• Avian,  quotes

    The Experience of This Moment

    May 1, 2023
    Red-winged blackbird and Yellow-headed blackbird

    I want the experience of being alive in this moment, and I want to know I am having it. The breeze on my skin. Air moving in and out of my lungs. Light in the trees. The songs of birds. A human touch, skin to skin. I want these things because I know now, after more than a half century of living, that in these simple, ordinary moment-to-moments, the Sacred comes out to play. It is in the air, the light, and the song that heaven makes a home. To have the experience of this moment, and to know I’m having it, is to be alive with the One who made the moment.

    Margaret D. McGee

    At this time in my life I find I enjoy the multitude of moments life offers, and even look for them. Where in my youth I overlooked them, never knowing that I was missing out on some of the best parts of this life. I sat at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area yesterday afternoon/evening where I was able to experience the breeze on my skin and applaud the song birds. And, as she states, I want to be alive, knowing I’m also in the presence of the One who made the moment. Don’t wanna miss them!

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  • Avian,  Canada Goose,  landscape,  poems,  poetry,  snow,  writing/reading

    Winter is not done…

    March 22, 2023

    Reminded this morning
    that winter is not done
    as big fluffy wet snowflakes
    descend on our world.

    Nature’s paintbrush dripping
    with pure white snowflakes
    drapes its blanket across
    the backs of the Geese.

    ms

    Had my follow up appointment with the cardiologist, Amy Dickinson, this morning and all is going well one week after the surgery. She said my heart sounds good and I’m progressing as expected. Will have an Echocardiogram on April 10th for a look-see inside then a one month follow up with the surgeon, Dr. Lazkani, on April 13th. I will begin a cardiac rehab in a week or two. She suggested I continue to increase my activity as tolerated. Also, have another blood draw on April 3rd then a meeting with the hematologist on April 6th and discuss how things are going in that area of my life. Thankfully, everything from the bone marrow biopsy came back negative. My world is much brighter today than 12 weeks ago. This mornings snow has continued throughout the day with no accumulation, but loving the moisture content it brings. Hoping you had a good day!

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  • Avian,  landscape,  quotes,  sunsets

    Sacred Bond

    March 4, 2023
    Setting sun at Rowland Moore Park – 2017

    Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.

    Robin Wall Kimmerer
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  • Avian

    Today’s Visitor

    February 23, 2023

    While having my second iron infusion today I received a message from my neighbor, Kristin, that a bald eagle was hanging around the cottonwood tree just outside our front door. They were still there when I returned. I assume they are here because we have several bird carcasses located around the city ponds due to the avian flu and we have 3-4 carcasses on the ice of our ponds now. Bald Eagles will hunt just about anything they can catch, including mammals, such as rabbits and squirrels; birds like ducks, geese and coots; reptiles, including turtles; and amphibians; even carrion. Kristin said she saw them pick at one the carcasses. Sure don’t want this bird to die of the avian flu. Love these birds even though they look unhappy. I love to watch them fly!

    It was a bitter cold, -12 degrees at 6:00 am. Brrr! Don’t think we got above 10 degrees. Brrrr! My infusion went well and again, no side effects. I see where those of you in the southeast have been experiencing summer type weather. Enjoy!

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  • Avian,  desert,  haiku,  landscape,  writing/reading

    Silent Predator

    January 2, 2023

    in pre-dawn light
    eyes pierce the world of darkness
    silent predator

    mws

    Awoke to a dusting of snow with more possible later this evening. I made my first venture to a coffee shop yesterday with my sister and came home a bit worn out. It was a good experience for me. This early morning image of the owl was taken in 2006 along the Peralta Trail in Arizona while on a visit to see my parents.

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  • Avian,  quotes

    Some are heading south

    November 23, 2022

    “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

    Lao Tzu

    A flock of geese flew overhead a couple of days ago on my walk creating that lovely music of theirs. Not sure why it’s music to me when they are flying above and noise when they’re waddling everywhere turning my walks into a goose-poop-boogie dance floor. Some will head south and some will stay for the winter. I’ve come to accept these rituals and behaviors of my feathered friends over the years.

    A few years ago on Thanksgiving Day I was taking a walk through the neighborhood when thousands, maybe millions, of geese began flying overhead. There were so many and they were so loud people were coming out of their homes to stand in the street, on the sidewalks and porches looking skyward. I have never experienced anything like that since. Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  • Avian,  fall season,  quotes,  seasons

    Enoughness

    October 18, 2022

    Someone used the word enoughness this past week and it has stayed with me. I am one of those people who always seem to want “more.” So, when she said enoughness, it struck something within me. After some research on it I found the most common definition was: “the state or condition of being enough; sufficiency; adequacy.” But maybe a better definition for me would require changing the word being to becoming, making it dynamic rather than passive. This makes enoughness a part of the journey in life, where I’m content with today, while trusting that tomorrow will also have its enoughness. Living in enoughness we can experience joy and true fulfillment with what we have. There is no need for more, just content in the very moment. Forgive me as I continue to play with words, what they mean to me at this time in life and how I can articulate them, or not.

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