~ In Wildness ~ Weekly Photo Challenge: Heritage ~

Posted on May 21, 2017 by Lindy Le Coq

Something that represents my heritage is the love of nature and being outdoors — whether in my gardens, at a park or in the wild. Camping, fishing, exploring lakes and streams, mountains and the ocean, as well as visiting national parks is part of my cultural DNA, right along with farming and gardening.

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

John Muir

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“All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was.”

Toni Morrison

“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.”

Alice Walker

Lake Tahoe, Nevada. USA
Lebanon, Oregon USA
Silver Cedars

“The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.”

Pamela Hansford Johnson

 

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“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”

Frank Lloyd Wright

 

Heritage

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~ Condensation Trail ~ WPC: Reflecting ~

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Lindy Le Coq

It was early morning — just after sunup at the 5,000 foot summit of Willamette Pass, Oregon — USA.  The water surface on Odell Lake was a gentle roll of motion reflecting the surrounding forests and a blue sky streaked with contrails.

 

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Seeing the vapor trails got me thinking of the indelible imprint Homo sapiens have made upon this forgiving planet.

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Oh, that we don’t screw it up any further.

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 Reflecting

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~ Caligula Haiku ~ 5/11/17 ~ Take Two ~

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Lindy Le Coq

Guess I was a bit upset this morning (also in a hurry) when I posted my caLLigula haiku! Sorry about that, but somehow striking the L twice made me feel more powerful — more in control — an illusion.

 

grandstand showboat mate

caught in lines of spun nonsense

hangs in sticky web

*****

I am not a crook

Caligula spouts to world

transparent as glass

*****

false intentions lie

deceit intended

deception in check

***

Stay tuned to NPR and other balanced news sources — this is only the beginning.

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~ Haiku ~ Caligula is not America ~

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Lindy Le Coq

caligula fears

subterfuge disintegrates

denial backfires

*****

feeble and flabby

caligula fires false hoods

shoots himself in foot

*****

stonewall excuses

stumble crumble turn to dust

we provide strong wind

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~ “Slip Slidin’ Away” ~ WPC: Danger! ~

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Lindy Le Coq

From fall to late spring in the Pacific Northwest, moss can turn sidewalks and driveways into dangerous places to tread.

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“You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip slidin’ away”

Paul Simon

I feel this way about my country right now. We were on a path of acceptance, hope and inclusion. Since Trump was inaugurated, so much has slid out of reach, and the threat of more damage to come sickens me. I continue to resist and refuse to be sucked into thinking it’s all okay — it is not — it is dangerous.

Danger!

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~ Re-post of Tina Schell: Sinister Swamp – WPC Danger ~

Posted on May 5, 2017 by Lindy Le Coq

Tina’s work is always above and beyond the norm, so I wanted you who follow me to see this fine example of her nuanced word and image collage.

Source: Sinister Swamp – WPC Danger

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~ Wordless Wednesday ~

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Lindy Le Coq

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~ Shorebirds ~ Bird Haiku + WPC: Wanderlust 2 ~

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Lindy Le Coq

In my last post I mentioned my goal to identify the various shorebirds I was able to photograph. This one was all alone, foraging the shallows along a fresh-water marsh at Long Beach, WA.

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alert black eyes watch

solitary stilt walker

edges the shallows

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salt and pepper plumes

observant eye on water

Greater Yellowleg

Sibley’s field guide shows me there are several Genus within the Sandpiper (Scolopacidae) family. The Greater Yellowleg is in the Genus Tringa, which has four species. Genus Calidris has fifteen species — all looking somewhat alike — though each with distinct characteristics.

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white bellied loner

layered brown feathers atop

wonder who you are

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preens with eye on me

unruffled by intrusion

returns to breakfast

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I believe this is a Baird’s Sandpiper — “Uncommon on damp upper edges of mudflats and sometimes in short-grass fields.” Sibley 

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~ Bird Haiku + WPC: Wanderlust ~

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Lindy Le Coq

This past week at Long Beach, WA, breeding and migrating birds were the main attraction for me. Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows swooped through the air, cleaning out marsh bugs and flirting with potential mates.

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barn swallows on rail

a couple ready to nest

one chatters one preens

 

gulping mosquitos

tree swallows sail above marsh

upwards and onwards

Canada Goose formations flew over every morning…

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goose formations call

streaking north wave after wave

migration inborn

…while residents remained elusive.

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Mallards drakes are in full plumage.

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hen mallard broods nest

precocial duckling peeks out

attentive drake guards

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marsh water paddle

mama duck chicks in a line

teaches foraging

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to the nest at dusk

full-bellied chicks follow mom

drake keeps guard in rear

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Shorebirds also are migrating through, and some will remain resident. I’m determined to learn their true names, so after field photos I dug into field guides!

More bird haiku to come!

Wanderlust

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~ Wordless Wednesday ~

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Lindy Le Coq
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4/25/2017 ~ Long Beach, WA  USA

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