Working Away While the Gulf Burns

It's frustrating for me to be super busy while there are so many things I want to blog about! Like the recent oil mess in the Gulf of Mexico. Did you hear that the well is gushing more than 40,000 gallons a day! Sweet lord above--and Obama wants to open more drilling off the East Coast.

Oh well, no time to worry over that. I may be gone a bit but I'm here and doing fine! Until then, peace & light.

Working Away While the Gulf Burns

It's frustrating for me to be super busy while there are so many things I want to blog about! Like the recent oil mess in the Gulf of Mexico. Did you hear that the well is gushing more than 40,000 gallons a day! Sweet lord above--and Obama wants to open more drilling off the East Coast.

Oh well, no time to worry over that. I may be gone a bit but I'm here and doing fine! Until then, peace & light.

Hug Mama Earth Today

You probably already knew it was Earth Day--but what are you doing about it? I confess, I'm quite busy but I am getting out today for a long walk. It may not sound like much, but walks keep me aware of what Mother Nature is up to, it's good exercise and it keeps my feet on solid ground, so to speak.

For more Earth Day ideas, click here. And if miss today, there's always tomorrow or the day after...

Hug Mama Earth Today

You probably already knew it was Earth Day--but what are you doing about it? I confess, I'm quite busy but I am getting out today for a long walk. It may not sound like much, but walks keep me aware of what Mother Nature is up to, it's good exercise and it keeps my feet on solid ground, so to speak.

For more Earth Day ideas, click here. And if miss today, there's always tomorrow or the day after...

How to Look Really Smart and Identify that Bird Feather You Found

Don't have time to become a master ornithologist in your spare time or wade into the marshes every weekend with your local bird club? No sweat, just check out the Feather Atlas, from the National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Lab. It's really easy to use--if I can do it, you can, too!

I found 2 different feathers recently and wondered which birdies had lost them. You never know what you might learn by picking up a feather and studying the bird. Could be your bird totem, or maybe that feather has appeared to signal a new lesson. Sure, I had delusions of spending all my extra time with binoculars and a bird book, but my attempts so far have been frustrating and time-consuming. (Those birds need to sit STILL until I find the right page, dammit!)

By using the Feather Atlas, I discovered that I had correctly identified one feather (a blue jay!), and the 2nd one turned out to be from a mourning dove. Do these feathers and their birds have something to teach me? Well, now that I know the bird, I can meditate on the symbolism, and I'll let you know!

How to Look Really Smart and Identify that Bird Feather You Found

Don't have time to become a master ornithologist in your spare time or wade into the marshes every weekend with your local bird club? No sweat, just check out the Feather Atlas, from the National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Lab. It's really easy to use--if I can do it, you can, too!

I found 2 different feathers recently and wondered which birdies had lost them. You never know what you might learn by picking up a feather and studying the bird. Could be your bird totem, or maybe that feather has appeared to signal a new lesson. Sure, I had delusions of spending all my extra time with binoculars and a bird book, but my attempts so far have been frustrating and time-consuming. (Those birds need to sit STILL until I find the right page, dammit!)

By using the Feather Atlas, I discovered that I had correctly identified one feather (a blue jay!), and the 2nd one turned out to be from a mourning dove. Do these feathers and their birds have something to teach me? Well, now that I know the bird, I can meditate on the symbolism, and I'll let you know!

Should I Pour It Down the Drain?

I haven't yet had time to do the research--but should I pour my old cough medicine down the drain? Since my name is Riverwolf, I do have to think about these things. Well, not "have" to, but I simply do. I've read or heard cautions against tossing old medications down the drain or toilet, where they end up in our water supply as well as in fish, turtles, bird and other aquatic life. These critters are much smaller than we so some of this medicine can pack a whallop!

What do you think? Anyone know the answer? It's "only" a prescription cough suppressant, but I have no idea how toxic something like this is to the water supply. I didn't finish all the medicine because I my cough went away. Yes, some medicines you're supposed to take all the doc gives you, but not in this case. And if I keep it until my next cough comes around, well, that could be a while, and the effectiveness could wear off.

Anyone else had concerns with this?

Should I Pour It Down the Drain?

I haven't yet had time to do the research--but should I pour my old cough medicine down the drain? Since my name is Riverwolf, I do have to think about these things. Well, not "have" to, but I simply do. I've read or heard cautions against tossing old medications down the drain or toilet, where they end up in our water supply as well as in fish, turtles, bird and other aquatic life. These critters are much smaller than we so some of this medicine can pack a whallop!

What do you think? Anyone know the answer? It's "only" a prescription cough suppressant, but I have no idea how toxic something like this is to the water supply. I didn't finish all the medicine because I my cough went away. Yes, some medicines you're supposed to take all the doc gives you, but not in this case. And if I keep it until my next cough comes around, well, that could be a while, and the effectiveness could wear off.

Anyone else had concerns with this?

Welcome Spring!

I hope you've enjoyed these first few days of spring. Here, the weather was beautiful; a little overcast today, but almost 70 degrees--so beautiful nonetheless. The red bud trees have already popped a Eastery purple, clumps of yellow daffodils and pink/purple hyacinths have opened, and yellow forsythia will soon catch up. I placed a few sprigs of forsythia in this vase along with some daffodils from the yard, back at the old house. I used them in an equinox ceremony (more about that later).

Til then, I hope this brightens your day, along with a poem about spring that I found. It captures that brief moment when spring can still be chilly (like this morning, in fact), but you know the sun will soon warm up the earth and every living thing:

"Very Early Spring" by Katherine Mansifield

The field are snowbound no longer;

There are little blue lakes and flags of tenderest green.

The snow has been caught up into the sky--

So many white clouds--and the blue of the sky is cold.

Now the sun walks in the forest, 

He touches the bows and stems with his golden fingers; 

They shiver, and wake from slumber.

Over the barren branches he shakes his yellow curls.

Yet is the forest full of the sound of tears...

A wind dances over the fields.

Shrill and clear the sound of her waking laughter,

Yet the little blue lakes tremble

And the flags of tenderest green bend and shiver.

Welcome Spring!

I hope you've enjoyed these first few days of spring. Here, the weather was beautiful; a little overcast today, but almost 70 degrees--so beautiful nonetheless. The red bud trees have already popped a Eastery purple, clumps of yellow daffodils and pink/purple hyacinths have opened, and yellow forsythia will soon catch up. I placed a few sprigs of forsythia in this vase along with some daffodils from the yard, back at the old house. I used them in an equinox ceremony (more about that later).

Til then, I hope this brightens your day, along with a poem about spring that I found. It captures that brief moment when spring can still be chilly (like this morning, in fact), but you know the sun will soon warm up the earth and every living thing:

"Very Early Spring" by Katherine Mansifield

The field are snowbound no longer;

There are little blue lakes and flags of tenderest green.

The snow has been caught up into the sky--

So many white clouds--and the blue of the sky is cold.

Now the sun walks in the forest, 

He touches the bows and stems with his golden fingers; 

They shiver, and wake from slumber.

Over the barren branches he shakes his yellow curls.

Yet is the forest full of the sound of tears...

A wind dances over the fields.

Shrill and clear the sound of her waking laughter,

Yet the little blue lakes tremble

And the flags of tenderest green bend and shiver.

Critters Living in Icy, Dark Antarctic Challenge Our Concept of "Life"

Scientists pulling ice cores in the Antarctic just discovered a jellyfish and a shrimp in one of their samples, showing that life can thrive in very hostile conditions (meaning, bone-ass cold and black as pitch). Reminds me of other recent news about microbes living next to sizzlin' volcanic vents. And so the scientists wonder, as scientists do, whether we might one day find life on a frozen, icy moon like Europa.

That got me to thinking more about this. Sure, some icy-cold moon shrimp isn't exactly Little Green Men, but it is life. And that's amazing, don't you think? Who knows, there could be some form of life right now on humid ol' Venus. There's still so much we don't know about our own solar system. Just because we haven't had a response yet from all our attempts at conversation, doesn't mean something isn't out there somewhere. And frankly, I'll take moon shrimp over Aliens any day!

Critters Living in Icy, Dark Antarctic Challenge Our Concept of "Life"

Scientists pulling ice cores in the Antarctic just discovered a jellyfish and a shrimp in one of their samples, showing that life can thrive in very hostile conditions (meaning, bone-ass cold and black as pitch). Reminds me of other recent news about microbes living next to sizzlin' volcanic vents. And so the scientists wonder, as scientists do, whether we might one day find life on a frozen, icy moon like Europa.

That got me to thinking more about this. Sure, some icy-cold moon shrimp isn't exactly Little Green Men, but it is life. And that's amazing, don't you think? Who knows, there could be some form of life right now on humid ol' Venus. There's still so much we don't know about our own solar system. Just because we haven't had a response yet from all our attempts at conversation, doesn't mean something isn't out there somewhere. And frankly, I'll take moon shrimp over Aliens any day!

Pics from the "New" Grove

 Finally had a chance to snap a few in my new surroundings! Again, it's right on the edge of downtown, but there's a park setting and a creek.

The park is pretty large, and the city has done a nice job with wildflower plantings and erosion control. I was concerned that city critters would be rather dull after the country cousins I was used to. No, I probably won't see many deer or vultures, but I did hear a few unfamiliar bird calls the other day. And I've already found some new plants to identify.

See you next week as I'm off to Cherokee!

Pics from the "New" Grove

 Finally had a chance to snap a few in my new surroundings! Again, it's right on the edge of downtown, but there's a park setting and a creek.

The park is pretty large, and the city has done a nice job with wildflower plantings and erosion control. I was concerned that city critters would be rather dull after the country cousins I was used to. No, I probably won't see many deer or vultures, but I did hear a few unfamiliar bird calls the other day. And I've already found some new plants to identify.

See you next week as I'm off to Cherokee!

The Moon, the Fog, the Light ... and Leaving for the Coast!

Don't know about you, but it just feels like fall is quickly approaching. Yesterday, while driving home from work, I noticed the quality of the afternoon sun seemed different; it had that slant you get in late fall, and just the way the rays played on the trees and grass reminded me of fall.

On my walk this morning, the moon was ENOURMOUS, and a thin layer of fog hugged the ground throughout the park. Plus, the morning air is already cooler. Yep, fall is on its way.

To the Coast or Bust!

Tomorrow morning, I'm packing up the pick-up and heading to the coast. A friend has a house there, and I SO need to get outta this town! Maybe I'll find a good Labor Day Sale on some pots and pans! Plus, we'll get to take in the beach and hopefully some outdoor music with a beer. Sounds good, right?

Hope you all have a great weekend. Cheers! Hmmm, maybe I'll meet this fellow out by the fishing pier...

The Moon, the Fog, the Light ... and Leaving for the Coast!

Don't know about you, but it just feels like fall is quickly approaching. Yesterday, while driving home from work, I noticed the quality of the afternoon sun seemed different; it had that slant you get in late fall, and just the way the rays played on the trees and grass reminded me of fall.

On my walk this morning, the moon was ENOURMOUS, and a thin layer of fog hugged the ground throughout the park. Plus, the morning air is already cooler. Yep, fall is on its way.

To the Coast or Bust!

Tomorrow morning, I'm packing up the pick-up and heading to the coast. A friend has a house there, and I SO need to get outta this town! Maybe I'll find a good Labor Day Sale on some pots and pans! Plus, we'll get to take in the beach and hopefully some outdoor music with a beer. Sounds good, right?

Hope you all have a great weekend. Cheers! Hmmm, maybe I'll meet this fellow out by the fishing pier...

Artist Ahmad Nadalian

 This Iranian artist works in ways that resonate with me: carving images of fish and other creatures into rocks and leaving them as "gifts" to the waters or to be discovered by passersby. He also carves stone cylinders with similar images (above) and uses them like a printing press in the sand, leaving behind on a beach, for example, an image of a crab that will soon be washed away by the surf.

Nadalian adds that fish and snakes are often seen as symbols of fertility and treasure in parts of Iran. He says that his art gives him a way to help "heal the spirit of neglected streams and coastlines" around the world.

Find more artists that work with the Earth at greenmuseum.org.

Artist Ahmad Nadalian

 This Iranian artist works in ways that resonate with me: carving images of fish and other creatures into rocks and leaving them as "gifts" to the waters or to be discovered by passersby. He also carves stone cylinders with similar images (above) and uses them like a printing press in the sand, leaving behind on a beach, for example, an image of a crab that will soon be washed away by the surf.

Nadalian adds that fish and snakes are often seen as symbols of fertility and treasure in parts of Iran. He says that his art gives him a way to help "heal the spirit of neglected streams and coastlines" around the world.

Find more artists that work with the Earth at greenmuseum.org.

Enough With Tossing the Lottery Tickets!

I have a local litterbug that is driving me crazy! Over the last several weeks, I've noticed discarded lottery tickets littering the roadside almost every other day on my morning walk. What gives, dude? Look, I'm sorry you didn't win a million dollars, but can you please dispose of these tickets in your ash tray or the trash can at your house? Are you just so furious at the universe that you have to fling these out your car window?

Has to be the same person. He/she must pick up lottery tickets on a regular basis and then toss them in roughly the same spot while driving to wherever. Honestly, they're always found on the same stretch of road. What are the chances of several different people doing this??

Anyway, I'll continue to pick them up because I don't want to see them floating in the creek. But to whomever is the litterbug, I don't think the universe is going to let you win any money until you learn how to treat Mother Earth better!

Enough With Tossing the Lottery Tickets!

I have a local litterbug that is driving me crazy! Over the last several weeks, I've noticed discarded lottery tickets littering the roadside almost every other day on my morning walk. What gives, dude? Look, I'm sorry you didn't win a million dollars, but can you please dispose of these tickets in your ash tray or the trash can at your house? Are you just so furious at the universe that you have to fling these out your car window?

Has to be the same person. He/she must pick up lottery tickets on a regular basis and then toss them in roughly the same spot while driving to wherever. Honestly, they're always found on the same stretch of road. What are the chances of several different people doing this??

Anyway, I'll continue to pick them up because I don't want to see them floating in the creek. But to whomever is the litterbug, I don't think the universe is going to let you win any money until you learn how to treat Mother Earth better!