Quotes

The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago... had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands.  ~Havelock Ellis, The Dance of Life, 1923


Modern technology
Owes ecology
An apology.
~Alan M. Eddison


We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.  ~Native American Proverb

Still?

The crickets and grasshoppers belt their music, loud and soft, in a cycle. I am shocked by a bee that flew by my face and around my head, the sound of its wings buzzing in my ear. Walking makes the grasshoppers flee the path, jumping aimlessly for hopeful shelter. A strong, steady wind creates a constant sound of plants rustling together, a peaceful sound. A few grasshoppers jump from one plant to another, not seeming to aim for any particular target. A yellow butterfly takes flight off a rush, flies toward me, but quickly diverts its path, avoiding a collision with me. I look back to see where it went, but it is gone. A white cotton-like seed floats through the air, its path guided by the wind. Another yellow butterfly, weaves its way through the grass. A brown speckled butterfly, beautiful, landed on a purple flowered plant. The trees leaves rustle loudly in the wind. A shower of leaves fall from the tree tops, set loose by the strong wind gusts. Men moving and talking by their white trucks. Upon the gravel, a caterpillar/centipede type creature crawls. It is approximately an inch long, and 5 mm wide, its legs many, but stubbly. It is brown, with lateral ridges down the length of its body. It looks like an extremely long, thin and brown Rollie-pollie.  A cricket, black, and grasshopper jump across the gravel path to safety. A stream grains into the main river with a steady flow, creating a gurgling sound as the waters connect. The sound of geese pierces the air. It is the first avian sound for a long time. The geese fly low under the distant canopy of oak trees in a linear and parallel fashion. A patch of cattails sway in the breeze, sun blocked by the clouds. Rain begins to fall from a partly cloudy sky, the clear blue still visible not too far off. A small bird flies low across the sky, using short bursts of quick flaps to stay with the wind.

River City

My ears filled with a symphony of music with nature as its grand orchestra. Leaves delicately rustle in the passing wind, in constant motion like electrons of an atom. Crickets and grasshoppers play their violins and cellos, adding to the symphonic effect. Detached from the branch, a leaf floats on the air, light as a feather; if not for gravity, it could float forever. One single small ripple in the water as the leaf settles lightly upon its surface. Water grass emerges from the water in small tufts, suburbs to the water grass city farther upstream. The city is densely packed with inhabitants; the water cannot be seen through it. Slowly, the leaf floats away from the suburb, the sailboat making its way downstream, led by the tortoise-slow rivers flow. The water is speckled with people, also floating on downstream, enjoying the peaceful slow ride. A dragonfly flies overhead, silent and swift, a bright blue, landing on a tall grass. A large mass of cotton like seeds tops the grass, a snowcap to the cities mountain. All the while, warmth flows through me as I watch this setting, the sun pouring its splendid rays upon the earth. The scene allowed me to calm from the inside out, to reach out from myself and experience natures beauty, no matter how small.

Painted Land of Sun

The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago... had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands.  ~Havelock Ellis, The Dance of Life, 1923

There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.  ~Mohandas K. Gandhi

So i was out last night for a late night walk to the beach. I've mentioned before how the night is peaceful to me. What I noticed most about that night was the brightness and vast amount of stars that were visible. I believe the reason was because there was no moon, but it was amazing. I remember stargazing one day a while back with some friends, just laying on a trampoline, and for the very first time I saw a shooting star. And then another. It was an amazing site.

I constantly look for new backgrounds for my computer, and have used a particular site that contains original pictures either created or taken by individuals. Many of them are of nature, so i often find one i really like, a change it every so often to one those new ones. here is one such picture that I find is amazing. The site I go to is http://interfacelift.com/
Everyone should check it out.

The night has a way of calming the nerves. the sound of the crickets, and the quiet breeze wash away all the hardships of the day.

Was walking from south to middle campus, when i noticed two deer, simply grazing on the grass next to the path near Rosemary house. Beautiful creatures these deer. One of the deer paid no attention to the people walking by, the other, was a little jumpy, but remained where it was eating the grass or berries or something. They seemed both out of place and like they belonged. had this site occurred in Chicago, there would be a definite feeling of misplacement of those deer. But here in Lake Forest, it is not, for most of it is forest land. Its only natural for them to travel across our campus.

