celebrate them joyfully. Below are Asian hachiya persimmons from Saraga, an international grocery store, in Columbus. They are ripe when they feel like water balloons and so delicious. I bonded with a non-English speaker over these persimmons because he had a bag of 10 or more and he held it up laughing and nodding yes to me and I did the same in reciprocity. Beauty in people bonded over persimmons makes me smile even as I type.<br />
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Another dear friend tipped us off to fruiting American persimmons west of Columbus at the Union Co. fairgrounds so we traveled to see them and were thrilled to see the abundance these branches held, even at the beginning of December.<br />
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The fruits ornamented several trees and were all over the ground as well. They tasted delicious and divinely sweet so we gathered a big container and savored every last one raw or in our morning millet bowl. We have quite an abundance of seeds so we plan to grow more again next year. Fruits that ripen in late fall and winter in the Midwest and stay ripe and delicious on the trees in freezing weather, must, must, must be shared.<br />
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We planted a lot of the bareroot trees we grew in our experimental airprune bed, right here on this mighty 3.5 acres at the beginning of December. We've planted thousands of herbaceous plants here and hundreds and hundreds of woodies. Don't be scared, just plant, plant, plant. Some plants won't make it and then you will be happy you planted more than you ever thought you should, because you want the plants to have friends: for their own benefit and connectivity for the benefit of all those lives they host and support. The left side of the bin below holds pawpaws and the right side, the persimmons. Note the black roots of persimmon...that is due to their membership in the ebony family.<br />
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We moved our high tunnel out of the portion of the garden we are rewilding to the plant nursery for a future shade house.<br />
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This next growing season, we are taking a big break from many plants as we adventure into the world more in 2020, but everything is set for when we are ready to return. Thanks to Steve's handyman skills at moving and repair, this structure is sound and will last.<br />
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The loss of leaves in the fall and winter offers sight of leaf-hidden life, which we love to watch for as we tour around the trails here. We were thrilled to find this polyphemus moth cocoon on the rough-leaf dogwood, one of their host plants. We've not yet documented this silkmoth here and were more than pleased to know, they are here and the right plants are growing to host their hungry caterpillars that metamorphose into an almost 6" wide moth!<br />
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The clear emergence hole and rather intact nature of the cocoon indicates to me this moth most likely emerged this past summer. Where oh where did he or she go? You know we will be monitoring very closely this coming year.<br />
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The evergreen bagworms the eastern red cedars host sometimes, also lived on the silky dogwood this year. We were captivated by the attachment of dogwood fruits to the cocoon.<br />
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This gem of a silkmoth did not grow here on this 3.5 acres, but rather at Mohican State Park. Any guesses?<br />
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If you said cecropia, you are right! This cocoon is heavy and that tells me she or he is overwintering soundly and safely. What a gift to live in a world where silkmoths live. As a child, I found my first ever cecropia in my Dad's office at the factory where he worked. The lights of the factory no doubt brought this moth indoors where he or she died, but the huge size and magnificent coloring blew my mind. I still remember that office and that moth because my life grew so much bigger in that moment.<br />
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And so friends, let's end on more beauty...prairie rose (<i>Rosa setigera)</i> with hot pink petioles in December:<br />
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Camphorweed (<i>Pluchea odorata</i>) seed heads that are still pungently fragrant...<br />
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and the Clear Fork gorge...our local tether to wildness other than the rewilding 3.5 acres of Morrow County, OH we call home.<br />
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Follow us on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/stevesross" target="_blank">You Tube Channe</a>l where we share our wonders weekly.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-46943123929453946392019-11-10T10:16:00.000-05:002019-11-10T10:19:09.723-05:00Native Foods, Beauty and Generosity of SpiritHi friends,<br />
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Have we told you how much we appreciate you? Truly, we do. You make our lives so much richer for your existence and the mutual sharing of heartfelt experiences and joy. Thank you for joining us on this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4hcylDXK-k" target="_blank">journey</a> of meaning, compassion and gratitude.<br />
