Tundra Medicine Dreams: A Response to California Medicine Man

Tundra Medicine Dreams: A Response to California Medicine Man:

"Last night I was reading through the many excellent posts included in this week’s Grand Rounds (yes! It’s up at Health Care Law Blog). I clicked on a blog I had not visited before called California Medicine Man, written by Dr. John Ford, a physician in southern California who is on the faculty of the UCLA Medical School. I was stunned and amazed to see his post “Regarding Tundra Medicine Dreams”:"

Bird Treatment and Learning Center Anchorage, Alaska: A Snowy Day

Bird Treatment and Learning Center
Anchorage, Alaska: A Snowy Day:

"Today was a pretty good day. The weather man predicted 4 inches of snow. Well, we didn't get it but I did get to spend the afternoon with the snowy.

Cindy (my mentor) had a presentation at Mears Middle School and I went along to observe. This is only the fifth time the snowy had been out and it handled itself very well. Cindy is very good with him also."

Up in Alaska: mmm ... slippy

Up in Alaska: mmm ... slippy:

"Well, it's not quite that time of year yet. But it is approaching that time of year when nightly freeze-ups and a snowline down to 1,000 feet means it's not a great season to take the roadie up to a ski resort. But, like I said, snowline has crept down to 1,000 feet, and I love snow. I wanted to take some crunchy steps through the frosted grass and wrap my fingers around an dripping early-season snowball. So when I woke up to a blindingly clear morning, it seemed a no-brainer to ride up to EagleCrest. And I did get my feet on some snow. I also had the opportunity to do plenty of walking down the ice sheet that had once been a canyon road. 'Tis the season to keep roadie at sea level.

When we finally did hit the thaw during the descent, I amped up to 30 mph and received my annual lesson in the degrees of windchill. I've never learned the math, but I do know that my odometer screen begins to black out when the temperature drops into single digits. My odometer screen blacked out. I nearly did too, by the time I reached sea level with frozen tears still clinging to my face. 'Tis the season to dress in many layers. Why must I relearn this every year?"

Signs Of Winter

Oct 24th - Trees are bare, all the waterfowl has headed south. Temperatures rise and fall with each passing day. Snow covers the mountain tops and higher elevations where we go to play. Snow blankets the ground around the cabin. Lakes are covered in a showy white saying goodbye to memories delight. Tis that time of year when we turn back the clock. Dig in get comfy throw another log on. Winter soon enough will be here once again.

Buford T. Porcupine

Surreal or just plain wierd?

In the end, there just trees! Art can be expressed in many forms of nature.
Buford T. Porcupine

Abstract in Nature - Pushing the Boundries

When the creative juices are flowing, one can use your camera just as if it were a paint brush. More extremes in the coming days. Have fun out there.

Buford T.Porcupine

More Abstract In Nature - day 2

Like brush strokes to a canvas, a painterly pattern of light and lines mix with emotion.

Abstract in Nature

Well thanks for stopping in and seeing what I'm up to again trailbuddies. Here around the cabin all the leaves have fallen, color is gone. Everything looks dull and drab waiting for the coming wintery months. But I still take off into the woods for a look around. One more hike off to somewhere. I always carry my camera with me heading down the trail. It's been my experience in the past as some of us have found out, that we will always come across some scenic or a wildlife subject we want to take a picture of and yet we don't have our camera with us. Now that we are past the fall colors, do we put the camera away until it snows? Since there's no more fall colors do we just give up looking or even trying ?
I guess it's one of those moments coming from sitting in my rocker deep in thought again. For one more look around in the woods to find something of interest. And there's always plenty for me to find! I've done just that! I wandered off into the woods just before sunset the other day and creatively looked at the woods in a differently than I've ever looked at them before. Seeing lines and shapes and the light coming from between them, aroused a new sensation in me I never thought I had.

Definition of Abstract: expressing a quality or characteristic apart from any specific object or instance.

When we can look deep inside ourselves and find the true artist. Being able to see past what is right in front of us, then only do the creative juices start to flow. In the coming days I will try to post more of my pictures from my hike off into the woods before sunset. What you will see are lines, shapes and patterns. Paintbrush strokes of the of the existing light that I had to work with. In the end you will know as I did, they're just trees - white birches and evergreens. We go by them everday and just take them for granted. I however, can sit back in my rocker and look at the results of these creative juices. Don't put the camera away just yet! So I hope this picture will only tease you to stop by again to look at an abstract way of seeing our trees.

Look forward to seeing you down the trail somewhere.

Buford T. Porcupine

Fall in Motion

Well, here we are once again trail buddies. Fall is upon us. For many of you the colors are just starting where as ours are just about done. What has helped is all the rain we got this year to keep them around just a little longer. Why is it always this time of year we scramble to get ready for the coming winter months? Flying by all that color that is out speaking to us. We're all just too busy it seems to slow down for a real good look while it's there for our viewing pleasure.
I myself finding around the cabin, chores that I've put off as the result of trying to take in all the fall color I can. One last minute trip away - out of the area. Stacking of wood needs to be done, kayaks need to be put away, wishing there was just one more adventure seeking out returning waterfowl. And all those cloudy days and the rain that follows. And what about the garden? Days are getting shorter, sunrises are later and sunsets sooner. But we still are buzzing around in our busy lives. We speed by the various colors that are calling us to slow down, hey come take a look, while the tall trees still have it on display. Some of us get the message while others wait till it's too late. Or make the statement..."theres always next year."
Being very busy this summer out on many adventures to different areas, now I find well into the evening, relaxing in my favorite rocking chair by the fireplace wondering where the time has gone and thinking about all the things that need to get done before the first snow. Well I hope you all got to take some time and view the fall colors where ever they might be for you. I know I did and question did I get to see everything out there I wanted to see before heading in. I can only look back at all those wonderful pictures I took. Still we go rushing by and then scratch our heads in wonder.

See you down the trail somewhere,
Buford T. Porcupine