Townsendias are native to the arid West, Jill, where they thrive in the high desert, sagebrush shrublands, and the alpine, all places where the tiny plants won't be shaded out by taller vegetation. They retreat underground to their thick taproot in the winter and during droughts, and may be very, very long-lived.
As the great Western writer Wallace Stegner once said, to live in the West, "you have to get over the color green." By which he meant, there is a lot of beauty here, but you have to learn to see it. ;)
Oh, how lovely that you have turkeys to watch. And it's courting time for them, so I imagine they're especially fun to see this time of year. And a huge yes! To those words and the technology that helps us write and edit and publish them. :)
I like that opening to your new book! I love stories. Looking forward to its full birth some day.
I too love the longer days. I have more energy, more hope.
Here’s a humorous exploration I have begun…pain and throbbing in my face has been a challenge, especially when trying to rest. I’ve been exploring acupressure points in my ears - there are two that help immensely (and one of those enhances my sense of smell, which is poor- how fascinating is that!) now, to figure out how to keep the pressure on for more than a few moments…
And, I can choose to smell something or not - how empowering!
Thanks! I am excited to be working on this particular story. It's one I have wanted to tell for a long time.
As for your exploration of the acupressure points in your ears, that is fascinating indeed! I wonder if there are acupressure clips you could put on those points (like clamp-on earrings) that would keep the pressure on. I would guess that the one that helps both the pain and throbbing in your face and your sense of smell means that the nervous that carry scent information to your brain are tangled with or part of the nerves in your sinus cavities that are causing some of the pain and throbbing in your face. Our faces and the front of our skulls are quite nerve-rich because humans are so biased toward sight, and our eyes are on the front of our heads. Plus, facial recognition is a huge part of how we take in information about other humans.
I am enjoying a journey with my eldest daughter, a pilgrimage that began along the El Camino Portugues but led to unplanned places. A treasured journey for which time has temporarily and miraculously slowed down.
How very exciting, I love that beginning paragraph! That is one of my favorite kinds of stories, "human helps heal nature, nature helps heal human." Living all my life in central Minnesota, Easter daisies were not on my radar, so thank you for sharing that lovely being. I am grateful March is remembering how to be March and sending snowstorms over the next several days...for full enjoyment, spring needs to feel earned. xo
Thank you, Carmine! I have wanted to write this story for a long time, and am still feeling my way, because like all good stories, it's complicated and the shadows are dark ones. But it's a beautiful story of redemption too. Enjoy your March snows--we've been dry for the past two months, so our spring may be a dusty one instead of a green one. C'est la vie in the high desert, where water is always in short supply.
Thanks! I'm a little slow at getting to it, because I had to figure out what I had to say and a narrative structure. I think I can see both now, and am excited about the work ahead. xo to you!
I am feeling grateful for corn and beans and chiles and squash —these are the life giving agricultural products of the Southwest region of Mexico—Oaxaca specifically—where I am visiting. Nogales (cactus) that are eaten, herbs used in cooking, chile de arbol, cacao, so much goodness. I am grateful for people who look and live differently but really are the same as you and me. I feel blessed for all of this.
The Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash) are the foundation of traditional farming and food in the American Southwest too. All three are native to the Americas, along with chiles and nopales. Enjoy Oaxaca's food, culture, and the beauty of that part of Mexico!
Hi Susan, enjoyed your post and will look forward to reading this next book. I am grateful for my health, my daily routines, my love of reading and finding your words. Thank you!
Linda, Thank you. I am a very slow writer in long form, so it may be several years before this next book appears. Still, I'm excited to see it begin to emerge. And that's a lovely list of gratitudes--may they sustain you always. Blessings!
I am grateful to learn about Easter daisies. What a delight. Had never seen or heard of them before!
Townsendias are native to the arid West, Jill, where they thrive in the high desert, sagebrush shrublands, and the alpine, all places where the tiny plants won't be shaded out by taller vegetation. They retreat underground to their thick taproot in the winter and during droughts, and may be very, very long-lived.
I have not spent much time in the arid West. You undermine my presumption there isn't much to see. What beauty!
As the great Western writer Wallace Stegner once said, to live in the West, "you have to get over the color green." By which he meant, there is a lot of beauty here, but you have to learn to see it. ;)
Especially grateful for the wild turkey just outside my window and (mirabile!) the words appearing on the screen as I type them, here @Substack.
