~Lady Bird Johnson
Photo credit: "V", by Lee Peiling
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
29 August 2013
Quote of the Week: Home
“My heart found its home long ago in the beauty, mystery, order and disorder of the flowering earth.”
~Lady Bird Johnson
~Lady Bird Johnson
27 August 2013
Rewild Your Life!
So the writer of one of my favorite blogs, Nature Is My Therapy, posted about a challenge hosted by We Are Wildness called "Rewild Your Life." For 30 days in September, the participants will attempt to spend at least 30 minutes a day in a natural setting for 30 days without electronics (except to take pictures). The goal? To "help you reconnect with that inner wildness deep down in your soul!" Don't you love that?
This challenge really appeals to me, as I have a very deep connection to the earth and nature that is an enormous part of who I am and how I feed my "soul". A connection that has been mostly blocked due to coping with an illness that drains the heart and darkens the spirit. When I do meet with nature, I find tremendous joy. A challenge like this will hopefully provide motivation to clear up and rebuild my earth-y connection. :) I'm excited to start!
20 March 2013
Build Your Nest Here! X
Spring is here! :D I'm so excited! Springtime's new life and birds and colors and blossoms and planning for a garden are some of the only things that can penetrate my darkness even a little these days. So I'm throwing what energy I have into enjoying it.
I have a whole list of projects for birding and gardening I've been wanting to work on that, to me, say, "Yay Spring!" This is the first I've gotten to (just hung yesterday), a little happy welcome to the birdies.
For some time now I have been seeing blog posts, pins. and DIY tutorials on offering nesting materials to birds looking to nest-build. I love this idea, cause I am a huge birding fan and just adore those who nest in and visit my feeders. I kinda took a little from each source and came up with my own thing.
MY MATERIALS:
*cat fur (been collecting for a while now)
*feathers naturally lost from my budgies
*small fabric scraps (Color is an eye-catcher!)
*little pieces of smooth hemp twine (frayed hemp can endanger toes and feet)
*bits from nature- dried leaves left from fall, small twigs, and dried moss
*empty suet cage
CAUTION: I kept all pieces of string-like material under 6". I avoided using string/thread except for a tiny piece here and there, and made sure it wasn't tangled. When all knotted or bound together, thread can catch in birdy feet and cause serious harm. :/ I played it a little more cautious than the articles I read suggested, just to be safe!
INSTRUCTIONS:
*Mix all of your goodies together- whee!
*Fit into cage, and close it up well.
*Look for a place outdoors to hang it, preferably where birds will see it in their everyday travels. Here is where using some brightly-colored fabric scraps is helpful!
*Hang in a secure place.
*Watch birdies visit to nab fancy bits for their nests! Maybe later in the Spring you'll even see a nearby nest with spots of color from your contribution!
Here are links to the articles I mainly used:
"Offer Nesting Materials For Birds" from Empress of Dirt
"Other Ways to Attract Birds" from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
"The First Day of Spring" from Juniper Moon Farm
I'd love to hear about your experiences with this! I'll update on mine (hopefully I'll have some).
I have a whole list of projects for birding and gardening I've been wanting to work on that, to me, say, "Yay Spring!" This is the first I've gotten to (just hung yesterday), a little happy welcome to the birdies.
For some time now I have been seeing blog posts, pins. and DIY tutorials on offering nesting materials to birds looking to nest-build. I love this idea, cause I am a huge birding fan and just adore those who nest in and visit my feeders. I kinda took a little from each source and came up with my own thing.
MY MATERIALS:
*cat fur (been collecting for a while now)
*feathers naturally lost from my budgies
*small fabric scraps (Color is an eye-catcher!)
*little pieces of smooth hemp twine (frayed hemp can endanger toes and feet)
*bits from nature- dried leaves left from fall, small twigs, and dried moss
*empty suet cage
CAUTION: I kept all pieces of string-like material under 6". I avoided using string/thread except for a tiny piece here and there, and made sure it wasn't tangled. When all knotted or bound together, thread can catch in birdy feet and cause serious harm. :/ I played it a little more cautious than the articles I read suggested, just to be safe!
INSTRUCTIONS:
*Mix all of your goodies together- whee!
*Fit into cage, and close it up well.
*Look for a place outdoors to hang it, preferably where birds will see it in their everyday travels. Here is where using some brightly-colored fabric scraps is helpful!
