My son sent me this photo of a bald eagle from Whidbey Island. He said he looked up and there it was looking right at him!
Eagle Eyes
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Category Archives: Animals:Defend/Protect
All Creatures Great and Small
Are you watching this adorable show on PBS?
It was previously done back in the 70s as a BBC series and I watched it because I had read and loved the Herriot books, but this new series is far superior, in my opinion.
“James Herriot (1916–1995) was the pen name of James Alfred “Alf” Wight, an English veterinarian whose wrote about veterinary practice and country life. Many of Herriot’s works—including All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful–became international bestsellers.”
I saved some of his childrens’ books adored by the original Angel Boy and the Angels 2.0 appreciate them, too. Moses the Kitten and Only One Woof are such sweet stories.
Did you know that Diana Rigg, (yes, Emma Peel from The Avengers), played Mrs. Pumphrey before her death?
I could watch this proposal scene again and again; it’s one of the best five minutes of all time. This show is all around well cast, but the actors who play James Herriot and Helen Alderson are AMAZING.
Wait until the end. Pure love. It gets me every time.
Snail’s Pace Escape
I discovered a snail that escaped from one of my yard waste containers so I rolled it closer to a spreading geranium and watched his ascent to freedom.
His excruciatingly slow movements had a very mindful awareness, as if he was channeling Thich Nhat Hanh.
“When you walk, arrive with every step. That is walking meditation. There’s nothing else to it.”
Fly, Dragon, Fly
Isn’t this the most vibrant orange? I’m in love with this little guy.
Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata.
Dragonfly species that are orange include a variety of skimmers, such as the flame skimmer, firecracker skimmer, golden-winged skimmer, or Needham’s Skimmer.
Orange dragonflies can symbolize joy, creativity, wellness, and sensuality. This relates to the second/sacral chakra, which is orange.
There is magic all around, if you stop and look.
As Robert Bly said, “To be wild is not to be crazy or psychotic. True wildness is a love of nature, a delight in silence, a voice free to say spontaneous things, and an exuberant curiosity in the face of the unknown.”
Me and My Shadow
I thought about this: I’m lucky enough to experience a great deal of butterfly interactions; a continual source of joy and delight.
No photographic evidence exists to prove I’m telling the truth, but yesterday, as I was planting a bunch of California natives, a mourning cloak butterfly was fluttering all around me and then sat on my arm for about two minutes.
I tried to get to my phone to document this magic, but I couldn’t, so you’ll have to believe me. I guess she really really approved the locations where I planted the coffee berry and manzanitas!
This planting experience was a team effort: my son was on the phone with me when I was at the nursery having done the research about which specific plants to buy, and he also determined where each one should be planted. It’s not as much fun as having him here in real life. but we had a good time.
She came back today, blocking my way on the steps, so I was able to finally snap a photo.
Me and my shadow and her own shadow!
Release | Set Free
In keeping with positive intentions and more of that anticipatory vorfreude for this new year, something so strange and wonderful happened!
I had been working in the garden — in my zone of bliss — raking leaves from the ash tree as it finished abscission during last week’s rainy and windy weather. It’s a mystery to me how and when the leaves fall; last year it was before Thanksgiving and this year was much later.
Read about abscission here: https://enchantedseashells.com/2020/11/20/the-process-of-abscission/
When I came inside to freshen my lemony water, I saw what I thought was a piece of paper stuck to the kitchen window, but upon further examination, it was a yellow butterfly!
A yellow butterfly!
I have absolutely no idea how it came to be in the house. I never leave the screen door open ‘cos the rats and squirrels are my constant arch nemeses.
Isn’t this magical? I think so…
I was able to gently coax her into a small plastic container and set her free on the deck. With a joyful heart, I carefully watched her flutter away back to from wherever she came. There was no harm done to her delicate wings.
I wonder if it’s the same butterfly I saw a while ago…that would be SUPER cool.
According to “World of Feng Shui,” a butterfly in the home is always a good omen but…
Maryland lore believes that a butterfly that enters the home and flies around someone foretells one’s death or the death of someone one knows, yet the same sign in Louisiana means that the person will have good luck.
In Japan, they treat a butterfly that enters the home kindly, as the soul of a loved relative or friend might reside in the butterfly and has come to visit them.
I’m going with the good luck and visit from my mom theories. In either case, I am grateful for the visit.
GO VEGAN in 2022 #Veganuary
Of all the positive and healthy choices one could implement for 2022, how about becoming #vegan?
A great way to start the process is to visit https://veganuary.com/
There’s a blog along with recipes and a Getting Started eating guide with shopping and nutrition tips.
Do it for yourself, to prevent animal suffering, and the environment.
No human needs to eat the flesh or secretions of a dead creature.
If you choose to join the movement, please let me know so I can give you encouragement, support, and a virtual high five!
Stay Safe, Yellow Butterfly
Gale force winds, tree limbs down in the garden, neighbor’s pool toys are in my yard, umbrellas broken, lights flickering, and so much RAIN I can’t go outside because it’s dangerous.
This is a perfect time to share a photo gallery of this sweet little yellow butterfly who flirted with me on Sunday afternoon.
I can’t figure out if it’s a Sleepy Orange or Southern Dogface or California Dogface, Little Yellow, Southwestern Cloudless Sulphur, or Jamaican Yellow.
Whew!
I didn’t know there were so many yellow butterflies that look quite similar! (iNaturalist Butterflies of San Diego County).
Anyway, here’s a bit of sunshine on a rainy day. I hope all butterflies and birds and coyotes and bobcats stay safe and dry.
Bobcat Love
I’m so glad I noticed this before our big rain event tomorrow because it would probably decompose or deteriorate beyond recognition.
It’s bobcat scat!
I’ve seen a lot of coyote and raccoon scat on hikes and in my garden but this is the first time I’ve been able to identify bobcat scat here in my own little world.
I’m super excited! The location is directly off my deck so that means the bobcat has been roaming all over, not just up on the hill. It makes me so happy that he or she is marking this territory.
Don’t you especially LOVE the heart-shaped piece? What a gift!
I might run out and save some to show the angels because of all the little bones imbedded in the scat, but I won’t take it all because I want the lovely bobcat to return…this is his (or her) home, too.
And you’re correct; it doesn’t take very much to bring me joy!
Over the Rainbow Bridge Memories
Even though Victor died a long time ago at the age of sixteen, I still miss my best Border Collie every day, and especially now.
He loved to be included in family celebrations, sit by the fire, and tear up wrapping paper.
I think this was his last Christmas before he took the walk over the Rainbow Bridge. If he wanted to rest his old bones on the sofa, he deserved every comfort.
Nothing made him happier than a bucket to toss around the yard. I wonder how many buckets he went through in sixteen years because this one looks pretty well beat up. I believe this pic was taken early in the morning before he died.
He was so sweet to his little sister, Bandit. She’s over the Rainbow Bridge too, and I’m sure she’s still the princess, taking his bed so he’d have to sleep on the floor.
My sweet, sweet babies.
Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud 