Last year I was told about 'play personalities' (https://www.nifplay.org/what-is-play/play-personalities/). Beforehand I had always thought of myself as kind of boring, especially as my partner is very much a traditional 'joker', but I discovered that I'm 'explorer' and that's how I play, by finding out and understanding. It came as quite a relief to realise that I'd actually spent a lot of life playing!
Meadowlarks bring joy to my heart. I walk an old Farmland near my house often and they live to sing from the cow pastures.
The first 'winter wren" I ever paid full attention to was actually the Pacific wren singing their long, drawn-out songs from a deep green forest floor in the Olympc National Forest. I soon learned these were once thought to be the same as our winter wrens. Now I heat that song all the time in our Southern Appalachian coves.
And yes, where are the crow's nests?! I have seen several raven's nests but never a crow nest.
I had to look up pacific wren - it seems that they are nearly identical! And oh, how I love the Olympic National Forest. I miss living in the Seattle area.
Another perfectionist here, it does have a way of sucking the joy out of life sometimes. :-D Not super good at playing but I settle for whatever/whoever makes me smile, and that includes encountering birds, animals, plants and trees. Though I will say iNaturalist is one way of playing if you are a nature nerd.
Oh my goodness, what a lot of beautiful neighbors you have right now! We are still pretty wintery over here in Maine, none of the flurries of spring activity quite underway yet.
I really like your ideas around incorporating play. I often have this discussion with my daughter, when she has to do a task she doesn't enjoy. "Okay, how can we make it more enjoyable?" Often, it's something as simple as putting on some music, using favorite pens, or getting to set up her space in a comfortable way. I think fidget toys are a great outlet, as well as doodling - especially if you have notebooks or pens that you also particularly enjoy. If you try a variety of things, you're bound to find some that stick!
"Is there anything more gentle than the eyes of a doe?" I agree so much, I was actually just writing about that this week as well! https://sydneymichalski.substack.com/p/look-into-a-deers-eyes Deer are so special to me, I never get tired of seeing them (although I sure have learned to protect some plants from them!🤣)
WOW! What a beautiful post this is Sydney. And the deer showing up when your dad passed brought tears to my eyes for the beauty of it. Thank you for sharing it with me. I'm woefully behind in my Substack inbox and this was a joy to read.
I'm so glad you liked it! I know, that story goes right to my heart 💕 Sweet little deer! (I'm often behind on my reading, too, don't feel bad! I thought it was fun that we were both contemplating the gentleness in a doe's eyes this week :) )
Love the geese and the meadow lark, too! Though I was raised with a strong work ethic, my mother often incorporated play into whatever we were doing. Doing the dishes came with all kinds of word and memory games. Name a flower for each letter of the alphabet. Followed by a bird, a city, a boy's name, a girl's name, etc. Say any two words for each letter of the alphabet that are spelled differently but pronounced the same as in ant and aunt. Play mental hop-scotch on any paved surface! Make animal sounds for all of the animals you can think of. Preferably out loud, but mentally is okay in a meeting, if you can keep from laughing out loud! 😄
Loved this episode!!! Loved hearing the birds and geese!!! Spring came early here too… Redbuds and Bradford pear trees in full bloom for a couple of weeks now…along with the yellow daffodils and early purple flowers… hyacinths?? And all the birds singing too… it was 84 degrees yesterday… about 20 degrees above normal… hope it doesn’t mean another blistering hot summer….retirement is all play for me so I don’t have any suggestions there🤷♀️😳. But all yours sounded good👍❤️
That meadowlark is singing like a proclamation! I love this so much today, and am keeping the song and picture of the sweet bird singing in my heart . Thank you, Karen Xoxox
Thank you Karen for today’s offerings of Nature and your thoughts. Many birds you named will return to N. Florida shortly or already have. Do any of the Night Jar species share the prairie in your area? Sorry! I’m a self-distractor. My point is to note the enjoyment I gain when reading your posts and viewing the detail of your images. All the best in play and work.
Thank you Gary! Yes, we have common nighthawks. There are others that I have never seen like eastern whip-poor-will and chuck-wills-widow. My bff has heard these on her rural farm.
I first knew Whippoorwills from early life in PA. Late 80’s, I was managing construction projects here in Tallahassee and awareness of my surroundings prevented harm to a nesting Chuckwillswidow, A visit to a homesite at dusk, clearing imminent, I spotted one flutter of from where the house was to go. Rather than causing more alarm that evening, I called the owner and gladly found him willing to delay clearing until the young were fledged. The next morning while visiting several job sites I had the chance to peek around in the area seen the evening before. The characteristic scratching away of larger debris had occurred and there was the nest. A thin layer of a few large leaves, dried, and no apparent attempt to form a nest cup. A very simplistic method for the miracle of life. Only one egg. Nearly three weeks later and the magic was complete. A singular moment for me. A close look at the delicacy of the balance of Nature. The importance of prompt action in such instances. All the creatures in Great Spirit deserve both seeing and acting on their behalf, in these circumstances. As always, Brava.
