Take a walk with me around my garden where we once again have temps in the 80s. (Don’t hate.)
Birds are nesting and everything else is blooming and growing.
Bringing a twig to her babies. I think she’s a Warbling Vireo.
Lucky mom, HER nest won’t be empty this year like mine is!
A fragrant freesia.
Nectarine in bloom.
Marguerite Daisy.
The veggie garden, lots of lettuce, radishes, kale, and beets.
Yummy, spicy radishes and spring onions.
Sweet Pea Bush
Happy Pansy!
Happy Spring!
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved wolves.
This little Jewish girl from Detroit dancing around in a pink tutu and satin toe shoes harbored a secret desire to live among the wolves and become accepted as a pack member.
Crazy, right?
Crazy because the only wolves I encountered in Detroit were the hormone-addled little boys at the Jewish Community Center.
“The gaze of the wolf reached into our soul.” Barry Lopez
It wasn’t until we moved to California and I was in college that I did anything about it.
Back in the 1970s, I joined the fight to save the wolf from extinction by advocating for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA),
In college, I studied predators and made plans to accompany research scientists and live with wolves in Minnesota and Michigan but never fulfilled that dream because I couldn’t (obviously) bring my dog, and I didn’t want to leave her.
Another dream unfulfilled. Oh, well.
Wolf print, Yellowstone
I was lucky to finally get to Yellowstone National Park and see IRL several of the wolves who make up the Lamar Valley pack, but we never heard the song of the wolf, probably because we camped right on Slough Creek and the water, while beautiful, drowned out most animal sounds.
I’m still involved in the never-ending fight to save, defend, and protect this magnificent animal; read about my experiences in Sacramento when I testified at the Fish and Wildlife Service‘s wolf delisting hearing: Saving Wolves.
From my testimony: “At 6:00 a.m., a few miles outside our camp at Slough Creek, we followed others to a bison carcass, and our efforts paid off with a multiple sighting of many wolves, including 755. There was an overwhelming sense of awe among the dozens of us who silently watched him cross the road and then a collective sigh of relief when he disappeared safely over the ridge.
Last weekend, we took a drive to the Mojave Desert town of Lucerne to spend a few hours at Wolf Mountain Sanctuary, a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1976 by Tonya Littlewolf.
Eleven wolves call this sanctuary home, and while I finally heard the haunting song of the wolf, the whole experience could only be described as sad.
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
Why sad?
Sad because these magnificent creatures NEED to be rescued.
Sad that humans think they have the right to try and make pets out of these wild animals. (Not gonna work.)
Sad that the wolves can’t roam free, sad they’re hunted, tortured, hated, vilified.
Wolves are among the most intelligent species.
HOW DARE WE DESTROY THEM.
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
So yes. Sad. Very sad.
From Wolf Mountain Sanctuary website…all volunteer educational organization dedicated to the preservation, protection, and proper management of wolves in the wild and in captivity. We are a forever home for all of the wolves we rescue. We rescue wolves from the movie industry, private owners, and from breeders. The impression a 180 pound wolf leaves on you is everlasting. To look into their knowing, wise, amber colored eyes is a moving, spiritual experience. When you look into the eyes of a wolf, you see your soul…
“We have doomed the Wolf not for what it is, but for what we have deliberately and mistakenly perceived it to be..the mythologized epitome of a savage, ruthless killer..which is, in reality no more than a reflexed images of ourself.” Farley Mowat
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
He’s a beautiful wolf with a golden sand coat. Denali’s personality is very sweet, curious, and friendly.
The wolves at Wolf Mountain Sanctuary seem to be well cared for and healthy.
When I met this handsome guy, Holan, he immediately jumped up, put his front paws on my shoulders, and licked my face. See my joy? This is the smile of someone who loves wolves.
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
“The wolf is neither man’s competitor nor his enemy. He is a fellow creature with whom the earth must be shared.” L. David Mech
Look at him. The eyes. Amazing.
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
Sniffing around where we had been seated.
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
“Throughout the centuries we have projected on to the wolf the qualities we most despise and fear in ourselves.” Barry Lopez
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
“Inescapably, the realization was being borne in upon my preconditioned mind that the centuries-old and univerally accepted human concept of wolf character was a palpable lie. On three separate occasions in less than a week I had been completely at the mercy of these “savage killers”; but far from attempting to tear me limb from limb, they had displayed a restraint verging on contempt, even when I invaded their home and appeared to be posing a direct threat to the young pups.” Farley Mowat, Never Cry Wolf
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
Awesome Wolf Howling Compilation
http://youtu.be/op7fRsvWowA
A Man Among Wolves
http://youtu.be/j4vFBXOoHs0
Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
From Wolf Mountain Sanctuary website:
WHY SAVE THE WOLF? Look at them: they are so noble, so beautiful. The wolf, as well as other endangered species, are ecological indicators. It is by studying these species and learning how to preserve them that we learn the main factors affecting our environment.
