The Serviceberry And More

Serviceberry Iron County, Utah

While hiking, I was drawn to a big bush with small white flowers. Each flower had 5 white petals that shimmered in the sunlight as they swayed on the breeze. She was a Serviceberry. I took a picture of her.




In the picture, at the top of this page, you can see something orange stuck in among the flowers and leaves. Take a look. Could it be an autumn leaf that survived the winter browning?




When I got home and uploaded the file, I noticed this out of place leaf. I enlarged the photo and I found it to be a stunning butterfly ! Her body was a sliver blue and her colors flowed from green to raspberry to yellow, and orange. Why, I had never seen a butterfly with rainbow colors! Have you ?

The butterflies lingered on the serviceberry.

Sometimes we are drawn to a certain, tree, flower, or rock, not knowing why. I say, follow your impulse to sit by it, touch it, be with it for awhile, take a picture of it. More times than not, you may discover more than meets the eye.




When we appreciate Nature she is always
beaming more Nature towards us to appreciate.



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Until next time remember,
The more you appreciate Nature, the more Nature experiences will come to you. That is because Nature Loves Appreciation !

Spring Is Here

Sheep traveling east on Midvalley Road Iron County, Utah
March 9, 2019

 Saturday March 9, set off the beginning of a series of wonderful Nature events. 

On our way to Three Peaks, we met with a herd of sheep making their way to their spring grazing grounds. As they walked past us we could hear their bells clanging as  occasioal "baaa!"

Later we came across a large bird. Is it a hawk, juvenille golden, juvenille bald eagle? Its feathers are fluffed out in the cold winds. It was perched up top an electric pole.

Large Hawk or Juvenille Bald Eagle or Golden Eagle

Lately, I've been seeing a whole lot of birds in the sky. There have been geese, ducks, seagulls, and ravens flying to their roosts and feeding ground night and day. I was so surprised to see the seagulls here in Utah back in 2013. We are hundreads of miles inland. I had always loved the seagulls along the California coast where I used to live. I found out that the seagulls nest in Salt Lake, Utah, north of us. They are Utah's state bird. 

The seagulls came to mind last week and this desire popped out from my heart to see them again. Within a few days I happened to look up and see 6 seagulls winging their way north. Last night I looked up to count the geese flying over and saw beyond them thousands of feet high, 2 large formations of what looked like seaguls flying north. I was in the right place at the right time. My desire has come true.

You see, Nature loves appreciation ! Nature responds to appreciation like a reflection. 

The really big news is about our Raven Family  Their old nest  in the cottonwood tree, blew away bit by bit and I wondered when and where and if they were going to raise their family this year. They did winter here which was unusual. The ravens usually leave in late July/early August. But it turns out they instinctively knew it was going to be a more mild summer, autum, and winter. 

Reflecting back:

The month I met Father Raven was on March 1, 2015.  It snowed and snowed big white flakes against a pale grey sky. I heard a raven calling out. I ran to the window. A very large raven perched himself right outside my kitchen window. The falling snowflakes fell in contrast against his shiny black feathers. He stayed there for quite some time. I could tell he knew I was watching him. He continued to call out and struck several dashing poses as I clicked* my camera.  How special this was for me. It meant something. What was he trying to tell me?

March 15, 2015 

We were coming home from The Three Peaks and just about to pull into the driveway when I see a big raven flying towards the big cottonwod tree in our neighbors yard.  His large black wings sliced through the air and from his beak dangled what looked like a mouse. I watched him land into a big nest! I was so thrilled that there was a raven nest right across the road.  

It is now March 2019. I have had 4 wonderful years of watching and photographing the Raven family. Now with their nest gone,  I think about them and wonder... When and where will they nest? 

Why do I put when and where in bold typing? To make a point that that when and where is out of my control and when I begin to worry, I know to get busy with another activity that brings more pleasure while I wait for Nature to take it's course. 

The plot thickens...Sunday March 10, 2019

More coinciding incidences...

