Birth Announcement/Wild Wolf Encounters

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Monica

WILD WOLF ENCOUNTERS
True Stories of Wolves in the Wild
with pictures, poems, and links to videos

Dear Bloggers,

You know from my posts and poems that I am interested in and concerned about wolves.  I have been lucky enough to see them in the wild and to have taken pictures and videos at the time.  Describing and sharing these encounters in more permanent form seems to me to be the best way to communicate what I have observed.  I have tried to write a book that will appeal to many – not just to those who already hold a position regarding wolves.  I have done my best to eliminate the political.   These stories happened, and the pictures and videos record the experience.  The poems reflect my feelings about the encounter.

Readers of the blog have seen many of the poems, pictures, and videos before.  All the stories have been expanded; the background and circumstances of the encounter are set forth.  In other words, for better or worse, the book does not rely upon a more subjective use of poetry to tell the story.  Bloggers have not seen “Wild Encounters in the Pelican Valley”, my grizzly bear/wolf/buffalo story, or the video that goes with it.

for more information, please visit Wild Wolf Encounters

Wild Wolf Encounters is now available through Amazon.co.uk and Amazon Europe.  And you can now view or download Wild Wolf Encounters in pdf form for free by clicking this link.  Please feel free to share it.

Thank you!

(This post is also a page for further reference.)
Posted in blogging, books, Grand Tetons, national parks, Nature, Poems, wilderness, wolves, Yellowstone | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Spring Dare

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Monica

Here are some redbud pictures and poems from this spring and a less normal one.

Spring Dare

Redbud hesitates
waits to open her blossoms
wakes to winter’s storm

(or)

 Redbud hesitates
ventures open blossoms forth
provokes winter’s storm

I got the idea from Sandy of Four Winds Haiga to use more than one version.
Then I don’t have to pick.  Which one do you prefer?

REDBUD

Beautiful redbud
gentle and rounded
leaves flutter softly
in the wind.
Dense green branches in summer
heavy with snow in winter
violet red blossoms nipped so often
by frost in spring
home to birds
outside my window
grace on three slender stalks.

Posted in Nature, Poems | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Telling the Truth/Wolves in the U.S.

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Monica

Here’s a link to an interesting article in The American Prospect about wolves and wolf management in the Western U.S.  Everything I know indicates it’s accurate, fair, and thorough .

Wolves to the Slaughter, by Christopher Ketcham

Carter Niemeyer’s book Wolfer, referenced in the article, is fascinating, informative, and strangely comforting.  Niemeyer has made it his life’s work to tell the truth about wolves.  For that he is, shall we say, unappreciated in certain quarters.  Telling the truth.  What should be so hard about that?

More to come on that subject.

Posted in national parks, Nature, politics, science, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, wilderness, wolves, Yellowstone | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Happy Dogs/The Joke’s on Me

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Monica

Hi Friends!  Just a little note to tell you that the joke is on me!  My new computer will not let me access my blog – or many of yours either.  But my old computer will.  One at a time, please!

Here’s a happy dog picture from their first visit to our mountain cabin.  Lots to sniff and roll in.  They stopped acting like guests – hurray!!

Posted in blogging, Dogs | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Collies Rescue Human

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Monica

Beau

morning coffee with Bella

Once again, collies come to the rescue.  In this case, two five-year-olds, possibly litter mates, rescue human – me – from a bleak, collie-less existence.  About ten days ago, I filled out an application with Pueblo Collie/Sheltie Rescue.  The director, Hope Hemperly, lives up to her name.  Last weekend she called to say Beau and Bella had just arrived.  I rushed down to collie rescue heaven.  Hope has about 13 dogs in her home and knows everything there is to know about collies.  I wish I had had her as a resource for collie health over the years!