Perhaps in so doing, we will learn undiscovered ways to benefit mankind!
Unfortunately, there are those who deny the wolf’s place in the ecosystem. Wolves are gunned down from airplanes and snowmobiles (which some consider “sport”). Sometimes the fur is taken; however, more often than not, the animal is simply left to decay.
The wolf is poisoned “en masse,” trapped by leg-hold traps, used as adornments for the idle rich.
Today, the wolf’s range is limited to Alaska, Canada, the upper Midwest, and in Yellowstone National Park. Some of the YNP wolves have traveled into adjoining states, which allow hunters to kill wolves on sight and for little to no reason. In the 1930’s, there were approximately 50,000 wolves roaming the North American continent. By the 1940’s, that number had been decreased to 1,000. Today, mostly because of conservation efforts, there are approximately 3,000 wild wolves on the entire continent. They have made a small comeback, but because of the recent delisted from the Endangered Species Act, wolves are once again under attack.
Wolf lovers need to band together and do all we can to help them. TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
Only you can save the wolf from extinction. Proper management procedures must be put into action.
Won’t you join us in the wolf’s campaign? Please help the wolves any way you can: sign all petitions you can to stop the wholesale slaughter of wolves and donate to organizations focused on protecting the wolf!
And here’s something else we can do NOW.
It’s important to help out those wonderful humans who devote their lives to protecting wolves like Wolf Mountain Sanctuary and Dearborn Wolf Sanctuary.
I’m back from Wolf Mountain Sanctuary in the Mojave Desert.
I’ll post about our experience at the sanctuary, but it was mostly sad. Sad that these magnificent creatures NEED to be rescued. Sad that they can’t roam free, sad they’re hunted, tortured, hated. They are among the most intelligent and evolved species. How dare we destroy them. Sad. Very sad.
Check out this amazing outcropping of rocks.
The Mojave Desert is also known as the High Desert because of its elevation, between 2,000 and 4,000 feet above sea level. 
Blue sky and rocks.
Ick.
LOVE this pic.
Rock climber Not me.
#highdesert #mojave #desert #wolves #hiking
On February 20, more than one thousand bloggers are speaking with one voice about compassion — to share our belief that together we CAN rid the world of brutality, cruelty, hatred,, indifference, meanness, tyranny, animosity — the opposite of compassion.
“…sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”
You know what I think?
Being compassionate should not end there.
It’s not good enough to simply FEEL pity and concern, but we need to DO something about the suffering in this world.
That means NO puppy mills, no circuses with animals as entertainment, no SeaWorld, no elephant rides, no camel rides, no dolphin slaughter, no factory farm hell, no running of the bulls, no bullfighting, no cat and dog ritual torture and eating, no dogfighting,
And especially NO wolf killing and NO coyote or bobcat or mountain lion killing contests.
We are better than this.
I hope…
I’m sick of hearing about babies killed and tossed in dumpsters, children who are abused and starved, football players who beat their wives, their children, their dogs — I’m sick of it all.
Practice cruelty-free living.
I have much admiration for Jen at Driftwood Gardens, who, as a fresh convert to veganism, is a shining light educating the world about the merits of living cruelty-free.
My story is that I’ve been meat-free since 1970, but only recently learned about the horrors of dairy, and now I’m practicing being successfully dairy and egg-free.
If you want to start your own practice of compassion in action, watch Eathlings, a film with Joaquin Phoenix, at http://earthlings.com
In fact, STOP all killing of animals. How’s that?
That’s MY perfect world.
That’s the legacy I’d be honored to leave for my son.
I’m reposting this because there was something faulty with the Paypal link and I want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to help.
I’ve always loved wolves; I first became an active defender in the 70s, doing what I could to support their originally being listed as an Endangered Species, and more recently, I provided testimony at the Fish and Wildlife Services hearing in Sacramento.
I wrote about that experience here: Saving Wolves
It doesn’t seem right that in 2015, we are continually correcting misconceptions about wolves and fighting stereotypes — like that Superbowl ad. We need to end — once and for all — the barbaric hunting contests of wolves, coyotes, bears, mountain lions, and bobcats
The wolf is an amazing animal that deserves to be protected and defended.
And saved.
However,
…Not everybody is as well-funded as Capt. Watson and his Sea Shepherd defenders and protectors of ocean creatures.
…Not everybody has the fundraising savvy of PETA or Defenders of Wildlife.
…Not every organization has a Washington, DC lobbyist.
But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help others who dedicate their lives and sacrifice everything to save animals in danger.
There are angels all over this country who are committed to 24/7 care of abused and neglected wolves.
There are those heroes among us who DO the work, even though they might not be PR or social media savvy and have a staff to handle all the admin duties.
