I love all of your writing that you share here, and this one is definitely no different in that respect. Your style of describing what you see in the natural world resonates deeply for me. (You and Neko Case are my absolute favorites to read for those outdoors experiences). I have great difficulty getting outside, so I appreciate the reminders of how much peace, connection, and even joy just in being is possible, and how much it outweighs the difficulty of getting there, so thanks for the eloquent reminders!
Beautiful. I learned so much about the weasel family too! I’ve only ever seen two members of that family. I love it when you expose your heart this way. Thank you.
What a perfect way to start December! I was in my backyard at dusk and looked at the pine needles in the branch against a blue sky and thought, wow, this always looks best at this time of year.
black dog love! I was recently intruded upon by a black dog I didn’t know and felt a very similar blessing. “Hello friend!” Great call about the coffee. Very tough call…so much I would rather do as an animal but that hot coffee might erase all the other pains? Lol weasels lining their den with prey skins, “that is so cute…” 🏴☠️
Ah, Chris, thank you for filming and sharing the video. Loved your "conversation" with that cute little murder tube. "Don't kill me" :-) What a delightful game of hide-and-seek! You made my day!
Joy begets joy! This made me just smile. I could feel the warmth of Mishomis sinking in, the joy of that black dog, the laughing curiosity of the little weasel as it stalked you.... It allows me to breathe a little deeper--knowing that those moments and places exist in the world. Thank you for choosing to share the joy instead of the other stuff. I think we're all kind of done with all the capitalist nonsense that surrounds this time of year.
Is there an Anishinaabemowen word for stars?
Drawn in by the warmth of the fire, its flames share the colors of my soul--purple, orange, red--content and full of life.
OMG...this is the best site in the whole entire world! Thank you so much for sharing it!
I want to have a lovely sentence or two to share, but right now, I just got done drinking some Irish whiskey, and my brain is still buzzing from the lovely bits of alcohol that accompanied its particular flavor. The Earth distilled into a bottle--the moments of its creation written in its tastes. It's beautiful to think of how water and earth and yeast can create a moment--a sip, a taste, those eternities of moments that led to its creation. A beautiful thing, indeed.
I know that dog running side eye! You've found the words to express the look. "You can't imagine." This and the weasel video made me smile like the sun. Thank you.
I thought of you yesterday. I was in a cool little indie bookstore here in Helena and in their sticker rack was an adorable little rendering of a beaver next to their dam and the sticker read, "I Give a Dam."
Love this. I recognized that Annie Dillard immediately. I was re reading Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and can't find my copy now, but I love that book. I've written about how scary otters are if you are their food, but I've only seen skunks in the wild, the least murderous of the weasel family, almost comical with their little hop walk. But they invented chemical warfare, so they could be more chill.
Wow! Your video of the weasel in winter. So curious. So lively.
This is my favorite time of year. More opportunities to see stars. The Big Dipper to the north and Orion to the south in the early morning hours. Easier to sleep in the long darkness of the cold nights. The sun never getting very high in the sky. Long shadows. And soon the sound of the trumpeter swans in the darkness.
Murder tubes adore my Chuck. More than once I've seen them show up while we're hiking, and positively FLIRT with him. Follow him! Popping up and cocking their adorable little heads. It's hilarious.
This morning's miracle was a flock of waxwings in collective flight out by the driveway, then the sight of them projected in reflection from the window over our heads to the one in front of us while we drank our coffee in bed.
It was one of those weeks at the day job where you're glad to have shored up your little boat ... because change, as always, is coming. So. Waxwings! And reflected waxwings!
When I first blearily read your comment in the email, I read it as "Chucks", i.e. shoes (because I can totally see you out and about in Chuck Taylors, Charlotte, and that is a compliment) and was mightily confused for a few moments. And yes, waxwings!
Yes! I do have a long history of wearing Chuck Taylors!! My dude is Chuck --- weasels go full Disney on him. It's hilarious -- he sees a lot of wildlife because he hikes alone, very quietly.
The waxwings though! The waxwings felt like a visitation ...
grinning so wide reading the black dog part. earnest unbridled joy. and the weasel video! magical.
"There’s so much to be upset about. But even more to remain in love with." bringing this with me today. thank you.
Miigwech for reading, Jasmine!
I love all of your writing that you share here, and this one is definitely no different in that respect. Your style of describing what you see in the natural world resonates deeply for me. (You and Neko Case are my absolute favorites to read for those outdoors experiences). I have great difficulty getting outside, so I appreciate the reminders of how much peace, connection, and even joy just in being is possible, and how much it outweighs the difficulty of getting there, so thanks for the eloquent reminders!
"Just in being" is exactly right.
Beautiful. I learned so much about the weasel family too! I’ve only ever seen two members of that family. I love it when you expose your heart this way. Thank you.
They're delightful and terrifying.
Oh, ANNIE DILLARD. And oh, CHRIS LA TRAY! 🙏🏻🤍
AH, SHUCKS!