My dog got skunked Friday night. All went well we got him in the tub and bathed him with the proper solution and just hint of skunk remains. The next day my friend in California said that I loved my animals so much like Ellie May Clampet loved animals even "skunks" ? I was astounded that she used the word skunk ! Can you see the coinciding incident? "Skunks"

My friend Marilyn had read an article on bald eagles and how their nests get taken over by other female eagles. She saw my photo of the "eagles" on my Facebook Page Deborah Moen Photography .  Paul and I had seen them on the way back from town. 

My friend wrote me a message to let me know about this coinciding incidence. She thought it was ah-mazing how her mind was focused these eagles and poof* there they were on my photography page. 
See the synchronicity ?

The eagle tree. March 9, 2019 Cedar City, UT

While I read the end of her message, Paul exclaimed from the living room, "Well, look here, I see a raven picking up sticks for a nest!" My heart flew out of my chest and I stood up as carefully as I could. I scrambled to the window where my eyes saw Father Raven gathering sticks. I was so elated and relieved I felt like I was floating on air! At last I received my answer. 

Father Raven gathering sticks.

The next few days, I watched them gather sticks and pine needles from all over. They flew in from the north, the east, the west, and the south bringing materials for a nest. We still were not sure where the nest was going to be. More appreciation of this moment will turn up the answer. 

March 12, 2019

This morning...I saw Mother Raven flying in from the south carrying a bundle of pine needles. I dropped the rake and chased her with my eyes to see where she would land ! She landed in one of those trees in front of our house ! And I saw her actually standing on a bundle of sticks in the crotch joint of two branches with Father Raven. Yippie ! The nest has begun !

FYI: Males bring some sticks to the nest, but most of the building is done by females.

Mother and Father Raven building the nest.

You can see the nest forming in the crotch of the two branches. The dark green in the lower right corner is our carport. Close huh? Just as I dreamed it would be.

I have a fabulous front row seat. And the view is best at the side gate where I can prop and steady my camera !  

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Untill next time,
May your days be filled with evidence that
Life is GOOD !

Deborah Moen
Writer, Photographer Nature Lover
Nature Love Appreciation

www.naturelovesappreciation.blogspot.com

Western King Birds and The Apple Tree Surprise

Western King Bird

I do so love the twitter and chirps of the early summer. The  morning songs consist of sparrows, house finches, friendly robins, cooing doves, bright yellow orioles, starlings, a few roosters, hens, ducks, turkeys from down the road, ravens, and the western king bird. My, I do have quite a variety !




We had so many birds in the backyard and I was looking for some nests up in the big apple tree but could not see them for the leaves and the abundance of apples growing on the branches.



I noticed yesterday morning there were 2 western king birds up on the wires and they seemed upset when I came outdoors. I just chalked it up to their personality. I took some photos of them and thought it a good time to take a video of  them so others could see and here what they sounded like. I used the branch that was hanging low from the weight of the apples to support my camera. It was the perfect level. I took the video and walked around the hanging branch and my eyes zoomed in on a nest with 2 babies inside ! Whoa ! I must have been 1 foot from the nest as I took the video. Watch video so you can see and hear what the the adult birds sound like. It is 33 seconds.








Finding the nest gave me such a child-like magical feeling. I love it when these experiences happen.



Can you imagine finding a nest at eye level? 



 I carefully stepped up to take a photo. Look close in the center you can see their little black eyes.

Baby western king birds in the nest, Iron County, Utah

I made sure to walk wide around the branch and the parents seemed to trust me after awhile. I felt they could sense I meant no harm. So I scooted a bit closer. and Click* 

Two baby western king birds.

Oh they are so cute ! And they have their feathers and I think they will leave the nest soon. Precious little things. I am so glad I was able to see them before they left the nest. What a blessing to behold.

 By Deborah Moon Moen

Thank you for visiting Nature Loves Appreciation ! 
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Until next time remember,
The more you appreciate Nature, the more Nature experiences will come to you. That is because Nature Loves Appreciation !

