Canoeing West Chickamauga Creek – Nature Bathing

Canoeing, kayaking, floating, swimming — I was born to be on the water. Lucky us: We LIVE on West Chickamauga Creek, the boundary between Walker County and Catoosa County in Northwest Georgia. Our 6-acre Spirit Tree Farms property is across the creek from the #ChickamaugaNationalMilitaryPark (actually in the Southeast corner of the park, where there’s a […]

Old Woman of the Woods oak tree with a sunset and sundog, January, 2022 near Chickamauga NMP, NW Georgia

Observing Nature with a Purpose

I spend a lot of time observing nature as I wander and work in the woods, creek and fields. Whether on my property near the #ChickamaugaNMP in Northwest Georgia, at my relatives in Arizona, Wisconsin or Washington, or traveling around this fantastic country (and world), I’ve always loved seeing God’s creations, and how they work […]

Why Make And Maintain A Natural Yard: For The Birds, Bees and Butterflies

Natural yards for the birds, bees and butterflies — and for the pleasure they brings human senses — are nothing new. I personally have created my own natural yard for decades, as has my brother. Where did that inspiration come from? Our forest ranger father, who taught all my siblings that lawns were silly, foolish, […]

If I Knew Birds Songs Better: What Is It? Video

Yesterday, May 5, 2018, was a Big Day in birding, and it left me wishing I knew bird songs better. First, what’s a “Big Day”? If you’ve seen the Jack Black / Steve Martin movie “The Big Year”, it’s kind of like that.  www.eBird.org organized a world-wide “Big Day”, where birders all over the world […]

Life And Death — It Happens. Sadly.

Today, in a single, natural life and death moment, I rediscovered the phrase “To Kill A Mockingbird.” It’s spring. Birds aren’t known for paying attention when they’re in love. So it was, evidently, with the mockingbird that jumped into the path of my ragtop today. I didn’t even hear a thunk, but looking in my […]

Getting ready for wildflowers and pollinators -- Glowing goldenrods, flooded by the West Chickamauga Creek, April 2018, taken from Nature's Guy kayak

What To Do? Does It Matter? Just DO!

What should I do today? Do you ever ask yourself: Does it matter what I do? What should I do? When I made the decision to live a “Nature’s Guy” type of life, I don’t think I knew what I was getting myself into! There is SO MUCH to do! So much to experience! So […]

Albino Grackle – What Is It!?!

A couple of years ago (July 2016) my dad said he thought he’d seen a white bird feeding with a bunch of dark (purple) grackles at a neighbor’s lake-side bird feeder (normally reserved for geese and ducks). Sure enough, when I went out to see, I was able to video this rare albino grackle! One […]