The natural world, life, and dogs.
Bug (definitions): a small insect; a computer virus; a concealed miniature microphone; to annoy or bother. Entomology: an insect of a large order distinguished by having mouth parts that are modified for piercing and sucking. And then there’s the British use of the word “bugger,” but…we won’t go there. Some bugs are delightful, for example… Continue reading Bugs
It's said that writing is like a muscle; one needs to keep flexing it regularly, daily if possible. I would add that, like so many types of exercise that keep our muscles strong - in my case, running - writing must become a habit so that when you do miss a day, you notice. You… Continue reading Flexing Muscles
Some runs, that’s exactly how I feel: like a kid in a candy store. Happy. Awestruck. Stunned by what I see all around me. Following fluff butts Conall and Finn up through early-season snow to a scree field where the morning sun's rays have yet to reach. This morning was one such run. Fresh snow… Continue reading Like a Kid in a Candy Store
Other than a smattering of aspen trees, the autumn colors brightening the landscape in the nearby forest arrive courtesy of the shrubs that make up the understory. During a recent morning run I found myself stopping repeatedly, stunned by the beauty of the foliage, digging my camera (a Google Pixel 3a phone) out of a… Continue reading Nature on the Run
When the world is a bit too newsy, and my days too peopley, I head to the mountains and practice some Stoicism, reminding myself: I can’t control external events, only my response to them. Following the dogs, weaving through rock cliffs and trees. My best response? Go outside and absorb the peace and calm of… Continue reading Too Peopley Out There
Several years ago, sharing photos of the rural valley where I live, an acquaintance commented, “It looks…bucolic.” Walking a country road as morning fog lifts. He meant it as a slur. He considers himself cosmopolitan, despite living in…Wyoming. The word bucolic is one I fully embrace, my raison d’etre for moving to Idaho’s mountains fifteen… Continue reading Bucolic
One of the delights of autumn, in addition to the leaves on the deciduous trees and shrubs turning color, is the abundance of bright berries. Like their earlier counterparts, mountain wildflowers, berries on mountain trees and shrubs come in bright colors, tickling not only our eyes but the mouths of the birds, deer, elk and bear who rely upon them as winter approaches.
Late-season wildflowers in the forest of Idaho's mountains.
Here in the central mountains of Idaho, Sandhill cranes are a regular feature. In spring and fall large flocks travel through on their migrations, but a few stay for the summer.
I have a dog who delights in bouldering. Oxford Dictionary: bouldering (noun) - climbing on large boulders, either for practice or as a sport in its own right. I noticed Conall’s affinity for climbing downed trees and boulders soon after bringing him home as a puppy. I chose Conall and his breeder when she shared… Continue reading Boldly Bouldering
Wild Sensibility 