I was stuck inside for the better part of the day. A beautiful day that was worth taking advantage of. The little time i had to enjoy it was extremely pleasant. The sunlight was warm upon my skin, sent warmth throughout my body. That was the only good feeling I had all day.

There is something so pleasing about driving with your windows down, feeling the wind against your face and your hair blowing everywhere. It makes me feel alive for some reason.

Dark Clear Blue

Was driving home this afternoon and happened upon a lovely site. The sun shining brightly upon the ground, clear blue skys...but up ahead...a vast dark ominous overcast, upon which I was entering. The clouds formed a near perfect line across the sky, separating the dark clouds from the clear sky. There was a clear and obvious difference once I dove under those clouds, for the sun disappeared, and the temp dropped by at least 5 degrees. The air all around was foggy and misty, and sort of creepy, yet at te same time, calming.

The air is alive with the sound of the cicadas, the drone of a machine steady in the background. The air is cut sharp by the chirp of birds. I really must read for my class tomorrow, but I have still yet to receive my books. I also have to search diligently for graduate school programs that interest me. An airplane thunders overhead, joining the chorus of the cicadas and the machine. I heard a rustling as the wind caresses the leaves in the treetops, seconds later, I feel the wind upon my skin. I must buy the GRE study materials. I need to cal Dave back. And Joe. The sound of crickets and grasshoppers sporadically joins the chorus. My skin is a pincushion, a constant need to itch. A buzzing by my ear as an insect flys by. The cicadas create a symphony, starting softly on the right, they crescendo and move to the left, and slowly they decrescendo and go quiet. Although, not quite quiet, for the leaves still rustle in the wind, and the machines steady drone continues. I'm hungry and in dire need of a nap. 

Why is it that people are so withdrawn from nature? Its also interesting, "nature" as it is defined, can mean a variety of different things. I find it odd that many people do not consider themselves or the places in which we live part of nature. I feel everything is part of nature. It is just the perception of it that is different.

Nature is usually thought of as plants and trees and grass and animals. However, humans are a part of nature, and what we create could then also be considered part of nature now. Only reason i say that is because, gazing out of a window high above the city of Chicago, with Soldier Field straight ahead and the lake to the right, the heart of the city slightly to the left, it is a beautiful site to behold. Magnificent structures created by a creature of nature and arranged in an almost artistic fashion.

A day not too long ago, I was sitting on a bench next to a waterfall, simply watching some ducks swim around, find food, clean themselves, or just lounge. It was quite peaceful, with the steady roar of the waterfall, the call of various birds, and the constant buzzing of insects along with the wonderful display of plant life that flourished there. Oddly however, there was one duck whom decided to separate him or herself from the rest of the flock. The duck was walking on the rock at the bottom of the waterfall, alone, but seeming not to care. It seemed perfectly content being alone, having the water roll over its feet as it walked. Watching that duck struck a fiber in me.

Thin and Thick

Thin: Shooting Star Savanna

Starring out from my seat on the stone circle, a fallen tree in front of me. Most of the tree lies on the ground, old and rotten. The stump remaining is hollow, with the particular section facing me, gone. The stumps top is rigid, with jagged bark, the largest pieces forming a V-shape. Saplings, small trees about twice the height of the stump, which stood about 5-6 ft, surround the stump. They are growing right up next to the stump. The saplings are leaning inward towards the tree line. Surrounding the stump and the saplings is a large open area of grassland. Many different types of small plants are growing here, many of them with yellow flowers of various varieties, other small plants with white flowers. Bees and other insects fly around from yellow flower to yellow flower. The sunlight streams peacefully on the savanna, while the stump and saplings are shroud in shadow from the large trees to the right. On the left, there is the forest tree line, where most of the trees that are visible have small trunk circumferences. There is great variety in both height and the types of trees in the forest. The bark of one tree is smooth but has small ridges while other trees bark is very rough and cracked. The sunlight is speckled upon the smaller trees and the ground. There is a sort of semi-circle tree line in which a sign post is standing in the middle. There is substantial writing upon this sign.