My Earth Name

Dance of Life Celebration "Toasting the New Moon "

My love and appreciation of nature inspired me to create a class called "Dance of Life" We sat under the giant Mulberry tree in my back yard and I taught about universal principles and the hula under the moon and stars. I created activities that taught us about nature and life. It was in that class of nature lovers that we all agreed to find our earth name. 

Kumu Hula ( teachers of Hawaiian Dance) always name their students. But we agreed we would allow the Earth to teach us our earth name.



On another trip to the Sierras, I saw my first mama bear and her two cubs. On the way home I saw a powerful image on the face of a mountain. The late spring revealed dark wet fields of melted ice and white slivers and fields of remaining snow on the face mountain. I saw an image that spoke to me and cause my heart to beat like a drum. I saw a native god holding a white ball of snow like a moon over its head. It reminded me of a thunder bird. I drew it as we drove home.  I felt it was a sign showing me my name.

Highway 395 in California I saw an image painted with snow on the mountain side.

The following year I passed that mountain again and though the patterns of snow were different. That memory of the snowy "thunderbird"  image and the feeling of intrigue was still fresh and new. 

Coming home from the Sierras, we passed through the old ghost towns of Red Mountain, Johannesburg, and Randsburg.  We spotted an abandoned building. The name of it was very tribal and had a strange familiarity to it.  We stopped to peer into the windows and walk around. I could see that someone at one time had a beautiful creative dream at one time. But now the windows were broken, supply shelves fallen over and dust blanketed the inside. The Tribal Art shop was called, Moon Dreaming Thunder.

Randsburg, Johannesburg and Red Mountain area.
Tribal Art-Moon Dreaming Thunder

It was on that trip home I shouted "MOON DREAMING THUNDER!!! This is what the earth was teaching me!".

This was such a romantic adventure I was having with the earth. I was happy to share with my class how I discovered the name. We danced in a circle around and around under the moon that evening. They all called me Moon Dreaming Thunder or MDT for short. Such a magical experience. Soon my students discovered their earth names too.

This is the image I saw in the snow patch on the face of the mountain in the Sierra Nevada.


Now I use "Moon" in my name to celebrate my earth name.

Deborah 'Moon' Moen

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Until next time, 

Do you want to find your Earth Name? If you say "yes" then it is already born all you must do is be open to discover it. It will be a strong feeling in your solar plexus or heart and not necessarily how I found mine. You will have your own experience, perfect for you. The universe knows you and will guide you to it. Just relax and enjoy the journey.


I have a shop on ZazzleThis Greeting Card is my creation in my store Simple Spark

Wild -Self Shamanic Greeting Card
by SimpleSpark

Jack Frost's Visit

My last look at the beautiful morning glories before
Jack Frost's visit. It was time to say good-bye. Deborah Moon Moen

What a glorious garden this year on Little Utah Farm.  We heard that Jack Frost was to visit by morning and that meant saying good-bye. I drove up the pasture road and paused to bask in the beauty of my vibrant garden.  

What a glorious garden we had on Little Utah Farm

I smiled at the bright colorful zinnias, the lovely faces of the morning glories climbing up the arbors, the soon to blossom cosmos and bachelor buttons, the thriving red clover, and the stately row of sunflowers with their heads bowed to the east.

The garden continued to thrive and enjoy life even up to Jack's visit. Then the garden let go gracefully and now exists in my memory.  It is quite a shock to see it happen so quickly. But my heart was ready for it as I did take time to relish and appreciate my moments in my garden. 

Jack Frost visited the garden.

Next came the task of dismantling the garden. I released the grip of the vining morning glories that grew up the trellis and the fence, pulled up the wild sunflowers, dug up the red potatoes and cut the herbs that survived the frost such as rosemary, oregano, sage, and thyme. 

