For Animal Lovers

If you didn't catch this program on PBS this past Sunday perhaps you can rent it and watch. It was one of the best documentaries I've seen on animals and their relationship to people and their relationship to animals, and more. Just amazing.

As PBS says, BE INSPIRED! More here.

 

Meet Cynthia

Isn't she a beauty? It could be a he... 

This is Cynthia silk moth and you can read more about her here.

And if you click on the image you might actually be able to see that she is furry.

I would like a dress made of her lovely pattern, or a scarf perhaps.

And while we're on the subject of nature just a little update about the supposed 'rat' that Parlez brought into me just before the Chinese New Year. Several months later during the fecund summer solstice young Parlez again brought in a treasure for me to behold. I found him wanting to bend down and get said treasure in his mouth but he seemed to have a difficult time getting close to it. For good reason. When he moved out of the way I saw a MINI version of what he had brought in several months earlier. It was mighty ferocious standing about two inches tall on its back legs, front paws with claws extended, and sporting a very nice set of two-up, two-down teeth that seemed to say, "See these. Get any closer and I will take a bite out of you". And he did, or at least tried to when Parlez nose dived him.

He was so darn cute and so darn fast, but eventually I got him up in the usual yogurt carton and released him outside in some greens, near a network of holes that I call 'the home of the ground creatures'. I watched as he scrambled under a rock and began burrowing, moving little boulders (to him) with his front paws and claws. He was so amazing to watch. I hoped he would find his place back to wherever the great white had found him.

I came in and searched on the internet for what exactly it might be, this mini version of the supposed rat. Ooooo, many photos of moles. No. Not a rat, or a mouse, or a hamster (but close, ok, maybe not). Not a gerbil, a gopher, a prairie dog, a muskrat or a ground hog. It remained a mystery. And I wondered...

The next day. The very next day, the July-August copy of Audubon magazine appeared in my mailbox. I opened it and lo and behold, there on the page, staring up at me, there it was! Can I tell you how excited I got? Some people get really excited about winning money or winning something, but not me (not really excited, a little maybe). Apart from finding out what it actually was, I was so excited to be part of the St. Francis of Assissi, "What you are seeking is seeking you" phenomenon, and that it was such a wonder this puzzle piece just came to me. 

The ground creature, was none other than the Mountain Beaver. On the endangered species list, older than most every animal on the planet, clocking in at about 40 million years old, and the ancestor of other rodents. And, one of the most diligent and clever architects. To read more about it in Audubon click here. 

And, as I know you are curious to actually see this creature, here is a nice shot of him by Erwin and Peggy Bauer.

Isn't he cute?

Moon Rise 8 9 08

Parlez and I went out to Old Dog Run together to enjoy the dusk. He was doing his Daktari impression drinking out of the small lake left by the thunderstorm the day before. And also keeping an eye out for any dusk devils lurking in the tall grass. When he saw the coast was clear he began a game of football (soccer) with some of the pebbles.

And I was mesmerized by the moon rise.

We photographed some clouds and then the light began to fade so we decided to call it a day and leave the quiet of Old Dog Run to the night shift. 

Parlez Says. . .

Enough about all those ants!

What about my double high five? 

Ants, schmantz.

Amazing Ants and Their Movable Feast

I remember about this time last year I was walking by one of the very large and grainy ant hills on the property and I suddenly realized an ant hill. Meaning, I had looked at hundreds probably over the years but I had never really seen one until last year. I saw that the hill was made up of thousands of grains of sandy earth. As this hill was about a foot high at the peak I would say many, many thousands of grains.

And I paused to bend down and watch all the business and that's when I realized the ant hill. Realized that each grain of sand had been brought up by hand, ok mandible, from under ground. One grain at a time, they just kept at it; excavating, placing, returning, and repeating the whole process again and again.

I saw it as a symbol for my own journey and was inspired by their patience, tenacity and vision, and also their perseverance in building; despite the fact that their creation could come undone at any time. And actually I realized just how amazing they are!

A few weeks ago I caught sight of an average sized ant trapped in the jaws of a not very big spider, maybe twice the size of the brown ant. The spider was hanging out on a dead twig of a butterfly bush. This was not so remarkable in and of itself. What was, though, was that another ant was frantically trying to save the trapped ant from the spider's jaws. Every time it would get close to it the spider would repel off onto a strand of web and flail around out of the rescue ant's reach. This went on for about ten minutes and was completely enthralling to me, the intelligence of this ant, maybe the emotion of this ant?

They are all over this summer. Peering down one morning this week at some seedlings poking out of dry ground and mulch I saw what looked to be a most peculiar stick insect. Upon closer inspection I found it to be not a stick insect but two ants carrying a slim grey twig. They obviously had a particular destination in mind and trundled through quite a few twigs and pieces of bark. Why this twig? I asked myself. 

