As far as finding an object, everything is pretty much covered in snow! But I did find five deer in my driveway upon returning home from a drink downtown with one of my girlfriends, and city girl that I am, I never cease to be amazed by their beauty. I am lucky to witness their fawn stage in the spring, so sweet and vulnerable, and their teenage phase, where they stamp their hooves at me when I encroach on their woods to walk back to my garden, and their adult stage, where I often get to see them fattened up for winter with their big puffy fur, and nurturing their young in the spring. I will never tire of watching the deer!
For my favorite nature-inspired text, I don't even know where to begin, but my most recent favorite is "Into Siberia: George Kennan's Epic Journey Through the Brutal Frozen Heart of Russia." What a title! And it made my feel like my Michigan winter is a walk in the park compared to tent camping in Siberia!
We adopted our son from Siberia and traveled to pick him up in February of 2001. He's 25 now but the story is one of the great adventure stories and it's always one we are asked to tell.
I hate that you can’t post a picture in the comments (that I can tell). But I’d post a photo of my dog’s footprint in the fresh snow that fell overnight. Fresh snow almost always makes me happy.
As far as a nature -inspired book, I was going to say “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed, but the I thought back even further & remembered how “My Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craighead George completely captivated me (George’s “Julie of the Wolves” was a close second). I was so taken with the idea of a kid being able to live in nature by themselves, I journaled about it for weeks.
I'm a pine cone lover, I have them above my sink with antique medicine bottles my mother collected. When I walked yesterday, I looked at all the fallen trees in the "forest" around me, probably because I was at the end of the book "How to Love a Forest" by Ethan Tapper. He's giving a webinar/talk with my job on Feb. 27.
The most inspiring nature-related book I've ever read is one of my top ten reads of all time. "The Sun is a Compass" by Caroline Van Hemert. I read it in 2019 but I always recommend it when asked. The other good nature-related book I read in 2024 and have gifted it twice since is "Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon".
"Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon"--We read this last fall before a paddling trip! Those women were amazing! (Although the press seemed much more worried about what they were wearing than their accomplishments!)
I've never been, I'm assuming they are Sugar Pines. One of the Garden Centers near us ship Sugar Pine Cones in for Christmas decorating. I do have a Longleaf Pine Cone from Florida which are the largest pine cones in the southern United States.
I’m in the middle of a six day stretch of 12 hour shifts at the hospital and because I travel to all the West Michigan Regional hospitals I have some long commutes. This morning as I left Gerber in Fremont, I was grumbling to myself about the snow that had fallen and the challenge of navigating those snow covered country roads in my little Toyota. Discouraged that I had to drive so slow, but then so thankful I was driving so slow, when three deer crossed the road in front of me. They were fuzzy with thick coats. One paused to look at me approaching and then they all slipped back into the woods. Their tails were as bright white as the fresh fallen snow. It was a reset I needed in shifting my mood and attitude towards the wintery wonderland I was driving through.
The nature book that has inspired me the most was Bill Brysons “A Walk in the Woods”. The first time I heard it I was traveling with my husband and three young children to Arkansas to visit family. The kids were all napping and my husband asked if I cared if we listened to an audiobook he had just started- It was of course “A Walk in the Woods”. I was enthralled… I had never heard of the Appalachian Trail before. I told my husband at one point of that trip “Someday, I’m going to hike that trail….,”. It took 20 years of living- working, returning to school, putting ny kids through college, surviving a pandemic as a nurse, but I made my “someday” happen. And although Bryson never finished the trail, it’s still my favorite book about the Appalachian Trail.
It’s so hard to pick out my favorite place- I really loved every State. But if forced to pick favorite State, I’d have to say Maine. New Hampshire was breathtaking too, but the most difficult to traverse.
As far as finding an object, everything is pretty much covered in snow! But I did find five deer in my driveway upon returning home from a drink downtown with one of my girlfriends, and city girl that I am, I never cease to be amazed by their beauty. I am lucky to witness their fawn stage in the spring, so sweet and vulnerable, and their teenage phase, where they stamp their hooves at me when I encroach on their woods to walk back to my garden, and their adult stage, where I often get to see them fattened up for winter with their big puffy fur, and nurturing their young in the spring. I will never tire of watching the deer!
