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This raccoon has been hanging around here for a few years and recently started getting some of the cat food we leave outside, so I slowly made friends and eventually got it taking the pellets from my hand. I love watching the dexterity of its paws, very human-like. I eventually quit doing this, not good to feed wild animals, as it may encourage them to trust other humans, but it was a thrill to watch its handwork for a week or so.
Makes me realize how domestic cats and dogs came about; wild felines or canines hanging around at the entrance to caves or following nomadic tribes, becoming friends, family members, then being bred into different sizes, shapes, talents.
In our overly civilized lives, it’s a thrill to experience part of the “natural world,” or like 95% of our lineage: wild foods, fishing, making stuff by hand, harmonious interaction with other forms of life. To be sought out. Refreshing for the soul.
I’ve been doing this blog since 2005 — 15 years. Over 5½ million page views. Over 4 million unique visits. I was most active in 2012-13, when I was getting about 3,500 page views a day.
But as the years went by, I posted less and less. I started putting up photos on Instagram a few years ago; it’s a photographer’s dream, except for the Facebook factor (like the increasing ads). I put in a lot less time blogging world these days, partly due to Instagramming, partly due to the fact that I have to concentrate on books to keep us afloat.
The best way for you to keep up with what’s going on around here these days, and with me, is to get on my GIMME SHELTER newsletter list. At this stage, with the social media blizzard, email is a form of communication out of the past that suddenly seems to have a new relevance.* I’m writing for a select group of people (latest count about 2,000), not winging it out into the socialnetworkosphere.
If you want to get on the list, subscribe with your email address here. I send one out maybe every 4-6 weeks these days.
*It’s not that “The old is new again.” It’s rather that the old is being looked at in a new light in this digital age, and being rediscovered for its relevance, its soulfulness, its imperfections.
Música del Día: Iko Iko, Dr. John: (Listen to his piano notes at very end of song.)
Beautiful young grey fox in garden yesterday, seemed unafraid of humans. Good for photos, not good for fox’s longevity. Please humans, don’t feed wild animals. Especially coyotes. Some of them end up getting hit by cars.
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Last night, on the way “over the hill” and back, I saw 5 coyotes and 2 foxes. This guy was by side of road at about 7 this morning. It let me get within 15 feet. Not good. I believe clueless people are feeding them. Bad idea. Makes them beggars instead of hunters. Also a death sentence for some, as they get hit by cars. “A fed coyote is a dead coyote.”
As the Miwok knew, they are special.
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Foster Huntington was arriving after dark Tuesday and I texted him, got a flashlight? He texted back … got something better than a flashlight.
When he got here we walked out into the dark. He said, “Close your eyes.”
Whereupon he fitted this helmet with night vision binocs on my head and said “Open your eyes.”
The dark night was alight! 10 times as many stars. I could see a galaxy. Trees, road, paths, animals all bathed in ghostly light.
It’s like a third world: formerly I had day and night. With these you have lighted-up night. Sure, you can see at night with a flashlight, but it doesn’t light things up 360°. Also, people and animals aren’t aware that you can see them. Foster says he’s been out at night with them, and he can walk right up to rabbits.
Surfing in primo spots at night (they are waterproof, but you sure wouldn’t want to lose them); hunting for mushrooms in secret spots; mountain biking at night without visible light — possibilities are endless.
The only problem is that apparently, the good ones are really expensive.
Bernie Harberts’ 2500-mile odyssey in a mule-drawn covered wagon from Canada to Mexico was featured in our book Tiny Homes (pp. 188-190). Here’s the latest from Bernie:
Dear Lloyd and Shelter,
Just wanted to let you know I’ve started a new journey.
It’s called Mules West and I thought you’d enjoy following along.
So far my mules Brick, Cracker, and I have traveled 400 miles and encountered snow, snakes and fascinating folks that have helped us along the way. We’ve been heading from western North Carolina toward Idaho. Right now we’re in Indiana.
Traveling is more fun when you have company so come “ride along with us” at RiverEarth.com.
I hope all is going well with you.
Happy Adventuring!
–Bernie
Coyote alongside Highway One. I’ve seen him several times. He seems curious about humans. The trickster. I hope people aren’t feeding him.
“What shall I do,” Fox asked himself. He began to sing in order to find out.
“I would like to meet somebody,” he sang to the sky.
Then he met Coyote.
“I thought I was going to meet someone,” Fox said.
“Where are you going?” Coyote asked.
“I been wandering all over trying to find someone.
I was worried there for a while.”
“Well, it’s better for two people to go together … That’s what they always say.”
“Okay. But what will we do?”
“I don’t know.”
“I got it! Let’s try to make the world.”
“And how are we going to do that?” Coyote asked.
“Sing!” said Fox.
–Jaime de Angulo, Indian Tales
(From the first page of Shelter)
