Surprise Encounter of the Minky Kind

I have—half-jokingly—stated that, if I were God, I would have ordered things differently. While I’m in awe of Nature’s intricate, interwoven, and complex structure and finely tuned function, I have never liked the fact that animals eat one another. Even as a child I closed my eyes when nature documentaries focused in on the “successful” … Continue reading Surprise Encounter of the Minky Kind

January Birding

Whenever I head out the door to go birding, my husband tells me “I hope you will see what you are looking for.” During most of my outings, I don’t look for one particular bird, but stroll around one of my regular haunts while keeping track of whatever feathered friends show themselves on that particular … Continue reading January Birding

Dreaming of Butterflies

When one’s dream of snow arriving on crystal wings remains unfulfilled (or those splendid hexagon crystals dissipate almost as soon as they appear), one might dream of other beautiful wings that drift through the air like apparitions from a better world. The realization that both crystal-winged and scaled-winged entities exist in this world renews a … Continue reading Dreaming of Butterflies

Memorable Moments 2021

Nothing inspires and delights me more than spending time in nature. Birds are the beings who make my heartstrings vibrate most fervently, but I also enjoy encounters with other animals. Fortunately, it’s still possible to meet scaled, furred, or feathered creatures, but I don’t take these joyful moments for granted and feel privileged whenever they … Continue reading Memorable Moments 2021

South Park Again

Colorado’s aforementioned South Park can be accessed from a number of directions. Journeying from Colorado Springs, it is reached by following US Highway 24 about 50 miles due west. This basin, with an elevation of 9,000 to 10,000 feet and a footprint of nearly 1,000 square miles, is the southernmost of three high-altitude valleys in … Continue reading South Park Again