Crow Therapy November 25 2018, 0 Comments
It’s been a busy week, starting on Monday when I was interviewed by Gloria Macarenko on the CBC Radio One’s show — On The Coast. You can listen to the interview here. The subject of our chat was my City Crow calendar in particular, and “crow therapy” in general. I must admit that when I first …
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This wasn’t supposed to be a blog-writing day, but I feel I have some “stop press” news that must be shared, along with photographic evidence. I almost hesitate to share this wild idea, but I think there is a small chance that … dare I even speak the thought? … spring might have arrived. I …
Continue reading Possibility of Spring
This wasn’t supposed to be a blog-writing day, but I feel I have some “stop press” news that must be shared, along with photographic evidence. I almost hesitate to share this wild idea, but I think there is a small chance that … dare I even speak the thought? … spring might have arrived. I …
Continue reading Possibility of Spring
Pardon the rather overwrought title, but it’s true; an elementary school “Nature Collection” assignment changed my life. It was also, at the age of 7, my first bitter taste of academic failure. On the face of it, it was a rather fun assignment — go out into nature and make a collection of pods, seed and leaves …
Continue reading Birth of An Urban Nature Enthusiast
Pardon the rather overwrought title, but it’s true; an elementary school “Nature Collection” assignment changed my life. It was also, at the age of 7, my first bitter taste of academic failure. On the face of it, it was a rather fun assignment — go out into nature and make a collection of pods, seed and leaves …
Continue reading Birth of An Urban Nature Enthusiast
Not literally, of course. Crow hugging is fraught with peril at the best of times, but especially in spring when nesting season has them a bit tense. But I do suggest that you give the crow (or pick your favourite bird, plant, patch of moss or mollusk) a special thought today. It’s Earth Day so, ideally, …
Continue reading Hug a Crow This Earth Day
Insomnia can be a drag. I don’t think I’ve actually had a really solid night’s sleep since my first child was born almost 26 years ago. First of all it’s the usual – feeding, teething, nightmares. Then it becomes a habit to wake up every few hours. After that, the teenage years come to keep …
Continue reading In Praise of Early Mornings
It started as a normal Monday in East Vancouver. The dawn made it’s spectacular appearance (an hour late due Daylight Savings). Birds began to reappear in the sky, taking their posts for the coming day. Eric and his family arrived at their spot — in my garden, waiting for the first peanut handout of the day. I …
Continue reading Just Another Day
I took some time to appreciate the last dawn of 2014 – and such a dawn it was. After a festive season of heath challenges, it seems even more important that usual to appreciate the small things that are big. Being with family, good friends, health (it’s all relative), moments of quiet loveliness, every dawn, …
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May that blue bird of happiness sit on your shoulder as it sat on mine when (at last!) a member of the tricky and elusive Stellar’s Jay tribe took pity on me and posed for a portrait. I can’t really complain about the birds I’ve been able to photograph this summer. From the lovely little white crowned sparrows in …
Continue reading The Blue Bird of Happiness
It’s a rainy day here in Vancouver. The first of many, I suspect. But, to quote one of my mother’s many handy sayings, “every cloud has a silver lining.” These grey, wet days are perfect for heading out and adding to my “texture” photo collection. I think it started with the battleship linoleum on out bathroom …
Continue reading Pattern, Pattern, Everywhere
The Blog Hop project is a world-wide thread in which bloggers talk about their creative processes. As I’m pretty new to the world of blogging, I was honoured (and a wee bit intimidated) to be asked to participate in this blog hop project by Canmore artist and brilliant blogger, Linda Cote. I’ve admired Linda’s work online for …
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Goal: To have as much fun as this robin at least once a day. How do you seek out those carefree moments? I love to head out into the back yard, or around my East Vancouver neighbourhood, camera in hand and mind open to whatever lovely thing comes along. I’d love to hear how you find your daily …
Continue reading Joie De Vivre
Thanks to the wonderful staff and volunteers at the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC out at Burnaby Lake, the female downy woodpecker is back on home turf. A volunteer called me this afternoon and we headed over with the same box I used the transport her to the refuge two weeks ago. Then she was unable to …
Continue reading Free as a Bird!
I called the Wildlife Rescue refuge out at Burnaby Lake again yesterday to check in on our little downy patient. The news is still good. She’s lively, off medication and flying around in a large enclosure. They are keeping her a while longer so she can build up her strength and agility and not be easy prey …
Continue reading Downy Woodpecker Rehab
Astonished July 04 2014, 0 Comments
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished — from the poem, Messenger by Mary Oliver (Thirst)
An update on the downy woodpecker, injured last week by a cat and taken to the Wildlife Rescue clinic at Burnaby Lake: she’s doing much better! She has abrasions and bruising and they expect her to recover. Even better, when she’s ready to release, it’s likely that I’ll be able to go get her and …
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I was reading a blog the other day about “bucket lists” and how too many of us put off doing things on those lists, getting too caught up in the day to day to organize and save for that trek to Katmandu, or sailing trip around the world. In many ways I sympathize with the …
Continue reading In Defence of the Commonplace
