Grand Valley

Nature Just Is

11/6/2023 land(!), R, 2:30-4:00 In the midst of so much death, sadness, bad news and turmoil – surrounded by supportive sounds of crickets, grasshoppers and leaves rustling in the windSuch sweet nourishing scents lift and lightenAnd wind lifts fluffy white milkweed seed from its podLeaves gently fall from above, seeds helicopter their way downGoldens, browns, …

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Real-Time Fossilization

10/18/2023, water R, 81v-dr, 3:00-5:00pm Wind: 10mph from SOC: 6 Cool constant breeze on a sunny dayGreen, yellow, and red-leafed trees line the lake’s edgesLone goose floats in 3Gentle hush of crickets and rustling of leavesNo sign of 1N cormorants today!Brilliant dancing jewels on waterHoles within the cliffs of OG 1N sandbar – for snakes? …

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Clouded, Eclipse-Darkened Sky

10/14/2023, water L, 81v-dr, 12:00-2:00pm Wind: 13mph from WOC: 6+ Partial eclipse today on this cloudy day-Said to start about 11:45 and peak around 1:05Crickets resound – even through wind’s pushA few more Monarchs headed southwestSun peeks out briefly during eclipse-Wind ruffles water, distorting evidence-Many attempts to capture reflection until clouds cover up againClouded, Eclipse-darkened …

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Golden Shimmering Water

10/13/2023, water L, 82uv, 3:15-5:00pm Wind: 8mph from SEOC: 6+ Crickets, grasshoppers and waving leaves fill the spaceSweet, herbal, grassy scentsWind energy shimmers waters and vibrates treesTraversed board into 1 again1NW exposed branch – now up to greater trochanter levelCormorants not perched today – only one floating behind sandbar, startled away when approachedGolden shimmering water …

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Silvery Water

10/7/2023, water R, 81v-dr, 9:45-11:30 Wind: 12mph from WOC: 6 First cold fall morning (in the 40s!)Sun attempts to peek through cloudsSilvery water reflects clouded skySandbar in 3 more exposed -about 2/3 to 3/4 across-Soon will slice lake in halfNew flock of birds (American Coots) float closely huddled togetherWind-hushed crickets surround the lakeBeaver dam in …

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Freshwater Oyster Trails

9/10/2023, water R, 81v-dr, 9:40-11:30 Wind: 5mph from NOC: 7+/8 Cool, cloudy, breezy morningSubtle yellows and oranges beginning to emerge in lining treesGentle blanket of cricket sounds surroundSandbar across 3 could become an island within weeks4SE almost too shallow to traverseVisible animal prints, bird prints and freshwater oyster trails left in the shallow, silty watersChannel …

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Wind-powered Shimmers

9/3/2023, water L, 86Tri, 2:15-4:15 Wind: 9mph from WOC: 7+ Hot sunny day, cool waterLower water levels than ever!-Now typically have to partially walk board in end section of channel into 1NSerious green heron awaitingFollows along banks listening to whistlingCormorants at attention at “their posts”Splashes from jumping fishLooks like beavers experimenting with another home in …

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Texture and Sparkles

8/30/2023, water R, 81v-dr, 2:45-4:45 Wind: 10mph from NOC: 6+/7 (stirred and chopped by wind) Cool, gorgeous, windy dayWater filled with bounding energyShadow of paddlefish beneath textured waterWind has power to move water, wave trees, increase work, hush mindMantrasBrilliantly shimmering waterTurtles disappear under texture and sparklesA few leaves float on the active surfaceCormorant and green …

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