Thank you Karen! I have enjoyed your writing and photos for some time now. Recently I have started sharing your posts with my mom. She is recovering from a stroke. Being able to read your words and show her your photos on my phone at her bedside has been a wonderful practice that we both enjoy. It is a poignant reminder of the connection we share: a love of the natural world. A deep abiding appreciation that she taught me.
In deep appreciation — on this Autumnal transition
Is that the same picture of the deer you posted the other day? Please tell me it is because, otherwise, that is too bizarre for my brain to take in. I love the drama of the sunrise picture!! XO
Karen, it was a very lovely picture - the deer! When you posted it the other day, I spent some time taking it in, just the gentle line of the deer's neck, next to the tree, and thinking how close it was, but how pleasing it was that it wasn't quite the same line. When you posted it again, along with the line about deers not having any patterns, I found that crazy, were it to be a separate picture, because it looked like the same picture. It was both funny and mind-blowingly strange, and kinda made my melon hurt thinking of it being a different picture. XO
I enjoy waking up to sunshine… so I don’t like the shorter days and a creature of habit I still wake up early 😳🤷♀️. My cat is a creature of habit and wants her breakfast at the same time every morning 👍😊🐱. At least we are supposed to have cooler temperatures next week… high in the 80’s🤞👏. When it gets cold we will change our walks to mid day for winter. I’m like you in a lot of ways doing same things each day …I like structure…guess that’s why I liked my job so much before I retired…. I marveled at the people who liked every day to be different with new challenges etc 😂😂. (they thought my job was boring)
Started reading on the cusp of summer into fall, autumn equinox was 8:43am EDT. That seems no coincidence. Your egret photo is sublime, so perfect. Also smiling wide at the kingfishers. I find peace sitting on my overstuffed chair outside just observing. Asters are being visited by the bees, so happy that there is a succession of bloom to take care of them. A spider has taken up residence under the lip of a large flower pot and built its web around where it sits. Seems to be more crickets and brown grasshoppers now than usual. Want to think more about patterns of life and how I align with other members of the natural world. Thanks for being a springboard for that.
I so enjoyed your post today. We are interesting beings aren’t we, full of surprises and conflicting feelings? Thanks for giving me ‘thinks’ about my own experiences. A perfect day for it, when day and night are in balance.
Wonderful post and images, Karen. Those photos of the Belted Kingfishers chasing one another are amazing. That 3rd last photo of the two kingfishers is awesome.
I find those routines are nice for balance and also good to change up as well. I got that sense of staleness on my morning hike today as well. Typically I hike at my local conservation area in a counter clockwise loop.
I do not know why, but this morning to changed things up and decided to hike the loop clockwise. It was a nice change of pace and I encountered wildlife that I likely would not have seen had I followed my usual routine.
Kindred spirits! I, too, am a creature of habit by nature. But like you, when I have to make a change to get in sync with reality and for my own wellbeing, I can do it (with some grumbling and tooth-grinding). Being a creature of habit is so instinctive for me it makes me laugh. I've noticed that I even change my Facebook cover photo and profile picture to the same thing on the exact same date every year without thinking about it or conscious intention! Something in my psyche seems to crave the same image or sense of self -- the same comfortable "perch" -- as I roll through the seasons of life. They do provide stability and balance in the midst of uncertainty and chaos. Seeing your photos and reading your essays has become embedded as one of my comfortable creaturely habits, so please don't change that too drastically! ;-) Happy First Day of Autumn!
Happy Autumnal equinox. And thank you once again for your picture meditation this time on change. I always feel thoughtful and peaceful with some sort of smile after I experience your thoughts and images.
There is so much I love about this...how you observe the regular pattern of the dragonfly flight path...how correct you are about stubbornness vs. persistence, and how I, too, get my feathers ruffled about routine interlopers. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and photos. Thanks for being a careful observer.
Thank you Karen! I have enjoyed your writing and photos for some time now. Recently I have started sharing your posts with my mom. She is recovering from a stroke. Being able to read your words and show her your photos on my phone at her bedside has been a wonderful practice that we both enjoy. It is a poignant reminder of the connection we share: a love of the natural world. A deep abiding appreciation that she taught me.