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As I write my eyes continually wander to the door bathed in sunlight. The sun wanes and the black walnut in my view holds the last of the rays. What am I doing inside? Sitting down indoors challenges me more with each passing day. I love the coziness of a wood-warmed house, but I feel constantly that I am missing the most important moment of my life. What is happening outside? Who is heading south? Is the blue wood aster still blooming?<br />
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Are the robins gathering and chatting in the top of the maple? Is there another American woodcock probing in the recently moistened Earth beneath the rough-leaved dogwoods?<br />
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The gift of persimmons sit on our table waiting: giving us great joy in their presence, in their delicious flesh and in their hope-filled seeds.<br />
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Our refrigerator houses baggies of these persimmon seeds from our second annual autumnal pilgrimage to our Indiana homeland, marking an important ritual to gather these delicious native fruits and to revere big trees, limestone-weathered Earth, good people doing good work and the ecology of the land.<br />
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George Donaldson: you are one of our heroes; please know you made a difference. You preserved a piece of Indiana that we very much needed to see and that gives us such hope.<br />
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Caterpillar lives continue to mingle noticeably with our lives and teach us almost daily that it truly is the greatest miracle that we are all alive and that we get to bear witness to other lives and gift one another with appreciation and love.<br />
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American Dagger on a long journey...<br />
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Virginia Ctenucha benefiting from the long fall...<br />
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Possible Tufted Thyatirin feeding on hazelnut...<br />
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Brown-hooded Owlet from aster...<br />
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Syncronicity of spirit or intuition? I am not sure which, but this box turtle reminded me to listen to what cannot be heard. A venture off trail to visit some pawpaws in search of any lingering fruit inspired me to tell Steve to make sure to watch for box turtles....a few minutes later look who we found.<br />
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The kitties tolerated our traveling and are learning to appreciate new lands and new experiences. It's a joy to not leave part of our family behind and to feel new opportunities opening in front of us.<br />
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Meeting Carolina Buckthorn and Seedbox again thrilled us. </div>
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Spending time with old trees strenthened us and heartened us in ways that is as necessary as breath, but is as hard to understand as tides and moon cycles. </div>
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Our travels out into the world always inspire such action on our little patch of Earth. They ignite something deep within and we get lit, I mean LIT, on fire. We come home and we visit the plants we share space with and we plant more and we dream about persimmons and learn about native foods and dream some more and then form plans.</div>
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American Chestnuts will rise again and we vow to support their rise. The local economy of native foods is so damn satisfying and we feel like there is giant bright spot before us, if we just open our eyes, look around and support others on their life paths doing meaningful, important and most certainly imperative work.<br />
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Winter hardy greens in a junk built lean-to cold house... </div>
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and homegrown saffron...<br />
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offer nutrition and satisfaction. That's a key piece of life isn't it? To feel satisfied and proud of your life and at peace with what is and what is not.<br />
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We savor autumnal light like it might never return again. "Yes fence, we will continue removing you. First though, we must lay on Mother Earth (Mother Shelter, Mother Shelteress; thank you <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEf6Oas5Htg" target="_blank">Anais Mitchell</a>), feel her strength and soak up the rays." Weakening rays, but still our mightiest and most longed for winter friend.<br />
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Mother Shelteress, creator of perfect mud homes. There is much to admire here: beauty, builder, earth materials, innate know-how, protection of young...<br />
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remnants of what was and what will return once again to yes, Mother Earth, Mother Shelteress. We humans have much to learn.<br />
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We wish you joy, more and more "awake" moments and meaning-filled discoveries.</div>
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Hugs,</div>
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j and s</div>
