man meets turkey

I just watched a most wonderful video online 

called My Life as a Turkey.

The photos I post today came from this video,

which is an episode of 

Public Broadcasting System's show Nature.

I think every single one of you who 

peek at this blog will LOVE it.

You might be able to see it this week

on the "big screen"  (your tv),

whenever your local station airs Nature.

You can also watch it on your computer by 

clicking on the link above.

Include your kids.  Include all the nature lovers you know.

It is heartwarming and full of inspiration.

Years ago, a wildlife writer named Joe Hutto wrote the book

My Life as a Turkey

recording his experience of incubating

a dish full of wild turkey eggs given to him

by a friend.

He made turkey noises at the eggs while they were incubating,

and the eggs spoke back.

When 16 eggs hatched,

he found he was committed to raising them

as a turkey mom would.

This video is a re-inactment of Hutto's story

by filmmaker David Allen,

"starring" a different clutch of turkeys

and the wildlife photographer and actor Jeff Palmer playing Hutto.

Palmer recites Hutto's words

and the camera follows the turkey family

through over a year of mutual learning

and wonder.  

These photos are all stills from David Allen's

superb cinematography.

The lessons the turkeys learn during the year and a half

pale in comparison to the lessons learned by 

the human "turkey mom".

Five stars.  Two thumbs up.

Don't miss it!

more dubbin' around

Hello, good people.

I'm sitting here by the fire,

looking at photos I took last summer on Monhegan.

The one below was a good idea, but the light was awful 

and it kind of went flat.

I've been trying to learn Photoshop by

trying this, then trying that...

(and trying as well to remember what it is I just did.)

So I took it to P-shop.

After trying a number of things,

some of which I cancelled,

some of which I saved, here's what it became.

(I even used the lasoo tool!)

Then I 'distorted' it by applying some 'glass'....  

Dubbin' around.  Another local occupation!

local occupation

Woody Guthrie used to say of himself

that he was a 'traveling man'--

a necessary part of a large community, or nation,

whose job it was to go out in the world

and bring back to those who couldn't be there,

the news of what was going on with 

all sorts of people.

This is my homage to Woody.

Lincoln Park, Portland Maine

and

downtown Brunswick Maine.

offerings: 11-11-11

Commemorating the season and the weather

November light in a northern New England town

Remembering those who served,

 ...while wishing for another way.

What did  you see on 11-11-11??

11 eleven project

Here's an idea for all of us.

Have you heard of it?

It's called the  11 eleven project.

A group of good folks is proposing a world-wide happening

to take place

all day on 11-11-11.

Which happens to be today for some of us,

and for others of us, only hours away.

For the 24 hours of 11-11-11,

They are requesting images, sounds, music

blogs, tweets--

anything and everything to record the experience of the day,

worldwide.

For instance, I might record the pounding of the rain

on my skylights just as midnight hits,

then tomorrow take some photos,

write a blog, put down some thoughts--

to share with everyone else in the world who 

cares to participate.

The project creators hope to make a documentary film,

a world music collection,

and a book.

100% of the proceeds from these projects

will be split evenly among

six very worthy non-profits.

What an exciting idea!

For many of us in the States, Friday is a holiday.

Lots of time to get out there and just BE--

then share what happens when we do that.

I'm playing.  Are you??

Click on the link above to find out who, what, where, when,

and HOW.  

...then come back here to tell me how you observed the day.

Have fun!

milestone!

Today this blog observed a milestone.

It tallied 10,000 visits.   That figure flat out awes me.

...more than words can say.

It has been nine months.

The only more amazing thing I have done in that length of time

is harbor each of my two babies until they were ready

to come into the world on their own.

I owe this blogging gift of discovery and joy

to each and every one of you who has visited, even once--

and to my faithful readers and commenters,

and your amazing support and encouragement.

I've had such a good time getting to know you.

I feel that many of you are friends now.

Sometimes I quote you to my local friends--

share your stories, talk about your photos.

I admire your work, consider you my mentors,

...and, gosh, I'm just plain proud to know you!

Thank you for stopping by!

an autumn lament

   

Urge For Going

by Joni Mitchell

I awoke today and found
the frost perched on the town.
It hovered in a frozen sky
then it gobbled summer down.
When the sun turns traitor cold
and all the trees are shivering in a naked row

I get the urge for going,
But I never seem to go.
I get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown,
Summertime is falling down, and winter's closing in.

...

Now the warriors of winter
They give a cold triumphant shout.
And all that stays is dying
And all that lives is gettin' out.
See the geese in chevron flight
Flapping and racing on before the snow.

They got the urge for going
And they got the wings so they can go.
They get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down, and winter's closing in.

I'll ply the fire with kindling now,

I'll pull the blankets up to my chin.
I'll lock the vagrant winter out and
I'll bolt my wanderings in
I'd like to call back summertime
Have her stay for just another month or so...

But she's got the urge for going
So I guess she'll have to go.
She gets the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown.
All her empire's falling down,

And winter's closing in.