I was hiking Governor’s Island in Madison yesterday when a bald eagle swooped over my head and landed on one of the trees along the shore.
Continue reading A new year’s eagleTag Archives: Thoughts
Thanksgiving 2020
Like this rather plump squirrel I saw on a walk today, I ate Thanksgiving dinner alone (a first for me). But after a family video-chat and some phone calls, I realize I have much to be grateful for today, despite everything that 2020 has thrown at us. Happy Thanksgiving!
Into the Forest I Go
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” – John Muir
Learning patience from a dragonfly
I spent a frustrating 20 minutes following this common whitetail skimmer dragonfly as they buzzed around, trying to get a decent photo or two. Yet another time when nature is trying to teach me to have more patience. Maybe someday, that lesson will finally sink in.
Continue reading Learning patience from a dragonflyPandemic plant?
I came across this plant while on a hike. I’m not sure what kind it is, but the blossoms that are growing on it reminded me of those coronavirus stock pictures they keep showing on the news. Even out in nature, my brain finds reminders of the pandemic. [eye-roll]
Update: One of my friends told me this plant is a Rattlesnake Master.
The beauty of the moon
With everything that’s been going on in the world lately, it really helps to take some time to notice the beauty that’s also with us. Last night, I did that by admiring the full moon for a while.
Wishing for an overpass
Would that we could have an overpass for life’s difficult situations.
Maintaing distance, outside
Some popular Wisconsin and National parks have seen crowds of people lately, making it difficult to maintain that social distancing during the current pandemic. Hoping to avoid that, I took advantage of the nice day by driving to a lesser known spot, New Glarus Woods State Park.
Continue reading Maintaing distance, outsideEmerging pussy willows
Since I’ve been working from home for almost two weeks now, I’m trying to get out of the house everyday. At the very least, that means a good walk around the neighborhood. When I was out today and saw these pussy willows in the process of emerging, I thought of them as a metaphor for our current situation.
Right now, most of us are in a social distancing “winter.” Someday that season will end, we will emerge from semi-isolation, and live our normal lives again. Until then, we have this pussy willow to help us remember it will not be forever.
A premature winter
This past week or so, we’ve had 25 degree below normal temperatures and three days of snow accumulation (totaling over 12 inches). This morning’s temp was 9(f)! Too soon Winter, too soon.