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Find an extension of our travels and some more of our joy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/stevesross/videos" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-80019319916589379182019-09-23T13:14:00.001-04:002019-09-23T15:05:15.342-04:00And the nature magic continues...The insect chorus hums as I write and I am keenly aware of the shifting of the sun southward. We are celebrating the fall equinox and it hardly seems possible. This summer filled us up with warmth and beauty and dried us up with drought. We are tired of watching plants wither before they normally would, but we remain steadfast in our hope that rain will return.<br />
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Some of the beauty we lived and loved on our little patch of Earth must be shared so here is my late summer post written for each of you and as a reminder for me. Thanks as always for sharing in our lives.<br />
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Eastern Wahoo (<i>Euonymus atropurpureus</i>) flowers wowed us with their purple color....a subtle prelude to their orange seeds and pink capsules.<br />
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Swamp aster or bristly aster (<i>Symphyotrichum puniceum</i>) is magnificent - probably my favorite aster, though how can I pick? The richness of New England aster (<i>Symphyotrichum novae-angliae</i>) even amidst the drought drops me to my knees in awe. Her purple flowers opened up even as all her leaves fell off and the swamp aster said goodbye much ahead of time. This resiliency supports our spirits and the migrating monarchs in such an important and needed way.<br />
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Planting False Indigo (<i>Amorpha fruticosa</i>), an excellent bee plant, made me take an up close look at the nitrogen fixing nodules of leguminous plants. This bacterial/plant relationship is pretty freakin' cool. Plants always wow me, I mean really. I've said it before - chlorophyll, making your own food in your body - how do you top that?<br />
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This fascination and all the relationships is, of course, why we grow the plants we do...<br />
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and create the sacred space we do. Yes sacred. How can it be anything else? See for yourself:<br />
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Gray treefrog resting on cup plant...<br />
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Monarchs feasting on common milkweed in our lean-to greenhouse...<br />
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Saddleback caterpillar feasting on staghorn sumac...</div>
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Crocus geometer moth...</div>
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Carpenter bee nectaring on swamp milkweed...<br />
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Laurel sphinx...<br />
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Spined micrathena web and female...<br />
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American plum fruit (so delicious and the only one produced this year)...<br />
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Tiger swallowtail nectaring on obedient plant...<br />
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Large maple spanworm resting on native lettuce...<br />
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Spotted apatelodes caterpillar munching...<br />
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(For more on this sacredness, read Mary Oliver's <u>Winter Hours</u> page 107 and 108.)<br />
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Winter comes every year and is on the way so we prepared this summer by: </div>
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planting hardy greens,</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FltatKOrGiE/XYaFPDU6T-I/AAAAAAAASLI/1RUBjt9hkG8uxM8JLBOimOJl62OJUf8JgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190903_104441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FltatKOrGiE/XYaFPDU6T-I/AAAAAAAASLI/1RUBjt9hkG8uxM8JLBOimOJl62OJUf8JgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20190903_104441.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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stacking by-product firewood,<br />
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and this year, working with our cats to help them like one another and get ready to travel for a little winter journey to a warmer and sunnier land...<br />
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The light around us this time of year beams, twirls and swirls and lights us on fire. It's often in my daydreams and nightdreams; Steve says I am a photon. My dream, I say! I come to life in the radiance of that magnificent celestial being so I played with this photo and made it show the magic I felt in the light watching these sawtooth sunflowers (<i>Helianthus grosseserratus</i>).</div>
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The summer magic culminated in the green darner migration through Ohio, which was absolutely phenomenal and landed us on our rear ends for hours amidst the plants watching the thousands of winged lives zipping about eating up mosquitoes, gnats and flying ants.<br />
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This pileated woodpecker feather we found on a hike reminded me, once again, there is so much life around, not always or often seen, but still there and breathing (or not) and living and going about life just like I am. The connection we all share with this world is deep and wide and to feel it, all we need to do is pay attention.<br />
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Don't miss all our weekly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZa_YOVYG7MLZl1f3g7ly8g/" target="_blank">You Tube videos</a> highlighting this beauty.</div>
