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Category Archives: simplify

Guest Blogger Walk Doc

Photos by David – Thanksgiving 2013

Entrance to White Cedar Swamp Forest -November 2013

Entrance to White Cedar Swamp Forest at Marconi Station – November 2013

White Cedar Swamp Forest in November

Boardwalk at Beginning of White Cedar Swamp Forest

White Cedar Swamp Forest Asleep and Still Green

Swamp Forest Asleep and Still Green

White Cedar Swamp Forest

More Green

Marconi Station Surf

Marconi Station Surf

Race Point Beach, Provincetown

Race Point Beach, Provincetown

Back Home

Back Home

Walkdoc Nov. 2013

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Fostering Chili

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A few short weeks ago I took on the adventure of socializing a ten-week-old feral kitten, Chili. He taught me more than I ever expected. Here’s a brief run down of my light bulb moments.

  1. Chili is a cat, not a human. Listen to the cat and let him be a cat while you help him learn to trust a few humans.
  2. It takes a lot of time and a lot of one-on-one attention to make the smallest bit of progress.
  3. Celebrate the small steps or you’ll lose your mind. Hurray, Chili didn’t hide under his blanket when I entered the room. He peed in the litter box! He didn’t spit today! He rubbed his head against my sneaker. He purred. He sat on my lap! He gave me a kiss, and I didn’t have tuna on my hands. He ran to greet me and did figure eight’s around my feet.
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  4. Food is the way to a cat’s heart… a little food builds a lot of trust. Probably true for humans too.
  5. Giving Chili more open space AFTER he was secure in his closer surroundings was the right thing to do. I gave him access to a secured spot in my studio and held my breath that he wouldn’t go hide or freak out. He did fine; I needed a drink.
  6. Time seemed to slow down while working on socializing Chili. I sat on the floor with him, had all types of conversations, yes, I even sang. No rushing, just slow, and steady consistency and love. It felt good.
  7. Quiet time with him on my lap, purring, giving a few kisses was better than any product I could have purchased… any “thing” within or beyond my grasp.chiliphoto
  8. Separation and good byes have never been my strong suit. At first I was incredibly conflicted because my goal was to socialize Chili and enable him to be adopted by a loving new family; yet, that meant letting him go. Ugh, this is like parenting…But somehow it clicked that Chili was ready for his next adventure, and I’d be able to be happy about it. He was ready, I could learn something here.
  9. On adoption day at the shelter, a dad and his daughter came looking for a kitten to fall in love with. Chili settled very comfortably in the little girl’s lap.  It was love at first sight. Yes, I teared up a bit, but I wasn’t sad.  I was part of the process, and it was very good for both Chili and myself. I’d do it again in a heartbeat!

    Chili

    Chili

WoodNeck Walkdoc Oct. 18, 2013

WoodNeck

WoodNeck Dunes

WoodNeck Low Tide

WoodNeck Low Tide

Creek Sand

Tidal Sand

Not a beach chair in sight

Not a beach chair in sight

Marsh

Sippewissett Marsh

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Almost home

Walkdoc Oct. 11, 2013 D’twn FAL Surf Dr

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Walkdoc October 2, 2013

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Walkdoc Sept. 25, 2013

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Walkdoc Sept. 24, 2013

Surf Drive- Island Queen in background

Surf Drive- Island Queen in background

 

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Seagull Footprints

 

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David found a perfectly intact, dead horseshoe crab.

 

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Morning Glories on Walker Street– no filter, just Mother Nature.

 

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Love the color: flower boxes at Anejo.

 

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All alone in the parking lot.

Wandering in Woods Hole

My exploring has taken hold. I’m trying to notice what was previously missed. Woods Hole is the perfect place to do this. We’ve been in this community for more than 25 years, and there’s always something going on to stir my brains. This walk was no exception.

Yarn from happy sheep

Yarn from happy sheep

This trek started with the goal of capturing the last three skeins of yarn spun from very happy sheep off the coast of Woods Hole. Only a total of 19 were available at the Woods Hole Historical Society Shop in the spring. This was a quest for the perfect yarn to make my daughter Molly’s shawl for Christmas. The sheep are certifiably happy and treated with respect; the yarn is a delicious cocoa color and should have great stitch definition. This stop was only the beginning.

Impossible to Pass Up

Impossible to Pass Up

Had to stop at Pie In The Sky and pretend that the rum-raisin bread pudding is a healthy snack. Needless to say, there’s always a new baked goodie that calls to me from this place. I remember when Molly would buy an entire fruit pie and devour it herself with fork and spoon in hand. Kate picked up the bike path at the boat dock behind the store and roller bladed home after Science School. This truly is a little hole in the wall place that never disappoints.

View from Pie In The Sky

View from Pie In The Sky

Out of this window the boat waits to go to the Vineyard, people scramble to find parking spaces and this area has a pulse all of its own.

There’s a line of small rose bushes that border the parking lot and always seem to be in bloom. Their blossoms are small and fragile. I’m not one to remember plant names, but they remind me of the floribunda roses my Dad used to love. Easy to grow and always a treat to look at.

Delicate roses by The Fishmonger

Delicate, Yet Hardy

Woods Hole is returning to its post-tourist pace. Amen! The scientists, artists and fisherman have the place to themselves.

On the water

On the water

We managed to get through the guarded gate at Penzance Point and continue our walk almost out to the point. These estates are manicured, pedicured and well-groomed. Yet, that fussy stuff doesn’t impress me. It’s the smaller, simple stuff that catches my eye.

Nature's garland

Nature’s garland

Looking down I found mushrooms with a pattern and texture that made me pay attention. I’d love to turn the photo into fabric for a quilt! That would indeed be mixed media.

Penzance Mushroom

Penzance Mushroom

Nearby, the gunk on this stone seemed to glow and was soft to the touch. No cement here, just balance and smart architecture.

Gold?

Gold?

These poor sculpted bushes did not impress me…

Prune, prune, prune.

Prune, prune, prune.

…but this single, late blooming hydrangea will stay in my head for quite awhile.

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I See Through My Little Eye

Keri Smith’s How to Be An Explorer of the World has left its mark on me. I’ve been taking photos of “stuff” that I might have previously missed while taking my daily walk. I’m learning to take the time to see and document what catches my eye, and then think about why these things capture my attention.

Surf Drive September Quiet

Surf Drive September Quiet

The tourists are gone and life is back to normal: less traffic, no crowds, more quiet. I love it!

Less is more

Less is more

Walker Street has eye candy that has weathered storms and time.

For the birds, and me, to appreciate.

For the birds, and me, to appreciate.

Old faithfuls: marigolds

Old faithfuls: marigolds

Morning Glories: my absolute favorite.

Morning Glories: my absolute favorite.

Old Glory, perfect breeze

Old Glory, perfect breeze

More For The Birds

More For The Birds

And the simple, but colorful leaves of coleus, never disappoint.

And the simple, but colorful leaves of coleus, never disappoint.

Until next time, eyes open, iPhone handy, taking it all in…