Archive for ‘September, 2007’

Grandfather Pine

Ponderosa CoupleThe pine tree I was in front of in yesterday’s post is beautiful and one of about 10 that live in front of my house.

But guarding the northwest corner of my property are 2 very old, very beautiful Ponderosa Pines.  My friend, Kris, who looked at the property for me when I was in Michigan went on and on about the “grandfather” pine on the property corner – that it was worth buying the property for that tree. 

“He” is a beauty – the photos cannot capture the size, the feeling of power and longevity – the patriarch…  But equally beautiful and interesting is a smaller tree to the right.  It is a bit hard to see in the photo but it is to the far right in the upper left photo – smaller, but same reddish-brown bark.  I say that this is a husband and wife pair – the long married couple standing side-by-side against all nature has to throw at them.  And they are gatekeepers – there is a game trail that passes right between them. 

Bob Love, Confluence Timber, who logged the property estimates that the large tree is over 200 years old – maybe 250.  That is incredible to me to think that this tree has lived through 4 or 5 generations of humans.  Bob guesses that the only reason the tree was still standing, i.e. not cut for timber by someone – was that it was so close to the property boundaries that no one knew exactly whose it was.  So… he belongs to no one…

There are 2 slash marks on the trunk at about my eye level.  Bob says the marks are Grizzly marks – Grizzlies use the Ponderosa to mark their territory and warn other Griz off.  I like to think that this place is “guarded” by a Griz and the trees…

Griz Mark

Eye

EyeThe eye is fine – thanks to all who’ve asked!  The patch was just for few hours post exam when my eye was so dilated that it was scary to look at and very sensitive to light. 

This morning just before a morning walk… 

Rainy day Monday

RaincoatRain – finally!!  It has been cooler and fall-like but we really needed some rain to put a final end to fire season.  Today’s rain will not put everything out but it is supposed to continue through the week and hopefully things will get damp enough to be rid of smoke for good.  Skies have been mostly clear, but when a breeze kicks up, the sky gets hazy and smoke seeps into the valley.

The leaves are starting to turn, the sun is more southerly, no frost yet but we have been close a few nights. 

As grumpy as everyone was during the heat and smoke – we are now kind of “over the top” happy.  Everyone saying “What a beautiful day!” all over the place.

Let Fall begin!

From Obstacles to Possibilities

I spent 7 months full time in the motorhome in 2006 travelling across the U.S. and back – visiting family and friends and seeing new things.  I was in Traverse City, MI – late June – a spot where my family vacationed when I was a child and home to my Great-Aunt Betty.   The mid-west heat and humidity made me homesick for the west, the mountains and Montana and one afternoon I looked at the Montana real estate online site and saw…  1 bedroom, 1 bath house on 8 acres on a road I knew and liked….  I had a friend look at it for me – should I fly back??  She looked, called me and said I should, that it was “me” and a special piece of property.  I was on the ‘net booking a flight when I panicked – it just did not feel right.  I regrouped, phoned her and told her I would wait until I returned in late July and look – if it was right, it would be there.

Late July I arrived back in Montana and set up in an RV park near Glacier National Park.  The house was still on the market and the price had been reduced.  I had an appointment to see it within a couple days of returning.  I was sure it would be perfect – it wasn’t…  The yard was overgrown, the front porch needed help, the interior had this low ceiling, goofy light fixtures, the garage had no power to it, the woods badly needed cleanup…on and on – all I saw was stuff that needed to be done and needed money to do it.  I had been overwhelmed by my last house and really wanted something simpler…

I went away disappointed and disheartened.  I decided to look at modest homes, with a bit of yard that could be fenced and try “city” living.  I made lists from the real estate site, drove past many homes in many neighborhoods.  I looked at some.  On my birthday I was looking at a couple of houses in a subdivision – new homes, nice houses, perfect landscaping – in my price range.  I stood in one and looked out past the neighboring houses to a nice view.  All I could think about was the goofy little house in the woods. 

I spent that birthday afternoon walking through the woods and the house and felt like I had come home.  The rightness of that place – for me – turned all of the obstacles into possibilities.  Suddenly I saw the opportunity to have something I had dreamed of.  It didn’t look exactly like my “dream” but it had the possibility to be that and maybe more.

From obstacles to possibilities – it happens with people too… people who cross our path who at first it seems like there are differences or distances of some sort that make friendship or closeness seem impossible – but some connection, some intangible want or need changes things.  

I’ve learned to catch myself when everything in my path seems like an obstacle – and REALLY look – into my heart – to see if maybe, just maybe that “obstacle” is really a possibility that I don’t want to miss.

a new perspective

I wrote the title above having an idea of what I intended to write about and then started wondering if I had the word right?  Or, if there were varied meanings so did I need to make clear which I was thinking about…

From Merriam-Webster (online)

per·spec·tive  noun

Etymology: Middle English perspectyf, from Medieval Latin perspectivum, from neuter of perspectivus of sight, optical, from Latin perspectus, past participle of perspicere to look through, see clearly, from per- through + specere to look — more at

From Wikipedia – (which is not necessarily accurate as the entries can be submitted by anyone..) 

Perspective may mean:

Literally, in visual topics:

Metaphorically, in relation to cognitive topics:

Onward, then… “perspective” – “to look more at” and “the way in which objects appear to the eye” – that’s behind today’s thoughts.  Pine Tree  Walking yesterday, I turned to check on Karl and saw this tree – backlit by the late afternoon sun.  I walk past this tree once or twice a day – I’m usually looking out at the mountains which are beautiful and majestic in the opposite direction.

But today, by accident of timing, I turned at a moment when this ordinary tree was cast in extraordinary beauty – at least to my eye.

Years ago, during a difficult time for me, I was seeing a counselor and had related some incident that was upsetting to me.  His comment when I finished my rant was simply: “You could look at it that way or you could look at it this way” and he told the incident from a “different” [new to me] perspective.  Either one could have been the “truth” or even some other scenario…

A valuable lesson – actually more than one:  Most of us are not mind readers and it is so easy to look at things, events or people from a point of view unique to our own experience but not necessairily accurate.

Sometimes, we need to turn around, take a step forward, backward, to the side, cock our head – look more at – the world and the people we care about. 

A slight change in perspective can change the ordinary into the extraordinary.

A Goose Story

This “story” is not mine… last year about this time I kept hearing geese flying over – flight after flight of them, directly over my house. They were just above tree top and lots of honking and flapping of wings to be heard.  I got to wondering – why all of the honking, how did they decide who flew with who, how do they decide when to leave – some leave early, some late – I know why the V formation but the other ???  I googled “goose” and this is my favorite even though it doesn’t answer all of the questions.  Here is the exact link to the original:  The Goose Story

Next fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in ‘V formation, think about what science has learned about why they fly that way.

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following it.  By flying in a ‘V formation, the whole flock can fly at least 71% farther than if each bird flew on its own.

Perhaps people who share a common direction can get where they are going quicker and easier if they cooperate.

When a goose falls out of formation, it feels the resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of flying with the flock.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will work with others who are going the same way as we are.

When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies on the point.

It pays to take turns doing hard jobs for our group.

The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. The lead goose (on the point) never honks

The power of praise and recognition is critical to success.

Finally, (get this) when a goose weakens or is wounded and falls out of formation, two geese fall out and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and they then set out on their own or with another formation until they catch up with the group.

If we had the sense of a goose, we would stand by each other like that.