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Till next time my friends, we wish you much love, hope and resiliency! </div>
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P.S. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiwWgN5O3WQ&t=223s" target="_blank">Strange Trails by Lord Huron</a> - I find I can't get enough of this music. I love it and for a folk music girl, it's an unusual allegiance. Also,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juKGjUGPyHs" target="_blank"> this</a>. "When the ocean drinks the sky and the city winks its eye." "I hear the river say your name." This language is what does it, I suppose. Do you love music too? Please share your favorites.</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-67841191051843207412019-07-22T11:39:00.001-04:002019-07-22T11:48:10.425-04:00Travels, Adventure, Wonders of Nature and Open DaysThe summer winds blew us across the country and back again to celebrate the rich and diverse life of the beautiful North America. A very special man knew this July birthday girl wanted nothing more than time outdoors exploring - starting, of course, with a strong cup of black coffee.<br />
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We met Tall Green Milkweed in the heat of Missouri...<br />
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and snow melt lakes in the heart of the Colorado Rockies.<br />
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Us flatlanders struggled with the near 13,000' altitude, but the plants and views made the lack of red blood cells more than worth it. And to be fair to our blood cells, we felt mighty better after a few days camped high. It's all about adaptation.<br />
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Our July 4th fireworks sparkled in the faces of the alpine flowers and twinkly, starlit night. Perfect.<br />
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Crystal clear waters made us drop to our knees everytime in gratitude. Sometimes we fought back tears wondering why on Earth so many of the waters of our homeland are straightened and filled with topsoil or subsoil and the color of mud, but we know it's a brief blip in the history of the planet and clear water will flow in sinuous braids once again.<br />
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Caddisflies told me about the purity of the water and I sat with them for a while and they visit me frequently in my memory. I hold onto them and their message of hope.<br />
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Onward we journeyed in the Glamp, the perfect base camp.<br />
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We stopped to contemplate the Colorado river...so fabled, so controversial and so needed to so many.<br />
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<a href="https://www.nps.gov/nabr/index.htm" target="_blank">Natural Bridges National Monument</a> wowed us beyond belief with rocks, colors and life. Swallows nipped and tucked overhead bringing food to babies and had us giggling in delight with their more than swift flight. Little pockets of water held quickly developing tadpoles. We sat a lot. We didn't think too much. We just absorbed and filled up our depleted wells of inspiration.<br />
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Cicadas in Utah helped me continue the celebration of my 41st birthday; they obviously knew the music of their wings is the music of my heart.<br />
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We made it all the way to <a href="https://hellsbackbonegrill.com/" target="_blank">Hell's Backbone Grill </a>in Boulder, UT and delighted in the food, the spectacular scenery and reverence for life. The owners are in the fight for <a href="https://dirtbagdiaries.com/endangered-spaces-grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument/" target="_blank">Grand Staircase-Escalante</a> and we felt grateful to be amongst other Earth lovers and proud to support them.<br />
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Showy Milkweed saluted us near Calf Creek, while Lower Calf Creek waterfall elicited more laughter than any other time on the trip as we dipped into the icy, cool waters with a whole pack of boyscouts whooping and hollering.<br />
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Again, we bowed to clear water naturally supporting three species of trout. No stocking here.</div>
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The home bound winds blew and boondocked us on top of the world in Wyoming. Coyotes yipped, nighthawks peented and horned larks sang. Our bellies filled up on farmers' market purchased food and we sat in the breeze feeling the shifts of change. Homecoming, but better.</div>
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The Badlands of South Dakota offered us singing chorus frogs. How did they all know? How did all my heart-harbored life know I was celebrating them and by singing their song, my very own song grew richer and richer?<br />
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We traveled through Iowa to visit <a href="https://www.seedsavers.org/" target="_blank">Seed Savers Exchange</a> and the Baltimore oriole's nest above our campspot told us this was right. You see, if you haven't gathered already, we want to support good work and hope in this world.<br />
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The appreciation of local food in this community is strong. We loved Seed Savers farm, the local food coop and the farmers' market. Keeping us well fed while traveling is easy in the summer.<br />
