Folk Wisdom... Folk Arts... and words that want to be shared

By Kristine Karpinski

June days have brought the blessings of family in full view among all the critters. Not a moment goes by without witnessing a parent teaching a growing young one the way of the world. 

Raven parents hanging out with their young as they show them how to find the best...

By Kristine Karpinski

This is a stunning part of the seasonal cycle.

As the fruit trees blossom in a spiral way, one passing the baton to the next, and eventually passing the baton to the flowering plants and grasses, we watch their expression and feel it through every sensory pathway of our...

By Kristine Karpinski

We welcome the energy of Beltane ('bright fire') as we celebrate the fertility of the land and the strengthening sun!

Green things are bursting forth, water is flowing in unexpected places, the air has the fragrance of worms & rain, and critters are getting busy with the...

By Kristine Karpinski

The red-winged blackbirds have arrived. They’ve begun their yearly gather around the water cooler (old well) to chat about the winter and debrief about plans for the coming days. Not far away, the mourning doves are doing their thing in the parking lot, picking at the...

By Kristine Karpinski

These lighter days and bright starry nights have brought increased activity from all the critters here.

Foxes playing in the snow in twos. Racoons playing follow-the-leader in family lines. Woodpeckers, mourning doves, blue jays and other winged ones gathering as a chorus of...

By Kristine Karpinski

A red squirrel showed up in early January, working hard to gather nest materials from a roll of animal-friendly burlap that was simply too big for her to maneuver successfully. She pulled and wrestled with the roll, making many effortful attempts to no success.

She was...