Thick: Shooting Star Savanna

Gazing out from my seat on the white stone circle, placed carefully in front of the forest tree line of the savanna, a fallen tree lies in front of me. Most of the tree is lying on the ground, old and rotten. The stump remaining is hollow, with the particular section facing me, gone as if it were a beckoning doorway. The stumps top is rigid, with jagged bark, the largest pieces forming a V-shape, possibly formed by a lightning strike for there seemed to be no other explanation for this tree to be downed. There are saplings, small trees about twice the height of the stump, which stood about 5-6 ft, surrounding the stump, almost seeming to grow right out of it, new grows from a long dead seed. These saplings are leaning inward towards the savanna tree line as if wishing to be a part of their clan. The open savanna surrounds the old stump and saplings, with the tree line to the left, and a few large trees to the right. Multiple types of small plants are growing here, many types of grasses and flowering plants. Most of the flowering plants are sporting yellow flowers of various varieties, while others are sporting small white flowers. The bees and other insects are flying from yellow flower to yellow flower in search for nectar to quench their hunger, and in the process, fertilize plant after plant and it moves. The sunlight streams peacefully upon the savanna, while the stump and saplings are shroud in shadow as if being shielded from some ominous force. Observing the trees, most appear to have small trunks clearly indicating their youth upon the earth. Some could be only a decade old, although some others seem older than I, yet still young by tree age. On the other hand, there are old timer trees as well, huge monstrous trees, seemingly at least a century old. The trees that are to the right of the stump also are very old large trees, guardians of the young and growing foliage. The tree line forms a sort of semi-circle in which a sign post is strategically placed in the middle. There is substantial writing upon this sign, more than likely explaining something about the savanna.

Thin: Fields behind Hockey Rink

Gentle cool breeze. Birds chirping, insects buzzing, leaves rustling. Sunlight splashed upon the soccer fields, the grass alternating shades of green in a pattern, painted lines upon the grass, both white and yellow. Sun reflecting off a goal post. A large wooden poll stands tall behind the large building. Near its base is a large gray box with wires coming out of the back. Two gray wires extend out its top, upward toward a large panel, extended out from the poll and slanted towards the sun, with many black squares upon its surface. On the top of the poll, an odd looking device sits, rectangular and white, one side is thin, while the other side is thick. The thick end narrows to a point in four places toward the thin end, leaving three spaces between them. The building behind is opaque and dull. Rust and weathered paint, missing side panels. Many pieces of equipment are stored along its wall. Hanging on the wall are three stacks of green and gray hoses, hanging in disarray. A black folding chair stands upright against a large stack of red bricks, while a goal stands in front of the hanging hoses.

Thick: Fields behind Hockey Rink

A gentle cool breeze caresses my body while the sound of the birds and rustling leaves caress my ears. In the distance there is the sound of traffic, and the steady smack the tennis ball against the racket. Sunlight splashing upon the soccer fields, white and yellow painted lines upon the patterned shades of grass. A goal post stands bright white from the sun dancing off it. Behind the large building, a wooden poll stands tall, stretching towards the sky. Near the base of the poll, a large gray electrical box hangs and, with wires protruding out its bottom and its top. Two wires extend upward toward a panel, which is extended off the poll and slanted up towards the sun, with many black squares upon its surface, apparently a solar panel to power something. Upon the polls top, an odd looking device, from the looks of it, appearing like a siren of some sort, sits. It is white, and rectangular, with two distinct sides, one thin one thick, the thick end extending toward the thin side in four places, leaving 3 open spaces between them. The large building behind the poll, the hockey rink, is opaque and dull. The sides of the building look old, with missing panels, some cracked and broken. There was plenty of rusted metal and clearly weathered paint. Along the side of the rink were piles of random items and equipment. Upon the wall hung three piles of green and gray hoses, obviously hung by someone in a bit of a hurry, for they were all in disarray. There was also a lonely black folding chair leaning against a stack of red bricks, while a soccer goal stood as if shielding the hoses from harm.