Geese on the bay
Gunshots down by the bay.
Hunters taking careful aim at Canada geese.
Goose soup tonight, perhaps?
I prefer to glimpse them flying overhead, winging south, honking loudly, taking turns at the tip of their “V” formation, letting their fellow travelers rest as they face any challenging winds.
Barry announced this morning, “I think we’re done cutting and splitting our wood for the season.”
(I also prefer to see trees with beautiful leaves shining upright in the woods at this time of year. But, then again, it’s nice to be warm in the wintertime…and once you’ve tried wood heat, you’ll never want to return to gas or oil or electricity. If we burn fuel or eat meat, we’re not innocent travelers on this planet, oh no, even though we may like to think so.)
A walk in autumn woods.
The man or woman aiming a gun at feathers is realizing a basic truth: if we eat meat, a creature has to die.
(Some people say a carrot weeps when it’s pulled from its soil-home, too. It may. I’ve never heard it weep, but neither have I learned carrot-speak. Perhaps next year! But then again…how I love carrots. Tonight we’re having carrot soup. No goose soup for us tonight. Since Kristina, one of our teachers, brought carrot soup to school that her husband made–I have been salivating for carrot soup. Haven’t really sought an official recipe, but the frozen veggie broth melts in the refrigerator now. A delightful base upon which to begin…)
I may drive to town for groceries this weekend. A minimum of twenty-four miles of fossil fuel used and polluting the atmosphere for delicacies and preferences we don’t really need. Do we really need cilantro atop our carrot soup? (YES, YES, YES begs the inner cilantro-lover. Do we really need more peanut butter? Yes, Yes, Yes, I’m sure the peanut butter-on-crackers lover insists.)
Someone once noted–was it perhaps me?–that you can’t walk in the woods without killing ants, innocent spiders, invisible mites and other insects.
Looking up.
What kind of footstep do we leave on the planet? Sometimes it is a soft footstep, aware of its actions and attempting to live the most compassionate life possible. At other times it is a careless footstep, answering exclusively to its own desires.
Sometimes delightedly serving a plate of tender geese to hungry children is the most compassionate and connected action. Other times, burning trees to heat a freezing house is a good decision. Sometimes pulling squiggly carrot-children from their hearth and making carrot soup is the best.
Today I will try to be aware of the gifts and beauty surrounding us. I will try to make good decisions…and perhaps fail…and try again tomorrow. You too?
Nothing is all one way or another. Green leaves mingle with more colorful neighbors.
Lake Superior Spirit 
Goose soup sounds greasy, doesn’t it?
I like the balance you present here, Kathy. Indeed, every living creature is in a sense, as the song (“All My Trials” goes, “born to die.” We are all here for a short, precious time.
Love your pictures. Beautiful day!
Forgot to close my paren–here it is: )
Beautiful images, and such thought-provoking words, Kathy. How true they are…
True, but remember the system of checks and balances. Works well if not carried to extremes.
What a lovely post and that you are considering your impact – more than many do. I try to eat according to “whether or not I might have slaughtered it myself”. The answer is most often “no”. I am curious about your statement of lovely wood heat. I do love a fire but hadn’t thought specifically about the heat from it.
“Looking Up” — there’s no better way to start the day. Thank you.
Thank you for another wnderful post. For me, it’s all about finding a balance that makes my footsteps as soft as I can make them.
Softer footsteps. We can only try our best each day.
Soft footsteps and soft hearts! Wouldn’t it be a better world with more of each? Kathy I really am thrilled with these beautiful autumn photos and especially love the ones looking up through the trees to the sky. Thank you for being the highlight of my day!
Great blog, my friend. Happy October!
That was a real good blog Kathy, I really enjoyed it. Thank you again for sharing your precious mind, heart and spirit.
