The dragonflies have returned to our pond and I couldn’t be more delighted. For one, they are a sign of a healthy ecosystem. But they also eat annoying things. And they are terrific models!
Much dragon. So fly.
Author Archives for pchemkelly
Move aside, little ones
The redwing blackbirds have found the feeders again. Groups come over and push the finches and swallows aside. They’ve also figured out that unlike the little guys, they don’t have to get inside this feeder to get to the seeds.
Not so hidden figure
Walked by a front hallway window and spotted this Oregon Junco in the Sentinel Pine by the front porch. Quickly grabbed the camera (thankfully on tripod nearby) and was pleased he (she?) was still sitting pretty when I got back.
X-Plan: Giving your kids a way out (#xplan)
What a superb idea.
Friends, as most of you know, I get to spend an hour each week with a group of young people going through addiction recovery. Yes. Young people. I’m talking teenagers who are locked away for at least six months as they learn to overcome their addictions. I’m always humbled and honored to get this time with these beautiful young souls that have been so incredibly assaulted by a world they have yet to understand. This also comes with the bittersweet knowledge that these kids still have a fighting chance while several of my friends have already had to bury their own children.
Recently I asked these kids a simple question: “How many of you have found yourself in situations where things started happening that you weren’t comfortable with, but you stuck around, mainly because you felt like you didn’t have a way out?”
They all raised their hands.
Every single…
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Reflections
Walking to my office this morning I was enjoying the sun and the fact all the snow and ice around this area was gone. The morning was so still and there was a mirror reflection on a pond. I like the way the border on the right almost looks like a floating shelf. For a foggy version, check here.
Beautifully cold
There is a lot I’m not enjoying about winter where I am. We’ve had significantly more snow and ice than usual – the ice is especially bad. This morning I woke up to a freezing fog advisory. While this is not fun for driving, freezing fog turning into hoarfrost does pretty things to tree branches.
This tray is for the birds
We keep giant bags of birdseed in the garage to keep the birds fed and happy. However I’m not about to drag them out to fill the feeders. For a while I had a large tub that I would fill from the bag and then I’d drag that out. But then I realized that I have a bunch of quart mason jars that I got to use for my salads in a jar – but I only use a few of them for that. So now the others are used for seed – I fill directly from the bag. I was carrying them out in my arms, but then I remembered I have a serving tray that I never really use and it was just sitting in the top of a closet. So now it’s the permanent home of seven quart mason jars of seed, ready to be carried out and served to all the happy birds. I don’t think they realize how fancy it all is, but I do know they appreciate the seed.
