Settling or Settled

 

3 short honk-barking sounds...over and over

Big black bird hops from spot to spot

On the old cottonwood tree

Enhertu Side Effect Experiment: Removing Emend | MBC Update, a Reading, + Upcoming Alaska Road Trip.

LINK 12:54 minutes

I've been watching Kim's videos for a year now, ever since her "The Beginning of My End" popped up on you tube and I clicked on it. What I discovered is a beautiful person with the abilities (spoken, written, through photography) to express herself so eloquently through the many ups and downs, joys and deep sorrows of life. I came to know someone who could capture with her camera the world's amazing wildlife and more...seeing nature through her eyes. You can see her vision too on her website: HERE or more videos: OVER HERE. Her photo of Lake Tahoe hangs in my kitchen, where it fills me with joy each day as I look at it. 

In this video (above), she shares her reality and heartfelt words. I would only do her an injustice to try and summarize that here, so I do hope you watch the video.

You can also follow along on her journey above or HERE at her Untamed email list.

"Who you are is what you settle for, you know?" ~Janis Joplin

I'm recently considering the word "settle". The above quote came at the right time for this. What is the difference between settling for and be settled in, as in comfort and acceptance of a particular reality? Do you see this as a positive or negative? 

I've also been listening to a lot of the generational music...the 1960's - 1970's...the good stuff. At night I fall into the rabbit hole of memories of eras in my life. It is priceless and deeply bittersweet. The other night it was the "strong women" (as my tween daughter used to call them). Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Carole King, Joni Mitchell...among others. I'm not including those with a more "country" focus and forgetting other names at the moment, but you get the idea. I could literally spend hours in this space.

You can probably guess some of those songs/videos will show up here on the 'trail' soon!

I've also picked up the needle and thread again. I'm still gluing, but will also be stitching on leather again. I'm grateful to still have some, as I will most likely not purchase it again. But, we'll see. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, as the saying goes. 

Where do you feel settled in? What have you settled for? How do you recognize the differences?

 

May you know your dreams

May you know your boundaries

May you  settle "in" or "for" - as appropriate

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Learn - Act - Do

 

Many new homes on the horizon. So many questions about infrastructure, water availability, traffic or fire danger...and so on. Progress? Huh. Who can afford these new homes? So many questions or concerns. Everywhere.

Country-wide crimes, corruption and conditions become worse at every turn, it seems. I wonder what has become of decent humanity? Was all of this unrest and violence there all along, just going unseen?

These are not easy videos to watch. View or pass by at your own need and/or discretion. 

What Happened Inside Delaney Hall Last Night Is Horrifying

LINK 29:18 minutes

How does this information hit you? In a world overrun with traumatic news, where do you put your thoughts and energy? How do you care for yourself at the same time?

If you watch ONE story from America today, let it be this one.

LINK 14:33 minutes

Parkrose Permaculture has been doing a lot of humanity based political coverage over the past year+, in addition to her usual permaculture and home-centered practices. 

Status Coup News has been doing so much on the ground reporting. Really important, difficult work. 

More information in this episode of Democracy Now.

I'm sure you have your own resources and can do your own research...your own ways of engaging, acting, supporting...learning. One of my ways has been sharing what I am learning, as I am doing today. 

Flying very low, straight towards us: a very large turkey vulture...barely seen.

What have you discovered to be hiding in plain sight? 

 

May you act in ways you feel good about

May you reach out to others

May you hang on 

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Being A Maker

 

Outside of the local Mexican restaurant

a line of once used perfect circles in the asphalt

now hold hope 

How can we call them weeds

as if they are anything less than 

miraculous!

I've been busy with the spiral bound new glue book. As I said before, the pages may not be done when photographed, as they are ever evolving. If you look back, you will see I've added to the pages shown above. In the first pic, I love how the quote and the birds in the water photo perfectly complemented the page I'd already done (on the right side). 

It's hard for me to get nice, clear photos...but I think you get the idea. I've added more words and silliness than I had planned at first, but which feels just right as of now. Pretty sure you won't find a gorgeous Cardinal in a field of SoCal poppies...but that's the point: it is meant for fun and beauty...inspiration and more. I'm not sure if the pages are complete yet. Time will tell.

 At this point, I ended up creating about 65 pages. There are still some blank one and some that have an empty side. There seems to always be space for more, even on a page that seems complete. I like that door left open.

I also added two pages into the lil pink book. That baby had been waiting a long time to get glued down! And the sky-blue-pink murmuration...well, we all know how I love sky-blue-pink skies!

Something wonderful arrived in the mail today. More on that soon...

What do you want to create? 

 

May you keep your hands busy

May you keep your heart full

May you give and receive 

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Compass

City Park trees

I can’t do this anymore.

