This photo, taken several years ago at the tree farm,
reminds me that everything wants to grow UP^
… Since 2010 the loblolly pine trees have gone from being boot/ankle-high to now towering well overhead. The name of the tree farm for the first ten years was BBG (Blue Bird Gulch). We worked hard making nesting boxes, placing them in the appropriate places, kept them clean, protected from predators as best we could. We enjoyed the many bluebird families that found the open meadow edge space favorable for raising their broods.
Three months after taking on the care of our fifty clear cut acres …
we place12 bluebird boxes
And then things changed.
Within five years the snakes and then the bears learned that all they need to do is wait and they will have snack food abounding. When the bear(s) started pulling the front off of several nest boxes we realized that the environment had evolved and the young forest had new inhabitants to respect.
This November, BBG: Blue Bird Gulch morphed and the BBG now stands for Black Bear Glen. Here is one of many captures from the wildlife camera that is attached to our cabin’s east porch post.
The bears are neighbors. We are on their circuit because they have found food (baby birds as well as birdseed) on our fifty acres which is surrounded by hundreds of acres of pine and hardwood forest. We can expect that they will return.
A Year for the History Books
I hope that you and yours are well. I hope that you are discovering creative ways to consider what might happen as we move forward together. Hopefully, we have been able to suss out reasons to be grateful every day and also to be grateful to everyone for the love and the lessons received.
We have completed our Wren House Studio online fall program titled ‘Creating Your Own Career.’ Career refers directly to engaging the work of your heart.
We have explored the 10 Stages of the Creation Process as found in fairy tales, myths and creation stories from around the globe.
These 10 stages:
Chaos
Being
Encounter
Developing Self
Experience
Imagination
Symbol
Form
Communication
Eternity
provide a structure that aligns with the classic steps that occur within the myth, creation stories, as well as the Hero/Heroine Journey.
COMING SOON …
For more than twenty years I’ve written the Lifecycle Forecast article, a report on each year’s creative energy as my gift to you. Now the information comes to you as a podcast with a new name.
2021 Creative Energy Report will arrive in the days ahead. Watch for the MP3 link and short video.
I send you all the best for the coming year of change. May you find an increase in peace, prosperity, and true health.
BBG Camp/Cabin West Porch
Thank you for another enlightening post. The cabin is wonderful and the work you’ve done for and with the surrounding land is tremendous.
Have you read the work of Robin Wall Kimmerer, specifically Braiding Sweetgrass?
Looking forward to the podcast!!
Hi Mary Ann ~
It’s so fine to see you here ‘-)
I have Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmere on my bedside table in the cabin ‘-)
Beautiful writing.
I am reading, currently, The Story of More, by Hope Jahren. Highly recommend.
I’ll add the book to my list!
The dearest little cabin! Wonderful to have the black bears visiting though I feel sad for the blue birds.
Hello Robyn ~ We are so happy in this little camp/cabin in the middle of Black Bear Glen and we fell that allowing the landscape to morph from that of welcoming bluebirds to that of co-existing with the bears is all part of the adventure of watching and tending a young forest grow up.
The bluebirds will find other places to nest, now that the bears have pulled the fronts off most of the nest boxes … and since there are not going to be bluebirds in the boxes there will be no more baby birds for the bears to snack on.
Being able to make turns as changes in our paths appear seems to be at the crux of my journey now. You have always seemed able to maneuver as well.
Hi Lynn ~ “make turns as changes in our paths appear” is the “crux” of our collective journey now.
I wish us all well as we navigate this exciting and mysterious time in our evolution.
AND … a Happy Newest Year to all!!
In this time of recognizing history as “us” where Black lives matter, where they,he,she, meet to recognize “we,”where friendship beckons as glue, I send you green tendrils and deep roots. Not to mention laughter at my pretention… love, Ellis
Hello Ellis ~ A lovely picture you paint ‘-)
Green tendrils and deep roots … yes! And much laughter as we stumble into the Mystery.
May your day be filled with wonderful blessings ❤️
Thank you, Janice.
~ Happy New Year to you and yours ~