*Hang in a secure place.
*Watch birdies visit to nab fancy bits for their nests! Maybe later in the Spring you'll even see a nearby nest with spots of color from your contribution!
Here are links to the articles I mainly used:
"Offer Nesting Materials For Birds" from Empress of Dirt
"Other Ways to Attract Birds" from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
"The First Day of Spring" from Juniper Moon Farm
I'd love to hear about your experiences with this! I'll update on mine (hopefully I'll have some).
10 April 2012
On the Web: Here Little Birdie...
For birdwatching on the Web, there are some incredible sites out there for bird and nature lovers. Here are my go-to sites for getting a birdy fix.
Websites and Facebook Pages:
"All About Birds": Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Warblers Call
WeLoveBirds.org
Outside My Window: WQED Bird Blog
Birds & Blooms Magazine
Favorite Live Cams:
Phoebe, a Hummingbird Nest Cam
Bald Eagle Nest
Falcon Cam in Pittsburgh
Great Blue Heron Nest
DIY Birding:
Make Your Own Feeders
Bird Photography Tips
Tips for a Bird-Friendly Backyard
Best Backyard Bird-Feeding Practices
Get Involved:
Pennsylvania eBird
Participate in NestWatch
Great Backyard Bird Count
Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat
09 April 2012
Handmade Bliss: Lil Fish Studios
Lisa Jordan of Lil Fish Studios is an artisan inspired by the earth and nature, texture, sustainability and the beauty in simplicity. Her lovingly felted textural embroidered stones and tiny felted landscape brooches soothe my spirit and evoke a quiet joy in my heart, as do the thoughts and observations featured on her blog. Whether sharing about growing, baking, family or creating, Lisa relishes in the small pleasures of the every day, reminding me to dwell in the tiniest of happinesses. It is our shared love of feeding the soul and DIY living that led me to follow her on the web, where I find her Facebook page and blog (I love her tutorials and her experiments with natural dyes) a source of wonderful daily inspiration. Lil Fish Studio's work led me to stumble upon her via Etsy (she now sells mostly on Big Cartel). I was instantly charmed by her designs, which are beauteous, sweet, and evocative of a true appreciation of the expressions of life.
30 March 2012
22 March 2012
Grounded
Lying on the grass last weekend, I felt inspired by being so close to the earth and the tiny microcosm that flourishes on its surface. I was charmed by the intricate veining of delicate leaf skeletons that had "survived" the winter and teeny, tiny newborn clovers. I felt the earth's solidity and weight, opened to it and trusted.
VISUALIZATION (I created this for one of my yoga classes, and have both used and taught it.):
Spread a blanket or yoga mat onto a stretch of grass or sand (or you may choose to use stretch out directly on the grass). Lie on your stomach against the earth. Find a comfortable position for your head and arms: arms at your side and resting either ear on the ground OR arms crossed under your head and resting either ear on your arms. Relax. Close your eyes.
Once you are comfortable, allow your breath to deepen slowly, naturally. Breathe into your belly first, then let the air move up into your chest. Naturally, the ground will change the way your breath expands into you. Notice this. When your deep breathing feels full and easy, take one last deep breath. Hold for a few seconds, then let all control go and allow the breath to flow out effortlessly. As you do this, release all tension from your muscles and feel your body melt into the ground. Let your breath be soft and natural now.
Bring your awareness to the gentleness of your relaxed breath, and how each inhale presses into the earth. With each exhale, feel the release of your muscles relaxing into the support of the earth beneath you. Feeling the earth cradling you, and allow yourself to open to the safety of this, your vulnerable heart trusting Mother Earth to hold you. Let go into the weight of the ground. Each breath out allows you to move more deeply into this sensation.
Move your awareness gently to the sounds that surround you. Hear the birds, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, the sound of water if nearby. Rest in this. Now guide your awareness to your skin. Is the sun warming you, or a breeze moving against your eyelashes? Feel your body where it touches the earth, the blanket or mat or grass beneath you. Rest in this. Next, notice the smells around you. Do you notice the scent of the sun on your skin, of blossoms in your garden, of the ocean, of fresh grass? Rest in this. Now return to the sensation of trusting the earth, feeling it support you. Breathe. Rest in this. Should your mind become distracted at any time, gently draw it back without judgment.