Say Hi to Barry from the Dutchess (a name Mike Dineen thought out for me once 😉
Hugz,
Lu
Kathy, when I eat meat, I tell myself it came simply from the butcher shop. It began and ended there. He made it himself. And that works for me. If I think of the reality of the food, I can’t eat it, beacuse I love animals and cannot tolerate the thought that one has died to feed me. I think that sounds very lame when I put it into words, but we all have to come up with our own reality to get us through this life.
I’m with you, I’ve never heard a carrot speak either! So carrot soup sounds very appealing to me also. 😀
As you know, I’ve been visiting “Simply Here”, although time has not permitted me to drop by “Lake Superior” for a while. I love the new look, and todays photos are just gorgeous! It’s good to be back. 🙂
There are few things that make me feel as good as sunshine coming through the forest canopy or long shadows from the sun coming through the trees on the bluff in the evening.
I’ve always wanted to make a Land Calendar with rocks marking the position of the setting sun as the seasons pass. I think this winter I am going to start making a “bucket list”. My desires are many and my time is growing shorter. P.J. is spot on.
P.S. I wouldn’t talk too much about the carbon trail that traveling to and from town creates when at Da Finn’s. I think they appreciate the patrons from town and beyond. 😉
Yes, me too, Kathy, re being mindful.
I try to be consciously grateful for everything and everyone which brought any food which goes into my mouth. That takes care of the carrot-screams, haha. And the person who pulled it up and transported it, and sold it. And the rain, sun, and earthworms, etc. too.
My blessing for animals I eat is this. Let’s suppose it’s turkey thighs: “Turkeys, I bless you. I bless your life and I bless your death. Thank you for living and thank you for dying. I consecrate you to the health of this embodiment.” (I do this BEFORE cooking.)
Gratitude for anything raises its vibration, and ours.
Thank you for another lovely blog, Kathy!
Hugs, OM
Kathy,
Of course there is no ‘right or wrong” answer here. Your values and needs come into play. Yet is always good to ask ourselves these question…
Love the photos!
Always trying and often failing, Kathy – that’s me.
PS The photos of autumn are wonderful.
If only we existed in a vacuum. Alas, all our actions impinge upon others. Sometimes I am terribly wasteful, and at others I am as compassionate as possible. For instance, I try to capture spiders that I find indoors and transfer them outside, unharmed. It’s a hopeless quest, not ever harming another. But I like the idea of at least being aware and grateful for everything we’ve got. Thanks for the momentary raising-of-awareness!
Thank you all for sharing your own thoughts and intentions and failings and starting agains. Keeping a soft and forgiving heart helps, I am sure. To attempt to be mindful and aware–and to smile softly when we get lost–and to try again. It’s a lifelong quest, isn’t it? Thanks again.
Oh Kathy, I’ve been pondering these things, too, lately, and it seems like there is no definitive answer to these questions. But you contemplate the questions very thoughtfully and navigate through them with deep awareness. Hope your words help others to step lightly and eat carefully…
Love your new green theme!
Shouldn’t have read your post… now I’m hungry! Maybe I’ll go get a spoonful of peanut butter (honey roast, that is!)
Beautiful photos.
Yes Kathy, me too. Soft footsteps and soft heart. Trying each day …….
thanks again for coming by, leaving a few soft words yourself, for trying, for feeling gratitude for this precious earth…
Soft footsteps, soft hearts and the wisdom of knowing and practicing balance are all things worth striving for as we wander around this world. Looking up, noticing and appreciating all the colors among us and expressing gratitude for all life. We are so blessed! ♥
We are so blessed, each and every one…
Yes, I’ll try and fail again too, stepping on ants to avoid stepping on the caterpillars. I wonder if geese talk about such things 😉
Kathy, your Looking Up photo reminds me of a painting I made in art school many many years ago. I love looking up at trees.
I heard the geese chattering away about it last week, Amy-Lynn! Or should we say “honking”? They had squashed some insect and they were debating loudly. I think they settled the debate by eating it. LOL!