Great piece - great photos. I was reminded of a little stream my brother and I 'discovered' in the woods near our house (actually, at that point in the 70s it was all woods around our house) and named Paradise Stream (we were only about 7 and 3). It was golden and beautiful. And still is in my memory.
Thanks - we thought it was original at the time! To be fair, though, it - and the surrounding woods (ours was the last house on a gravel road that continued for another mile into nothing but woods; now all houses and none of the magic left, of course) have served as the ur-memories on which various imaginings have been formed: Paradise Stream, with its little hemlock trees and pool of golden water is how I imagine the pool on Deathwater Island in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader looks - and the woods around it, especially in the early autumn when the leaves were turning gold, are what Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings looks like. Better than Peter Jackson's imaginings, anyway!
What is it about birds and writers? The desire to notice? Appreciating what's in front of you, no matter how fleeting? I feel like birds offer a relatively good metaphor for contemporary life - there are small, beautiful moments all around us, but we seldom take the time to appreciate them. And if we're not careful to cultivate suitable spaces, they might not be around much longer.
Yeah, I think you nailed it: noticing, appreciating … and maybe doing it without much money! Did you see Sam Ursu’s comment about how bird thrive without so much noise around? That was pretty interesting.
Yes! Random but there was this story a few years back about something similar, but for frogs. This species of frog was dying out and the cause was because their mating ground was beneath a flight path of the air force. The frogs couldn't hear the mating calls over the sound of the jets 😢
Beautiful writing. Love the way you captured those early days of the pandemic and the way it both closed and opened our lives. I had a similar experience of being in my new front yard garden, talking to all my neighbors as they walked by. And I also descended into birding at that time! 🤣
Do you know the type of blue jay in your photo? I have Stellar’s Jays, but they are all blue with no white
That’s a Belted Kingfisher, one of my favorites. Remember when they closed the streets in parts of Seattle, just to give people more room to walk around? My son (who was living in Ballard) would take his longboard and coast down with his friends.
Stunning photos. I got a bird feeder during the pandemic. It's an infectious hobby. Seattle doesn't have quite the range of birds y'all have, but yes, it's a gift to be able to look afresh on old familiar things.
I have to say, "I didn’t need to shower unless I wanted to," was a little confusing and disturbing to me. Either your job was enforcing too many showers or your shower comfort zone is far outside of social norms.
Re: what you said about politics. We're in a weird time where people tend to believe that everyone else has bad intentions. Whatever it is you're doing (wearing a mask or not, etc.)--it must be for a bad reason and you must be a bad person. We have no faith in each other, so we demand a person parrot "perfect" opinions on everything before we're willing to accept them into our tribe.
How can a society survive without if we have no trust and faith in one another? How do we restore it?
I prefer to shower only when people turn away from me in disgust. That's my signal! :) Totally kidding. But your bigger question is the hard one. I don't know the answer! I think it lies in the neighborhood of being kind and respecting each other's right to be different, but I don't have a prescription.
This made my Monday morning. Soft, thoughtful, and beautiful photography. I love “hidden” places that speak to your soul. You feel like there’s a specific connection between just you and their wonders. I don’t know, Tom. One might mistake you for a romantic if you keep this up!
I'm going to tell you something that's common sense, but it's still worth saying aloud.
All those birds? They suffer a LOT from noise pollution, which in your neck of the woods is definitely vehicle traffic. They NEED to be able to hear and understand one another, and that's really hard to do when there's constant noise pollution. Most of the time, they're reduced to doing the equivalent of shouting over the din.
In other words, they really WERE a lot happier (and "chattier") during those days when cars stayed parked.
Great shots, Tom! That's some beautiful scenery. I did mention that I once lived in Mukilteo, yes? For one hellish year, but I do remember that the natural beauty of the area was sublime, and have thought about returning if we were ever to move back to the States.
A breathtaking post, Tom, both in words and pictures. An absolute treat - thank you.
I'm so glad I read this after what was my first walk for ages earlier today - I've taken the opportunity to reflect on my own Vetucchio, for which I'm very grateful. ☺️
Great piece - great photos. I was reminded of a little stream my brother and I 'discovered' in the woods near our house (actually, at that point in the 70s it was all woods around our house) and named Paradise Stream (we were only about 7 and 3). It was golden and beautiful. And still is in my memory.
Paradise Stream is a great name!
Thanks - we thought it was original at the time! To be fair, though, it - and the surrounding woods (ours was the last house on a gravel road that continued for another mile into nothing but woods; now all houses and none of the magic left, of course) have served as the ur-memories on which various imaginings have been formed: Paradise Stream, with its little hemlock trees and pool of golden water is how I imagine the pool on Deathwater Island in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader looks - and the woods around it, especially in the early autumn when the leaves were turning gold, are what Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings looks like. Better than Peter Jackson's imaginings, anyway!
Beautiful photos! Isn't it great how a change in perspective can change everything?