For my favorite nature-inspired text, I don't even know where to begin, but my most recent favorite is "Into Siberia: George Kennan's Epic Journey Through the Brutal Frozen Heart of Russia." What a title! And it made my feel like my Michigan winter is a walk in the park compared to tent camping in Siberia!
I always love reading your writing.
Jennifer, I went to Siberia in February in 2001. And it was so cold.
What?! Tell me more about why you were in Siberia! (please!)
We adopted our son from Siberia and traveled to pick him up in February of 2001. He's 25 now but the story is one of the great adventure stories and it's always one we are asked to tell.
Oh my goodness—that is incredible!
I hate that you can’t post a picture in the comments (that I can tell). But I’d post a photo of my dog’s footprint in the fresh snow that fell overnight. Fresh snow almost always makes me happy.
As far as a nature -inspired book, I was going to say “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed, but the I thought back even further & remembered how “My Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craighead George completely captivated me (George’s “Julie of the Wolves” was a close second). I was so taken with the idea of a kid being able to live in nature by themselves, I journaled about it for weeks.
I loved "Wild" and when I went to the PNW, I made sure to step my feet on the PCT.
I'm a pine cone lover, I have them above my sink with antique medicine bottles my mother collected. When I walked yesterday, I looked at all the fallen trees in the "forest" around me, probably because I was at the end of the book "How to Love a Forest" by Ethan Tapper. He's giving a webinar/talk with my job on Feb. 27.
The most inspiring nature-related book I've ever read is one of my top ten reads of all time. "The Sun is a Compass" by Caroline Van Hemert. I read it in 2019 but I always recommend it when asked. The other good nature-related book I read in 2024 and have gifted it twice since is "Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon".
"Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon"--We read this last fall before a paddling trip! Those women were amazing! (Although the press seemed much more worried about what they were wearing than their accomplishments!)
Great recommendations! I’ll have to check them out. (Also, have you seen the pine ones near Lake Tahoe? They’re HUGE.)
I've never been, I'm assuming they are Sugar Pines. One of the Garden Centers near us ship Sugar Pine Cones in for Christmas decorating. I do have a Longleaf Pine Cone from Florida which are the largest pine cones in the southern United States.
I love pine cones too. My favorite is the Jeffery Pine. I first saw them on the John Muir Trail.
I’m in the middle of a six day stretch of 12 hour shifts at the hospital and because I travel to all the West Michigan Regional hospitals I have some long commutes. This morning as I left Gerber in Fremont, I was grumbling to myself about the snow that had fallen and the challenge of navigating those snow covered country roads in my little Toyota. Discouraged that I had to drive so slow, but then so thankful I was driving so slow, when three deer crossed the road in front of me. They were fuzzy with thick coats. One paused to look at me approaching and then they all slipped back into the woods. Their tails were as bright white as the fresh fallen snow. It was a reset I needed in shifting my mood and attitude towards the wintery wonderland I was driving through.
The nature book that has inspired me the most was Bill Brysons “A Walk in the Woods”. The first time I heard it I was traveling with my husband and three young children to Arkansas to visit family. The kids were all napping and my husband asked if I cared if we listened to an audiobook he had just started- It was of course “A Walk in the Woods”. I was enthralled… I had never heard of the Appalachian Trail before. I told my husband at one point of that trip “Someday, I’m going to hike that trail….,”. It took 20 years of living- working, returning to school, putting ny kids through college, surviving a pandemic as a nurse, but I made my “someday” happen. And although Bryson never finished the trail, it’s still my favorite book about the Appalachian Trail.
Adriene, great inspiration! I have hiked about 600 miles of the AT. What is your favorite place on the Appalachian Trail?
It’s so hard to pick out my favorite place- I really loved every State. But if forced to pick favorite State, I’d have to say Maine. New Hampshire was breathtaking too, but the most difficult to traverse.
Currently of the miles I've hiked, I loved, loved the Grayson Highlands, VA section with the ponies, views and Elk Garden but Max Patch has my heart.
What e phenomenal story!!