Ann’s Current Blog Posts

Forty of us, ages two to 80, met at YMCA Camp of the Rockies near Estes Park, CO in mid-June. Elevation 8,750 feet. Scenery backdrop: a near 360-degree view of the Rocky Mountains. For three days we enjoyed all that Snow Mountain Ranch had to offer—whitewater rafting, aerial ropes course, horseback riding, hiking, miniature golf and lots more. On our third night my three sisters and I and our children and grandchildren and all spouses gathered in a circle inside ...

It is late spring in the northern hemisphere. School has adjourned for summer recess.  Birds and mammals are tending their offspring. And the first of the summer bean seeds are rising out of their fertile darkness into sunshine. It’s an important time to be tending the young in our lives. Teaching elementary children I have just finished a spring of  teaching elementary-aged youngsters attending field trips at our local Whidbey Camano Land Trust preserves. It is fun, demanding, and rewarding ...

He was 10. We were 65 and 68. We were on a 12-day spring break camping trip to honor our grandson’s double-digit birthday: 4 states, 3 national parks, one national monument, and 2 state parks. We picked trail names for ourselves the day we walked Zion National Park’s Virgin River wearing drysuits and booties to get through some of the deeper holes in the snow melt river. He became Captain Rock. His Nina became Major Boulder. And I took on ...

It had been five months since I walked my little dog in our local state park. Five months and a lot of recovering—first from the broken wrist from slipping on a wet, slick plank in the park, then from right hip surgery. The park, too, has been recovering from the storms of winter. As Vivi and I walked through the forest on a glorious sunny morning, there was much evidence of downed trees from winter winds. She and I returned ...

March is that fickle month in the north where everything from a blizzard to a blooming cherry tree is possible. This year I find myself focusing on one tree for springtime lessons in change, connection and inspiration. The ornamental crab tree in front of our house was already well-established when we moved here 32 years ago. It still stands, aging in place like the women who admire it from the patio edge and the kitchen windows. Tiny leaves are now ...

It is winter in the north country. Much of the plant and animal world is slowed down to the level of hibernation and dormancy—in survival mode. To survive our challenging political times let us remember the importance of rest and being refilled. Ceremony invites a pause In this early time in February the northern hemisphere is moving from the winter solstice to the spring equinox. (Our southern hemisphere friends are, of course, that much closer to the fall equinox and ...

In the early morning winter darkness, I move around inside our house with sure footedness. We have lived in this home for 30 years. I know the path down the hallway in the dark to my office to find the light switch that won’t wake my sleeping partner. “Surefootedness” is a key phrase here. Coming out of a month of recovery from hip replacement surgery, I have left behind the walker and the cane and am now confidently moving around ...

Lights add so much to this dark time of the year in the northern hemisphere.  November’s lingering foliage on birch and willow has been mostly blown off the trees by December’s storms. The prevailing colors of our landscape here are gray/green/brown. People in the Pacific Northwest talk about the arrival of The Big Dark. Our daylength is less than eight hours long. And if you count the general gloominess of the prevailing weather, it can seem like we are living ...

Decisions made in our youth show up for reckoning as we enter our elder years. As I prepare for right hip replacement surgery in mid-December, I am reckoning with my life-long definition of myself as an athlete, including the wear-and-tear of training, the endurance and exhilaration of racing, the costs of being my age and being among the first women to accomplish some athletic feats before there was proper gear. My history of running Growing up in the 1950s and ...

Once a year, Christina and I take intentional retreat space— a tradition that has evolved to my having solo camping time and Christina holding the hearth and dog care. Each of us stays off-line and is inwardly focused. As long as I am able, the best retreat space for me is camping—being immersed 24/7 in nature. In the early years I backpacked. In recent years I have car camped in an established campground. A clear marker of how I'm aging ...

For me every walk outdoors is alive with the possibility of sacred connection to the natural world. A recent late summer walk with a friend was particularly profound for me. The two of us, each with a hiking pole, started up the steep, wooded trail of South Whidbey State Park on a cool summer morning. My little corgi dog, Vivi, trotted confidently ahead of us. This is a trail she has traversed often. My friend and I had many things ...

It is my good fortune to have been born into a family of four girls. In our retirement, we four live far apart from one another in four states and four different time zones. For the first time in many years, we gathered mid-July  at our middle-sister's house to share stories and immerse ourselves in the best of Minnesota summer—just the four of us without children or grandchildren. We are different in many ways—including our political affiliations and spiritual beliefs—but ...

This is a short blog. I had a great, big, wonderful birthday party yesterday that was all about community, celebration, and protest. Since I was a little kid, I have always loved my birthday. It’s in June—the end of the school year, a wonderful time to have a picnic in the park, and my family always made a big deal out of birthdays. My dad told me when I was little that people put their flags out for me because ...

It’s that time of the year when the planet’s greatest long-distance athletes are making their incredible journeys. None of these feathered flyers weighs more than a few pounds,(or even grams) yet some of them fly phenomenal distances. The Arctic tern weighing in at 3.9 oz.( 110 g.) makes a round-trip journey of about 60,000 miles (9,6,561 kilometers) from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle and back again! They are master gliders and can even eat and sleep while gliding! ...

As near as my sisters and I can remember, Mom and Dad purchased this couch sometime in the mid 1980s. I don’t think they had it when I brought my newly adopted one-year-old son, Brian, down from Duluth to meet them in April 1981. But sometime after that and before they moved from their longtime home in Austin, MN where dad retired from his equally longtime career at Hormel Foods, they purchased this couch from the highly respected Gabbert furniture ...

I have always loved plants—even chose the study of botany as my major in college. Plants have taught me many things over the years, and I look to them now for wisdom in these perilous political times. Below are examples of plants from three very different bioregions and the “wisdom” they offer by surviving where they live. We were recently in Arizona to visit family and attend the Tucson Book Festival with Christina’s new novel, The Beekeeper’s Question. Lesson #1 ...

A year ago I wrote a blog entitled “Hummingbird Chronicles.” This year again, the cold of a Whidbey Island winter has proven challenging to the local cadre of tiny Anna’s hummingbirds who chose not to migrate, but spend the winter in our neighborhood, dependent on our sugar water feeders. As most of our winter temperatures hover above the freezing point, this is a challenging, but manageable, existence for both birds and bird lovers. I am deeply inspired by the physical ...

It is a “snow board”. In my daily online reports for the National Weather Service (COCORAHS) there is a place to report snowfall. Since it seldom snows at sea level in western Washington, my snowboard is simple: a painted white board so snow does not melt and a little flag to find it if it snows so much that the board gets covered. This week we have been having some intermittent snow falls, so the board is out of its ...

The high mountain beauty of early January is extraordinary. Snow laden conifers, rock people with funny snow hats, and crisp, clean air. This is a scene for adventure and reflection—where young men on heavy duty back country skis made their way past us to the high ridges, and we two older women and our little dog walked steadfastly, slowly through winter’s beauty. With a challenging political year ahead, it felt important to surround ourselves in pristine quiet to mark the ...

November is a long month in our household—anniversaries of the death of two parents and our son, Brian; the usual dreariness and storminess of the weather here in the northern hemisphere; and the end of flowers and vegetables in the garden. So, it is a good thing we have holiday lights and a day to gather with friends and family to count the considerable blessings we do have. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday—not the false narration of early ...

My father died 11 years ago on Veteran’s Day. Of course, he would die on Veteran’s Day.  His World War II service record was always an important part of his identity. Enlisting at 17 Dad was in many ways a classic man of his generation. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17, lying about his age with his mother’s assistance, so he could serve his country as soon as he graduated from high school in 1943. Patriotism was ...

Staying grounded in challenging times October in the northern hemisphere is a big transition month. The longer daylight hours shrink down until there are more hours of darkness than light. By the end of the month, the sun does not have enough hours in the day to warm us up into those light sweater temperatures of 60+degrees F. (15.5 degrees C) When the life-giving chlorophyll of green-leaved plants dies out in the colder temperatures, the brighter yellow, oranges and red ...

As fall arrives in the northern hemisphere, the earth changes. It brings me joy to be in touch with those often-subtle changes and to tend my garden accordingly. When I began writing this blog, it was a very different piece of writing. But then Hurricane Helene barreled into the Southeastern U.S. smashing any sense of normalcy for people in that region, including my sister and her family. Now I am called to reflect on the word “tending” in a new ...

