Nature has been for me, for as long as I remember, a source of solace, inspiration, adventure, and delight; a home, a teacher, a companion. ~Lorraine Anderson
Humankind’s greatest priority is to reintegrate with the natural world. ~Jonathon Porritt
If we are to use our tools in the service of fitting in on Earth, our basic relationship to nature–even the story we tell ourselves about who we are in the universe–has to change. ~Janine M. Benyus
We are the earth, made of the same stuff; there is no other, no division between us and “lower” or “higher” forms of being. ~Estella Lauder
The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction. ~Rachel Carson
Empty yourself of everything.
Let the mind become still.
The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return.
They grow and flourish and then return to the source.
Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. ~Lao Tzu
Wonderful photos, Nancy. What a site it must be to view these majestic creatures up close and in their environment.
One of the many benefits of having a home in the southwest. We’ll just be driving along a back highway and stumble upon these guys. Amazing.
I often wonder what it may have been like prior to European Colonialism. What a site it must have been to see these animals in the millions.
Seriously! I’ll say it is still amazing when I catch a glimpse of the wild mustangs. I’ve seen tons of wild burros, but hadn’t seen any of the wild horses until those I captures in the last two shots. The story there is: during the gold and silver rushes, the miners came in, bringing with them horses and donkeys. When things went bust, the humans all left, but the animals were left behind. They adapted, through the generations, from domesticated, back to wild, and still thrive today. It’s amazing!
The North American horses became extinct about 13,000 years go. I think it’s about the same time that the megafauna in North America went extinct. It’s great that the Bison survived and that the horses that arrived here from Europe and Asia became ‘wild’. Now, if these scientists can make soap that floats, then they ought to be able to bring back the mammoths and let them roam free once again. 😉
They had no recourse but to become wild, abandoned by their owners as they were. The fact that they survived in the desert conditions is remarkable.
As for mammoths… I’ll pass, unless I get to carry a big tranquilizer gun with me while I’m hiking. 🙂
AGREED!
Until we have the courage to recognize cruelty for what it is ~ whether its victim is human or animal ~ we cannot expect things to be much better in this world. ~ Rachel Carson
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Life is life ~ whether in a cat, or dog, or man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man’s own advantage. ~ Sri Aurobindo
Agreed!
…To an extent, I suppose. I don’t want to come off a hypocrite here because I do wear leather and eat fish, meat, and poultry.
As much as I hope the animals I eat we’re treated humanely, in the end they became food (and shoes, etc.). For my part, I try to buy local and organic in the hope that those animals were treated less cruelly.
Beautiful pictures!
Thanks Scott! Amazing what I come across driving in Nevada and Utah!
Oh, I bet there’s copious amounts of beautiful scenery there.
Truly! Especially from the top of a mountain!
I love your photos!
I often wonder how different the UK landscape would be without human domestication of livestock!
I also eat meat and wear leather, but try to buy ethically sourced meat and eggs etc…
This is the only place I’ve seen the wild mustangs and burros – and it truly is fantastic. The idea that they were resilient enough to adapt from domesticated back to wild …amazing!
The cattle and buffalo were, I’m sure part someone’s farm, but you never know!
I have to say, I have never seen burros, or mustangs or buffalo wild at all! I need a trip to the foreign to make this happen!!
animal adaptability is amazing, it makes me feel hopeful that even if humans mess up the world, nature will win out in the end!
(this doesn’t stop me trying not to mess up the world by the way…)
Whenever you are ready for a trip “to the foreign”, let me know! As much as I love Toronto, hosting you in Vegas would be better, because of the mountains (and the wild animals!).
And funny you say that about messing up the world. I said the same thing the other day: It gives me hope to know that even if (when) we really, royally, mess things up and make this place no longer liveable for humans, the planet will survive. And then maybe it’ll have a chance to rebuild all the goodness without our destruction getting in the way.
I am planning a trip…it is just finding the time/funds to make it happen…it will (sadly) have to wait until the current house drama is finished!
the planet will survive, and I am sure rebuild! you only have to look at how quickly plants grow through and take over abandoned places 🙂
Whenever you’re ready for a trip over, you let me know! (I totally understand the time and expense of the house drama, as I live it over here!)
I will definitely let you know 😀
I knew you would understand the house thing too! 😀
So much worse this week. Painters are in, which means EVERYTHING is in disarray. What’s not in boxes is pushed to the middle of each room. GAH! I hate this!
me too!! our whole house is still in disarray because the loft is still not finished properly and can’t be sorted really until we get this craziness with our neighbours sorted!!
GAH!! is right!!
It’s never easy, is it?
Really not 😦 this has been going on since April!!
Good grief! And I thought I was bad off having started in July. 😦
the worst thing is now nothing is happening for long periods of time…
we are just waiting for the roof to be redone and a survey then we can get down to the legal stuff, which won’t be quick…but at least the scaffolding will have gone!!
I would be a total wreck. Kudos to you for keeping your cool, Sam.
I can only do it by not thinking about it too hard…and pretending that the scaffolding is elaborate decoration and the dining room is supposed to look like a corridor…
😉
Bahahaha! Hey, whatever works! 🙂
😀
Lovely words for wordless, Nancy.
I was considering changing my title to “Not-As-Wordy-As-Usual Wednesday” but it seemed too…wordy. 🙂
I’ll admit at the first picture I stopped and went “They don’t have those in Canada!” – and then I remembered your dual houses! 🙂 Beautiful!
Oh, we might have them in Canada, but if we do, it’s nowhere near Toronto, I can assure you of that. 🙂
Beautiful pictures and quotes! Love the animals…and Rachel Carson’s quote is so fitting for what we see/hear about the world around us.
I thought so too, Tiny. Perfect sentiments for the current set of crap we’re seeing/hearing about.
Hey, some great quotes in there, thanks, great way to start my day! 🙂
Good morning, Baz! Have a good one!
That’s the most wordy wordless Wednesday I’ve ever seen 😉 Stunning as always though! 🙂
I know! Such a rebel! 🙂
Now those took me far far away… and I quite loved it.
I needed a little escape today. These photos and words brought me some peace.
Beautiful words and photos today, Nancy! I immediately thought of the one time I saw wild mustangs along a high mountain road in northern Nevada. We were bouncing along a dirt road in my uncle’s ancient pick-up trying to get to the old homestead where my great grandparents and family are buried. It was a big day for us and full of great memories.
How interesting! I didn’t know your family has history in Nevada!
I get goosebumps whenever I see those wild mustang. Such a treat!
My moms family has deep roots in Nevada from homesteading, silver mining pioneers to one of the earliest Mormon families in Las Vegas. My grandma was a Helldorado Rodeo Queen! I’ll brush up on my stories and we can share when we get together. 🙂
That is so cool! Can’t wait to hear more!!
Powerful photos combined perfectly with quotes! Thoughts for the day.
Thanks! I’m so glad you like them.
This post put me in a yoga like catatonic state! Love the pics and the quotes below them. Namaste!
Mission accomplished. My work here is done!
Most excellent photos. The quotes match perfectly.
The perks of driving the back country highways of Nevada and Utah! 🙂
Beautiful pictures and wonderful quotes!
You inspired me with your last quote to my big wheel pic!
Although I have loved horses my whole life, my favorite pic is the first one of the cow. 😀
Mine too!
I really like your post-processing on these shots. Especially the first one.
Thank you! I like the vintage-y vibe of that one too.