Wonderful post! I in the mountains with cold and snow dominating the landscape , but this morning when I stepped outside I heard a robin. Spring is on its way!
Addiction to work is drilled into me- my value as a daughter, student, employee, and wife were all measured by how much I achieved. At 65, I still struggle with playing but I continue to work at learning to play!
Thanks for the videos and photos-I was inspired. I am heading down the mountain this week to a refuge to play with the birds.
Karen, You think as well as you photograph. I wonder if all great photographers and artists felt a similar angst as you do as they went about their “work”? Perhaps reading about some of the artists you most admire will give you a different perspective? And perhaps as you age and accomplish some of your goals you will get to a point where you will find the more you “tarry” the more play will enter your heart and head. Last suggestion: Yoga & meditation under the guidance of an excellent teacher can be a game changer. It helped me immensely….
Thank you Clark. I don't feel much angst about the photography I have to admit - it's the rest of my life! I have been learning meditation for a while now, as well as Qigong, which is all helping. Still, there's a mindset piece of this - I can work at meditation too if I'm not careful.
Maybe , it’s all in the way you personally, define play . Because the way I see it, isn’t that exactly what you are doing when you take all of your beautiful pictures ? And the path you take in getting there for the viewing?
Change your word focus. After all , joy has a mutual relationship with play
I really like the idea of singing/humming a little ditty and turning a difficult moment into a song. On Friday I should have composed the "Flat Tire Aria!" :-) The tire was anything but light and airy!
Those meadowlarks are beautiful!
Thank you Thomas!
What I would give to see or hear a meadowlark!
Last year I was told about 'play personalities' (https://www.nifplay.org/what-is-play/play-personalities/). Beforehand I had always thought of myself as kind of boring, especially as my partner is very much a traditional 'joker', but I discovered that I'm 'explorer' and that's how I play, by finding out and understanding. It came as quite a relief to realise that I'd actually spent a lot of life playing!
I love this play personalities information! I really enjoyed exploring through that site. Thank you Chloe! I hope you get to hear a meadowlark.
So much I love about this post!!
Meadowlarks bring joy to my heart. I walk an old Farmland near my house often and they live to sing from the cow pastures.
The first 'winter wren" I ever paid full attention to was actually the Pacific wren singing their long, drawn-out songs from a deep green forest floor in the Olympc National Forest. I soon learned these were once thought to be the same as our winter wrens. Now I heat that song all the time in our Southern Appalachian coves.
And yes, where are the crow's nests?! I have seen several raven's nests but never a crow nest.
I had to look up pacific wren - it seems that they are nearly identical! And oh, how I love the Olympic National Forest. I miss living in the Seattle area.
That meadowlark makes my heart happy. Thank you Karen.
Our western guys have a slightly different song, but a meadowlark is a meadowlark.
Yes, song is the way you can tell them apart! Safe journey Switter.
Another perfectionist here, it does have a way of sucking the joy out of life sometimes. :-D Not super good at playing but I settle for whatever/whoever makes me smile, and that includes encountering birds, animals, plants and trees. Though I will say iNaturalist is one way of playing if you are a nature nerd.
I like that way of playing! I like Merlin Bird ID for listening to sounds too!
Me too! Thanks for the ray of sun in the shape of a meadowlark. 💕
Oh my goodness, what a lot of beautiful neighbors you have right now! We are still pretty wintery over here in Maine, none of the flurries of spring activity quite underway yet.
I really like your ideas around incorporating play. I often have this discussion with my daughter, when she has to do a task she doesn't enjoy. "Okay, how can we make it more enjoyable?" Often, it's something as simple as putting on some music, using favorite pens, or getting to set up her space in a comfortable way. I think fidget toys are a great outlet, as well as doodling - especially if you have notebooks or pens that you also particularly enjoy. If you try a variety of things, you're bound to find some that stick!
"Is there anything more gentle than the eyes of a doe?" I agree so much, I was actually just writing about that this week as well! https://sydneymichalski.substack.com/p/look-into-a-deers-eyes Deer are so special to me, I never get tired of seeing them (although I sure have learned to protect some plants from them!🤣)
WOW! What a beautiful post this is Sydney. And the deer showing up when your dad passed brought tears to my eyes for the beauty of it. Thank you for sharing it with me. I'm woefully behind in my Substack inbox and this was a joy to read.