The beauty of early morning shore casting for salmon on Puget Sound is especially exquisite on a foggy morning. Everything is a mystery—the location of the freighter with its booming foghorn, the outward creep of the tide, and, of course, the whereabouts of the elusive salmon. Dressed in multi-layered warmth including long underwear, a wool sweater and cap, fingerless gloves and heavy wading boots, I joined the usual cadre of “old codgers” on the shoreline near my home. Mostly they ...

Camping has always been a delight for me. I relish the chance to live close to the earth, to be more directly a part of nature’s interactions, and to unplug from daily schedules and news. I have gone camping for over 60 years. Each trip connects me to a lifetime of memories and a longing to keep on camping for as many remaining years as I am able. President Biden’s announcement This year, 48 hours before we left for a ...

The earth in the northern hemisphere is in its season of profound, inspiring abundance. And I am working to appreciate every minute of it! I have always loved the summer solstice! When I was a Minnesota ten-year-old, I never wanted to come inside from neighborhood games of Kick the Can until it was really dark. Now in my mid-70s living even further north, I find myself wanting to linger on the patio to hear the last sweet sounds of birdsong, ...

Thank you to the attendant in the women’s bathroom in Concourse A of the Atlanta International Airport. On a recent cross-country trip to surprise my sister at her retirement from 30 years of college teaching I was lucky to be one of many nurtured by the attendant’s generous spirit. Moving from my arrival gate to the departure gate of the next leg of my long flight, I tucked into the bathroom. There was a line out the entry way—another signal ...

“Why does being in your garden make you so happy?” asked my sixth- grade granddaughter as she was helping me plant peas. Then twelve and very interested in all things having to do with make-up and clothing in her LA lifestyle, her question was sincere. “It brings me joy to take care of the earth,” I responded. “Oh, now I get it,” she said and continued her meticulous placing of each soaked seed into the ground with a careful pinch ...

Logging looks destructive. Trees uprooted, gashes on trunks from felling, soil upended, understory destroyed. It’s not a pretty sight for those of us who love forests. But it can be a way to restore some forests to long-term health. This blog is an invitation to think critically about the complex subject of logging through the lens of one logging operation. Working with our local Whidbey Camano Land Trust (WCLT) as a leader of hikes and teacher of school-aged children, I ...

Near the end of February, between snowstorms, heavy rains, and strong winds, I snuck in an afternoon’s kayak paddle along the Mutiny Bay shoreline near our home. My winter’s goal the last two and a half years has been to get my new, lightweight (27 pounds—12.3 KG) kayak into the water at least once a month, every month. My Epic GPX, carbon composite kayak is a dream come true: light enough for me to load and unload by myself and ...

Gratitudes Thank you to the following people who conferred with me about how to help keep our hummingbirds alive in the recent severe cold spell: Fellow Whidbey Islanders: Debbie Dix, Pip Gordon, Jim and Karen Carbone, Jane Sykes, and, of course, Christina Baldwin; Port Townsend: Pam Sampel and John Sager; and Amanda Fenton, Vancouver, BC. Close-up hummingbird photo credits:Bonnie Rae Nygren, friend, colleague and nature photographer extraordinaire A primer Anna’s hummingbirds weigh less than a nickel and are the smallest ...

I love science for its inquiry, information gathering, critical thinking and problem solving. In college I majored in botany and zoology and minored in chemistry. Science has stimulated my natural curiosity and wonder about the world around me. In the many decades since, I have had numerous opportunities to keep that intellectual curiosity alive as a citizen scientist. Volunteer citizen scientists support the work of scientists and institutions by gathering information using prescribed protocols. (Some organizations now use the term ...

The fall of 2023 is a stunning year for mushrooms in the forests along the Pacific Northwest coast of North America. They come in most every color: Yellow, red, brown, purple, pink, white, and even black. Some grow on the forest floor, some on logs, some only on individual Douglas fir cones. They occupy nearly every inch of the forest and are completely essential to its health. In a recent class I taught for fifth graders at one of the ...

The international and national news cycle is heartbreaking. When I can no longer follow one more thread of the Israeli/Hamas war or the Ukrainian War or the chaos in the U.S. House of Representatives, I go outside to tend to the ritual of closing down the garden for the season. This one little patch of earth is where I can make a difference. I stand at the gate overlooking twelve raised beds that need my care and flourish because of ...

