This photo was taken at the mountain cabin of my life-long friend, the one who I refer to with utmost affection as "Bear Woman." This is one of her bears that I personally encountered on my recent journey north. Can you see me peeking out of the door from the porch? No, just kidding. On this occasion, I was not present. The day I was there, the bear was even closer, and there were two of them!
I have become much more aware of the proximity of bears, and indeed many forms of wildlife, to human habitation. In these instances, it is the wild animal that loses. We humans move into their space, and then can't abide their presence or their nature-dictated ways. It remains to be seen what happens to the unfortunate creature lately in the news in Colorado.
In the meantime, there are lessons to be gleaned from Bears:
Live Large
Climb Beyond Your Limitations
When Life gets Hairy, Grin and Bear it
Eat (Berry) Well
Live with the Seasons
Take a Good Long Nap
Look After Your Honey
Live Large
Climb Beyond Your Limitations
When Life gets Hairy, Grin and Bear it
Eat (Berry) Well
Live with the Seasons
Take a Good Long Nap
Look After Your Honey
(adapted from Ilan Shamir)
105 comments:
I posted 'Advice from a Bear' on TM, but I thought it would do well here too.
Ivy, A beautiful animal. A very scary looking animal. An unbelievable photo. Who in the world took that photo, and how did they get that close.
I just love your relationship to nature.
... and glad you brought the bear advice over here too.
Chloe, they have a motion-activated camera mounted on the tree. Catches burglars too.
Ivy, That bear is as big as a Grizzly...ykes.
I'm not sure if this is the mama or the cub. The mama weighs 500+/- pounds, they estimate.
Me thinks it's a "sweet face."
I wouldn't be peeking out the door. Great post Ivy.
Now that Tony is here, what kind of name are you going to call him....Im still thinking about mine
Solar, we get to pick our own names. If it's from someone else, it's just a suggestion.
Wonderful picture and I love the bear lessons.
Ivy, you never said how long you would be gone. We must prepare our hearts for the separation.
Ivy, your friends don't feed them, do they? This was last month in Colorado.
"Witnesses have spotted up to 14 bears at a time around Munson's property over the years, wildlife officials said.
Baskfield said wildlife lovers may believe they are helping bears by feeding them, but the opposite is true. Feeding bears can teach them to look for food around humans, he said.
It increases the risk that bears could confront humans, enter homes, or be killed by cars as they look for food. "They are no longer wild animals at that point. They're no longer behaving the way they should," Baskfield said." http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/autopsy_shows_bear_killed_woma.html
Carol, Did you see Tony's posts and questions? And can you send him an invitation?
yes Chloe, I would love to.
Tony should be getting an invitation if I have his email correct.
Carol and Ivy,
Do mind if I link this bear blog over at TM? Also Carol, are others invited to become a contributor or do you want to keep that group small?
(Thanks for mailing that to Tony so quickly Carol)
Hey Solar, maybe I have found that giant beav. Maybe that's you. You are in the contruction business aren't you?
This is a group project Ivy. This blog is listed over at the Trail. Anyone's welcome.
Us girls and boys in the south are very hospitable. Even though you are up north Solar, you were raised in the south.
All inclusive Carol. An important trait.
Carol, if I can post from afar, I won't really be gone. As long as technology doesn't fail me. Besides, I don't want anyone "counting the days," least of all me.
It is probable I will only just get adapted to the time change when it will be time to come home.
Ivy
Nice!
Chloe,
My friends are "naturalists," and know not to feed the bears. They do not feed them on purpose. The evening I saw the bear-pair, they were feeding on dried corn that had been scattered for the deer. I even worry about that. I think my friends being as careful as it's possible to be and still "live with bears." Most importantly, they know it's the bears' home, and it is they who are the "visitors."
Carol,
Once again, thanks, and you make me feel welcomed...I like the giant beaver-construction concept..I was think along the lines of a badger, wolverine...or my favorite..Count Solar, The compassionate Vampire.....with all of these beautiful women necks around here: mmmmmmm, and J. W. would be the first...no you don't have to take that cross off...yeah,,just turn your neck a little to the right.....Oh , but I don't drink blood... a bottle of ice cold bud, and a little tequila....
J.W. cos, you are new blood....youll find out.! hahahaha
Solar, how funny. Only my husband wears a cross. How about a coors light?
Carol, thanks for advice on copying links - I am working on learning how to do this- still kinks for me.
No, Coors light: If it aint Budweiser, it aint beer......or something like that..
Tony,
I have noticed that you are keeping your eye out for that religion thing: Just about everything has a tinge about it no?
Did you see my hate post, it is also about the hate that gay have, and still go thru...
Solar, you ever try that salt, a bite into a lime and a slug of tequila trick? Don't do it the night before you have to make a presentation.
Carol, Nope I have never tried that. I was a serious about my tequila, and beer chaser.... I still have one or two occasionally... what I could never have is ....Gin...it makes me......
"Most importantly, they know it's the bears' home, and it is they who are the "visitors."
Ivy, I should have known they would be naturalists. It was dumb for me to even ask. But thanks for taking the time to reassure me. I look forward to more of their photos the future (or I should say, hope to see more).
Friday night Carol, and nice a cool like a lot of Fridaynights that I spent in N.C. Jacksonville.
I was in this bar were eveyone was trying to hit on the bartender...think her name was Sue..any way no one was having any luck with her.
I gave it my shot and didn't do any better....want to here what happened...kinda cool?
Hey what going on with these times, my time is 7:19----are you two hrs behind ??
Go for it Solar.
We're on west coast time Solar. Can't change it.
Created a good Mexican casserole tonight. Involves baked spicy chicken, cream of mushroom soup, light sour cream, chicken broth, jalapeno peppers, flour tortillas and Mexican cheese. It's a good cool weather dish and since it's been raining all day, it is cool. If you consider 70s cool.
That looks good, and not hard to make...thanks
Chloe,
We think the bears don't put two-and-two together, necessarily (they're not as smart as Charlotte.) They seem to make a circuit, in other words follow a circular pattern of hunting that is dictated by their internal rhythms, rather than their memory of where the food was. They are a little like "route salesmen," cruising through their territory and letting their nose lead them to whatever food happens to be there. Their most acute sense is their sense of smell. Even in the picture here, I notice Bear sniffing in the direction of where the beehives are located (no, they haven't burgled any bees yet!)
oooh, Carol, can we get that recipe? Can you substitute cream-of-chicken soup for those allergic to mushroom?
Chloe,
The bears haven't changed their route just because someone built a house in the middle of it!
Carol,
We call that Sopa...like thick soup that is served at weddings, I have never made it, so pleas give the info. on how to...can we add cilantro?
"The bears haven't changed their route just because someone built a house in the middle of it!"
Aha Ivy. Gotcha. You know, I think those bears are just like everyone else. They're as smart as they need to be. That pattern they make is probably what keeps them alive. All wild animals live by instinct alone.
Bake the chicken. Season to taste. I use my Tony's seasoning and I bake with some butter, bad girl. I use the boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I cut them up. They cook in 30- 40 minutes.
Mix a can of cream of mushroom soup, about half that much or more light sour cream and some chicken broth to thin it a little. Also put the juice from the baked chicken in it.
Tear up flour tortillas and cover the bottom of cooking pan. I used a 9 inch square glass baking dish because it is only me. Probably would serve 4 with a salad.
Tear up some of the chicken and layer over the torn up tortillas, then spoon over some of the soup/sour cream mixture. More torn up tortillas, chicken then mixture. On one layer I add diced up, jalopenas. Take the seeds out to reduce ass burn later.
End the layers with a layer of the torn tortillas.
Cook at about 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Add the Mexican cheese, which is usually a combination of jack and cheddar, put it back in the oven for a little while to melt. That's a spicy good.
Chloe,
I had a devil of a time picking a book to take on my trip. I finally settled on "Year of Wonders" by Geraldine Brooks. It is "a novel of the Plague," situated in the year 1666. It fills my two criteria: it's historical, and it's not too big to carry. Brooks is a Pulitzer-prize winner.