Squint closer. Twig? Not a twig at all but a section of lizard's tail! Parlez? Hmmm. I ran inside to get the little point and shoot with the macro lens. They had made it to the brick walkway by the time I came out.

Here they are, like two furniture movers. You can see the scale next to half of an eaten sunflower seed which just happened to be laying there. Click on the image to enlarge and you'll see it much better.

And then they just stopped. I couldn't see it with my naked eye but once I downloaded the file I saw they were actually munching on it, and it looked very meaty. Yum! After regrouping they set off again with their moveable feast. I have no idea where they went but maybe to the rest of the colony to share.

God blooms from the shoulder of the elephant who becomes courteous to the ant.  ~Hafiz

The Only Way To Go Is UP

Abandoned gas station, Old Las Vegas Hwy, New Mexico

OK, everyone, once more with feeling.

Those were the days my friend

We thought they'd never end,

To pump some gas

For less than a couple a bucks.

But times have changed

They have

You bet your bottom four dollars they have

Those were the days,

Oh yes, those were the days.

I don't have sound with the blog yet so sorry I couldn't lead you all in a rousing chorus of Those Were The Days. However, I can imagine you would all get in the spirit on your own. :~)

This is a real sign not too far from where I live. I've driven by it hundreds of times and thought, "I must photograph that some day", especially recently, for obvious reaons! My sweetheart tells me it was indeed a bonafide gas station, complete with drive-through liquor store. Those, too, are gone from New Mexico, along with $1.49 gas. Which is probably a very good thing.

Things Are Usually Not How They Appear To Be

Thank you Ilene, for sharing this wonderful short film with me so I can post it for others to enjoy. Winner of the Fourth annual Short Film Online Competition - Cannes 2008. An online film competition! This is amazing to me, and so inspiring. We're able to create, share and touch others much more readily than we ever have before. 

The Story of a Sign was made by a 24 year-old young man from Mexico, Alonso Alvarez Barreda. The actual link to view it larger is here.



HISTORIA DE UN LETRERO (THE STORY OF A SIGN)

Another fabulous short film which won an Academy Award in 1991 for Best Short Film, Live Action is called The Lunch Date. You can see the first two minutes here, to get the feel of it. Unfortunately nowhere on the planet can we find this 10 minute jewel to view in its entirety (I originally saw it on the Academy Awards and was blown away by it). So instead here is a short synopsis of Adam Davidson's singular student debut. 

Things usually are not how they appear to be. . . And I just love that. 

When A Smile Lights Up the Room

At the folk art market last month I was meandering around and I came across this gentleman. I was a fair distance away, but he did see me make this shot. I mouthed "thank you", as I did whenever anyone noticed me photographing them.

I've generally been quite a shy photographer and for years I'd hide behind a very long lens. I think I must have been getting braver, even if I haven't realized it, as this day spontaneity jumped in and I was guided to go up to him. Not even knowing if he spoke English I asked, "Does anyone ever show you the images they make?" And I showed him the back of my camera. "Look how beautiful you are!" 

One drop of inspired kindness and gratitude led to this response. His smile lit up the whole tent!

The Power of a Photograph, Especially This Size

But in order to see what I'm talking about, you'll have to click on this link. Go to the red "Project" button and click on it. Then click on the Play arrow in the movie window. At the end you'll see how JR showed his photographs of some remarkable women. He also has other projects mentioned here.

Thank you Angela, for sharing this with me to pass along. Very inspiring.

Send in the Clouds

Always daunted by photographing landscapes I recently said, 

"Aw, what the hec", 

and shot a few anyway.

Here are some recent skyscapes; all made from my backyard.

Send in the clouds... 

that's what she's singing, isn't she? 

:)

Hummer the Magnificent Thwarts Red Rogue Rufous

Rufous the rogue hummer finally buzzed off to let little Magnificent drink some nectar. Here he/she is on approach, and drinking. Can you see the left wing? It's above the neck and head. I just love these little symbols of joy. And dang, are they hard to shoot! Especially when red russet Rufous is always chasing them away. He is so hyper I've not managed to get a shot of him yet...

And let's not forget the great white hunter, who is an avid tree climber (he especially likes TALL Aspens). He just happened to be in the vicinity and quite interested in the hummer, but realized he couldn't be out on a limb and bird chasing. So he just paused, curious in admiration.

Where's Parlez?

Click to enlarge. He is there!

Wouldn't this make a good jigsaw puzzle?

OK, maybe not.

:)

Santa Fe Hosts an International Folk Art Market!

