Thank you, Mr. Brown, for continuing to remind us to be aware of nature in the interstitial spaces of our profoundly human-altered environment. It is a mindfulness for which I find myself needing constant encouragement. And bless you for being a good dad and listening to your daughter...who knows.
A little off topic (but not really): I hope your young friend Paul, as he begins a career in public interest environmental law, is aware of Thomas Linzey and Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights. He (Paul) should know upfront how environmental regulation is a game rigged against him.
And btw, your phrase "cover of lost album of ambient music" was a gem of concise description!
I'm jealous that you took another birder on this expedition, Chris, but I'll get over it. Great work as always. Amazing shot of the wild onions. Strangely, it reminds me a lot of a recent painting by my friend the great artist April Garner, even though her picture has a great blue heron covered with Jimson weed blossoms. The effect is somehow similar.
i love this field! a few months ago i was wandering around there and found a battered, coffin-sized road case with “RESER ROBOT TECHNOLOGIES” written on the side, and a packing list taped to the front that listed the contents as “robot”
the case was empty, but i like to imagine that the robot inside escaped and is living in the triangular spandrel across the frontage road (anyway that’s what i would do)
Very interesting piece. I am so glad you went to that area off of north Mopac and the tracks...Driving by over the years I have always wondered what it might be like to explore that area. I can remember seeing some waterfowl while glancing over at 65 miles an hour. Thank you for sharing your explorations.
Betty, I was inspired to start exploring the area from an initial IG post – with a high-level of awareness for other people who might be in the area – and there is a lot to discover including a soccer field back there!! this morning there were lots of birds as well as a couple fishing. They said they have caught big bass back there. there were a lot of birds this morning but I did not see any water fowl.
Thank you so much! 🙏 Titles always seem to emerge from the piece, and often do riff on other works. I think there are a lot with that “A ____ for _____” pattern, and this case it just started with An Ofrenda and morphed from there.
Thank you, Michael! We get a lot of those plume moths here, probably due to some plant on the roof. I think this one is a geranium plume moth. They are so far out—I really hope to dream some day of finding one the size of a Cessna that will give me a ride
Yes!! They are symbolic to me, I was first introduced them by a dear friend & mentor when we first met 35 years ago, and they still blow me away when I see them and remind me of the good things in life. Steve’s a degreed entomologist who chose to spend his life as a campground maintenance guy/cook/iconoclast so he could stay in the redwood canyon where he was raised & who biologizes in his spare time. You two would grok. This is clearly an indication that I should call him. Thanks again!!
thank you for this exquisite sense and meaning making, so very heart and hope nourishing. i get a lot of comfort from your work, and inspiration for ways to bring the same quality of witnessing to my own weird urbanized wilderness.
A friend spending his last days in hospice was amused to learn from me the other day that in my days as a letter carrier there were senior's care homes on the route with signs at the front desks forbidding the delivery of lilies, that if you wanted to bring some in they had to come through the back door and under cover. Their symbolism of death is too strong for some people who may be adjacent to that condition, apparently. I can't imagine how it would go over to have a young Wednesday Addams deliver one.
Quite a smattering of cleverly cataloged natural musings. The library shooting excerpt was chilling. The mammal skull looks canid; nose too long for a cat.
Thank you, Mr. Brown, for continuing to remind us to be aware of nature in the interstitial spaces of our profoundly human-altered environment. It is a mindfulness for which I find myself needing constant encouragement. And bless you for being a good dad and listening to your daughter...who knows.
A little off topic (but not really): I hope your young friend Paul, as he begins a career in public interest environmental law, is aware of Thomas Linzey and Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights. He (Paul) should know upfront how environmental regulation is a game rigged against him.
And btw, your phrase "cover of lost album of ambient music" was a gem of concise description!
Look forward to your next missive.
Thank you so much! I will pass that along to Paul. I think he already knows how rigged the game is—especially in Texas.
I'm jealous that you took another birder on this expedition, Chris, but I'll get over it. Great work as always. Amazing shot of the wild onions. Strangely, it reminds me a lot of a recent painting by my friend the great artist April Garner, even though her picture has a great blue heron covered with Jimson weed blossoms. The effect is somehow similar.
i love this field! a few months ago i was wandering around there and found a battered, coffin-sized road case with “RESER ROBOT TECHNOLOGIES” written on the side, and a packing list taped to the front that listed the contents as “robot”
the case was empty, but i like to imagine that the robot inside escaped and is living in the triangular spandrel across the frontage road (anyway that’s what i would do)
Amazing! 🤖🩵
I have never said this before: Thankfully you did NOT go to the library.
Indeed! Horrifying and sobering experience.
Noodles have never been more restorative.
Very interesting piece. I am so glad you went to that area off of north Mopac and the tracks...Driving by over the years I have always wondered what it might be like to explore that area. I can remember seeing some waterfowl while glancing over at 65 miles an hour. Thank you for sharing your explorations.
Betty, I was inspired to start exploring the area from an initial IG post – with a high-level of awareness for other people who might be in the area – and there is a lot to discover including a soccer field back there!! this morning there were lots of birds as well as a couple fishing. They said they have caught big bass back there. there were a lot of birds this morning but I did not see any water fowl.
Wonderful essay! And I love the title. Is it a nod to Horatio Clare’s lovely book, An Orison for a Curlew?
Thank you so much! 🙏 Titles always seem to emerge from the piece, and often do riff on other works. I think there are a lot with that “A ____ for _____” pattern, and this case it just started with An Ofrenda and morphed from there.
Thank you for this, Chris. I’m always heartened by rain lilies.
Thanks, Margie! I hope you all are well 🙏
Btw, I'm currently at AUS watching three grackles flying around indoors together. The Anthropocene era illustrated.
thank you for this winnowing of natural blessings. and yes, my! listen to that child!
Beautiful, as always. Loved the plume moth!!
Thank you, Michael! We get a lot of those plume moths here, probably due to some plant on the roof. I think this one is a geranium plume moth. They are so far out—I really hope to dream some day of finding one the size of a Cessna that will give me a ride
Yes!! They are symbolic to me, I was first introduced them by a dear friend & mentor when we first met 35 years ago, and they still blow me away when I see them and remind me of the good things in life. Steve’s a degreed entomologist who chose to spend his life as a campground maintenance guy/cook/iconoclast so he could stay in the redwood canyon where he was raised & who biologizes in his spare time. You two would grok. This is clearly an indication that I should call him. Thanks again!!
thank you for this exquisite sense and meaning making, so very heart and hope nourishing. i get a lot of comfort from your work, and inspiration for ways to bring the same quality of witnessing to my own weird urbanized wilderness.
🙏
A friend spending his last days in hospice was amused to learn from me the other day that in my days as a letter carrier there were senior's care homes on the route with signs at the front desks forbidding the delivery of lilies, that if you wanted to bring some in they had to come through the back door and under cover. Their symbolism of death is too strong for some people who may be adjacent to that condition, apparently. I can't imagine how it would go over to have a young Wednesday Addams deliver one.
Quite a smattering of cleverly cataloged natural musings. The library shooting excerpt was chilling. The mammal skull looks canid; nose too long for a cat.