Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist using Ozark pigments in Kingston, Arkansas ~

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

Feathered Rovers, a Poem

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 … Read the rest “Feathered Rovers, a Poem”

12 January 2017
Keeping up the Juggling Act

It’s the holiday season, so it stands to reason that lots of folks are juggling lots of things in their lives these days.

Juggling and Not Too Successfully

I’ve been dropping a few balls lately. Right now the ones on … Read the rest “Keeping up the Juggling Act”

6 December 2016
End of Autumn and Letting Go of Clutter

The end of autumn brings me to a state of feeling introspective. Depression, melancholy maybe, or just a need to be alone with my thoughts for a little while … It’s not “sadness”, and it’s not a negative thing. It’s … Read the rest “End of Autumn and Letting Go of Clutter”

27 November 2016
Perseverance

If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I’m stubborn and don’t give up easily. And I draw a lot of inspiration from nature.

This snail is steadfastly going over obstacles that could proportionately be called boulders. I … Read the rest “Perseverance”

22 November 2016
Comanche’s Eye

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 … Read the rest “Comanche’s Eye”

19 November 2016
Rewind: Between Autumn and Winter: A Liminal Space

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 … Read the rest “Rewind: Between Autumn and Winter: A Liminal Space”

27 October 2016
Ginseng Growing Season is Winding Down, Digging Winding Up

Ginseng Growing Season

The ginseng growing season is winding down now. The plants set berries earlier and most of them have ripened and fallen to the ground already. Some of the plants will soon begin turning yellow most years. We’ve … Read the rest “Ginseng Growing Season is Winding Down, Digging Winding Up”

6 September 2016
Unveiling Wild Ozark’s New Logo

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
… Read the rest “Unveiling Wild Ozark’s New Logo”

2 September 2016
Ozark Backroad Photo Journey – Come Along for the Ride

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 … Read the rest “Ozark Backroad Photo Journey – Come Along for the Ride”

28 August 2016
Mushrooms are Rising and Fall is in the Air at Wild Ozark

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!

Fall is Coming

Have you noticed fall in the air … Read the rest “Mushrooms are Rising and Fall is in the Air at Wild Ozark”

21 August 2016
Slugs and Dragons and Ginseng, Oh My! Wild Ozark Creations

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 … Read the rest “Slugs and Dragons and Ginseng, Oh My! Wild Ozark Creations”

13 August 2016
Balanced Asymmetry and Order in Chaos in Nature, Work, and Art

Note: an edited and better composed version of this is posted over at Medium.

I’ve been in a crafty mood lately. It’s probably safe to say I’m always in a crafty mood. I think I’ve finally figured out why.… Read the rest “Balanced Asymmetry and Order in Chaos in Nature, Work, and Art”

26 July 2016
Mailbox and Back in Under an Hour

Yesterday I brought my camera with me when I went to the mailbox. If I had walked, I know it would have taken more than an hour because I would have seen so many more opportunities to stop and take … Read the rest “Mailbox and Back in Under an Hour”

20 July 2016
Dirt Road Photos – Ozark Sunset Silhouettes

Scene from the dirt road in the Ozarks of northwest Arkansas.

The Ozarks from a Scenic Dirt Road

I was driving home from my daughter’s house this evening as the sun began setting on our beautiful Ozark hills. Just so happened … Read the rest “Dirt Road Photos – Ozark Sunset Silhouettes”

20 March 2016
To-Do – All the Various & Odd Things on the List for March

The To-Do list today started out pretty clear cut. The plan was to get an early start into town. I need more potting soil, a few groceries, and feed for the horses. That plan was nixed when I woke up … Read the rest “To-Do – All the Various & Odd Things on the List for March”

11 March 2016
Stone Tool – Relic of a Long Bygone Era

I knew when I saw the rounded hand-sized rock that it was more than “just a rock”. It was a stone tool, & probably several thousand years old.

There is something special about holding a stone I know once was … Read the rest “Stone Tool – Relic of a Long Bygone Era”

5 March 2016
What is the “back burner”, really?

Back Burner

You’ve probably referred to projects you’ve put on hold as being “on the back burner”. I understood what the phrase meant, and had used it often myself, but when we got our new/old cook stove, I learned how … Read the rest “What is the “back burner”, really?”

17 February 2016
Delve Deeper to Observe Nature

Take a moment from your day and delve deeper to observe nature. You’ll gain a sense of awe and wonder.

Delve deeper

Truly experience that moment. If it’s a plant you’re observing, reach out and touch it (be reasonable – … Read the rest “Delve Deeper to Observe Nature”

13 February 2016
The Sound of Winter

Some sounds are distinctly “winter”. Sometimes the sound of winter is marked by the absence of sound. Maybe it’s more correctly described as the “silence of winter”.

I am often reminded of how grateful I am to have my sense … Read the rest “The Sound of Winter”

21 January 2016
On the horizon-Just filling in

I’m swamped with my project list and missed my scheduled day to post here yesterday. So I’m just making a quick post to let you all know about a few things on the horizon.

Some exciting announcements coming up – … Read the rest “On the horizon-Just filling in”

14 January 2016
What is Humanity’s Role in Nature?

Humanity’s Role in Nature

Have you ever thought about humanity’s role in nature? Our various mythologies and religious origin stories offer some ideas that are generally accepted by many, but those are conflicting and I still wonder. Are we here … Read the rest “What is Humanity’s Role in Nature?”

7 January 2016
Winter Solstice 2015 – A Widdershin sort of Time

Winter Solstice 2015 occurs tonight at 10:03 p.m. CST

It’s a widdershin sort of time, an unwinding, a releasing. A loosening of the grip on things I need to let go of.

Actual New Year’s Eve

It’s Winter Solstice, the … Read the rest “Winter Solstice 2015 – A Widdershin sort of Time”

21 December 2015
Looking forward to solstice

Pulled this one from the archives. It’s from when I worked in Bentonville, leaving before dawn and getting home after dusk. I hated that and am glad to be working from home now, but I still look forward to mid-winter’s … Read the rest “Looking forward to solstice”

15 December 2015
Killing Pretty Roosters

First I tried selling pretty roosters. Then I tried gifting pretty roosters.

Yesterday we killed pretty roosters.

It was my chore to pick which ones. I felt a bit like Kali (Goddess who is both giver of life and bringer … Read the rest “Killing Pretty Roosters”

12 December 2015
Inspired by Nature

Nature has inspired some pretty cool inventions. And lots of art. My guess is that Mother Nature is the muse to a lot of artists of all types.

How often do you see something in the natural world and marvel … Read the rest “Inspired by Nature”

10 December 2015