Those of us who have barnacled ourselves to inhospitable places may be trying to avoid people not because we do not like people, but because we love the things that people destroyed. Wild things. Horizons. Trolls. - Catherine Raven, Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship. Catherine Raven's reflective Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship was … Continue reading Friendship and Devotion
The Lighthouse, kids, creativity and nature books.
The first two months of 2022 are gone, one-sixth of the year, history already. Time for an update on the Gaia/nature reading challenge and to properly introduce The Lighthouse a new literacy and creativity centre in Toowoomba. I promised to donate a nature-related book to The Lighthouse for every post on the Gaia challenge in … Continue reading The Lighthouse, kids, creativity and nature books.
Bin Chickens and nature reading
Firstly just want to share a link to Brizzy May's Gaia/nature read post on Black Summer the ABC book about the 2019-2020 fire season, another great post from May and a great book, one that is on my to read list. When I was a kid the Australian white ibis or sacred ibis, (really a … Continue reading Bin Chickens and nature reading
Aussie trees and Wanderlands
Just a quick update post on my reading for the Gaia/nature reading challenge. One Adult nature memoir Wanderlands: A search for the magic in the landscape by Jini Reddy and a younger reader, nature non-fiction; The Book of Australian Trees by Inga Simpson illustrated by Alicia Rogerson. Billed as a "love song to Australian trees", … Continue reading Aussie trees and Wanderlands
January reading challenge summary
“I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.”― E. B. White, Letters of E. B. White Just a quick post to update on the Gaia/nature reading challenge now the first month of the … Continue reading January reading challenge summary
Slow living with wombats
Another update for the Gaia/nature challenge. Check out Brizzy May's post on Kailas Wild's account of the wildlife rescue operation on Kangaroo Island after the fires; The 99th Koala This week I also read Jackie French's delightful A year in the Valley: seasons of content which is another great nature-themed read about Jackie's life in … Continue reading Slow living with wombats
“The surest sign of wisdom is constant cheerfulness.”
“The first was that if one did not master one’s circumstances, one was bound to be mastered by them; and the second was Montaigne’s maxim that the surest sign of wisdom is constant cheerfulness.”― Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow. Just a bit of a quick update. Wanted to give a shout out to those who are … Continue reading “The surest sign of wisdom is constant cheerfulness.”
Wombats and wonder
I thought this year I might try and do a regular post on nature writing for younger readers and celebrate younger authors as well, as part of the Gaia/nature challenge. I have long been a fan of wonderful picture books and firmly believe some of the best writing around is for children. Picture books make … Continue reading Wombats and wonder
Rebel!
"I wish everyone who said they believed in angels would actually believe in insects. - Jay Griffiths Sometimes a small book can have more impact than the weightiest tome and that is the case with Jay Griffiths eloquent call to action Why Rebel. This slim volume of essays celebrates the wonder of the natural world, … Continue reading Rebel!
Quolls and Questions
By accident rather than design, I started my reading year with two short but remarkable nature and activism themed reads. The first was Harry Saddler's reflection on the moral dilemma facing the current generation; in a world facing the horror of mass extinction and climate change; should we be bringing children into this world? Saddler's … Continue reading Quolls and Questions
Gum trees and Galaxies 