Category: Musings
This is an index of posts that fall into my “Musings” category. Usually it’s on a topic that has no other defined focus, but sometimes these are also my philosophical-type posts. Subscribe to Wild Ozark™ » Musings by Email
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Heroine to a Hummingbird
This morning I became the heroine to a hummingbird. While I sat on the porch enjoying my coffee, a little hummingbird hovered in front of my face for a spell. I thought maybe the feeder was empty. They tell me … Read the rest “Heroine to a Hummingbird”
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Fascination for Rocks
Rocks are the time-keepers, recording the history of our planet throughout the ages. A lot of my own history is marked by time spent with rocks. My fascination for rocks is not a new development. In my recent history, they … Read the rest “Fascination for Rocks”
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Prioritizing and Battling Nature
I’ve never had a problem with boredom. There are so many things that I’m curious about, interested in, or want to do. And THAT can be a problem. Prioritizing is a must, and I often find that difficult. This past … Read the rest “Prioritizing and Battling Nature”
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Wildlife Crossing At the Seep
Where the creek enters our property there is a spot on the ground that stays wet even during droughts. There’s a spring that exits beneath a rock just uphill. We call this wet spot ‘The Seep’, or as my husband … Read the rest “Wildlife Crossing At the Seep”
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Barn Swallows on the Porch, Condor on a stump, things that make me smile.
It’s always busy at Wild Ozark, but this time of year seems to have more tasks that need to be done, as opposed to tasks I *want* to get done. But during breaks, one of my most enjoyable things to … Read the rest “Barn Swallows on the Porch, Condor on a stump, things that…
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Revert to Wild | Catching up after a trip away from Wild Ozark
Everything reverts to wild when left alone for long at Wild Ozark. I’m still catching up after a trip to TX, but finally getting a little time to make this post. It’s going to mostly be a photo essay, because … Read the rest “Revert to Wild | Catching up after a trip away from…
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Wattle Fence: a Garden Project Spilling Over to Garden Art Project
I’m working on a project in my garden. It started with a wild hair to do something for free using local natural and abundant resources- a woven, or wattle fence. It’s an experiment as most things I do are. … Read the rest “Wattle Fence: a Garden Project Spilling Over to Garden Art Project”
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Ramble on: Orchids, Old Homesteads, and Garden Cleanup
It’s hot here today (94*F), and it’s hard to believe that just last week we woke up to (18*F). I hope the heat isn’t an indicator for what’s in store for summer. It’s only March right now. Yesterday I decided … Read the rest “Ramble on: Orchids, Old Homesteads, and Garden Cleanup”
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Making Paint, Painting in Progress & My To-do List
I’m tired of trying to make proper SEO on posts that are really just meant to be conversation and not something that ranks on search engines. So, for this one, I’m ignoring all of the rules. My To-Do List Today … Read the rest “Making Paint, Painting in Progress & My To-do List”
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Subtle Signs of Spring
Before the dandelions, or the first ephemeral flowers appear in the shady nooks and crannies among the rocks there are subtle signs of spring. Dead Skunks on the Highway Unfortunately, this is probably the first of the subtle signs of … Read the rest “Subtle Signs of Spring”
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Taking a Stand
My Thoughts on Current Situation in the US I realize I may lose some friends or clients for posting this, and some of my family may consider my views shameful. But more and more I feel as if history is … Read the rest “Taking a Stand”
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It’ll be fun, she said…
Famous last words. It’ll be fun, she said… At least our adventure today brought us good laughs. I’m glad I didn’t wait until Friday to try and get groceries – the shelves in stores look like they do when coastal … Read the rest “It’ll be fun, she said…”
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Wander! That’s my 2026 word of the year
Dear reader, I hope your wildest dreams are realized in this new year. Thank you for stopping in to my blog! The following is the text and images from my monthly newsletter Wild Ozark Musings. If you’re already a subscriber … Read the rest “Wander! That’s my 2026 word of the year”
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Looking back on 20 years of roughing it in the Ozarks – Happy Thanksgiving 2025
This is a gratitude story about surviving the hardships of making the leap from a suburban life to rural and remote. I wrote this post in 2015 to celebrate a decade out here at Wild Ozark, and these are all … Read the rest “Looking back on 20 years of roughing it in the Ozarks…
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No Title, Just Recounting the Day
Recounting the day: We saw two bald eagles today on the ground in a field alongside the Kings river. I saw one in a tree on Friday. Bedraggled and head tucked, it looked as if it had just finished an … Read the rest “No Title, Just Recounting the Day”
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The kinds of things I notice
Saturday morning, after coffee, breakfast, and feeding the horses and chickens, we discussed the task list for the day. And here’s a story that shows the kinds of things I notice while going about an otherwise typical day out here … Read the rest “The kinds of things I notice”
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Old Witchgrass and Autumn in the Air
I know it’s going to get warm again soon, but for now I’m loving the sights and feel of autumn in the air. I bet you’re wondering what old witchgrass is, though. This is a new plant discovery for me! … Read the rest “Old Witchgrass and Autumn in the Air”
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A Poem by Joanna Macy
Yesterday I learned that Joanna Macy died on July 19, 2025. I heard about it on For the World podcast (a podcast I highly recommend, by the way!) Here’s a link to it: https://forthewild.world/listen/joanna-macy-on-the-world-as-lover-and-self-homage 2016 original post: This is an … Read the rest “A Poem by Joanna Macy”
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Sepia Dreams, But First…the Cedar Problem
I’ve been struggling with the cedar trees in my painting. And there’s been a problem with colors in my trees in the middle ground. Most of my paint are variations on sepia. That’s just because almost all of my … Read the rest “Sepia Dreams, But First…the Cedar Problem”
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Spring Wildflower Walkabout
Today I took a spring wildflower walkabout. Mostly, I wanted to see if the Showy Orchid was up yet. I thought maybe there’d be at least some leaves. There was nothing. I’d have to check daily to catch them at … Read the rest “Spring Wildflower Walkabout”
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Finding the Balance Between my Creative Life and Business Goals
When it comes to multi-tasking my life, work, and creativity demands, finding balance is my goal for 2025. When I wrote out my goals for 2024, there was a lot more on my list and I didn’t even touch … Read the rest “Finding the Balance Between my Creative Life and Business Goals”
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It feels like winter
Well, sooner or later ever year there comes a point where it feels like winter has arrived. This week here at Wild Ozark marked that point. It’s been 19*F some mornings, but this morning was 24*F and that is plenty … Read the rest “It feels like winter”
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Disorganized Space | Time for Studio Cleaning & Organizing
Today I’ve started working on a task that’s been on my to-do list for the whole year. It’s one I procrastinate for as long as I can, it seems. But it just can’t go on like it is any longer, … Read the rest “Disorganized Space | Time for Studio Cleaning & Organizing”
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The Creaking Wheel of Life
This post is being filed in my category for off-topic Musings. I’m sixty today, and the feels I’m feeling today are taking me by surprise. The wheel of life isn’t just creaking on this revolution – it’s nearly kicking and … Read the rest “The Creaking Wheel of Life”
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What Comes First? The subject, or the palette?
I think I work opposite of most artists when it comes to the way I do certain things. What comes first the subject, or the palette? For most painters, I would imagine the subject is chosen and then whatever paints … Read the rest “What Comes First? The subject, or the palette?”
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