Who's a bird watcher?

Here is Colorado we've got some pretty cool birds. The magpies are so nifty - Heckle and Jeckle in real life. Does anyone remember them? They were a couple of jokers in tuxedos who happened to be birds, and were always wreaking havoc in the cartoons. It wasn't until I moved to Colorado that I realized WHY Heckle and Jeckle were wearing tuxedos.

Magpie in our barn, Heckle looking for Jeckle

There's also the Bluebird of Happiness. Saw one in our cherry tree today. I mean, bright blue. Didn't look real, except it was flapping its wings and flitting around.

 BlueBird in a Cherry Tree - photo by Skyler Ewing (Pexels)

And then there's Meadowlarks. We always know spring has arrived because the Meadowlarks have come back. We've got a lot of them this year, and they're like a chorus of rambunctious teenagers in our fields. They also sit on the power cables and look down at us mere mortals, serenading us all day long.

It's such a wonderful sound. I love the heral...

Squirrels' harmony with nature encourages you to connect with the natural world, find inner peace, and recognize everyone’s interconnectedness.

Have you ever noticed how squirrels often hang out with each other? We really show how important it is to be aware of your surroundings and work together. Just like we depend on our community, you can do best when you support each other. Building strong relationships takes empathy, understanding, compassion, and a lot of effort.

Squirrels teach that even small things, like sharing food or giving advice, can make your group stronger and happier. If you ever feel alone, squirrels are a great reminder to reach out and make connections that are good for everyone.



Watch out for that dog!


Using these lessons in your everyday lives can make your relationships better, both with people at home, your community and at work. Being aware of what others need helps you talk better and build trust. The squirrels remind you that being part of a community isn’t just...

It's a big effort to change locations. "What's wrong with where you are?" is a question you might hear. Most people like to hold still, liking the solidity of a known home, neighborhood, the people around you, your favorite grocery store. It feels safe.

I'm one of those people who loves where I'm at, for a while, and then it's time to move on. My brother, on the other hand, has lived in the same house, in the same small town, for almost 40 years. Did we really come from the same parents?

When I was younger, I moved a LOT. In the first 15 years I lived in Colorado, I moved 17 times. Gypsy feet. Looking back, pretty excessive, but it was fun while I did it.

Where we live now. If you do anything with horses, this is the place for you.

We've been in the house we're in now for going on 10 years. That is the longest I've lived anywhere, if you don't count the first 14 years of my life, when we lived in the same house on the same street with my cousins right next door. The furniture go...

Here are some traits of a resourceful squirrel:

• Agility: Our quick movements and knack for navigating tricky places remind us to stay agile and ready to react.

• Adaptable: We do well in different settings, showing how important it is to adjust to new situations.

• Resilience: We keep going strong even when faced with predators and tough weather, highlighting our ability to bounce back from challenges.

 

This shows how we’re clever and can change when needed, making the most of what we have. As opportunistic foragers, we grab whatever food we can find. Being adaptable is super important for managing resources because it lets us do well in different places. For instance, squirrels in the city have learned to use things like bird feeders and garbage bins for food. Ever see one of us munching on lettuce from a trash bin?

This shows how important it is to be flexible and creative when we’re looking for food. In our lives, be...

That's Furs as in animal friends, not coats or shawls. 

Glenn and I are traveling. The horses are covered always, since we have a barn manager and haven't actually had to go out ourselves and slog feed or manure for some months. But the dogs! The cats!

A good friend is coming to stay with them. She's an animal lover par excellence. 

The cats will be very unhappy, because when we're gone they're not allowed out the front door. Doesn't mean they won't try, though, and we'll have to make sure we emphasize how slippery and speedy Jackson can be. He's got that beaming-himself-out-the-door routine down. They can still go out onto the back deck - but it's not the same. No trees. No bushes to hide under. No mom or dad hovering near the door trying to coax them back in.

Jackson the potted cat.

The dogs probably won't be thrilled, either. Since Glenn has retired, the dogs have gotten used to daily trips in the truck. Doesn't matter where it goes, so long as it goes. They usually get to go...