Autumn is in full force. Nearly all the leaves have been blown by strong winds that whistled and whined through the wires and bare branches. The orb weaver cat spiders, which came to visit us this year, transitioned in the cold leaving their beautiful webs. The grasses in the pasture began to brown and the leaves that fell from Grandmother Apple Tree were chopped up and placed in a pile by the corn field to mulch the roses, silver lace vine, and the soil before winter. 

Though I believe in everlasting life, our life here on earth is not forever. I am determined to enjoy it. 

Appreciate every day by being conscious and aware of the earth beneath your feet, the colors, sounds and the emotions thoughts and feelings that swell from that. 

 Rushing and wondering where the "time" went does not feel good to me anymore. I want to connect to that awareness which is timeless and true. All it takes is to stop and look around and take a few deep breaths to turn time into a doorway for appreciation.  

I thank you for visiting Nature Loves Appreciation (3,592 page views)

DeborahMoonMoen

Until next time, here is a favorite quote to ponder by John Muir,

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. 
The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, 
while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” 

The Moon Jumped Over Venus and Jupiter

I walked outside with the dogs just before dawn and discovered the  moon. Below her was Jupiter and further on down, just above the ridge of the mountains, was Venus. 

The dark side of the moon was visible against the sky as well as the bright sharp crescent from the sunlight. 

Crescent Moon November 16, 2017

As I took a breath my camera would spread the light of the moon in beautiful patterns. 

To me this makes a white rose effect.

I enjoyed sharing this with you. 

DeborahMoonMoen

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Until next time,

 Remembering that we live under the same moon is a great thought to have as you enjoy the night sky. You can look at the moon and send love, peace, or well-being and imagine the energy, the moonlight, delivering your blessings.

Deer Tracks They're Back!

www.naturelovesappreciation.blogspot.com Deer tracks

Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse! Or so we thought.

The dogs had been restless all night. I let them out at 2:22 and 4:44 am. It was the coldest night of December. The door would stick and I pulled hard on the frozen door to get out. The dogs charged off the back porch and out to the back fence like a team of horses.  Kollie was barking ferociously towards the llamas.  I dressed into my warm layers of clothing, slipped my feet into my boots, and grabbed a big flash light.

 The door was stuck and I gave a hard quick pull....Whoosh * As it opened the vapors of the cold outside air and warm of the house enveloped me.  I carefully made my way down the stairs, grabbing onto the cedar post to my left, and stepped upon the snowy lawn. How beautiful it was out there, the black sky, bright stars, and golden sliver of crescent moon hung above the mountains.  

The llamas were standing outside the shelter, their eyes gleaming in the dark which reminded me of unicorns. They were woken up by “something” roaming about in the dark. Whatever was there was gone so we all went back inside the warm house and got into bed. 

My husband and I spoke about the possibility of deer returning to our farm. We had not seen many lately and love them so much a desire passed through our hearts. 

In the light of the morning we saw a magical scene of deer tracks everywhere, even on the the coldest of winter’s nights, they surrounded us coming to the call of our hearts. 

See the lovely tracks they make? Do you know what causes that delicate long streak in their tracks? Here is a closer view. 

Deer Tracks in the snow.

 Snow is so wonderful for seeing who has visited our farm in the wee hours of the night and dawn. Every night before I drift off to sleep I lay in my bed at night imaging the vast Utah wilderness around us and all the animals moving about under the moon.

Thank you dear friends for sharing this story with me. I hope you enjoyed it. 
 With Love, Deborah Moon Moen of Nature Loves Apreciation
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There is a precious video of a Christmas feast at Wildwood a wild Park and Zoo on facebook. Here is the link to this video https://www.facebook.com/wildwoodzoo/videos/10154966015312868/ 

Here is a video on Utah showing deer eating with a family outdoors. 
https://youtu.be/6hAekgYmnMo

Deer Parade

First time seeing deer on our property.

 The more you appreciate nature, the more nature there is to appreciate!

The more my husband and I appreciate our contact with the deer the more deer are drawn to our home.

