Chattermarks

Last weekend was the Diablo Creative Arts Retreat: featuring courses on watercolors, nature journalling and silk painting. It was incredible!

Our three amazing instructors were Molly Hashimoto (watercolors), Jocelyn Curry (nature journalling), and Kristen Gilje (silk painting). Our participants were given the difficult task of choosing only one subject to focus on for the weekend; I heard a lot of comments that people were planning on coming back next year so they could try out the other courses, too!

Good weather and magnificent views inspired all our participants. A lot of stunning artwork was done throughout the weekend. Below is merely a small sampling of the photos, and artwork, from the arts retreat.

» Continue reading Art Afield

“Cheerio~ Cheeriup~ Cheerio~ Cheeriup~” The American Robin’s song is a loud, optimistic voice of spring. However, at times here in the mountains it is difficult to hear the Robin because of the sheer number of springtime songsters! The colorful Varied Thrush sounds like someone unanswered phone in the woods. The tenacious Rufous Hummingbird buzzes, bugles and chirps. There are other, more difficult to identify, voices in our spring chorus.

» Continue reading New Forest Voices

Springtime is slowly and reluctantly arriving in the North Cascades. I’ve been delighted to hear some familiar bird songs returning; brightening up the forest and telling me that while there is snow on the ground, spring is coming!

While the birds are announcing spring, the Cornell Ornithology Lab, in partnership with many conservation organizations and government agencies, is announcing the State of the Birds Report. The State of the Birds Report is a comprehensive evaluation of the health of United States bird populations (The full report, can be read here). The diagnosis is not good: bird populations have been declining severely in the past 40 years. However, the report includes some successes and a plan for how we all can help protect our valuable natural resources and our bird populations.

» Continue reading The State of the Birds

Wolf pups, from one of Conservation Northwest’s remote cameras.

Daylight Saving Time has sent the sun to bed early. I step out of my cabin to walk to dinner and the world has already slipped into pure night. It’s cold, my breath immediately plumes in the light of my headlamp. Small glowing circles form out of the lights from the other buildings down the hill, seemingly miles away. Through the trees I can barely see the glimmer of lights from the lake and the dam.

Out of the silent dark forest a strange eerie noise reaches my ears. Howls, a chorus of howls. Long and echoing in the new early darkness. Wolves? Yes, but just cubs of the human variety: our traditional “Meal Time!” call for Mountain School. Thirty 5th graders and a handful of adults calling out. Some are eager to howl, some take some coaxing. It’s all I can do not to join in. I love the howl.

» Continue reading Wolves

The first days of October and already there are amazing leaves and even snow! A friend of mine, driving cross-country, stopped in to visit me at my new National Park home. I took her and her three dogs on a hike to enjoy the beautiful new fall leaves on the East Bank Trail. It was the first snowfall of the season, the snowline was above 4,000 feet but still beautiful and snowy to look at from below.

Pyramid Peak with new snow on top!

» Continue reading East Bank trail