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The vestiges of prairie in Illinois (<a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/midewin" target="_blank">Midewin Ntl. Tallgrass Prairie</a>) and Indiana (<a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/kankakee-sands/" target="_blank">Kankakee Sands</a>) welcomed us back and once again wove our minds and hearts into this spectacular ecosystem. Seeing what was and what can be again buoyed our efforts to bring wildness back to all of our hearts and lands.<br />
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Common Milkweed said: "Hello old friends. I'm glad you are back. The flowers are in bloom, the juvenile Common Yellowthroats are flitting about and the dragonflies are hunting. The 3.5 acres you call home does not want you to miss the show."<br />
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"Now, let's get to work rewilding and inviting life back."<br />
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The wisdom of Milkweed lives strong again.<br />
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<a href="https://www.humansandnature.org/life-in-flyover-country" target="_blank">Here's an article I wrote on this very topic. I titled it Life in Flyover Country. </a>Have you ever thought, that in fact we ARE flyover country here in the Midwest to thousands and millions of winged beings?<br />
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<b><u>Come visit us!</u></b> <a href="http://www.thecommonmilkweed.com/nursery.html" target="_blank">We have 3 open days scheduled on this magical 3.5 acres, where we are offering plants to aid in this planting revolution and restoration of wildness. See our website for very important details. </a><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZa_YOVYG7MLZl1f3g7ly8g" target="_blank">Check out our latest VIDEOS.</a><br />
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Also, I created an Instagram account for The Common Milkweed since so many of you requested me to do so. I have no idea what I am doing yet, but if you are on there find us <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thecommonmilkweed/" target="_blank">@The Common Milkweed.</a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-59750116643441641702019-06-10T17:25:00.001-04:002019-06-10T17:30:56.096-04:002019 Native Plant Spring Flash SaleHello friends,<br />
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We are so excited to let you know we have quite a few quarts and gallon size plants ready for your yard right now. These are plants we grew from seed last year and up-potted this spring and WOW! The plants filled out their containers in just a few short weeks and now they are ready to work their magic on your land and get to business providing food, shelter and beauty. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNm-39zFIH8/XP7JoJUw4qI/AAAAAAAASAs/xhpte0UmCqId646QPECmE0Sh4zfgfML0gCLcBGAs/s1600/Ohio%2BSpiderwort%2BReady%2Bfor%2BPlanting.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNm-39zFIH8/XP7JoJUw4qI/AAAAAAAASAs/xhpte0UmCqId646QPECmE0Sh4zfgfML0gCLcBGAs/s320/Ohio%2BSpiderwort%2BReady%2Bfor%2BPlanting.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thecommonmilkweed.com/uploads/6/3/7/2/63724487/2019_native_plant_list.pdf">You can find the plants currently ready listed here</a>. We will have other species available late summer as usual (including milkweed) and will send an alert on those late July-early August. Please note the plants we have are available in limited quanties and will go fast! <br />
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Plugs $4 ea plus tax. (Thimbleweed only)<br />
Quarts $8 ea plus tax. (most species)<br />
Gallons $10 ea plus tax. (a few species)<br />
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**CASH OR CHECK ONLY**<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tzfmM6GGjIk/XP7JlT5gMDI/AAAAAAAASA0/pI2Fq8e16GUbzfVUX7bk38w4e6uEj5m_QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Wild%2BBergamot%2BReady%2Bfor%2BPlanting.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tzfmM6GGjIk/XP7JlT5gMDI/AAAAAAAASA0/pI2Fq8e16GUbzfVUX7bk38w4e6uEj5m_QCEwYBhgL/s320/Wild%2BBergamot%2BReady%2Bfor%2BPlanting.jpg" /></a></div>
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If you see something you want, email me (jennifer@thecommonmilkweed.com) as soon as you can and we will fill plant orders in the order we receive them. Once your order is placed and filled, we will set up an appointment time for pickup at our enchanted 3.5 acres in Morrow County, OH.<br />
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Pick up dates: June 17-June 26 by appointment.<br />
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If you want a personal tour to see what is happening here, we offer tours for $15/person for 30-45 minutes. Just let us know and we will make sure to schedule that as well. You are welcome to walk around here on your own when picking up your order FREE of charge. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWOWJg94xho/XP7JoLp21sI/AAAAAAAASAw/Wcgg07xJnDo9k6B1X8BURlbZx3BoB0DIgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Native%2BPlugs%2BReady%2BLate%2BSummer.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWOWJg94xho/XP7JoLp21sI/AAAAAAAASAw/Wcgg07xJnDo9k6B1X8BURlbZx3BoB0DIgCEwYBhgL/s320/Native%2BPlugs%2BReady%2BLate%2BSummer.jpg" /></a></div>
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We wish you many plant wonders. Thank you for supporting us and more broadly and importantly: this big, beautiful planet we all share, love and steward.<br />
