Swim, Eat, Bolt – a Little Waterfowl Drama at the Pond
Walking around the local pond, I wasn’t expecting much when I sat on a bench under a tree. Turtles slowly surface to pop up their heads for air, while their bodies stay submerged. Schools of tiny fish play near the surface, occasionally splashing the water with circular ripples left behind.
Then, the waterfowl arrive. And things get interesting.
King Neptune Catches Your Eye at Virginia Beach – Every Time
Not every boardwalk in the U.S. is protected by a Roman god. Virginia Beach is different. And people notice. “Most sculptures disappoint people when they’re unveiled,” a Virginia Beach woman told me. “But not this one. We’re really proud of that sculpture.” She was here when the sculpture was unveiled and loves it, she said…. Continue Reading →
Virginia Beach and What the Tide Brings
Going to the beach on a cold, midweek early morning, before all the schools had gotten out for the year, meant a beach largely to myself. A perfect time to explore the shoreline as no one was brave enough to be swimming or playing near the water. What I found both enchanted and repulsed me…. Continue Reading →
One Skink, Two Skinks, Striped Skink, Brown Skink
Moving to the South 25 years ago meant an adjustment to the heat, humidity and creatures of my new home. In other words, little reptiles are everywhere.
Chuck Mangione – Popular Flugelhorn Player of the ’70s and ’80s
Have you ever woken up missing someone’s music? That happened to me the other day when I first opened my eyes and needed to hear Chuck Mangione’s smooth melodies. My connection to Chuck Mangione’s music goes back to the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. I fell in love with his sound – a mellow, warmth… Continue Reading →
Pyrite, Aragonite and Quartz – A Few Samples From a Rock Enthusiast
“I’m spending too much money on rocks,” I said to a friend. She told me that rocks were free, and I could find them outside. “Not these rocks,” I said. “Not where I live.” I may have had a slight rock addiction for about nine years. I had a go-to guy and gal – a… Continue Reading →
The Longest Elevated Pedestrian Bridge in the World – A Personal View
When a childhood friend asked me to walk the pedestrian bridge over the Hudson River during a visit back to New York, I was excited thinking about the beautiful views I would see. I only knew it as the abandoned railroad bridge. After we moved out of Poughkeepsie in 1987 to find a less expensive… Continue Reading →
Pollinator Pecking Order – Observations From a Rear Window
When a friend gave me three canna lily bulbs, I had no idea what insect-avian-mammal conflicts lay ahead. I planted them next to my patio. They blossomed in a few months, stood 6 feet tall and had large, tubular, red flowers. The bees came first and worked methodically, moving from one flower to the next…. Continue Reading →
Ground, Air, Sky, and Water – Centering When the World Disorients You
When the world disorients me, I instinctively go back to basics – like a child learning how to name objects. On my evening walk the other day, which is not so much for exercise, but an attempt to clear my head with a walking meditation, I heard myself labeling. I looked down. “This is the… Continue Reading →
Nikki’s Story – Aging Canine Guardian of the Grass
One of the last gifts my dog gave me was a lesson in leisurely strolling. No longer energized with a youthful bounce in her steps, she walked in slow, rigid movements. Arthritis and assorted ailments had changed her pace, but not her excitement about life. When she was a puppy, she was a sort of… Continue Reading →
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Karen M. Free 