I admire the men and women who are in the trenches, the boots-on-the-ground caregivers who feed and love and care for these beautiful and much maligned animals.
Dearborn Wolf Sanctuary can REALLY use our help.
His mission is simple but very powerful:
” We rescue wolves and wolf-hybrids that are unwanted, abused, etc. We give them a loving home with three acres to run and play, and all the food they can eat.”
I donated a couple months ago, and I’m going to donate again.
Will you help, too?
Dearborn Wolf Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearborn.wolfsanctuary
Please contact him to offer any hands on help, too.
How to donate:
Check or money order to:
Dearborn Wolf Sanctuary
31 Cox Creek Ln.
Cascade, Montana 59421
or
THANK YOU for donating and PLEASE share/reblog with your friends and readers…sometimes it takes a village to pitch in and help.
***Would anyone like to work with me on an ongoing fundraising campaign to help Dearborn Wolf Sanctuary?
I’m reposting this because there was something faulty with the Paypal link and I want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to help.
I’ve always loved wolves; I first became active in the 70s, doing what I could to support their originally being listed as an Endangered Species, and more recently, I spoke at the Fish and Wildlife Services hearing in Sacramento.
I wrote about that experience here: Saving Wolves
The wolf is an amazing animal that deserves to be protected and defended.
And saved.
However,
…Not everybody is as well-funded as Capt. Watson and his Sea Shepherd defenders and protectors of ocean creatures.
…Not everybody has the fundraising savvy of PETA or Defenders of Wildlife.
…Not every organization has a Washington, DC lobbyist.
But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help others who dedicate their lives and sacrifice everything to save animals in danger.
There are angels all over this country who are committed to 24/7 care of abused and neglected wolves.
There are those heroes among us who DO the work, even though they might not be PR or social media savvy and have a staff to handle all the admin duties.
I admire the men and women who are in the trenches, the boots-on-the-ground caregivers who feed and love and care for these beautiful and much maligned animals.
Dearborn Wolf Sanctuary can REALLY use our help.
His mission is simple but very powerful:
” We rescue wolves and wolf-hybrids that are unwanted, abused, etc. We give them a loving home with three acres to run and play, and all the food they can eat.”
I donated a couple months ago, and I’m going to donate again.
Will you help, too?
Dearborn Wolf Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearborn.wolfsanctuary
Please contact him to offer any hands on help, too.
How to donate:
Check or money order to:
Dearborn Wolf Sanctuary
31 Cox Creek Ln.
Cascade, Montana 59421
or
THANK YOU for donating and PLEASE share/reblog with your friends and readers…sometimes it takes a village to pitch in and help.
***Would anyone like to work with me on a fundraising campaign to help Dearborn Wolf Sanctuary?
This was a fun and very educational excursion.
Sea Turtle Sanctuary Tortugueros Las Playitas A.C.
Environmental Conservation with Sea Turtle Focus
From their website:
“Our mission is to protect, conserve and replenish the fragile marine eco-systems of Baja California Sur, Mexico. In addition to our Sea Turtle population recovery program we place special interest on Habitat Protection, Environmental Education and Community Outreach in Todos Santos, Las Playitas and Agua Blanca.
One of our goals is help restore the Critically Endangered Pacific Leatherback population which is on the verge of extinction. Our Incubation Greenhouse stabilizes sand temperatures creating an ideal nest habitat, where hatch rates are maximized and gender ratios are balanced. We invite you to join us as a volunteer, event participant or sponsor and help balance the fragile marine eco systems of Baja.”
There was a graduate student from Kansas collecting data with another scientist. They were very gracious and invited us inside for a private tour.
All the darling little turtle eggs were covered in palm fronds. It was as hot as a Bikram yoga class in the plastic covered hut.
Babies!
Squeeeeee! More babies!
We weren’t able to stay until sundown to observe their release and watch them march toward their destiny.
Hopefully, they all made it safely down to the sea and out in the world for long and happy lives.
And then back we walked. Not one single seashell. NOT ONE.
How to get there:
My tugboat man is home; he was able to take an earlier flight, yay!
I hope you all have a lovely day and special good thoughts go out to mariners and their families who are away from each other during the holidays. Been there, done that many times.
In our land of (mostly) perpetual sunshine, winter doesn’t always mean that all living things are dormant. Our loquat tree is flowering, buzzing with bees, hummingbirds, and a flock of the most beautiful little yellow finches.
You have to be quick on the shutter button to catch these guys — they flit around the tree like I run from rack to rack at a clearance sale!
One minute he’s there, the next second, GONE! (Just like my tugboat man!)AND they’re back!
But really a post about the desert.