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Jennifer & Steve <br />
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<a href="http://www.thecommonmilkweed.com/nursery.html">http://www.thecommonmilkweed.com/nursery.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.thecommonmilkweed.com/uploads/6/3/7/2/63724487/2019_native_plant_list.pdf">http://www.thecommonmilkweed.com/uploads/6/3/7/2/63724487/2019_native_plant_list.pdf</a>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-53532820925005217162019-06-05T00:00:00.000-04:002019-06-05T00:00:07.609-04:00Can this World Be Anymore BEAUTIFUL?<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/stevesross" target="_blank">Wonder, wonder everywhere</a>. Truly. Look around. Find it. It's here. EVERYWHERE. Live in it and see how it changes your life. Magic. Miracle. Whatever you call it, I promise wonder will fill your heart with gratitude. Sometimes life is better felt than parceled into words and descriptions so I share this post with pictures. Don't think too much. Just feel. Much love to you all.<br />
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<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-73044606509162531852019-04-24T14:49:00.001-04:002019-04-24T14:54:40.593-04:00Spring Time Fascinations and Endeavors Hello dear friends and family,<br />
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The spring season is here and we are more than thrilled. The dessicated Jennifer is rehydrating with all the abundance of spring. ;) Make time to go outdoors. It will fill you up...I promise.<br />
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Just look at the life all around us...a tree 100% determined to live:<br />
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Bloodroot trusting the warmth and unfurling their magnificent, elephant-ear-like leaves...<br />
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Do you know sedges? We invite you to, if not. Look at the color of this Plantain-leaved Sedge (<i>Carex plantaginea</i>)...holy smokes!<br />
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Ohio Buckeye unfurling leaves stop us in our tracks every single time. Can you even believe these leaves are all bunched up inside the protective buds over the winter? It feels like a miracle.<br />
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Bluets (<i>Houstonia</i>) are one of the very first native plants I really learned thanks to a super kind and sharing college professor who gave me one upon my graduation. Ever since that time, I find myself smitten every time we pass a patch growing out of some piles of rocks or very hard scrabble earth. This patch is right on the edge of a trail...<br />
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Spring Beauty emerging from soil working their beauty magic...<br />
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I adore cohosh and here is a fabulous patch of Blue Cohosh (<i>Caulophyllum thalictroides</i>). We have blue and black (<i>Actaea racemosa</i>) growing on our land now and we can't wait till we can propagate them and get them sustainably out into the world.<br />
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Steve stopped to listen to a Louisiana waterthrush and then noticed these young American Sycamores lining the trail in a cathedral of moisture and sunshine loving trees.<br />
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Leatherwood is an understory shrub hardly anyone knows about and it is sooooooo cool! Steve seeks this shrub out everywhere we go. The twigs are bendy, the flowers stunning, the foliage colorful...everything is to love about this shrub.<br />
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Witch Hazel is adored by many, including us. If you get the opportunity to smell the blooms, don't ever pass it up. Your whole day will be lifted thanks to the sweet, sweet scent.<br />
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How does this teeny, tiny Harbinger-of-Spring or Salt and Pepper emerge so early? We are constantly in awe of these little plants that are so much hardier than we find ourselves. I had to get down on my knees and thank my almighty stars for this gift of spring.<br />
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Spicebush blooms truly dance their little sunshine flowers when in bloom. They light up the forest with their brightness and make us remember that soon <a href="http://thecommonmilkweed.blogspot.com/2018/09/so-much-life-unfolding-hearts-native.html" target="_blank">Spicebush Swallowtails will emerge and lay their precious eggs on the very leaves of this important plant</a>.<br />
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This time of year is also when our larders get a little empty and so we find ourselves seeking new flavors. Thank goodness we have horseradish in the garden. Steve braved the fiery, volatile oils and processed the roots. We flung all the windows open and still his eyes (and mine) cried. Minnie Pearl didn't seem to mind...<br />
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In fact, she and Alvin just love sitting in the kitchen, in the smallest part of our house to make sure we don't forget to give them treats.<br />
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Superman Steve is also raising up some more of our garden beds, by harvesting all the wonderful path soil and putting that in the beds. We used to add woodchips every year to our paths and it broke down to the most beautiful, loose, black soil you might ever want in a growing bed so there it went.<br />
