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
A note from Madison: Just to clear up some confusion – This is a guest post. It’s not my article. My own opinion on things is a lot more woo-woo and probably a lot less “scientific”, in spite of my past history of a career in science. To state my own stand on the issue …
Guest Post: Climate Change. Just My Thoughts and Observations Read More »
These are the things I’ve learned since moving out here to Wild Ozark. I used to think I lived in “the country”, before we moved out here. That was thirteen years ago and I quickly realized once we burnt the bridges and sold our house, that we had no clue what it meant to live …
Things I’ve Learned (Since Moving to the Country) Read More »
Sometimes it takes a thing ending to spark renewed efforts to find new beginnings. Endings One of our little shops in town closed its doors abruptly this weekend. The owner has tried to make a successful business of it, but that’s a hard thing to do in a town with a population of only 500 …
Endings and Hopeful for New Beginnings Read More »
Someone asked me yesterday about how ginseng stewardship benefits the landowner. It stumped me at first, because I’d never considered it from that angle. What is Stewardship? To steward something is to manage or take care of something. The short answer to this post’s question is yes. Stewardship benefits the landowner, especially if they want …
How Ginseng Stewardship Also Benefits the Landowner Read More »
On this day in 2015, we had snow and sun sparkles. So far this year it’s been unseasonably warm and no snow so far. That could change this weekend, though – snow is in the forecast! Since we haven’t had any this year yet, I’m rerunning the photos from a couple of years ago. Sun …
This is a post from a few years ago that I love, so I’m reposting it. We live down a long dirt road. This little facet of our lives is the main thing that makes or breaks most newcomers to rural life. It takes a long time to go anywhere, if you go slow enough …
Long Dirt Road: Why it Takes me an Hour to Drive 12 Miles Read More »
Lots of things on my to-do list today, and I guess I should be getting on with *doing* them instead of rambling on about them. But talking about it like this helps me to figure out what all I need to do. Plus in the process, it marks off one of the items, which is to make …
Rambling On about the To-Do List Read More »
I have a housefull of things collected. Some I actually do get around to using, some stay on a shelf gathering dust. A few of the most prized collected things are just there for me to look at and enjoy, like the hornet’s nest and abandoned bird nest hanging in my office. Most mornings after …
Things Collected During My Morning Mile Read More »
The Lost Penguin Yesterday was mine and Rob’s 4th wedding anniversary. Our first date was in Eureka Springs, so each year we go back and have one of the mochas from Mud Street Cafe. Well, I must have ordered the wrong thing, or else they started making them a LOT smaller in the year since …
Just an Ordinary Blog Post, and The Lost Penguin Read More »
It’s been bone dry lately. This morning I brought my camera with me so I could take pictures of the driveway flowers. Ordinarily this would have been an “exercise walk” and I wouldn’t have brought the camera because that would have just caused me to stop and take pictures. Which would have defeated the purpose …
Driveway Flowers in September Read More »
Where has the time gone?! This is just a quick check in so the Google gods keep sending the traffic and don’t assume my website is dead. Figured I’d better make a quick check in on the old blog! It’s been awhile since my last post. I’ve been very busy. Mostly I passed the time gnashing teeth and pulling out hair.
We all depend on trees. A single tree planted in an urban lawn is better than no tree, but the larger collectives of forests are needed, too. The Earth needs large swaths of unbroken forests to maintain habitats that support the biodiversity present beneath tree canopies. These habitats are disappearing around the world at unprecedented …
In Honor of Forests- Two Worthy Fundraisers for Earth Day Read More »
The Ozark winds of March have been blowing strong since maybe before March even began. But last night really trumped all of our weather-related excitement. I knew there was a tornado possibility before I went to sleep. The weather forecasts said so and showed the ominous red box surrounding a storm predicted to track in …
The Ozark Winds of March and Strong Signs of Spring Read More »
Aside from just being a list of things I need to do, some of these represent opportunities, too. Opportunities to learn a thing or two. Often this kind of opportunity masquerades as frustrations, ha.
A little time alone watching a flock of birds in the woods today inspired a poem. My poetry is infrequent and when the drive to write one hits, I just have to get it out of my head. And since I’m not a practiced poet, lol, it never has a formal structure. Just free verse. …
Feathered Rovers, a Poem Read More »
A hilarious metaphor of my unsuccessful juggling act at the homestead and in my life as a writer trying to get things done.
The principle of letting go of that which no longer serves is worth looking at. For me, the end of autumn is a great time of year to do it because it matches my mood already. This year the process will be focused on my office clutter.
This snail is steadfastly going over obstacles that could proportionately be called boulders. I watched it for a little while as it went over, under, or around whatever stood in the path blocking him from his destination.
There is just something special about the eyes of a horse. I can’t tell you what it is because I don’t know the words to explain it. I haven’t had a lot of time for blogging lately, so I think I’m just going to post a photo with a line or two, or nothing at …
We’re in a holding pattern at Wild Ozark right now, which is in its own way a sort of liminal space. Rob has two hernias and we’re waiting for the surgeon’s office to call with his appointment day/time. So while he limits his movements to the barest possible, I’m staying nearby to fetch things so …
Rewind: Between Autumn and Winter: A Liminal Space Read More »
Usually low prices of any traded good means there is either low demand or over-supply. The case with ginseng this year, according to the dealers who have shared information with me, is both. The demand is lower because of overseas economy. And there is over-supply. Many dealers still have dried roots to sell from the previous season.
It’s time for a new logo, and a permanent one. It’s taken me a few years of working on Wild Ozark to finally figure out what exactly it is that ties all of the things we do together. Why a new Logo? I’ve tried out several temporary ones over the past few years, but none …
Unveiling Wild Ozark’s New Logo Read More »
Whenever I go away from the house alone, I take my camera. A simple run to the post office or to town becomes an Ozark Backroad Photo Journey. I generally try not to do this when I have passengers or am myself a passenger. It seems that stopping as often as I do when I’m …
Ozark Backroad Photo Journey – Come Along for the Ride Read More »
Can you feel the changing of the season? I see it and feel it today. With all the rain we’ve been having, and the cool mornings for the past couple of days, the fungi are loving above ground life. This morning there were mushrooms galore!
I’ve been working on a few new Wild Ozark creations lately. This creative streak seems to have no end in sight, either, because ideas just keep coming and I keep feeling compelled to follow them through. Slugs This is the latest drawing I’ve done. The digital and print rights (for business branding, not art prints) …
Slugs and Dragons and Ginseng, Oh My! Wild Ozark Creations Read More »