In deep appreciation — on this Autumnal transition
♥️ Pam
Is that the same picture of the deer you posted the other day? Please tell me it is because, otherwise, that is too bizarre for my brain to take in. I love the drama of the sunrise picture!! XO
Oops, yes it is! Apparently my system for making sure I don't duplicate didn't quite work. Thanks Danielle.
Karen, it was a very lovely picture - the deer! When you posted it the other day, I spent some time taking it in, just the gentle line of the deer's neck, next to the tree, and thinking how close it was, but how pleasing it was that it wasn't quite the same line. When you posted it again, along with the line about deers not having any patterns, I found that crazy, were it to be a separate picture, because it looked like the same picture. It was both funny and mind-blowingly strange, and kinda made my melon hurt thinking of it being a different picture. XO
I enjoy waking up to sunshine… so I don’t like the shorter days and a creature of habit I still wake up early 😳🤷♀️. My cat is a creature of habit and wants her breakfast at the same time every morning 👍😊🐱. At least we are supposed to have cooler temperatures next week… high in the 80’s🤞👏. When it gets cold we will change our walks to mid day for winter. I’m like you in a lot of ways doing same things each day …I like structure…guess that’s why I liked my job so much before I retired…. I marveled at the people who liked every day to be different with new challenges etc 😂😂. (they thought my job was boring)
I'm glad it will get cooler for you too! Structure - yes! Love you Aunt Sharon!
Love you too🥰. And beautiful pictures too ❤️👍
Thank you Karen I love routine also~ I find the balance I need~ I loved the pictures this morning ~💕
Thank you Catherine
Started reading on the cusp of summer into fall, autumn equinox was 8:43am EDT. That seems no coincidence. Your egret photo is sublime, so perfect. Also smiling wide at the kingfishers. I find peace sitting on my overstuffed chair outside just observing. Asters are being visited by the bees, so happy that there is a succession of bloom to take care of them. A spider has taken up residence under the lip of a large flower pot and built its web around where it sits. Seems to be more crickets and brown grasshoppers now than usual. Want to think more about patterns of life and how I align with other members of the natural world. Thanks for being a springboard for that.
I love this so much Sharon! Thank you.
I so enjoyed your post today. We are interesting beings aren’t we, full of surprises and conflicting feelings? Thanks for giving me ‘thinks’ about my own experiences. A perfect day for it, when day and night are in balance.
We are so full of paradox! Thank you Jennie.
Wonderful post and images, Karen. Those photos of the Belted Kingfishers chasing one another are amazing. That 3rd last photo of the two kingfishers is awesome.
I find those routines are nice for balance and also good to change up as well. I got that sense of staleness on my morning hike today as well. Typically I hike at my local conservation area in a counter clockwise loop.
I do not know why, but this morning to changed things up and decided to hike the loop clockwise. It was a nice change of pace and I encountered wildlife that I likely would not have seen had I followed my usual routine.
I love that change up! I do try to make small changes like that from time to time. Thanks Neil!
Such a gentle, generous embrace of yourself….
Thank you Jim
Kindred spirits! I, too, am a creature of habit by nature. But like you, when I have to make a change to get in sync with reality and for my own wellbeing, I can do it (with some grumbling and tooth-grinding). Being a creature of habit is so instinctive for me it makes me laugh. I've noticed that I even change my Facebook cover photo and profile picture to the same thing on the exact same date every year without thinking about it or conscious intention! Something in my psyche seems to crave the same image or sense of self -- the same comfortable "perch" -- as I roll through the seasons of life. They do provide stability and balance in the midst of uncertainty and chaos. Seeing your photos and reading your essays has become embedded as one of my comfortable creaturely habits, so please don't change that too drastically! ;-) Happy First Day of Autumn!
Oh wow about changing that cover photo on the same days! Thank you Lauren, I do feel that kindred spirit.
Happy Autumnal equinox. And thank you once again for your picture meditation this time on change. I always feel thoughtful and peaceful with some sort of smile after I experience your thoughts and images.
Thank you Bobbie
The kingfisher is my favorite - she's scruffy and confident. Such a cutie.
Thank you Mary
There is so much I love about this...how you observe the regular pattern of the dragonfly flight path...how correct you are about stubbornness vs. persistence, and how I, too, get my feathers ruffled about routine interlopers. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and photos. Thanks for being a careful observer.
Thank you Tricia