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We are posting WAY more frequently to You Tube, than our blog, so make sure to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/stevesross/featured" target="_blank">follow us there</a> too. I linked to all our recent videos below and in the future, I will just give the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/stevesross/featured" target="_blank">general video link</a> since we are so prolific. ;) Take good care everyone!<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyVITbzZDYA" target="_blank">Happy Earth Day</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLn9ptxn3J0" target="_blank">Beauty in Life and Life Lost (Barred Owl)</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qmRVKqmpfk" target="_blank">Bloodroot and Leaf Litter</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15MNyI3s7wo" target="_blank">Silly Girl thrilled by Louisiana Waterthrush</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxUk7bfQsSQ" target="_blank">Totally Fascinating Ants</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ow31YDFWsA" target="_blank">Willows, plant some!</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SL_zb8TuIE" target="_blank">2019 Spring High Tunnel Tour</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVh9kiecmnQ" target="_blank">Seed Miracles</a><br />
<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883250803887730426.post-87314965136129041212019-03-29T15:51:00.001-04:002019-03-29T16:12:29.075-04:00Life near a Chicken Coop and Why you Never EVER Want to Poison RatsHappy spring friends! The wood frogs, spring peepers and chorus frogs are all singing here and we've even attracted a few wood frogs into our constructed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZZh9LB9JRc" target="_blank">vernal pool</a> and <a href="http://thecommonmilkweed.blogspot.com/2012/08/creating-wetland-part-ii.html" target="_blank">frog pond</a>, which is just beyond thrilling to us.<br />
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Yesterday, Steve harvested oodles of horseradish we are going to process for eating; we can really never get enough of this root - we just put it on everything because it is oh so good!<br />
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We have some massive totes of organic potting media here ready for all our native plant seeds and baby plants and we are just itching to get our hands into the soil. The goodness these plants will work as they go out into the world and get planted in your yards, will surprise all of us many times over again. That's what we find...our expectations are always exceeded. We know so little about this planet and the more we learn, the less we truly know. What a gift to live and experience the marvel of diverse life.<br />
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Now it's time for a brief and fascinating post on rats...truly!<br />
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You know from our last post we lost all five of our chicken girls in two separate events this winter/spring to a hungry mink attracted to the rats living here, but we wanted to show you everyone else visting and how terribly harmful rat poison can be to other life.<br />
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Here is our chicken coop with a wild bird feeding station to the left side of the photo. The bird seed coupled with the chicken feed attracted the rats here initially. We live rurally, but our road is populated with other folks keeping livestock or feeding the birds so it's good living here for the <a href="http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/species-guide-index/mammals/norway-rat" target="_blank">Norway Rat</a>. They aren't native and their birth rate is shocking, but we've decided to let nature take her course and handle this abundance of small mammals (more on this later).<br />
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These holes first alerted us to the rats (and one killed by the chickens confirmed it; oh yes, chickens can kill a lot of animals):<br />
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The game cam is set up on the right (north) side of the coop because there is a well-trod animal path leading to a heavily and frequently marked NW corner of the building (pictured). Think of this corner as one of the many communication centers of the neighborhood.<br />
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Heavily and frequently trod path:<br />
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We both were fond of this cute patchwork rat we frequently saw and the game cam photographed. The rats moved in under the coop and excavated an impressive amount of soil out of the ground. Their home here is a major reason for all the animal sightings on this cam.<br />
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In this next photo you can readily see the scent (spray) left by a wandering neighborhood cat:<br />
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Almost every day raccoons come and smell this corner, perhaps leave their own scent and check under the coop for rat snacks after dining on black oil bird seed.<br />
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Opossums visit almost everyday as well and also go under the coop. They are omnivores so will eat the bird seed on the ground, plus some rats if they get lucky.<br />
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As mentioned last post, a red fox found the communication center too. It seems like one or all of these animals are marking saying, "I am here and there's lots of food here."<br />
