In Pursuit of Wonder

Three days later, with temperatures around twenty below, I went skiing again in the tracks I made the week before, deciding I enjoyed both the skiing itself and the workout it provided. The subzero temperatures created ideal snow for skiing. Mom had instructed on the downhill and uphill, crouch lower…

Independently, both Mom and Jesse suggested I learn how to cross-country ski. Mom thought it would be an excellent form of exercise for me on slow winter days when there isn’t much physical work to be done. Also, she thoroughly enjoys it and thought if I gave it a chance…

Icicles are a stunning winter adornment on buildings, other such structures, rocks and even trees. Many people are fascinated by them; there are now icicle shaped Christmas ornaments, icicle candy, and icicles adorning t-shirts. Icicles are quite simply formed by the freezing of dripping water. An icicle grows by continued water…

Winter arrived late; December 31 was one of the first days that it truly felt like winter. Before going about my daily activities on the farm, I went for a short walk to soak in the brisk winter air. Yes, I went out into the cold to soak it in,…

Last Monday morning, January 5th, an ice fog settled in the area. As the sun burned through the fog, I was stunned by the beauty of frost covering the world. Driving home, before pulling in the farm driveway, I stopped to capture this beauty with my camera… Frost covered pine…

On December 10, I took a couple hour break from my extremely busy schedule and went to Whitewater State Park  to take care of the fox snake at the nature center (re-reading the blog https://bethanybenike.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/beauty-beyond-the-skin/ to refresh your memory and/or more details on the fox snake might be helpful).  The…

Wednesday, I began raking the maple leaves in the “grove” by the driveway. It wasn’t necessary to rake and bag the leaves, leaving them would add organic matter to the lawn, enriching it in a cost free manner. However, I desired to gather enough bags of leaves for mulching in…

  Re-read the previous blog https://bethanybenike.wordpress.com/2015/10/10/turtles-and-dragonflies/ before reading this.  Driving back along highway 84, I stopped for one more turtle in the road, on the opposite side. I pulled the van over, parked it and put on the hazards. As I was trying to chase the turtle off the road, a…

Journal June 18, 2015 I went to the Kellogg-Weaver Dunes today. Soon after turning on to Highway 84, I pulled the van over to rescue a painted turtle. She was in the middle of the other lane and I worried another driver may not stop for her. Gently I picked…

Around five o’clock this afternoon/evening, I went to the woods hunting for mushrooms. I drove to the bottom of our hill, and then walked into the woods from there. Well walking into the woods isn’t exactly correct, first locating a spot to enter the woods was necessary, then I had…