LINK 28:14 minutes
 

Tall, blocking the view...almost. Or maybe, just making a new view.

I young(ish) boy stood on the ledge of the bridge, having climbed over the railings. His bike parked nearby. No adults nearby. Greetings given. "Hey buddy"...he says it's a "nice view" - which it is. Why did I feel so unsettled with him on the other side of the railing? 

J. & I discussed places we'd gone or climbed at that age. I was fairly fearless in that way as a kid. But still...

This evening we watched an old video (from the 1990's) about this river from its start to this very part of the valley. It continues on to the sea, but the video did not cover that part. One thing I learned is that the bike paths - city trail system began in 1993! I had no idea it was that old. I was a busy mom back then, but we could have explored them if I'd known.

We bird watched and lizard counted (of course) and also watched a coyote walk up a trail to the top of this hill. It blended in with the drying grasses so well. Almost to the the top, it turned and looked back at us.

A little sanding and some super glue or something and he'd added the little compass he found to his cane.  Perhaps we all need a compass of some sort, so as to not get lost and to be able to find our true North at all times.

Where and What are your 'true North'?

 

May you do things you love

May you go places you love

May you be with those you love

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Simple

 

Simple...a short simple walk at a familiar place. City Park, quiet in the afternoon sun. School children gone home for the day, just two others there. 

Ground squirrels dart back and forth, lizard on warm cement...hawk circles on the thermals, bothered by crow until it chases crow off...scrub jay lands nearby.

Children's pavement games left behind...a list that means something to someone...a hopscotch game so tiny, leaving it almost unrecognizable until her return trip.

Paused on the bridge, swallow watching from above...a new perspective. Space so wide open, sky big and not so clear.

Bench holds her for 5 minutes of peace and quiet, adding its own message as she gets up to leave: You can! You will!

Simple enough.

How do you keep it simple? Do you want to?

 

May you embrace simple

May you sit a spell

May you feel peace

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

Two Days in May

 

May 17, 2026: 4 young men in the riverbed, making some sort of film. Cameras, a circular screen to reflect the light, tripods...equipment. Commanding shouts ring out. The "actor" in the white shirt and baggy pants digs in the sand, tossing shovelful after shovelful over his shoulder. When directed, he moves to multiple spots on the sand or in the water and digs some more. I try to imagine what this film could be about?

What If Uncertainty Is the Practice: Pema Chödrön on Groundlessness

LINK 8:51 minutes

May 18, 2026: Brush fire in a nearby valley. Phone alerts take turns sounding the alarm. Evacuations and grave concern in the fire zone. The Sandy Fire. Later, another valley nearby, another fire...small 106 acres, 'forward progressed stopped' fairly quickly. sigh.

Two ducks stand placidly on the sandbar, and later in the water. Side-by-side, they stand, ruffling their feathers, pecking at their feathers - but standing in one place. A first time seeing ducks at the river.

The wind was fierce, causing the power lines and poles themselves to sing loudly. Smoke over the mountains, clouds sneaking over the mountains on the other side.  I noticed the scalloped edge on the repainted bike path lines. How many times have I walked by these lines and not seen the scallop?

✴️ I began reading the book, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans and am enjoying it so far. I really like the format, as I have written a lot of letters in my lifetime. ✓Trigger warning: Very early into the book, the death of her child becomes known. The story is still unraveling, so I don't know any more than that at this point. At any rate, so far, so good.

How do you feel when noticing something new? 

 

May you be safe in your world

May you imagine what could be

May you continue on a beautiful path

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026

I Went Away

 

Joshua Tree, CA ©2011

Away I went, into old photos in search of a few in particular...and what joy in finding the one above. I always liked this shot and the fact that I left the people in, allowing them to add so much to the overall feel. There were so many folks there appreciating the sunset. We did too.

Then I went away on a you tube video trip. This time going someplace I will never see in person. It was beautiful. The cherry trees are something else!

A quiet road trip through western Norway

LINK 20:44 minutes

On the other hand, today I went away to take a small walk at the Little Free Library trail. The last time we were there it was filled with goats making an easy task of clearing brush on the hillsides.

I Still Have No Idea

LINK 14:32 minutes

The hills before us on the road were lush, a variety of butterflies and dragonflies were everywhere...a large raven(?) and turkey vultures (above)...warmth on the back of my neck...a place to relax.

 The purple sage was in glorious bloom and smelled so good! The evidence of the goat's work was obvious.

Today I think: thank goodness for nature and art. Both have the capacity to soothe and teach, for they both are reliably always there (soothing), but also always changing (teaching). This is a good balance for me.

What things support you when you need it? 

 

May you allow yourself to be taught

May you embrace being soothed when needed

May you hold what is important to you in heart & hand

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026