It has been 8 years of yearning for deer to come near but yearning does not draw the deer near. In fact it is appreciation that draws what you love near you. 

The deer are getting closer and closer and closer with each wave of appreciation we feel in our hearts when we see them. Just last week there was a deer parade in our back yard and pasture.  I was admiring the clouds through the kitchen window and grabbed my camera to photograph them. My eye caught movement and I discovered a doe walking across our alfalfa field. My heart went pitter pat and I got it on camera. Another doe walked out from our cottonwood tree and they walked to the back fence. 

I ran in to tell my husband and looked out back. The lamas ears were tall and fixed upon something behind the corral. 

I tippy-toed out and got behind a tree and there were deer everywhere. There were 2 bucks and 3 does. A parade of deer were right here. 

Oh my gosh they are all looking towards me. I am hiding behind a tree. click*

This morning a week later, I entered the garden gate and rounded the arbor and what I saw made me stop in my tracks! My willow was ripped and the bark rubbed off like a tornado had ripped it to shreds. By the way, yesterday I intended to cut those willows by the arbor very short as they grow so big and tall in the spring and summer. Well, the buck did it for me.

The deer rub their antlers against branches during rut season
and also to mark or read who is walking through their territory.

I called for my husband and he came out and found deer tracks going under the arbor we have in the vegetable garden, which is now bare after the harvest. I can just imagine how awesome it was to see the deer go through the arbor! We have decided to get a night cam. 

If you look real close under the arbor you can see deer tracks. 

Deer tracks under the arbor. 

I felt that appreciation well up from my solar plexus and through my heart and into my throat. Super magical. 



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Nature Loves Appreciation (page views 2376)

Deborah Moon Moen Chronicles
Nature Lover, Writer, Photographer 


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Autumn's Yellow, Orange, Red !

Mammoth Creek Area, in the Dixie National Forest, Utah
September 8,2016

Colors are appearing and flourishing in the high country elevations. Never mind the calendar, this was taken on September 8, 2016. Nothing can hold it back as the evenings cool crisp air turns the mountain sides of brilliant colored aspen from summer green to the golds and yellows, oranges and reds of autumn. 

Rabbit Bush signals the end of summer in Utah.

Even in my backyard at 6,000 ft, autumn transforms the rabbit bush to a bright golden yellow. And there are other yellow, bee loving, cousins like the wild sunflowers full of yellow petaled blooms and the California Poppies. 

California Poppies , bees love them. See the yellow pockets on the bees legs full of pollen?

Thank you for visiting
 Nature Loves Appreciation (2,234 page views)
Get out and appreciate your beautiful seasons!
Until next time,
ENJOY!
Deborah Moon Moen
Nature Lover, Writer, Photographer,  

Disclosure:Nature Loves Appreciation is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

When I suggest certain products,
it is because my research or personal experience
 has shown that they may be helpful.

Thank you for your support

The Mouse Surprise Garden Row

The Mouse Surprise Garden Row 12 days after planting. Even the beans sprouted! www.NatureLovesAppreciation.Blogspot.com

"Is is too late for a garden?" I thought to myself. Digging the soil and making rows in late September sounded like a fun experiment to see how it would do in the cold weather.  I had a nice big garden box that my husband Paul made me and this year he added a lid to make it what they call a cold frame. It worked really well before the last frost keeping the plants protected and warm. 


I grabbed the hoe and shovel and began to open the soil and turn it over. I made nice rows with the hoe and watered the freshened soil till it was damp through and through. Next came a generous dose of fertilizer to replenish the soil. I searched in the shed for my seeds and found them on a table inside a green bucket. 


I brought my bucket in to the house and sat on the couch and began sifting and sorting through the seed packets with visions of my autumnal garden when a mouse appeared inside a Ziploc bag!!! "HELP" I yelled. I quickly ran out the front door with the bucket in hand and swiftly scooted as far out towards the garden as I could to release the mouse. As I rounded the brick borders of the carport, the mouse sprang upwards into the air, out of the green bucket, and landed like an acrobat on the soft dirt then scampered off. Whew* I was so relieved I made it out of the house before he leaped out of the bucket. I have had quite a few experiences with the acrobatic mice leaping from grain bins and buckets. 