Now the clincher – the mysterious, magical ways of the universe.  These dogs are the closest thing to the spitting image of my Sneffels and Lulu that you could imagine.  Aside from some coloring variations, they’re the same size and shape. They make the same sounds.  Beau’s personality is as calm and loving as Sneffie’s.  Bella is very calm, too – and so affectionate.  I can’t wait to see her wag her tail.  These dogs have been left twice with Collie Rescue, and I’m so happy it’s my turn now.  Lucky me!!

For anyone living in the U.S. Rocky Mountain area and contemplating adopting a rescue dog, here’s the link:

http://www.colliesheltierescue.org/

Posted in Dogs | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

Goodnight Moon…

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Monica

goodnight Venus, goodnight moon, goodnight year

chick-a-dee-dee - hap-py new year

happy 2012, fellow bloggers!

Posted in Birds, blogging, Nature | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

To My Fellow Bloggers —

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Monica

Dear friends who feel like family,

I treasure your unique spirits and talents.  You make me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time.  I gasp with wonder and delight at your words and photographs.  You inspire me.  Thank you for expanding my world and providing a window into yours. 

Increasingly frustrating computer problems have kept me away from WordPress.  I can’t even access my blog – “error – try again (and again)”.  I hope this is not a critical assessment on the part of my computer and will be getting a new one soon. 

Even though our virtual communication has been minimal, I trust you can feel the energy fields moving as I think of all of you, hope you will thrive in the New Year, and send warmest holiday wishes to you and yours.  You are simply the best.

Monica

Posted in blogging, Uncategorized | Tagged | 20 Comments

Scenes from a Mountain Cabin

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Monica

Here are some lovely flowers and faces from our mountain property.  The flowers are courtesy of an unusually wet year.

Posted in Nature | Tagged , , , | 40 Comments

“Wish for the Result with Great Fervor…”

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Monica

Yoga Action

Wish for the result with great fervor, but remain completely patient and serene.
Gertrud Hirschi, Mudras, Yoga in your Hands

           Yoga and action – we don’t often connect the two.  But like the word yoga itself, many connections can be felt and understood if one takes the time.
           When Ms. Hirschi says “wish”, she means that, through a positive and respectful attitude, one can formulate and visualize an important goal.  One can feel what it’s like to have that goal become reality.  One can send that positive energy out into the universe, asking for its protection and realization.
           Yoga and political action – why not?  A serene mind is focused and aware, undeterred by set-back or delay.  A patient heart will not give up, will respond to anger with gentleness and hope.
           I wish for the result, so dear to my heart, with great fervor.  I will work to remain patient and serene, failing and trying again every day.  You, my friends on WordPress, do so much to help me along the way.  Thank you.
Posted in Nature, politics, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, wilderness, wolves, Yellowstone | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Hello, and Good-bye

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Monica
Wolf Myth:  Wolves will rip humans limb from limb, if given half a chance.
Wolf True Story:  This happened to me, so I know it’s true.
This last trip to Yellowstone, we hiked to Shoshone Lake.  We take this hike every time we go, unless the snow in late spring is still too deep.  When we got there, we sat by the lake for a while.  My husband decided to take a nap, while I walked around the lake for a bit.  When I returned an hour or so later, we packed up to go.  As we left the lakeside, we saw a very large pile of canine scat – way too big for coyote – at the trail head.   We could not have missed seeing this scat on the way in.  A large, black canine (also not coyote) was just disappearing into the tall grasses across the meadow.  A raven flew directly overhead.
The wolf must have come up, seen my husband asleep on the ground, left his calling card, and disappeared.  End of story.  No snarling, baring of teeth, menacing behavior, or death at the lake to report.
Here are some pictures and poems about Shoshone Lake – one of my favorite spots on earth.

SHOSHONE LAKE

Shine on, Shoshone Lake,
sparkle in the sun
glitter in cool blue beauty
dream of frogs croaking
in the moist meadow
as you kindle a calm spark within.

PERFECT ANGLE

My Shoshone
perfect from every angle
heaven in every season –
the mind trails along your shore

Posted in national parks, Nature, Poems, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, wilderness, wolves, Yellowstone | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments