Nature and Nostalgia
Walking my dog at 6 a.m. years ago, I noticed a long, skinny, green twig in the grass. It had an upward bend that hovered over the sidewalk. When my dog stopped a few feet away to stare at it, I took a second look. Then I noticed the twig had eyes, so we backed up.... Continue Reading →
“The trees are making me claustrophobic.” An out-of-town friend said this as I drove us on a rural road in North Carolina. The tall, evergreen trees stood close to both sides of the two-lane road, and at points, they arched above us and almost touched each other. She explained that she grew up in an... Continue Reading →
Every Fall the North Carolina Botanical Garden has a Sculpture in the Garden exhibit and displays the work of local artists. Last Fall was the 34th annual exhibit. I am already highly motivated to stumble through a garden, so hunting for unique sculptures tucked in among the flora was an extra thrill. Of course, an... Continue Reading →
North Carolina news about animals can be bizarre, and a bit concerning. Perhaps having no state-wide law prohibiting private citizens from owning exotic animals is the reason. But not all the animals making headlines are exotic, some are just local wild animals in unexpected places or farm animals on the run. Did events in 2022... Continue Reading →
Every October the national TV news announces the heaviest American-grown pumpkin. This year, an 1161-kilogram (2,560 lb.) pumpkin named Maverick and grown by Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minnesota won the North American record. But this continental winner was no match for the world’s heaviest pumpkin weighing 1,226 kilograms (2,702 lb., 13.9 oz.) and grown by... Continue Reading →
Sometimes you get so excited about seeing wildlife, you can miss the tiny details that separate truth from fiction. When I saw these swans at my workplace property, I was careful to take a photo from the shadows of a building so I wouldn’t disturb them. A "swan" sighting captured by the author. While Tundra... Continue Reading →
I planned to use my newly discovered camera filters on a not-new camera to create an alternate reality and a community rose garden seemed the ideal setting. A wood split rail fence enclosed a square space with brick walkways. A copper water fountain sculpture was a focal point directly in view of a gazebo on... Continue Reading →
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.
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 →
Karen M. Free 