From Brooks' official website: "Her first novel, Year of Wonders, published in 2001, was inspired by the true story of Eyam, Derbyshire, where villagers voluntarily quarantined themselves when plague struck in 1665."
I'm getting closer to "Kindle time," but not there yet. Do you happen to know if it "works" outside of the U.S.?
Don't know how cilantro would do Jan. I wouldn't add it. It is more of a creamy dish. Cilantro goes better with a tomato base.
Ivy, I'm sure it'll work anywhere. I can't remember if there's an adapter for the charger though. I would imagine you can get them where you travel to though. The charge also lasts a long time, but I'm not sure how long you're going to be in flight.
I've heard good things about the new kindle. It's larger, and from what I understand has a few other improvements also.
You can download either by using the attachment to your computer that comes with it, or if you're within reach of wireless, you can download straight onto the kindle without the hook up.
Carol, I lost a day somewhere, I said it was Friday night....Saturdaynight.. I used to drink on only the nights that had a T in them....Tuesday, Twensday, Thursday, Triday, Taturday,Tunday, and sometimes on Tonday,,,,just a little joke...
Cute Solar. I was off cleaning. Since Tony dropped in I felt the need to clean house.
Yeah, Tony will have that effect, but he better not stop me from telling my jokes at times...I will clean them up a little, but.....
Chloe,
In Colorado, I encountered a lady who let me "play" with her new Kindle. She has the original and the new upgrade, and loves them both. She said the new version is fabulous. It seemed great to me, but I never saw the original to compare it with.
I was watching a little video about the Kindle on Amazon and they mentioned following a blog on the Kindle. Is it like a computer?
Chloe,
Bear Woman wrote after I sent her the link to your Colorado story: "It's so sad that they will kill this bear. That is why we try not to feed the bears. We DO feed the deer but usually only after the bears have hibernated for the season. If we do take fruit up for the bears we take it away from the cabin so that they do not associate it with people. We don't want "our" bears to go to someone else's cabin and get into trouble."
She doesn't say so here, but I know she also educates her neighbors about bear ecology.
Ivy, I wonder why they just can't trap and move the bear to a more wilderness area?
Humans are just talking up too much space on this planet. We need those death panels initiated very soon. Just kidding.
Good question, Carol. I hope more will be revealed.
Carol,
These are excerpts from the AP article about the Aspen attack yesterday: "Wildlife officers are searching for the bear in the neighborhood and have set up a trap in the area. The bear will be euthanized when it is found...."it's been incredibly frustrating" for wildlife officers to have to deal with the increased bear activity and have to euthanize the animals because people are not disposing of trash and storing food properly."
There was another article from a local paper that said the neighbors complained the garbage that attracted the bear to the neighborhood was left by workers installing a new sewer line.
"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."
Carol, The kindle does a lot of things that I don't take advantage of, because I almost always take a small, wireless lap top with me where ever I go (it has sprint, I think you said you have that too. But the Kindell is wireless, and will connect to the web. I'm going to link the amazon site. Go down to Product Overview if you want to see anything else about it: as you can see, it updates the blog throughout the day, and may not be as true time as we're used to.
"More than 5000 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post—all updated wirelessly throughout the day." http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-com-kindle/dp/B000FI73MA
Jan, I am wondering if you'd like step by step instructions on copying and pasting these link addresses to your address bar, so you can go to them. If so, there's not much to it, and I'll be glad to help you. Just leave a message here. (You do have windows and not apple, right?)
I made a one word typing error on that comment that changed the whole meaning. Since I couldn't fix it, I had to delete it and start over.
"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."
Nice quote Ivy. Actually, I think all love comes pretty much the same place. Loving an animal, teaching children to love animals and to be kind to them, teaches them to love and empathize better, period. Yes, I think the quality of love we're capable of is learned.
Plus, loving animals gives us a chance to make use of our nurturing abilities, and to give unconditional love. We 'always' get back more than we give, imo.
So true, Chloe.
Chloe, You guys have raised children and helped raise grandchildren. I think a good ponder would be what you learned raising your children that makes you a better grandmother.
Also, do your children listen to any of your advice on what you learned the hard way about raising kids or are the determined to make their own mistakes?