“We pretended that we were the only humans on earth, trekking across an eerie but strangely exciting landscape. It was silent except for an occasional far off bird or the buzzing of a fly. We ate quietly, not speaking, not needing chatter to fill up the silence, until the lack of sound completely settled in around us and we could feel the warm earth beneath our legs anchoring us to this special place.” December 7, 2014
17 Palms Oasis: Hiking with Princess Rosebud and Her Tugboat Man in the Anza-Borrego State Park.
We’ve learned so much from my son.
I may have taught him to discover the world through books, but he returned the lesson by opening our world through boots.
As in hiking, walking, exploring the beauty of land and nature.
About ten years ago, he gave us the best gift ever, Jerry Schad’s Afoot & Afield in San Diego County. We’ve been avid hikers and campers ever since. Sadly, Jerry died in 2011, but his spirit lives on in his every step that we follow and in his love for the backcountry.
A favorite destination for solitude is Anza-Borrego State Park.
Right now as i’m home, typing in the family room with the patio doors wide open, I don’t hear a single bird, not like we did not so long ago. My bird houses lay fallow; unused, no chirping of hungry babies.
Empty nests.
What I do hear, however, is disquietude — the relentless sound of heavy earth movers raping more land in my town, leveling a previously beautiful little hillside, killing all the native plants and displacing the rabbits, coyotes, raccoons, bobcats. Do we really need 1200 more homes? Can we really afford more water and energy consumption, more negative impact on our already overpopulated coastal town?
Here’s our view from the deck, taken with my long lens, beyond Santa and his reindeer.
We fought for years against this egregious overbuilding; this time we lost.
There’s not enough open space; our sojourns to the mountains or the desert are even more precious and as necessary to our personal survival as water and air.
This time we chose to explore 17 Palms Oasis.
Tip #1: It would be a good idea to have a four-wheel drive to get there.
We don’t, but tugboat man’s truck is pretty sturdy so we did OK, but keep in mind there are some really sandy spots.
Tip #2: Carry a shovel just in case, and of course lots of water, even in winter.
17 Palms Oasis, 5 Palms Oasis and Una Palma.
These areas are well-known watering holes for the regional wildlife of the Borrego Badlands. The palms at both Oases are often green and brilliant compared to the stark and barren desert that surrounds them.
They’ve attracted humans for thousands of years.
Nomadic aborigines, wayfaring emigrants, and determined prospectors have all taken shade and water from these islands in the badlands.
Remnants of a time when grasslands, streams, and herds of camels and mammoths covered an ancient landscape, the native palms exist today only because water surfaces here.
As the spring here was unreliable, early travelers with extra water would leave it in large glass jars. Thirsty visitors came to rely on the jars hidden in the shade of the palms. The desert wanderers would leave notes attached to the jars. Today the custom of leaving messages in the prospector’s post office is carried on by visitors. In the post office barrel hidden in the 17 Palms, among the palm tree bases, lies a visitor’s log book, notes and of course, bottles of water!
The 17 Palms area is located off of the S-22. Take the Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground turnoff, travel approx. 3.6 miles on Arroyo Salado Wash to the Seventeen Palms Turnoff which puts you on Tule Wash (you will see a small sign with arrow heading West (right) and travel another 0.2 miles to the 17 Palms parking area. To visit the 5 Palms Oasis continue past Seventeen Palms on Tule Wash to arrived at the Parking area for 5 Palms. Una Palma can be reached by walking over the ridges of the 17 and 5 Palms locations. Or you can go right on Cut Across Trail to arrive at the Una Palma Location.
I think I counted all seventeen palms, but couldn’t locate the oasis ‘cos of our drought.
It’s pretty spectacular to see palm trees in the middle of the desert badlands.
Lots of mud as this was once a seafloor. Weird rocks, randomly placed.
Exactly how this rock was stuck in the mud!
Ocotillo.
Mud.
Una Palma.
Narrow wash.
The beautiful but stark and naked badlands. Our view as we stopped for lunch.
We set off cross country as there’s no real trail. We pretended that we were the only humans on earth, trekking across an eerie but strangely exciting landscape.
It was silent except for an occasional far off bird or the buzzing of a fly. We ate quietly, not speaking, not needing chatter to fill up the silence, until the lack of sound completely settled in around us and we could feel the warm earth beneath our legs anchoring us to this special place.
It was warm, almost too hot at eighty degrees. Being out here in the summer at more than a hundred degrees with no shade would be an extreme hardship.
Ahhh…a refreshing cup of ginger tea at the end of a dusty hike. Good times!
Driving home as the sun sets. 
Take time to actively experience nature. Walk, hike, breathe in all of the beauty of the wild. It’s healing and restorative.
Practicing my photog skills, trying to capture a tiny little finch near our Brazilian pepper tree. Not too happy with the results, but I’m a student, not a master.
Fllighty finches. Dozens of these tiny birds converge on one tree, stay for a minute, and move on to another one. It’s nearly impossible to snap a pic while they chirp the happiest of songs.
Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud 