Staring outside at a sky that stares coldly back, wintertime claustrophobia and reclusiveness seep into my bones. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, flipping the switch and renaming this cocooning time, a word with a warmer and friendlier feel. However, neither butterfly nor human wants to remain in a cocoon for too long….
Last year I learned how helpful it is to belong to a community of writers, and decided to apply this wisdom to my gardening as well. I recommend such groups for whatever interests you have, especially if your friends and family do not share your passion. You can spare yourself their glaze-eyed looks and desperate…
I saw two eagles swooping overhead. I often see them on my walks. One of them began to circle lower and lower, towards an island on the Mississippi River. The trees had lost many of their leaves, so I could clearly see the bird’s precarious path through a spiderweb of branches until they landed near…
Van Camping Preparation When I began planning my van camping trip, the weather was not what I typically seek for outdoor playtime. The temperatures didn’t look so bad (between 50 and 65 degrees (F)); it was the prediction of rain and high winds that made me frown. But if you wait for perfect weather in…
Latte had her nose to the ground as she pulled Moss through a clump of burdock and headed towards the trees. Cleavers grabbed at Moss’s feet, nearly tripping her as she fought to keep up with the fast moving dog.
I began writing my observations of the Mississippi River and how this summer’s drought and a river bank restoration project affected the river and woods. Observing this area close to home turned into a summer project, which I plan to continue for a while. Rather than present my observations with photos and explanations, I wrote…