It takes birds more than a day to migrate from one place to another. Besides having a great sense of direction, they need to rest. Some birds land. We’ve all had encounters with flocks of geese, honk honk honk, looking for a good place to spend the night (often some farmer’s recently seeded field). But there are birds who go non-stop - And you thought New York to Sydney was a long flight.

Several species have been identified as sleep-flyers; Frigatebirds, Albatrosses (get your neck out of the way!), the common Swift - which doesn’t seem so common if they can fly while asleep.

An Albatross. Photo by Pixabay

They have a clever brain that uses something called Unihemispheric sleep. One side of their brain sleeps while the other side controls flight and navigation. I can barely find my way to the grocery store sometimes using both sides of my brain, so I’m impressed.

When both sides of their brain DO fall asleep at the same time, it’s generally just a few seconds. Good thing, or ther...

Squirrels embody abundance and prosperity by managing resources mindfully and appreciating what they have.

Let’s embrace the abundance that’s all around us by recognizing that all our lives are already rich with prosperity, even when it might not seem that way.

Look into my eyes, or at any squirrel you spot in the park or woods. You’ll see that true abundance isn’t about what we have, but how we use what we have.

Abundance comes in many forms.


It’s also time to really focus on sufficiency, not scarcity!

By making mindful choices about money or time, you can break free from the cycle of not having enough and, more importantly, develop a deeper sense of gratitude for what you already have, just like my squirrel family does. 

The way we do this is so simple, but it often gets lost on you because, well, humans tend to make things more complicated than they need to be. We know this because it’s what you learned and became accustomed to.

How squirrels do this and we hope you’ll do the same:

- Fi...

We understand that it’s easy to feel stuck in a loop of worry and uncertainty, especially when your mind is constantly racing with “what-ifs” and concerns about the future.

It’s quite amusing watching hamsters zoom around on those silly wheels! It’s like you all do this in your own heads. Very sad.

We’ve got a different approach for you. We didn't let fear stop us from preparing our food for the winter. What changes are you planning to make this spring?

We’re always excited to leap into the unknown, embracing the great wide open! Are you feeling ready to make a big move in your life?

Huxley in his younger & wilder days 

Embrace our fearless spirit! By letting go of fear and doubt, you’ll discover a world of new possibilities and experiences waiting for you.

These are some things you can do to embrace trust and surrender:

• Observe how squirrels navigate uncertainty with confidence.

• Recognize that fear and doubt can hinder personal growth.

• Practice letting

  ...

Ghosts. Spirits. Who is going "I don't believe in those" or "LaLaLaLaLaLa, scares me, don't want to know!"

The spirits around us generally leave us be. They have better things to do than rattle chains, tip over chairs, and make spooky noises that have the hair on the back of our necks standing up straight.

However....sometimes they have been part of a family for a long time, and want to let their loved ones know they're okay.

A friend of mine, Leslie, and her husband lost one of their dogs not too long ago. Zena had been with them for years. She was Scott's dog, mostly.

She got sick, very sick. Their other dog, Maisie, considerably younger, took to creeping around the house. She didn't want to disturb her ill and aged sister too much.

Maisie (grey) taking care of sister Zena

As Zena's time to pass came closer, the family drew in. They loved Zena, told her what a good dog she was, how important she was to the family. It wasn't anything she hadn't heard before, but it was especia...

This is the first of many posts from Huxley, a member of the family Sciuridae, who lives a long and abundant life. You’ll see more ‘squirrel-isms’ in the weeks ahead. Huxley’s backstory is included at the bottom of each post. Comments and acorns are appreciated!

Squirrels symbolize mindfulness, reminding us to focus on the present moment and let go of anxiety and worry.

One of my favorite people in all the world said this:

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

― Mother Theresa

Have you ever noticed how some folks seem to dwell on their past mistakes endlessly? Maybe it’s someone you’re close to, like when they’re staring at their reflection?

Or what about those who worry about things that haven’t happened yet? They seem to carry their sadness into the future, pushing their troubles onto tomorrow.

GAAAAHHHHH!

Life can be tough, isn’t it? Have...