When you are ready, move outward, leading your awareness out of the meditative state. Deepen the breath slowly. Experience a deep sense of gratitude for the planet and the beauty it beholds. Open to it. Notice the quietness of your mind and the openness and warmth of your heart. Know that you can return to this place at any time. Breathe.
VISUALIZATION (I created this for one of my yoga classes, and have both used and taught it.):
Spread a blanket or yoga mat onto a stretch of grass or sand (or you may choose to use stretch out directly on the grass). Lie on your stomach against the earth. Find a comfortable position for your head and arms: arms at your side and resting either ear on the ground OR arms crossed under your head and resting either ear on your arms. Relax. Close your eyes.
Once you are comfortable, allow your breath to deepen slowly, naturally. Breathe into your belly first, then let the air move up into your chest. Naturally, the ground will change the way your breath expands into you. Notice this. When your deep breathing feels full and easy, take one last deep breath. Hold for a few seconds, then let all control go and allow the breath to flow out effortlessly. As you do this, release all tension from your muscles and feel your body melt into the ground. Let your breath be soft and natural now.
Bring your awareness to the gentleness of your relaxed breath, and how each inhale presses into the earth. With each exhale, feel the release of your muscles relaxing into the support of the earth beneath you. Feeling the earth cradling you, and allow yourself to open to the safety of this, your vulnerable heart trusting Mother Earth to hold you. Let go into the weight of the ground. Each breath out allows you to move more deeply into this sensation.
Move your awareness gently to the sounds that surround you. Hear the birds, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, the sound of water if nearby. Rest in this. Now guide your awareness to your skin. Is the sun warming you, or a breeze moving against your eyelashes? Feel your body where it touches the earth, the blanket or mat or grass beneath you. Rest in this. Next, notice the smells around you. Do you notice the scent of the sun on your skin, of blossoms in your garden, of the ocean, of fresh grass? Rest in this. Now return to the sensation of trusting the earth, feeling it support you. Breathe. Rest in this. Should your mind become distracted at any time, gently draw it back without judgment.
When you are ready, move outward, leading your awareness out of the meditative state. Deepen the breath slowly. Experience a deep sense of gratitude for the planet and the beauty it beholds. Open to it. Notice the quietness of your mind and the openness and warmth of your heart. Know that you can return to this place at any time. Breathe.
20 March 2012
15 March 2012
Spring
After a long winter turned inward, I open to the vibrance of spring with a bit of trepidation. My favorite season, one of awakening and rebirth, seems a little too bright and motion-filled this year. I welcome it still, through my fear.
Today I heard and saw a robin, my first of the year, singing strongly and happily, tail bobbing with each chirp. And although we've had our cardinal pair with us all winter long, one morning this week I heard the male sing for the first time since autumn. His call pierced the last of winter's cool air like the sun's rays, breaking through clouds and reaching to my struggling spirit.
Sharing some photos:
I cut some of our just-born daffodils today to bring inside.
A tree of cascading flowers (a Sorrel/Sourwood/Lily of the Valley Tree) in our yard has already brought crowds of big, fat bumblebees to buzz through the blossoms.
We hung our new birdhouse from Etsy's Bacon Square Farm in the hopes of attracting a happy bird family this year. A gift from my sister. Thanks, Lis.
An afternoon at the park. My niece Gigi is a dirt girl like me. :)
Today I heard and saw a robin, my first of the year, singing strongly and happily, tail bobbing with each chirp. And although we've had our cardinal pair with us all winter long, one morning this week I heard the male sing for the first time since autumn. His call pierced the last of winter's cool air like the sun's rays, breaking through clouds and reaching to my struggling spirit.
Sharing some photos:
I cut some of our just-born daffodils today to bring inside.
A tree of cascading flowers (a Sorrel/Sourwood/Lily of the Valley Tree) in our yard has already brought crowds of big, fat bumblebees to buzz through the blossoms.
We hung our new birdhouse from Etsy's Bacon Square Farm in the hopes of attracting a happy bird family this year. A gift from my sister. Thanks, Lis.
An afternoon at the park. My niece Gigi is a dirt girl like me. :)
07 September 2011
Quote of the Week: Mother Earth, Father Sky
"Is not the sky a father and the earth a mother, and are not all living things with feet or wings, or roots their children?"
~Black Elk, Oglala Sioux
~Black Elk, Oglala Sioux
03 September 2011
Someday I'd Like To...
