Uncategorized – Page 14

August 28, 2009April 25, 2015

A Walk in the Woods

A WALK IN THE WOODS
By Bill Bryson
Broadway Books, 1998

Category: Nonfiction for Grownups

I brought this book to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, thinking a travel book—especially a travel-by-foot book—would be perfect national park vacation reading. It was.

A WALK IN THE WOODS chronicles Bryson’s journey along the Appalachian Trail. The fact that he attempted the AT with little backcountry experience, little physical preparedness, and little help should be appalling. (Hikers die for less.) Somehow, though, the story is riveting, inspiring … and absofreakinlutely hysterical instead. Several times while reading I laughed out loud and once—while on a plane—I actually giggled myself to tears. (For those who have read the book, this fit was induced by the Little Debbie snack food scene.) My kids were mortified, of course, but I just couldn’t help it. Bryson is funny, and his AT partner, Katz, is even funnier.

Perhaps the highest praise I can give is this: when I finished A WALK IN THE WOODS, I closed my eyes and let a few more chuckles out, then flipped back to page one and hit the trail a second time. It’s that good.

August 27, 2009April 25, 2015

These Beans Make Me Happy

Seriously.

The Vermont Cranberry bean may just be the most beautiful vegetable that has ever evolved. I harvested and shelled this bowlful yesterday, alongside my friend and gardening mentor, Karen DiFranza. What do they have to do with writing? Not a thing. Except that this morning, as I sat down to work, I was in need of a splash of inspiration … and these pink and burgundy beauties were it.

Happy writing to all. And don’t forget to eat your veggies …

August 26, 2009April 25, 2015

Back to Work

I saw this fellow in Wyoming, where I recently spent twelve glorious days with my family, hiking and biking and floating through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. In addition to bison, we saw bald eagles, osprey, beaver, moose, antelope, butterflies, ladybugs and all sorts of other creatures. It was heavenly, I tell you; the sort of experience that makes a girl dream about roaming the country’s wild places more often.

Alas, I have got a book to write, and as August has shown me, it is hard to write on the road. So I will settle for watching Ken Burns’ new documentary series, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, which premieres on PBS this month, and working diligently on my citizen science book. If I find a spare moment or two, I’ll linger over the great dilemma of which national park to explore next (recommendations welcomed … do you have a favorite?!) and shout a bit here about the great books I read over vacation.

I hope you are all enjoying the final days of summertime!

August 6, 2009April 25, 2015

What A Girl Wants: Books of Knowledge

I know, I know…. I am supposed to be away from my computer all month. But the truth is that I am working a teeny bit, in between summer adventures, and part of that work this week is participating in another ‘What A Girl Wants’ discussion over at Colleen Mondor’s Chasing Ray blog. This week we’re discussing non-fiction, and I’m officially inviting ALL of you to join the discussion. So, if you are so inclined, head on over, hear what the WAGW panel has to say about nonfiction for teen girls, and let us know what you think about the topic. What great YA nonfiction have you read lately? What inspirational women* would you like to read about? Who and what did you read about when you were a teen? Come on over and have your say.

*Eleanor Roosevelt, whose statue from the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington DC is pictured above, inspires me constantly. I re-read parts of Russell Freedman’s ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: A LIFE OF DISCOVERY while writing up my WAGW response, and I was inspired all over again. Amazing woman, amazing biography.

** I submitted my WAGW response very late, so if you’ve already visited the discussion (ahem, Jeannine), then consider a second trip!

July 31, 2009April 25, 2015

August Wisdom

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.

William Henry Channing (1810-1884)

I’ve decided to leave these words front and center here on my blog while I spend the final weeks of summer away from my computer, listening to stars and babes, hurrying never …

Happy August to all!

July 31, 2009April 25, 2015

Inspiration

A friend sent me a link to a very cool video earlier in the week, and I have spent two minutes and thirty seconds every day since watching it. If hordes of ladybugs freak you out, I don’t recommend it. But if you are at all interested in visions of awe, or the sort of feeling that is at the fore of my mind as I work out a draft of the citizen science book, this is it.

Enjoy!

July 29, 2009April 25, 2015

Milkweed, Monarchs and More

MILKWEED, MONARCHS AND MORE
A Field Guide to the Invertebrate Community in the Milkweed Patch
By Ba Rea, Karen Oberhauser, and Michael A. Quinn
Bas Relief Publishing Group, 2003

Category: Field Guide

I have spent a good deal of my reading time this summer poring over field guides. Sometimes I am trying to identify a creature I spotted in the field, other times I am reviewing the guide for possible inclusion in the backmatter of my citizen science book. I have found good field guides and not-so-good field guides; MILKWEED, MONARCHS AND MORE is one of my new favorites.

This little guide is the only one you’ll need to identify plants and insects living in a milkweed meadow. The small size is great for carrying into the field, though maybe not so great for old eyes like mine. Nonetheless, it is a cool tool for kid and adults who dig hanging out in the milkweed meadow, or who are interested in insects, particularly the beloved monarch butterfly.

Plus, if you owned one, you could easily identify all these creatures:

(Go ahead, guess. I’ll post the answers in a comment below.)

Two more great reasons to own this field guide:

Buying a copy through MonarchWatch supports monarch butterfly conservation and citizen science.

Owners would make fantastic Monarch Larval Monitoring Project volunteers.

July 27, 2009April 25, 2015

Coming May 2010 …

What do you think?

July 23, 2009April 25, 2015

Field Assistants

To follow-up on that last post …

I am also blessed to have kids who never pass up the chance to treck into the woods–or the milkweed meadow, or a snowy field, or the backyard–to look for bugs and stars and book ideas. These three are the most excellent field assistants a writer like me could ever have:

They are also extremely patient on those occasional summer mornings when Mom gets in a groove and simply can’t leave her desk at the agreed upon hour …

July 23, 2009April 25, 2015

Field Research

I answered some questions this week for an article about field research. The author asked if I had any practical tips, and here’s the quick list I made:

Invest in a nice recorder, preferably digital … and then remember to keep it and spare batteries with you at all times. Keep in mind that background noise will wreck your recording, and adjust accordingly. (For example, if there are airplanes flying overhead, wait and do the recorded interview indoors later.)

Always carry a notebook and pens and pencils (pens don’t work well in extreme cold).

Always carry business cards.

Collect the full name and contact information for everyone you talk to.

Observe closely, write what you see, hear, smell, feel, taste, collect tiny details, snippets of conversation, lingo, weather details, EVERYTHING. You man not need all this information later, but this may be your only chance to collect it!

As soon as you get home, transcribe your tapes and record your notes. This is CRUCIAL. So many little details can be added to your notes while the experience is fresh in your mind; these details will be lost next month.

As soon as you’ve transcribed your tapes and notes, contact your host, thank them for giving you the opportunity to join them, and ask any follow-up questions you have.

Make contact with others you met in the field, too. These people may be great resources for you in the future.

Keep printed hard copies of all your typed notes and transcripts. (And, of course, remember to back up your digital copies.)

When your article or book comes out, send a copy to all the researchers who helped you during your field experience, even if the publication comes years later.

It occurred to me this morning—while looking through photographs I took this past weekend during a field research trip with photographer Ellen Harasimowicz—that I forgot to include a very important tip: surround yourself with good colleagues!