Should be, helping to raise grandchildren since you are all still doing it now.
Another good ponder would be do kids learn from their parents mistakes in life or do the just repeat them and try to top them? I see a lot of the in jail.
Ivy, have a wonderful trip and keep in touch.
Chloe, I want one of those Kindles even though I don't need one. I have a difficult time sitting and reading. I don't sleep much but if I get a book and try to read, within minutes I am sawing logs.
I love books though and the thought of carrying all my books with me is cool.
The last book I read was about this woman, Gwen Roland, who spent about 10 years living on a houseboat in the Atchafalaya Basin. It's a huge swamp in central Louisiana. It was a very neat story. She certainly had courage I never had, even as a youngster.
I saw her story on PBS and had to read her book. It was a little book and easy to read.
Another problem with reading books is that I need to catch up on so many continuing ed programs and won't allow myself any pleasure reading until I do the stuff I have to do.
http://www.amazon.com/Atchafalaya-Houseboat-Years-Louisiana-Swamp/dp/0807130893/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252852986&sr=1-1
.. not my style, Carol.
I told you at the beginning, that I would not write a post (but may eventually, if I actually take a picture I like or run across something I really want to talk about).
Those things we learn by (and about) raising children, and now grandchildren, are all just opinion. You've learned the same things that we all learn from those guys at the jail. They usually don't take advice, and they learn from their own mistakes, not from what they've been told.
All those ideas you asked about raising children, and how it helps make you a better grandmother, you already know the answer to. Practice makes perfect, and we all get more wise as we get older (hopefully).
I really want to help you out here, but I haven't much to say yet. I realize that may be hard to understand, because I'm so wordy down here in the comments section, but you'll have to take my word for it.
Carol, I'm the same way about reading. I love it, but usually do my pleasure reading just long enough to get to sleep. I've had more trouble in the last few years finding books I like too.
That book you just linked looks good! I think I may download it.
I love the Kindle for the very reasons I just mentioned. Also, because I can download on the spur of the moment. Books are never more than $9.99 and I can save them, if I've downloaded them, but it takes me a while to read them.
.. have to go to town to buy feed. Back later.
Buy feed........Man, one week you are making stew, and the next thing your have feed on Sunday....don't give my hoss any stew...give her an apple.....
There's an NPR interview of Gwen Roland if you are interested:
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=5367035&m=5367307
Decided to wait until after lunch to go get the feed (making some enchiladas).
Solar, Cheyenne will get her apple this morning, but she won't be real happy until I get back with her grain. None of them are.
Carol, Thanks for the Gwen Roland link.... I'm going to go over and check it out. From your Atchafalaya Houseboat link, these are a couple of comments on it:
"I could hardly put this book down. It was so interesting to see how Gwen Roland & Calvin Voisin lived for so many years. I also enjoyed reading about all of Gwen's travels all over. She has done things that much of us never even dream of doing!"
Amazon is such a great site, because they'll let you look at excerpts, etc. from the book, before you buy.
... I'd better start cooking... what a pain... but I'll be glad when it's done.
oops, the second comment:
"Special people in a special place wonderfully told by someone you wish you had coffee with in the mornings. One to keep close to your heart."
The only criticism I have for Gwen's book is that I wanted more details of life on a houseboat. I wish the book would have been longer. I was sorry when I finished reading it.
I also bought two of C C Lockwoods photo books on the Basin. He had pics of Gwen's life on the houseboat and the first one I ordered was the wrong one so I had the order another one. I really wasn't sorry since both books were great.
Everything is as ready as I can make it. If there's some detail I forgot, it will have to stay forgot. Time for me to run along...remember what I said, no counting the days...it's one day at a time. See you soon!
I don't have anything to add about children and grandchildren at this moment. I was a mother at 19 and have 8 grandchildren. I guess I do have a regret about when my children were younger and that is, I wish I had spent more time with them and not as much time in other things. Those years go so fast. It is so true, as I approach retirement, I never wish I had spent more time on work.
Chloe, do you have horses, cows? Do you live on a ranch?
The book about life on a houseboat sounds interesting. Think I will look it up too. I perfer books by women - sorry Solar.