Ain’t it the truth?
Your walks sound wonderful. The nature around you. Oh wow!
Thanks Mo. Yeah, it’s really pretty … though there are long weeks here when all it does is rain!
One of thy best. I read this one slowly, savoring the words. How fortunate many of us are to have found our own Vetucchio’s.
I’m in a sweeter frame of mind for having read this posting just now. Many thanks, Tom.
Laurie, that’s so nice, you’re very welcome
What is it about birds and writers? The desire to notice? Appreciating what's in front of you, no matter how fleeting? I feel like birds offer a relatively good metaphor for contemporary life - there are small, beautiful moments all around us, but we seldom take the time to appreciate them. And if we're not careful to cultivate suitable spaces, they might not be around much longer.
Yeah, I think you nailed it: noticing, appreciating … and maybe doing it without much money! Did you see Sam Ursu’s comment about how bird thrive without so much noise around? That was pretty interesting.
Yes! Random but there was this story a few years back about something similar, but for frogs. This species of frog was dying out and the cause was because their mating ground was beneath a flight path of the air force. The frogs couldn't hear the mating calls over the sound of the jets 😢
Beautiful writing. Love the way you captured those early days of the pandemic and the way it both closed and opened our lives. I had a similar experience of being in my new front yard garden, talking to all my neighbors as they walked by. And I also descended into birding at that time! 🤣
Do you know the type of blue jay in your photo? I have Stellar’s Jays, but they are all blue with no white
That’s a Belted Kingfisher, one of my favorites. Remember when they closed the streets in parts of Seattle, just to give people more room to walk around? My son (who was living in Ballard) would take his longboard and coast down with his friends.
Stunning photos. I got a bird feeder during the pandemic. It's an infectious hobby. Seattle doesn't have quite the range of birds y'all have, but yes, it's a gift to be able to look afresh on old familiar things.
I have to say, "I didn’t need to shower unless I wanted to," was a little confusing and disturbing to me. Either your job was enforcing too many showers or your shower comfort zone is far outside of social norms.
Re: what you said about politics. We're in a weird time where people tend to believe that everyone else has bad intentions. Whatever it is you're doing (wearing a mask or not, etc.)--it must be for a bad reason and you must be a bad person. We have no faith in each other, so we demand a person parrot "perfect" opinions on everything before we're willing to accept them into our tribe.
How can a society survive without if we have no trust and faith in one another? How do we restore it?
I prefer to shower only when people turn away from me in disgust. That's my signal! :) Totally kidding. But your bigger question is the hard one. I don't know the answer! I think it lies in the neighborhood of being kind and respecting each other's right to be different, but I don't have a prescription.
That's funny about the showering. It made me laugh.
Thanks for sharing your gift Tom.
Thanks for inviting me
This made my Monday morning. Soft, thoughtful, and beautiful photography. I love “hidden” places that speak to your soul. You feel like there’s a specific connection between just you and their wonders. I don’t know, Tom. One might mistake you for a romantic if you keep this up!
I know! This is probably the most romantic piece I’ve ever written, but I think beauty just makes me swoon. Ha ha!!!
Love the photos but I think I love the concept and process of bestowing a name on a cherished place even more.
Thanks Bryn
I'm going to tell you something that's common sense, but it's still worth saying aloud.
All those birds? They suffer a LOT from noise pollution, which in your neck of the woods is definitely vehicle traffic. They NEED to be able to hear and understand one another, and that's really hard to do when there's constant noise pollution. Most of the time, they're reduced to doing the equivalent of shouting over the din.
In other words, they really WERE a lot happier (and "chattier") during those days when cars stayed parked.
Sam, that’s really interesting, I didn’t know that. It is vehicle traffic around here for sure.
Great shots, Tom! That's some beautiful scenery. I did mention that I once lived in Mukilteo, yes? For one hellish year, but I do remember that the natural beauty of the area was sublime, and have thought about returning if we were ever to move back to the States.
Just goes to show you, any place can be heaven and hell, depending on the circumstances. Thanks Troy
Wonderful, Tom! I had a similar epiphany about the prolificness and intriguing qualities of birds during early stages of my vanlife.
Great photos--especially that hazy one!!
Thank you for sharing Vetuccio.
Thanks Holly
The photos, the words… I want to come explore Vetucchio! Thanks Tom.
Ross, if you have the time, come up, I’ll take you around. Better do it quick before the track season heats up …
I will. But guess what, the track season is already hot!
A breathtaking post, Tom, both in words and pictures. An absolute treat - thank you.
I'm so glad I read this after what was my first walk for ages earlier today - I've taken the opportunity to reflect on my own Vetucchio, for which I'm very grateful. ☺️
Thanks Rebecca, this does feel like the kind of post you and I align on, doesn’t it? Glad you liked it and that you’ve got your own Vetucchio.
Yes it does, absolutely! 😊