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Neighborhood kitties are here daily (at least 5 different ones and we've already adopted 4 from here, help!). This girl is super pretty, quite shy and a certain rat hunter...<br />
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She is also checking the communication station:<br />
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Here's a few others:<br />
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The rats are hunted by so many different animals and so sometimes the game cam catches rats running as fast as possible back under the coop to their "safe" tunnels.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9uiN7_njPs/XJ41h_UHiCI/AAAAAAAAR2o/Xu36ubh1gpImMGP7vjMUWrk1WXpRBmZ5QCEwYBhgL/s1600/07270065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9uiN7_njPs/XJ41h_UHiCI/AAAAAAAAR2o/Xu36ubh1gpImMGP7vjMUWrk1WXpRBmZ5QCEwYBhgL/s320/07270065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But sometimes, some rats don't make it back to safety:<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b827RLimrQ8/XJ41h0iZ7cI/AAAAAAAAR2s/L6C1A46wdQUELbDoEl92ktIZXfstLLTyACEwYBhgL/s1600/07280066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b827RLimrQ8/XJ41h0iZ7cI/AAAAAAAAR2s/L6C1A46wdQUELbDoEl92ktIZXfstLLTyACEwYBhgL/s320/07280066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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See the rat tail? This Cooper's hawk captured a mighty fine, filling meal for the day.<br />
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The tunnels aren't always safe, when you have a tunnel explorer such as an American mink living in the neighborhood.<br />
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He or she is frequently on camera here and we see him or her running around our created wetlands. Our part of Morrow County, OH is a wet woods area with streams, brush piles, and abundant rodents....perfect mink habitat. This mink occasionally visits during the day as well.<br />
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I think by now you can see why no one should ever poison rats if you understand that the <b>poison stays in the rat (or mouse) during and after death.</b> All of these animals pictured (cats, mink, fox, raccoons, opossum) plus <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/super-toxic-rat-poision-kills-owls/" target="_blank">owls</a>, coyotes, dogs, etc. will eat dead rats and the poison will move up the food chain and slowly and painfully (think internal hemorraghing) kill the other animals as well. No one wants to do that! I think most people have no idea how awful this poison is and how persistent.<br />
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Spread the word: STOP THE POISON. What to do instead? Stop the food source for the rats and they will leave or use snap traps or shoot them (but not with lead! same issue). You get the idea. What are we doing at The Common Milkweed? We are taking down the bird feeders during the warm season so all the life will disperse and letting the natural food chains work. Already, the rat population is great diminished just from the predators that found the rats. We are really in awe how quickly they ate the life out of this rat colony. Our little patchwork rat is long gone.</div>
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Just for fun a few more pics from the game cam of non-rat eating life:</div>
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Dark-eyed juncos:<br />
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chipmunk...<br />
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fox squirrel...<br />
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song sparrow...<br />
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and a cottontail rabbit. There is just so much life about. We get super excited to check this game cam card every other day or so. It's like we get a look into the world in which we really live, but are hidden from inside this house. I know this is part of why we love camping so much...we are not separated from real life. As Rainer Maria Rilke writes: <a href="https://room4truth.com/2011/01/11/ah-not-to-be-cut-off/" target="_blank">"Ah, not to be cut off, not through the slightest partition shut out from the law of the stars..."</a><br />
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We post way more frequently on You Tube so follow <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZa_YOVYG7MLZl1f3g7ly8g" target="_blank">our channel</a> if you want more timely posts. In case you didn't catch our latest You Tube videos - find them here:<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZNQrriXmQo" target="_blank">Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) Intoxication</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G3dPQbvkFE" target="_blank">Happy Spring Equinox: it's time for Frog Magic</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH3sIX8Z4_k" target="_blank">We Love the American Sycamore...</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfIb-5ySc6M&t=7s" target="_blank">The Wonderful Wild Leek aka Ramps</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NycdWsagCFA&t=5s" target="_blank">Fast Growing River Birch</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah7ltmRQNTU" target="_blank">The Red-budded Basswood</a><br />
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Hugs! We wish you all a joyful, joyful spring.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240950009652561116noreply@blogger.com0