I'm so glad you liked it! I know, that story goes right to my heart 💕 Sweet little deer! (I'm often behind on my reading, too, don't feel bad! I thought it was fun that we were both contemplating the gentleness in a doe's eyes this week :) )
Love the geese and the meadow lark, too! Though I was raised with a strong work ethic, my mother often incorporated play into whatever we were doing. Doing the dishes came with all kinds of word and memory games. Name a flower for each letter of the alphabet. Followed by a bird, a city, a boy's name, a girl's name, etc. Say any two words for each letter of the alphabet that are spelled differently but pronounced the same as in ant and aunt. Play mental hop-scotch on any paved surface! Make animal sounds for all of the animals you can think of. Preferably out loud, but mentally is okay in a meeting, if you can keep from laughing out loud! 😄
I love this so much - Mary Poppins in action! And now I bet in my next meeting I will have a hard time not laughing.
Thought you might also enjoy this substack food link:
https://open.substack.com/pub/tovegetableswithlove/p/chickpea-avocado-and-tater-tot-wrap?r=2l04ge&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I love the Meadowlark song. Thanks for the mention. People seem to like the concept of chronic play. 🤸
I think it has so much potential! And I'm loving listening to Jerome Braggs.
Loved this episode!!! Loved hearing the birds and geese!!! Spring came early here too… Redbuds and Bradford pear trees in full bloom for a couple of weeks now…along with the yellow daffodils and early purple flowers… hyacinths?? And all the birds singing too… it was 84 degrees yesterday… about 20 degrees above normal… hope it doesn’t mean another blistering hot summer….retirement is all play for me so I don’t have any suggestions there🤷♀️😳. But all yours sounded good👍❤️
Thank you Sharon! I'm a little worried as to what summer might bring too - and then trying to enjoy it while we can.
That meadowlark is singing like a proclamation! I love this so much today, and am keeping the song and picture of the sweet bird singing in my heart . Thank you, Karen Xoxox
It is! Thank you Roxy
Thank you Karen for today’s offerings of Nature and your thoughts. Many birds you named will return to N. Florida shortly or already have. Do any of the Night Jar species share the prairie in your area? Sorry! I’m a self-distractor. My point is to note the enjoyment I gain when reading your posts and viewing the detail of your images. All the best in play and work.
Thank you Gary! Yes, we have common nighthawks. There are others that I have never seen like eastern whip-poor-will and chuck-wills-widow. My bff has heard these on her rural farm.
I first knew Whippoorwills from early life in PA. Late 80’s, I was managing construction projects here in Tallahassee and awareness of my surroundings prevented harm to a nesting Chuckwillswidow, A visit to a homesite at dusk, clearing imminent, I spotted one flutter of from where the house was to go. Rather than causing more alarm that evening, I called the owner and gladly found him willing to delay clearing until the young were fledged. The next morning while visiting several job sites I had the chance to peek around in the area seen the evening before. The characteristic scratching away of larger debris had occurred and there was the nest. A thin layer of a few large leaves, dried, and no apparent attempt to form a nest cup. A very simplistic method for the miracle of life. Only one egg. Nearly three weeks later and the magic was complete. A singular moment for me. A close look at the delicacy of the balance of Nature. The importance of prompt action in such instances. All the creatures in Great Spirit deserve both seeing and acting on their behalf, in these circumstances. As always, Brava.
I love this SO MUCH.
Wonderful post! I in the mountains with cold and snow dominating the landscape , but this morning when I stepped outside I heard a robin. Spring is on its way!
Addiction to work is drilled into me- my value as a daughter, student, employee, and wife were all measured by how much I achieved. At 65, I still struggle with playing but I continue to work at learning to play!
Thanks for the videos and photos-I was inspired. I am heading down the mountain this week to a refuge to play with the birds.
It's a good challenge to look at where we can add playfulness! I too was well schooled in working hard.
Karen, You think as well as you photograph. I wonder if all great photographers and artists felt a similar angst as you do as they went about their “work”? Perhaps reading about some of the artists you most admire will give you a different perspective? And perhaps as you age and accomplish some of your goals you will get to a point where you will find the more you “tarry” the more play will enter your heart and head. Last suggestion: Yoga & meditation under the guidance of an excellent teacher can be a game changer. It helped me immensely….
Thank you Clark. I don't feel much angst about the photography I have to admit - it's the rest of my life! I have been learning meditation for a while now, as well as Qigong, which is all helping. Still, there's a mindset piece of this - I can work at meditation too if I'm not careful.
Five Meadowlarks!!
Yes! :)
Play in the moment, take a cue from a dog.
Preferably outside.
Maybe , it’s all in the way you personally, define play . Because the way I see it, isn’t that exactly what you are doing when you take all of your beautiful pictures ? And the path you take in getting there for the viewing?
Change your word focus. After all , joy has a mutual relationship with play
Guess what! You do play.
A lot.
P.S. My license plate is
Playhrd….
I love this. I definitely play when I'm out taking pictures - it's the rest of the time I have to work on !
I really like the idea of singing/humming a little ditty and turning a difficult moment into a song. On Friday I should have composed the "Flat Tire Aria!" :-) The tire was anything but light and airy!
It's such a good way to both recognize/be with the feeling and express it and allow it to move through!