This time of year, when winter is creeping in, I see the squirrels rushing to gather nuts for the cold months of winter. I think about other
creatures fending for themselves in the cold months. In particular, I think about wolves.

Wolves are a top predator out there in the wild. They are hated by humans who raise animals (like cattle and sheep) for a living – because the ranchers’ cash crops are a ready source of food for
…

Brrrrr! The cold front came through this week, and the temps have taken a dive. Luckily, the forecast calls for higher temps over the next week,
closer to our usual November highs of the low 60s in Oklahoma. Perfect weather in so many ways, brilliant blue skies and light southwesterly winds.

Many things are happening in the animal/plant world as everything prepares for the coldest part of the natural annual cycle of life. Today’s post features information about these …

Now that daylight savings time has ended, we’re back in real time. Early morning light and dark evenings. Many people I know don’t care much for the
change; it’s no fun coming home from work in the dark.

But I tend to feel it’s more natural. It FEELS right to me when the temps cool off and the sun sets so early. Coming home from work – or wherever I’ve been – feels like tucking myself in bed,
but …

This month, the full moon fall on November 17. I’ve discovered that every full moon has a name, depending on when it happens during the year. Native
Americans first gave names to these moons, and European settlers often picked those names up, or adapted them for their own purposes. Here is a list of the months of the year, and the name the
full moon has been given:

November – Beaver Moon …

Lots of interesting things are happening out there in the sky above us, and the lengthening nights give sky watchers like me plenty of things to
take notice of. Here’s what’s going on:

TotalSolarEclipse – A solar eclipse is visible in eastern North America, northeastern South America, southern Europe, and all of …

Enjoy these beautiful short pieces, as the leaves change and promptly rain down around us. Wherever you live, I hope you have had the chance to
watch the leaves make their annual costume change to colors of crimson, pumpkin orange, fireglow yellow and gold. This is one of nature’s greatest gifts!

“Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.” …

Lots of things are happening out there right now in the Northern Hemisphere, as animals prepare for the coming winter. Today’s post is full of
interesting facts about everything from black bears to butterflies, aspens and oaks.

WeightWatching – In summer, the North American black bear must amass weight to survive its winter hibernation. It gains as much as 30 pounds a week eating a variety of foods,
such as berries, nuts, fish and leaves.
…

Wow. The colors in the foliage everywhere are changing, and it’s like a living, breathing change, altering the world minute by minute as the
light shifts from east to west and north to south. Who can help but love this time of year!

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” — …

So many rocks – so little time.
Here in New Mexico, that has become my motto.
If you’re not a rock lover, you won’t understand this post. But if you are a rock lover …

I can’t remember when my love of rocks began. I’m sure I was pretty young, because I still have the first rock shop bracelet my dad ever bought for me. No way it fits around my wrist now, but I
can’t bear to part with it. The …

Wow! Have you ever seen a bobcat? We had a chance to get up close and personal with one just this past week. When we got home to our New Mexico adobe, a momma bobcat
and her half-grown kitten were hanging around in our yard!
No reason to call animal control – because we live parttime in an addition of homes in the scrub desert of New Mexico, and we share the area with wild creatures who are used to sharing their habitat
with …