Chloe, what is a kindle?
JW<
No need to be sorry, I will read anything, as long as it is no-fiction...I love to read about Anthropology, and all of the sciences. What I have done, it tape a lot of these programs for years.....it was a lot fast for me, than to order books...I do, but I have to really like them ...
Kindle is like an I-pod. You can down load a book, and read it like you are reading this...I don't have one,,Im waiting for the movie....
Side Saddle,
I eat a lot of grains: ....don't know what that means...Im a hoss...I like enchiladas tho...:-))
JW,
I nicked Chloe, Side Saddle Sally a while back...Cheyenne is one of three horses ( I think three) she has. I even have a pic of her doing a rodeo..... its a little racy...
I have one of Carol, fishing that's really a racy one....whooooo, whoooo--wolf whistle here...
Thanks Solar for info on kindle.
Saw a movee last night with John, Inglorious Basterds. Great to see Nazi's get what deserved, but much too violent for me. I was exhausted afterwards. Reading about Julia Child helped me recover.
JW,
Welcome, Chloe, will probably tell you more about it...those pics that I say I have of them. I don't I just love to tease them both...altho they could send me one if they wanted to.....that way I wouldn't be telling lies...
" they could send me one if they wanted to.."
Ha Solar, Send you what. A racy photo?
Solar, I love grains too. Breads, cereals, pastas... I could live on that and fruits (as longs as I had potatoes too).
Jan, We live on a few acres and have horses, but don't call it a ranch.
I see you saw Inglorious Basterds... so did I and thought it was very good. But , you are right, Tarantino's movies are always excessively violent, but always worth seeing too.
The Kindle is about the size (in height and width, but is thin like an ipod) of a hard cover book, and has it's own wireless connection, so you can download books on it straight from Amazon. It's sorta of a computer, except it's not backlit, so to be easier on the eyes. You can also download newspapers, magazines, blogs etc on it, and it holds and organizes a large amount of information. Solar was right to compare it to an ipod too, because the new touch ipod is a sorta computer too. It's wireless, and downloads music and information straight from the apple site.
I'm experimenting on trying to hyperlink here, but things aren't quite right. Click on: amazon
Chlo,
I knew that you would do it...now can you do it again...I linked on the amazon, and it worked. Nice job kiddo..
Solar, I'm linking where I got the formula, but it only works by using a description word, instead of linking the normal way. But it's a beginning. This is the page: Just type hyperlink
Solar, Maybe you could ask your tech buddies if there's another say.
I will, It takes a little time to get back an answer tho...but the hyperlink is about it I think, unless the blog would be programmed for it-?? but still a nice effort.!
Chlo,
Im going to cheat today, and have your favorite....Apple pie with Ice cream..a big piece...
Ok, You can just put the address in both places on the address, but it sure seems like a lot of work. But easy enough if I keep the formula handy, and just fill in the blanks.
http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-com-kindle/dp/B000FI73MA
Cheatings good Solar. Especially for apple pie and ice cream.
Chlo,
You just helped make this a complete blog, and might attract a few more people...did you see: up to 9 now..8 really if you don't count the host twice...
Chloe, that looks complicated. You have to type all those symbols?
Carl,
Click on Chlos' 1:56 post, it has a formula that she went thru to do it...I haven't tried but will get to it later....
Solar, I noticed that Carol was getting more followers all the time. I don't think many people will bother with this formula though (only I'm, that crazy).
Carol, I just put the formula on notepad and fill in the necessary area:
text you're link from
So, I'd highlight the area with web address and replace it with the url I want to link, then do the same thing in the link from area, so I wouldn't be typing anything, really.
But you're right, it's too complicated. We need easy.
click on hyperlink that is, on the right hand bottom.. it highlighted in blue..
oops again. That text you're link from was supposed to be a copy of the formula, but it changed itself into some kind of (bad) link.
Don't make me start talking to myself again...im the only one that listens...
Solar, I know for a fact that you have a whole group of people there to talk to, and they all listen. Right there in your noggin. :)
What! R U calling me nuts? What kind of talk is that...70-69-68
.. better late than never.. 67-66-65
(you're the most sane person I know) :)
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