I have found it hard to write this blog -- because I care about the subject matter so much. I spend all day living and breathing this topic at work and the hugeness of the problems facing the natural world leave me often overwhelmed such that I have to flip the off switch when I walk out the office door. It's a self-preservation thing.
Then when I begin writing posts, I find I want to explain EVERYTHING carefully so it is clear and I want to make sure subjects are appropriately placed in context. The result is an entry so long, I don't think anyone would read it and I give up, daunted again.
But I still believe in the project and I hope I have not lost all of you as I try to figure this out! There is so much going on that I want to write about. There are also things going on that I won't write about. I'm not even going to try to elaborate much on the giant oil plumes spewing about the Gulf of Mexico at the moment because I have no words for either my anger or my lack of surprise.
As the eagle was killed by the arrow winged with his own feather, so the hand of the world is wounded by its own skill. -Helen Keller
Speaking of feathers...I will share with you today though, some simply exquisite pieces of wildlife art that I covet with the depths of my soul. I am quite sure that I could not even afford half of one, but that does not stop me from drooling over them. Each is painted on a feather by Idaho artist Deb Otterstein. She has somehow captured the magic of these wild animals on a medium that is so fitting in its delicacy and grace. If you ever want to just buy me a present, you know, cause who wouldn't buy an extravagent present for a random internet person, you are free to mail me one of these!!
2 comments:
The feather paintings are amazing!
It is absolutely understandable how you would be overwhelmed with what is going on in the wildlife world. I volunteer with a couple of wildlife groups and my particular focus is coyotes. You can be overcome with the negative and uncaring attitudes of the general public. But, I think there is hope. I believe that education is best defence. Every time there is a “coyote scare” article published in our local paper, I write a letter to the editor to help people understand that coyotes will not eat children and why having coyotes around is a good thing. I still get frustrated at the stupidity of some, but I know that my excitement about wildlife has rubbed off on others and I feel good about that. What you are doing is making a difference – remember that.
The feather paintings are beautiful. The quote is outstanding.