BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Native American Do you see what I see?

Yes Phyllis, that's Gem the handsome boy! I would say thank you, but I can't take credit for how gorgeous Nature made him! He always played shut the door with me when I was mucking out the stalls. He'd stay by the door after I opened it, wait til I turned my back and then shove it closed with his nose!! Gem was tovero and tobiano marked. Jane, he was a registered Paint horse. To quote the APHA: "the horse must also exhibit a minimum amount of white hair over unpigmented (pink) skin. Each Paint Horse has a particular combination of white and any color of the equine spectrum: black, bay, brown, roan, buckskin, dun, gray, grullo, perlino, smoky cream, chestnut, cremello, palomino, red dun, sorrel, or champagne. Markings can be any shape or size, and located virtually anywhere on the Paint's body. Although Paints come in a variety of colors with different markings, there are only three specific coat patterns: overo, tobiano and tovero. These colors, markings and patterns, combined with stock-type conformation, athletic ability and agreeable disposition, make the American Paint Horse an investment in quality."

You saw a hummingbird?! Oh they're so tiny and exquisitely beautiful! Such a lovely moment-thank you for sharing it!

I think everyone was out this foggy morning as we went to pick up our Angel Food order. Saw a huge Red Shoulder hawk perched on a power line. Thankfully, it was several blocks away from the small marsh hare near the hospital entrance. The Ibis were getting breakfast on the roadside. On the way home, my neighbor had a young red-bellied woodpecker at their feeder.

Last night a male Northern Mockingbird gave his strident call a few feet from my window. He's certainly eager to find a mate!

Early this morning I saw a doe and her 2 fawns!! It was only a glimpse and then 3 fluffy white tails disappeared into the brush!! The moment was beautiful but all too brief! Their eyes and ears and legs were so big on the teeny little bodies!

This morning I sat under my 'karma tree' per usual and got to feed a sweet little squirrel. One at a time, she would take the seeds I piled near my feet. She'd eat two, then stuff two in her mouth and run up the tree.

I feed the squirrels on the little mountain every day. This morning I was not able to get out there early enough -- so they all came down to my patio, calling me out. I fed them from my patio. They love peanuts. I buy them the unsalted peanuts in the shell. They crack them open and eat a few, stuff some in their mouths and run up the hill to bury them, then come back for more. I am surprised how many they can stuff in their cheeks!

There are several Scrub Jays out on the mountain today. They are focusing on one area in particular where there is a lot of exposed soil. (must be a lot of bugs and insects out there).

My daughter hikes and runs every day on the trail at the top of the little mountain. Yesterday she ran into a Bull Snake that had to have been at least six feet long. The trail is about five feet across and the snake was longer than that, with his head and tail both stretching beyond the trail on both sides. Daughter said the snake raised his head and gave her a sideways look then went on after a rabbit "without even saying excuse me while I cross your path as you wait".

Is your daughter superstitious? Australian superstition actually implies good fortune coming her way because the snake was about to get a good meal and didn't mind eating in front of her.

Many Native cultures believe that brown colored snakes (like bull snakes) passing the way of a daughter means that the snake has chosen the woman as a kindred Spirit of the Earth. Maybe she was formally recognized and acknowledged as a true daughter of Mother Earth!

Oh that is so sweet that the squirrels remember you with kindness and came right to you! I fed the pretty squirrel with sunflower seeds. After a long winter, I thought the poor tiny thing could use some meat on her bones, hehe.

Phyllis you have such a strong and joyful Nature Spirit within you!

I must share this quote of yours with my daughter. I believe she is a true daughter of Mother Earth. She takes her camera with her and often stops to take pictures of little critters. She was so frightened yet fascinated with the snake.

I told her she really should get a hiking buddy to go with her. The other day she took a picture of a very large beetle and said that was her hiking buddy. We have some pretty big beetles on our little mountain - some are tiger beetles.

Thank you, Great Granddaughter. My father blessed me with the awareness and appreciation of Nature. He knew so much about wildlife and shared his knowledge and love for Nature with me. So I have passed it on to my children.

*beams* I could chat with you all day!