A couple of Saturdays ago Santa Fe hosted the 5th Annual International Folk Art Market. I was documenting the journey of a couple of artists my friend Shelly had brought over from Peru, a wood carver and a jeweler. (A moviette of this will be shown on Bird's Eye View later this summer). We started in Abiquiu and then a few days later I caught up with them on opening day at the already packed venue up on Museum Hill. Not only is it a wonderful and colorful event, but many of the craftspeople return to their homeland with enough money to put in a water system for the whole town, or something equally as rewarding.

It was my first time and I can see why people go year after year. Here are a few shots from opening day. More to follow.

The Amazing Cholla Cactus

Click to enlarge.

This is the result of a lot of wonderful summer rain. We're in the monsoon season here in northern New Mexico and everything is really benefiting from the moisture. Take this little prickly cactus for example. It amazingly survives and blooms in the most arid of conditions, not unlike what a cactus does. But in the 13 years I've lived here I've never seen so many lovely blooms—usually late June or July—and this year has been really exceptional. After I backed into this bush (ouch, lots of tiny little prickles wedged themselves in my trousers) I got closer, this time facing it, and captured these blooms at dusk.

I waited a little longer, and looking out toward Bobcat Spur I saw this. 

Click to enlarge this one also!

Make Your Own Hammock!

I'm going to do this. And after I do I will post a photo!

Keep watching after the credits, as the last few seconds are actually an art installation. Enjoy!

"The difficult we do at once. The impossible. . ."

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The difficult we do at once. The impossible takes a little longer. —Louis Mountbatten

This was Prince Charles' favorite uncle, who was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979. And this quote may have been inspired by the time he spent in India as Viceroy of the British Indian Empire, 1947–1948. Or just by virtue of the fact he had six names to remember, even before his surname. 

I found this quote in a Vanity Fair article about him and liked it immediately. More about him here.

Sheep, Goats and a Yarn Farm in Martha's Vineyard

When I was about 13 years old my pal Al and I went on an adventure with the Crusaders. No, not Randy Crawford and her group, but a type of bible study group we belonged to in Hertfordshire, England, where I grew up. I think I joined for the trips and so I wouldn't have to go to church (I was required to do something in this vain). But that's a whole other story.

So one April Al and I went to Cae Canol, in Wales. An idyllic little town green as you've ever seen. I remember we slept in bunk beds. And I remember we set out to climb Mount Snowdon. I took my trusty Vivitar 110 camera (the slim ones with the teeeenie negatives) to get some outstanding in-progress shots, and similar ones once we reached the top. It was overcast when we set out and continued to get worse the further up we went. Polyanna me said that no doubt it would be clear as a bell once we reached the top. Al was a little more skeptical, because she just was, and also her mother was from Wales so she was very familiar with the Welsh weather.

So we climbed and climbed, and climbed. A few hours later we ascended the summit plodding and puffing a bit, but we were at the top. We were elated. And we were also completely socked in, with nary a vista for the eyes to behold, just a thick layer of grey pea soup. Visibility was about five feet so we seized this opportunity to have someone take a shot, maybe two, of us to prove we had actually done it.

But on the way home.... and this brings me to the whole point of the story. On the way home walking through a field we came across some sheep, and in particular, a ewe just about to give birth. This was absolutely enthralling to me. I had to stop and document the whole thing. Which I did, as the others continued. I think I finished up the roll, and ran to catch up.

When I got home the gang said, "Let's see your photos from your trip!" And I proudly showed them the (groovy 1970s color) prints. The general response was: "Where's that? Oh, Snowdon. But what are all these other pictures of sheep? And this one all bloody? Oooooo." I excitedly recounted the whole thing about how we were passing by at the perfect time, and wasn't that fortunate and isn't this all just amazing. "Very nice Elsa", they said nodding, sticking them into the envelope and handing it back to me.

And that was when I knew: some people just don't get it.

So in the spirit of adventure, nature and creatures, entrepreneurship and innovation (all close to my heart), I present to you this inspiring video about network news producer-turned-shepherd's Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm. 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I came across this entry from a new site I just discovered, saw this video and was inspired to plonk it down right here. Apparently at the end of newsman's Tim Russert's memorial service a piece of music from his own iPod was played. Afterward people went upstairs to the rooftop reception to find a stunning double rainbow beaming down on them. Now that makes me smile :) 

Here it is so you can see for yourself. I love the ukulele rendition of this song. In-joy.

Bobcat Spur on Sunday Afternoon Just Before the Monsoon

This is where we live... and this is the mountainette that watches over us, Bobcat Spur.

Aptly named, as there are a few around, 

who not only live up here but saunter by the back porch at dusk,

easy as you please. 

This shot made just before the welcome afternoon monsoon. 

I am a Cat, therefore...

I do hunt on occasion

Click to see the lizard mustache

It's summer time and boy is it summer time. I left for a few days and came home

to several gifts. Most survived, thanks to a large stash of yogurt cartons.

This little lizard did make it back into the wilderness.

He lived to tell the tail, even though it was a bit shorter.