Each year for many years I have held the intention to spend time alone camping in nature, offering gratitude for my life and the earth, designing simple ceremonies, and doing whatever wilderness adventuring my body allows. This is my most basic spiritual practice, a way to reset and check my internal barometer. This August I had a campsite reserved in the Cascade Mountains. However, as time drew nearer, temperatures were predicted to rise above 100 degree F. (38 degrees C.) ...

Congratulations to Riley, Mishayla, Natalie, Louisa, Raven, Nico, Hamish, Jaden, and tens of thousands of other young people who crossed the stage to receive their high school diplomas last month. The challenges they face are numerous, but we have had conversations with these eight young people, and they are ready to find their place in the world of adults. It is inspiring to know them and in the case of our beloved grandson, Jaden, to have had the privilege to ...

It is a warm, sunny Monday afternoon in mid-May on the lawn outside South Whidbey Elementary School. Our group of two teachers, a dozen first and second graders, and myself as a volunteer are sitting on the lawn in a squiggly shaped circle. We have spent the last two hours visiting their pollinator garden, reading a book, and writing in journals. Fifteen minutes before the close of the school day it is time for the daily check out circle. Their ...

Our two LA city grandchildren have been coming up to visit for most every spring break since they were two years old. Since Jaden is 18, that is nearly 16 years—interrupted a couple of times for a larger family trip, including one year to South Korea. This spring is the last time they will come together because Jaden will be in college next year. Their mother and father no longer escort them. They have grown into two fine young people ...

After recovering so well from my August back surgery, I have been eager to return to favorite responsibilities and challenges. Am I ready?     To walk the dog, take a longer hike, kayak, garden and mow the lawn? How do I return without injuring myself?    I have no sciatica pain, but strained muscles along the surgery site and a tender three-inch scar: how do I listen to my body now? How can I be of service at this ...

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My heart is filled with gratitude—the kind of inner flush that starts in your heart and constantly reframes your thoughts. It is not just a polite ”Yes, I am feeling good.” And it is not fleeting. These complex days in the world find me with a newfound ability to listen, reflect, and sort through what to take in and what to let go. I had my two-week post-surgical visit this week. Excellent report after my L4/L5 bilateral laminectomy. Now free ...

Blue sky, a summer day, and an invitation to walk around on a glacier. Such grand adventure! Yet, walking around on glaciers is precarious. Advancing or retreating ice edges are in constant flux, creating crevasses, hidden snow bridges, and steep, slippery traverses. We went to Alaska in June 2022 to visit family and touch the expansive wilderness of this northern continental rim with its raw edge of climate change. In my previous blog I wrote about paddling near one of ...

We have long dreamed of a trip to Alaska to visit glaciers, experience their grandeur, and understand more directly the impact of climate change. We also wanted to visit my brother-in-law, Ric, and his wife, Kathy, who volunteered to lead a road trip through some of the wilder places in that wildest of all states. And so, we planned a June 2022 trip to kayak in Prince William Sound near the Columbia glacier and hike the toe of the Root ...

Spring is coming to Ukraine, despite the desecration of its country. We do not hear about the beauty of the natural world unfolding from its winter slumber because so many horrific things are happening to people, buildings, and homes. It is hard to find beauty when everything around seems burnt, bombed, and dangerous. The only reference I hear about the landscape was first frozen ground to enable tanks, then mud to slog them down, and lately about leaves returning to ...

Like so many of you, I have felt shocked, devastated, and immobilized by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Other than discerning a good way to send relief, I have felt helpless. So, when the Wilderness Guides Council put out a call for a collective gathering to hear the stories, needs, and strengths of our Ukrainian friends, I eagerly signed up. (WGC is a global network of wilderness guides and supporters who offer “contemporary wilderness rites of passage”.) Since ...

Daily our little blue-eyed corgi helps me be a better human. By doing the things she loves, I become a happier, healthier, kinder person. Having a dog makes sure that I tend to the following: Plan time outdoors every day.  Share love and affection and, of course, snacks. Pay attention to needs other than your own. Offer kindness. Be curious. It seems so simple really. Yet we humans can get involved with matters of consequence and overlook or minimize ...