I’ve been enjoying books since I hate this cold weather, ha! I just finished Solito by Javier Zamora. It’s a memoir of when the author was 9-years old and took the long journey by himself from El Salvador to the US to join his parents. It’s beautifully written (the man is a poet). He found “family” along the way but his journey was so treacherous. It makes me tear up just to think of how so many people have struggled to come here for the American dream but now we are just so, I don’t know, evil maybe.
I've made a deep dive into books this past month and highly recommend to anyone who loves nature to read the novel Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. It was a joy. I'm posting travel and nature photos over on BlueSky instead of Instagram these days, too. And tugging myself out of the doldrums to be creative again. Yay you on taking over the newsletter! Next time we get to TX (not this year) we will have to see your rare plant preserve.
I saw your post with all of the books! I am very impressed. I got about halfway through RBC on audio late last year and couldn't finish it. Maybe I'll try again on paper one day.
RE: doldrums and creativity---been trying to get back into art and am thinking about doing some mixed media for a while. Less structure, more play!
Do let me know if you make it to East Texas! Will do a whole Big Thicket tour!
Thank you for introducing me to another cool tree!! Hercules’ club trees ... never heard of them, nor sugar hackberries. I just bought the book "The Hidden Life of Trees," the graphic adaptation, since trees bring me so much joy.
I would love for you to come back up to AK & we can go land snorkeling for mosses & lichen together!!
Our TMN chapter has completed lesson plans for our summer kids programming (Nature Quest). The theme is : "Could Bigfoot Live in Southeast Texas? Come explore the four major ecosystems in our area on an imaginary hunt for the legendary hominid. Learn about the resources on the beach, in the swamp, marsh and forest that indigenous people have used for survival. New species are discovered annually in southeast Texas; who knows what our research will reveal?"
I am excited to see if this whimsical take on nature classes will draw kids who are marginally interested and convert them to conservationists!
I haven’t used it for an actual toothache but I have chewed on stems and there’s a definite numbing effect. Taste is stemy or basically what you’d expect a green piece of wood to taste like.
Today I went to this mini butterfly zoo: https://www.mariposario.com/
Amazing!
That looks like a cool place to visit!
I’ve been enjoying books since I hate this cold weather, ha! I just finished Solito by Javier Zamora. It’s a memoir of when the author was 9-years old and took the long journey by himself from El Salvador to the US to join his parents. It’s beautifully written (the man is a poet). He found “family” along the way but his journey was so treacherous. It makes me tear up just to think of how so many people have struggled to come here for the American dream but now we are just so, I don’t know, evil maybe.
Ooh that sounds intriguing! I'll add it to my TBR!
Adding to my list.
I've made a deep dive into books this past month and highly recommend to anyone who loves nature to read the novel Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. It was a joy. I'm posting travel and nature photos over on BlueSky instead of Instagram these days, too. And tugging myself out of the doldrums to be creative again. Yay you on taking over the newsletter! Next time we get to TX (not this year) we will have to see your rare plant preserve.
I saw your post with all of the books! I am very impressed. I got about halfway through RBC on audio late last year and couldn't finish it. Maybe I'll try again on paper one day.
RE: doldrums and creativity---been trying to get back into art and am thinking about doing some mixed media for a while. Less structure, more play!
Do let me know if you make it to East Texas! Will do a whole Big Thicket tour!
Thank you for introducing me to another cool tree!! Hercules’ club trees ... never heard of them, nor sugar hackberries. I just bought the book "The Hidden Life of Trees," the graphic adaptation, since trees bring me so much joy.
I would love for you to come back up to AK & we can go land snorkeling for mosses & lichen together!!
Next time you are in Texas (lol???) I’ll take you to see some!
I got that book at our work Secret Santa exchange and I need to crack it open to read soon! Maybe we should do a mini-book club on it!
I was just telling Forest that we needed to come back to AK soon. Maybe next summer!
Great to take a little hike with you, Misti.
Our TMN chapter has completed lesson plans for our summer kids programming (Nature Quest). The theme is : "Could Bigfoot Live in Southeast Texas? Come explore the four major ecosystems in our area on an imaginary hunt for the legendary hominid. Learn about the resources on the beach, in the swamp, marsh and forest that indigenous people have used for survival. New species are discovered annually in southeast Texas; who knows what our research will reveal?"
I am excited to see if this whimsical take on nature classes will draw kids who are marginally interested and convert them to conservationists!
Love the script lichen!
My grandfather greatly valued "tickle tongue" trees for their tooth ache numbing power. Whether they really worked or not, I dunno.
I think it does work but I’ve never tried it!
I haven’t used it for an actual toothache but I have chewed on stems and there’s a definite numbing effect. Taste is stemy or basically what you’d expect a green piece of wood to taste like.