What a perfect way to start December! I was in my backyard at dusk and looked at the pine needles in the branch against a blue sky and thought, wow, this always looks best at this time of year.
Beautiful.
black dog love! I was recently intruded upon by a black dog I didn’t know and felt a very similar blessing. “Hello friend!” Great call about the coffee. Very tough call…so much I would rather do as an animal but that hot coffee might erase all the other pains? Lol weasels lining their den with prey skins, “that is so cute…” 🏴☠️
This town in OVERRUN! with black dogs!
be right over *black wolf emoji*
Ah, Chris, thank you for filming and sharing the video. Loved your "conversation" with that cute little murder tube. "Don't kill me" :-) What a delightful game of hide-and-seek! You made my day!
It made my day too.
The number of times I gasped with delight when I could locate the ermine in the video. What a delightful mustelid visitation! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing that with us, Chris. Maybe the murder tube is also a beard enthusiast.
Well, duh. All the best murderous predators are, Jackie!
Joy begets joy! This made me just smile. I could feel the warmth of Mishomis sinking in, the joy of that black dog, the laughing curiosity of the little weasel as it stalked you.... It allows me to breathe a little deeper--knowing that those moments and places exist in the world. Thank you for choosing to share the joy instead of the other stuff. I think we're all kind of done with all the capitalist nonsense that surrounds this time of year.
Is there an Anishinaabemowen word for stars?
Drawn in by the warmth of the fire, its flames share the colors of my soul--purple, orange, red--content and full of life.
Anang = star! Here's more:
https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/anang-na
OMG...this is the best site in the whole entire world! Thank you so much for sharing it!
I want to have a lovely sentence or two to share, but right now, I just got done drinking some Irish whiskey, and my brain is still buzzing from the lovely bits of alcohol that accompanied its particular flavor. The Earth distilled into a bottle--the moments of its creation written in its tastes. It's beautiful to think of how water and earth and yeast can create a moment--a sip, a taste, those eternities of moments that led to its creation. A beautiful thing, indeed.
Thank you Chris for reminding us of the precious joy of walking around outside.
Thank you for recognizing the joy of walking outside.
I don’t take it for granted https://open.substack.com/pub/armchairrebel/p/a-short-walk-into-wonder
I know that dog running side eye! You've found the words to express the look. "You can't imagine." This and the weasel video made me smile like the sun. Thank you.
Miigwech!
Lovely post! I'm shocked I had never seen this Annie Dillard passage either so thank you for sharing!
She's one of the best.
I thought of you yesterday. I was in a cool little indie bookstore here in Helena and in their sticker rack was an adorable little rendering of a beaver next to their dam and the sticker read, "I Give a Dam."
“There’s so much to be upset about. But even more to remain in love with.“
Stunning words. Beautiful and true. Thank you, as always, for sharing them with a waiting world.
I appreciate you reading!
Love this. I recognized that Annie Dillard immediately. I was re reading Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and can't find my copy now, but I love that book. I've written about how scary otters are if you are their food, but I've only seen skunks in the wild, the least murderous of the weasel family, almost comical with their little hop walk. But they invented chemical warfare, so they could be more chill.
Otters will RIP YOUR FACE OFF, Tom, food or not!
https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/mhp-trooper-earns-prestigious-award-following-otter-attack
A bite like a German shepherd? I had no idea. That sweet lil' face though ... <immediately gets eaten>
Whoa.
Wow! Your video of the weasel in winter. So curious. So lively.
This is my favorite time of year. More opportunities to see stars. The Big Dipper to the north and Orion to the south in the early morning hours. Easier to sleep in the long darkness of the cold nights. The sun never getting very high in the sky. Long shadows. And soon the sound of the trumpeter swans in the darkness.
My friend Anna was just writing about that herself earlier this week!
https://annaeast.substack.com/p/wintermaker
Murder tubes adore my Chuck. More than once I've seen them show up while we're hiking, and positively FLIRT with him. Follow him! Popping up and cocking their adorable little heads. It's hilarious.
This morning's miracle was a flock of waxwings in collective flight out by the driveway, then the sight of them projected in reflection from the window over our heads to the one in front of us while we drank our coffee in bed.
It was one of those weeks at the day job where you're glad to have shored up your little boat ... because change, as always, is coming. So. Waxwings! And reflected waxwings!
When I first blearily read your comment in the email, I read it as "Chucks", i.e. shoes (because I can totally see you out and about in Chuck Taylors, Charlotte, and that is a compliment) and was mightily confused for a few moments. And yes, waxwings!
Yes! I do have a long history of wearing Chuck Taylors!! My dude is Chuck --- weasels go full Disney on him. It's hilarious -- he sees a lot of wildlife because he hikes alone, very quietly.
The waxwings though! The waxwings felt like a visitation ...
I love that waxwings have that kind of otherworldy vibe...