While inspecting the rest of the seed packets outdoors I saw that a good share of the packets had been chewed through and the seeds had fallen out into the bottom of the bucket. I had no idea what seed went to what packet. That is when I got the idea to plant a row of these mixed surprise seeds and call it The Mouse Surprise Garden Row. 


I giggled to myself as I planted that row. I had no idea what would come up. I did recognize the green bush beans, though. I finished planting the other rows with seeds of lettuce, spinach, bok choy, parsley, beets and kale. Those seed packets had not been chewed on.


 All the chewed seed packet edges were repaired with tape and put into a Ziploc bag and into the fridge till next spring.


Six days later I opened the lid of the garden box and my seeds were beginning to sprout. The back row, which I dubbed The Mouse Surprise Garden Row,  had the most sprouts. I laughed and smiled and so much appreciated what fun it is to have a mystery garden row. 

What comes to mind now are spring bulbs. Never have I planted spring bulbs at the right time so before winter comes I shall search for narcissus, daffodils, hyacinth bulbs to plant before the ground hardens. Can you recall the fragrances of those flowers? 


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Did you know that when you appreciate nature there is more nature to appreciate. The benefits are accumulative!

Deborah MOON Moen
Nature Lover, Scout, Writer, Photographer, Recorder/Chronicle

Daily Dear, Deer Report !

EXTRA ! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
DAILY DEER REPORT!

ONE BUCK STANDING IN THE SHADOWS

www.naturelovesappreciation.blogspot.com
Appreciation of things you love can bring more to appreciate!

Super mid day bonus: EXTRA ORDINARILY GOOD
MAGICALLY DELICIOUS!

My mind has not yet recognizing this as real yet. I see these animals appearing and I think "Oh our neighbor Tom has a new statue ! then it kicks in what I am seeing is real. it all so new to me. Where no deer were for the past 8 years, now there are dear, deer to  enjoy. 

THEN...

TWO BUCKS STANDING IN THE SHADOWS!

Wow 2 deer snorfling the dear tree.
Snorfling is sniff and feeling, sensing...


supercalifragilisticexpialidocious !!!

Oh and look at those antlers now shed of their velvet. 

ITS EXPONENTIALLY ACCUMULATIVE !!!

Thank you dear friends for visiting
Nature Loves Appreciation (2,187 page views)
Until next time:
Remember that Life itself, your relationships, your abundance,  everything else loves appreciation!

Within The River of Love,
Deborah Moon Moen
Nature Lover, Writer, Photographer, Healing Arts

The Autumn Owl Visited

The Autumn Owl is a Great Horned Owl.
Chronicled by Deborah Moen
 Greeting Card Sold below post.

The rabbit bush turns a bright yellow, the sun shifts lower in the sky, night falls...

Paul calls me from the bedroom, "Deborah!!! Come here!" I run to the bedroom window where he is standing. He says "Can you hear that?" I held my breath... looking out into the night...then I hear hoo hoot hooo hooot coming from the elm tree in the backyard. Oh it was our friend, the Great Horned Owl ! 

Back at the turn of the millennium, when I met my husband, Paul, the owl showed up everywhere we went. Owl became our totem affirming our relationship. So when owl visits us we both smile and remember those days when we were courting. 

Owls are so wonderfully mysterious, stealth and beautiful. It feels 
personal when they have come to visit. Just let the desire of owl pass through your heart and you may have a visit in your neck of the woods. 


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Until next time
The more you appreciate Nature or anything for that matter, the more there will be to appreciate!
Have fun !

DeborahMoonMoen
Nature Lover, Writer, Photographer, Healing Arts

Great Horned Owl Greeting Card by LittleUtahFarm
Find other Owl Cards at zazzle.com