Poor Desert Attire for a Walk In Sabino Canyon — Images by kenne
kenne
Children at the SCVN Booth at the Wild for the Wilderness Event In Sabino Canyon (November 8, 2014) — Images by kenne
The long-planned and awaited celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act signed by President Johnson, “Wild for the Wilderness” took place in Sabino Canyon this past Saturday. Over forty organizations participated providing nature and wilderness activities, including nature walks, exhibits, and activities designed to test wilderness skills. The event was sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Sierra Club, Friends of Sabino Canyon, and several other partners. Hundreds of volunteers help create many lasting memories for visitors to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
kenne
(First posted November, 2008.)
“I Know It When I See It!”
In trying to explain what is obscene, Supreme Court Justice, Potter Stewart uttered the now famous phrase, “I know it when I see it.” Each one of us may have used similar phrases when shopping: “I’m not sure what I want to buy her, but I will know it when I see it.”
But, what exactly is “it”? Defining what we mean can be an abstract exercise. “It” is often use as a generic expression of “worth”, but can take on a different meaning for different people. Why is this?
How we define “it” is a reflection of context, values, experiences and expectations. “It” can be referring to quality of service, art, craftsmanship, functionality, all of which are intended to identify, codify and communicate our expectations. So, is “it” really an abstraction?
The test for “knowing it when you see it” is expressed in behavior. As a young man, I loved going to the Chicago Art Institute. I could spend hours staring at masterpieces, surrounded, in the silence of others, sharing art that has endured the test of time. Such silence, in the face of beauty, speaks volumes.
Another case for intuitive thought. Define it, lose it!
kenne
Image by kenne
“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly,
and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.
Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love –
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
is it perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you from misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labours and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.”
― from Desiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life, by Max Ehrmann
— from “Mother Blues” by Ray Wylie Hubbard
Ray Wylie Hubbard at the Rhythm Room, Phoenix, Arizona (October 30, 2014) — Images by kenne
— kenne
Click here to watch a great full concert video done three years ago. The Rhythm Room show was pretty much the same —
“If it ain’t broke, don’t break it!”
* Hayes Carll
Queen butterflies In Pima Canyon — Images by kenne
(Click on any of the images for larger view in a slideshow format.)
From cocoon forth a butterfly
As lady from her door
Emerged — a summer afternoon —
Repairing everywhere,
Without design, that I could trace,
Except to stray abroad
On miscellaneous enterprise
The clovers understood.
Her pretty parasol was seen
Contracting in a field
Where men made hay, then struggling hard
With an opposing cloud,
Where parties, phantom as herself,
To Nowhere seemed to go
In purposeless circumference,
As ‘t were a tropic show.
And notwithstanding bee that worked,
And flower that zealous blew,
This audience of idleness
Disdained them, from the sky,
Till sundown crept, a steady tide,
And men that made the hay,
And afternoon, and butterfly,
Extinguished in its sea.
— Emily Dickinson
As a Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist, I enjoy teaching children about nature — thanks for sharing, Cathy. It was a pleasure to be with polite, inquisitive children interested in learning about nature.
Life is good and I love it!
kenne
Mountain Spiny Lizard at Roger’s Rock In Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains — Images by kenne
(Click on any of the images for larger view in a slideshow format.)
For those of us who live near the Santa Catalina Mountains, Madera Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains is about an hour and twenty minutes drive. There are a lot of reasons to love the canyon, rated the third best birding destination in the United States. Yesterday, the Monday Morning Milers hiked one of the canyon’s many trails to Roger’s Rock where I have captured many vista photographs in the past and did the same yesterday. One of the things that made this hike different from past hikes was seeing the mountain spiny lizard captured in this posting. The colors of this guy were very prominent, sunning in the 6,500 feet elevation cool mountain air. I have learned that every hike, even on the same trail, has something new and impressive to see.
— kenne
— Ken Kesey
Claw marks made by bear foraging for insects — Image by kenne
Computer Painting (October 19, 2014) by kenne
Sunset Image (October 18, 2014) by kenne
― Susan Sontag
Desert Spiny Lizard
Desert Spiny Lizard
Twenty-one people participated in the last SCVN 2014 Lizard Walk (October 11, 2014).
Although the count was low, observing mostly side-blotched, desert spiny, and zebra-tailed lizard lizards,
it was an enjoyable walk on a beautiful fall desert morning.
— Images by kenne
(Click on any of the tiled images to see larger view in a slideshow format.)
Thanks to Phil Bentley for These Images
After over an inch and a half of rain in a 24 hour period and over five inches on Mt. Lemmon (the major feeder to Sabino Canyon Creek) our Thursday elementary school class had a rare treat, lots of water generating lots of noise over Sabino Canyon Dam.
kenne
Two-Tailed Swallow Butterfly (Papilio multicaudata) On Mexican Bird of Paradise — Image by kenne
Senna covesii, aka Desert Senna (September 25, 2014) In Molino Canyon — Image by kenne
from “Morning” by Billy Collins
Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist, Ralph Mersiowsky Recently Passed Away In Tucson
— March 27, 2014 by Images by kenne
The Man In The White Shirt