... see the Monarch butterflies at their migration place in Mexico:
... spend a night watching Aurora Borealis anywhere on Earth (Sweden or Norway would be cool, as would Alaska or Australia):
... spend a night watching Aurora Borealis anywhere on Earth (Sweden or Norway would be cool, as would Alaska or Australia):
30 July 2011
Frick Park Lushness!
Recent visits to the park. Loads of lush, thick greenery from so much rain and lots of butterflies gathering on the damp paths. The one in the picture I snapped above is a Red-Spotted Purple. :)
Peaceful as always. I need to go more often. Posting some video, too, just to share the forest sounds- have a listen!
03 May 2011
Backyard Visitor: Squee Baby Bun!
Eensy little bun visiting one of our Lily of the Valley patches! A baby of the bun I posted about last week? I bet his little head smells like sweet flowers! :)
26 April 2011
Backyard Visitors- Spring Arrivals!
The past couple of weeks and the warmer weather has brought out all sorts of furry and feathered visitors to our yard. :)
The first bunny sighting of the year happened yesterday(we told her she was a day late, but she didn't seem very concerned).
We've said good-bye to the darling Dark-eyed Junco that spet the winter with us. But the Cardinal pair that returns to us every year is back and we have new residents! A sweet pair of Titmice returns each evening, as does a pair of Nuthatch (I'm pretty sure) who has moved into our pine tree. :) And several types of woodpeckers have made an appearance. I love spring!
Bye little Juncos!
These Titmice photos are kinda crappy, but its so hard to get pics of them- they flit around so fast! Plus I always seem to get to my camera too late! :/ Look in the tippy top upper left corner of this one to see this little one...
Another Titmouse! So cute. I love their little plumes!
Our newest residents- I am pretty certain they are Nuthatch!
The first bunny sighting of the year happened yesterday(we told her she was a day late, but she didn't seem very concerned).
We've said good-bye to the darling Dark-eyed Junco that spet the winter with us. But the Cardinal pair that returns to us every year is back and we have new residents! A sweet pair of Titmice returns each evening, as does a pair of Nuthatch (I'm pretty sure) who has moved into our pine tree. :) And several types of woodpeckers have made an appearance. I love spring!
Bye little Juncos!
These Titmice photos are kinda crappy, but its so hard to get pics of them- they flit around so fast! Plus I always seem to get to my camera too late! :/ Look in the tippy top upper left corner of this one to see this little one...
Another Titmouse! So cute. I love their little plumes!
Our newest residents- I am pretty certain they are Nuthatch!
05 April 2011
An Amazing Visitor!
We were thrilled a couple of days ago when we noticed a female Cooper's Hawk dining on a fresh meal in our backyard! :D She was absolutely beautiful, and transfixing to watch despite the fact that she was tearing apart her prey. :/ Have a look at both the picture and video (kind of long, but at least watch a few seconds)!
18 October 2010
Frick Park Fashion- What's Hot and What's Not?
Fall Forest Fashion: In a Word? Leafy!
We're fresh from Frick Park Fashion Scene! What's new and fresh in woodland style? Plump berry and tall and twiggy are the season's most envied shapes. The hottest looks are trampled-grunge and earthy-crunchy, and a glimpse of nude branch is oh-so-sexy! Hats are all the rage in accessories as acorn caps make their debut. Brown is the new green- last season's greens look old and whithered next to the colors du jour, vibrant golds, oranges, and rusts. An occasional crimson or plum is daring and avant garde, and reveals itself to hushed oohs, ahs, chirps, and squeaks. A hint of what's to come? Perhaps...
Stay tuned for reviews of the latest in swamp-marshland couture!
We're fresh from Frick Park Fashion Scene! What's new and fresh in woodland style? Plump berry and tall and twiggy are the season's most envied shapes. The hottest looks are trampled-grunge and earthy-crunchy, and a glimpse of nude branch is oh-so-sexy! Hats are all the rage in accessories as acorn caps make their debut. Brown is the new green- last season's greens look old and whithered next to the colors du jour, vibrant golds, oranges, and rusts. An occasional crimson or plum is daring and avant garde, and reveals itself to hushed oohs, ahs, chirps, and squeaks. A hint of what's to come? Perhaps...
Stay tuned for reviews of the latest in swamp-marshland couture!
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