Oh, how lovely that you have turkeys to watch. And it's courting time for them, so I imagine they're especially fun to see this time of year. And a huge yes! To those words and the technology that helps us write and edit and publish them. :)
Yes, eight toms last evening, splendid tails unfurled in enthusiastic display to a dozen completely oblivious hens. Funny!
The hens are not necessarily oblivious. Just like sage grouse hens, they're very, very picky!
I like that opening to your new book! I love stories. Looking forward to its full birth some day.
I too love the longer days. I have more energy, more hope.
Here’s a humorous exploration I have begun…pain and throbbing in my face has been a challenge, especially when trying to rest. I’ve been exploring acupressure points in my ears - there are two that help immensely (and one of those enhances my sense of smell, which is poor- how fascinating is that!) now, to figure out how to keep the pressure on for more than a few moments…
And, I can choose to smell something or not - how empowering!
Very fascinating!
Thanks! I am excited to be working on this particular story. It's one I have wanted to tell for a long time.
As for your exploration of the acupressure points in your ears, that is fascinating indeed! I wonder if there are acupressure clips you could put on those points (like clamp-on earrings) that would keep the pressure on. I would guess that the one that helps both the pain and throbbing in your face and your sense of smell means that the nervous that carry scent information to your brain are tangled with or part of the nerves in your sinus cavities that are causing some of the pain and throbbing in your face. Our faces and the front of our skulls are quite nerve-rich because humans are so biased toward sight, and our eyes are on the front of our heads. Plus, facial recognition is a huge part of how we take in information about other humans.
I am enjoying a journey with my eldest daughter, a pilgrimage that began along the El Camino Portugues but led to unplanned places. A treasured journey for which time has temporarily and miraculously slowed down.
What a gift for you both! May you both savor your pilgrimage and may it bring lasting gifts.
I love the two opposites: spring and fall. Love your daisies. Here in Tucson flowers are in bloom everywhere and lining the roads.
Enjoy the Sonoran desert in bloom! Such a gift. We're dry, dry, dry here, so unless we get some good moisture soon, spring won't be full of flowers.
How very exciting, I love that beginning paragraph! That is one of my favorite kinds of stories, "human helps heal nature, nature helps heal human." Living all my life in central Minnesota, Easter daisies were not on my radar, so thank you for sharing that lovely being. I am grateful March is remembering how to be March and sending snowstorms over the next several days...for full enjoyment, spring needs to feel earned. xo
Thank you, Carmine! I have wanted to write this story for a long time, and am still feeling my way, because like all good stories, it's complicated and the shadows are dark ones. But it's a beautiful story of redemption too. Enjoy your March snows--we've been dry for the past two months, so our spring may be a dusty one instead of a green one. C'est la vie in the high desert, where water is always in short supply.
Woo-hoo, the story of restoring the creek! So glad it’s working on you. I look forward to reading more!❤️
Thanks! I'm a little slow at getting to it, because I had to figure out what I had to say and a narrative structure. I think I can see both now, and am excited about the work ahead. xo to you!
I’ll check into the idea of clips -thanks!
Fingers crossed that you find some!
I am feeling grateful for corn and beans and chiles and squash —these are the life giving agricultural products of the Southwest region of Mexico—Oaxaca specifically—where I am visiting. Nogales (cactus) that are eaten, herbs used in cooking, chile de arbol, cacao, so much goodness. I am grateful for people who look and live differently but really are the same as you and me. I feel blessed for all of this.
The Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash) are the foundation of traditional farming and food in the American Southwest too. All three are native to the Americas, along with chiles and nopales. Enjoy Oaxaca's food, culture, and the beauty of that part of Mexico!
I love your opening and those spring daisies are wonderful❣️
Thank you! Happy spring!
Hi Susan, enjoyed your post and will look forward to reading this next book. I am grateful for my health, my daily routines, my love of reading and finding your words. Thank you!
Linda, Thank you. I am a very slow writer in long form, so it may be several years before this next book appears. Still, I'm excited to see it begin to emerge. And that's a lovely list of gratitudes--may they sustain you always. Blessings!
I very, very much like that beginning that bubbled up...
Thank you, Chloe! The story is just tumbling out. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes to find its final form and flow.