In Pursuit of Wonder

It stands moderately tall at about forty feet. Its leafy crown spreads out in the globe-like shape of a hydrangea flower, a deep dark red maroon. Branches and leaves cast a circular shadow around the tree, several feet out from the trunk. The bark is light gray, smooth on my…

The landscape was covered in hoarfrost Wednesday morning. Hoarfrost is a deposit of ice crystals attached to exposed objects such as tree branches. It is produced by direct condensation of water vapor to ice when temperatures are below freezing and when the air is brought to its frost point by…

Yesterday, I sat in the nature center at Whitewater State Park, looking out the wall of windows at the birdfeeders’ whirr of activity. I began to relax, my mind drifting to the birds feasting on sunflower and thistle seeds, drifting away until it was no longer connected and was out…

Note: These are a few more journal entries from my writing class at the U of M, Morris in 2010.  Snow kisses and stars The ground was stiff and cold, winter’s siege and icy touch had frozen the ground and covered it in a blanket of ice and snow. Snow…

Note: This week I decided to post a few short journal entries that I wrote for my writing class at the University of Minnesota at Morris in 2010. I hope you enjoy!  Wild Dancing The wind grew steadily from a gentle whisper to a crazed shout. The trees swayed gently and…

Mid to late autumn is perhaps the most beautiful time of the year. It is one last hurrah of color, warm days, and outdoor activities before the dreary, cold of winter sets in, often confining us indoors. In mid-October, around 6:30 am, the eastern horizon begins to glow pink. The…

Standing under a black walnut tree, looking up, even the smaller trees seem so tall. The gray trunks are incredibly straight, perhaps for this reason they appear so tall and impressive, even awe inspiring. A field guide describes the bark as being brown to black, they are more gray to…

I spent the afternoon and evening over at the other house, I didn’t have the courage yet to tell them my turtle had died. I allowed the busyness and noise of the house to distract me, an hour or so slipped past. Aleesha had gone outside for a moment and…

Jordan, the rescued turtle, died this week, most likely sometime on Monday though we didn’t confirm it until Tuesday morning. My mind was busy and preoccupied Monday night when mom told me she didn’t think Jordan was doing well. I thought perhaps he was sleeping. I went to bed with…

On Monday, Malachi, followed by four of his sisters, brought a female gold finch into my house. The beautiful bird was securely perched on Malachi’s index finger. They had been inspired by my taking in the turtle, Jordan, I think. Elena and Therese had found and rescued the injured finch.…