The tiny musings found below will perhaps provide you an opportunity to pause and reflect on our world and our place in it. You can subscribe to receive posts in your inbox (approximately once a week)! Note: all writing and art is © Christopher Buddle.
-
A touch of autumn
take a deep sigh
look to trees as they show us
a touch of autumn
September is a perfect month, in my view. Cooler nights, warm days, and senescence starts – this being defined as the slow and gradual process of ‘deterioration’, but I associate the word with leaf senescence, and accompanying leaf colour change.
In early September we are still technically in summer, but trees are telling us what is coming, and tips of some branches start to show their autumnal colours: yellows and golds or reds, or even lighter greens. It is a bit bittersweet too since we are heading away from the lazy days of summer and towards the shorter and colder days. But there is something comforting about the shorter days too, whether grabbing your best sweater, sipping that perfect cup of tea, or snuggling into bed (earlier than normal!).
© Christopher M Buddle 2024
-
Home
enter the side porch
tea at the kitchen table
woodstove, apples, home
Last weekend we travelled back to my parent’s house for a visit. It is a late 19th century Ontario farmhouse (although located in a small town), and my parents bought the place when I was just a baby, so it’s the house I grew up in. I have strong, wonderful memories of the place. It was always a little spooky (the place creaked all the time, floorboards, doors, etc.; and the unfinished basement with its cobwebs and critters and low ceilings and dark corners certainly creeped me out sometimes!), but at the same time, was warm and welcoming. Everyone feels the good vibes when they enter the house. You can always sit for cup of tea.
On the weekend my Mom asked me about what it felt to return ‘home’ now that I am all full grown and since do don’t get back all that often. The house (and yard) has changed quite a bit, but the character is the same, and I responded that feeling I have walking into the kitchen from the side porch was one of positive nostalgia. There is a lot of emotion walking into the house, and sometimes it makes me long to be a kid again.
My sister and I commented about how the wood stove (an old Elmira one) was strong in our memories, and while the stove has been replaced by a gas one, somehow the house still smells faintly like wood smoke. Dad used to get up early every morning and start the fire, and we’d come down to the kitchen to its warmth and comfort. The autumn months included the smell of apples. In winter we would sit next to the first place and have hot chocolate and warm our toes after cross-country skiing*. I can close my eyes and take myself back there, immediately.
I left that house in the mid 1990s, and have lived in my current home longer than my childhood home, yet I also think of that house as home. Home can be multiple places. We can hold space for more than one home. One might be a faraway place, in time or space; another one might be immediate. When I am asked where I am from, I can answer in two ways: “I grew up in…”, and “I live in…”. I can love my parent’s home and my own home. There is comfort and satisfaction in that.
And, of course, a house is only a home because of the loving people who inhabit it. Certainly a reason I love my childhood home so much is because my parents still live there, happily.
* Reading this one might wonder if I grew up in the 19th century! Somehow my childhood home and my childhood generally has a timeless, forever quality.
© Christopher M Buddle 2024
-
Seaside
in the protected cove
gentle waves crash softly
lazy seals
I was in Halifax last week for work, and I also took part of the weekend to head out of the city to see and experience the Ocean (the watercolour above is a depiction of a cove at the Kejimkujik National Park – Seaside). The seaside of Nova Scotia is stunning: the shoreline is wonderfully diverse, whether soft sand beaches, cobbles, or giant rocks that jut straight into the cold Atlantic. The bird life is tremendous (even in late August), the seals can be seen popping up here and there, eventually finding a rock upon which to rest. I was fortunate to have perfect weathers, light breeze, bright blue sky, and warm.
Thank you, Nova Scotia!
© Christopher M Buddle 2024
-
Reach for the sun
this dizzy, spinning world
look to the sun
for a warm embrace
It’s been rather rainy here, and a bit dreary, and some people need a hug. The sun can provide a warm embrace. Hope you all stay well as we transition towards the end of summer and I’m thinking of you if times are tough right now.
© Christopher M Buddle 2024
-
Northern lakes
lonely cries in the night
on northern lakes
I know loons are found all over North America, but I associate them with northern lakes (which are their breeding grounds). Their lonely, haunting calls, perhaps early in the morning or in the middle of the night, fills me with a strange mix of sadness and joy.
Their calls (cries?) take me somewhere, perhaps sleeping in a tent, lakeside, when I was eight or ten years old. Perhaps somewhere deeper, older. I have distinct memories of canoeing, slowly approaching a loon only to see it dart under the water, to avoid being too close to us, but also to fish. Seeing them emerge from the water is incredible – they are such large, impressive birds, graceful and sleek. They are perfect.
By the way, this is the first in the ‘postcard‘ series. These are small-ish (5×7″) watercolours done with a black border, and with a typewritten haiku or phrase. These will be gifts but some of them will also be shared on this blog for all of you.
The loon one ended up with a different haiku than what is written above, here it is:
© Christopher M Buddle 2024
-
the dog ate my art
I’m working on a new project/series, tentatively called “postcards” – small watercolours, in which some poetry or other writing will appear on the piece. These postcards will likely appear on the blog, but will also be given to someone who might enjoy them. Details are still being worked on (stay tuned!), but it’s fun to feel the energy for something new and different.
I was working on a pine cone as a draft for this project, and well, the dog ate it:
It was my fault, of course. I left the piece on a chair, and I had gone to the garage for a minute, and when I came back Quincy had happily grabbed the art and munched away on it. So it goes, I suppose.
Art is meant to be shared, right? Sharing is caring. Sharing is eating. Eating is what is on the mind of dogs, a great deal of the time. Woof. Woof.
And, oh, Happy August to all!© Christopher M Buddle 2024
-
Crow friends
watchful, curious
soar, hop, caw for a peanut
backyard feathered friends
Some (partial) quick pen and ink sketches of crows We have a family of crows in our neighborhood -five of them, which I suppose is a true “murder” of crows. They talk to us, make their way around to different houses, keeping an eye on their world. They are getting to know me, and I am getting to know them. They occasionally get a peanut from me, and they are quick to find me if I’m out walking, knowing this peanut fact. They are smart.
Yesterday evening I left a few peanuts in the backyard, and they showed up a few minutes later. They were caw-caw-cawing, delighted at the treat. After a careful assessment of me, as I stood on the back deck, they converged on the peanuts. Hopping, investigating, assessing. Some of them would take a peanut in one foot, hold it against a hard surface (paving stone or backyard chair) and peck peck into the shell to extract the nut. I noticed one crow taking a peanut to a big dish of water in the yard and soaking it for a few minutes. This, I assume, is to soften the shell so it’s easier to get through it. Smart.
If there is only one crow around, I notice they it will enjoy a peanut in silence, because any noises will attract the siblings, and the competition will commence. Smart indeed.
It’s a well known fact that Corvids (crows, ravens, jays, and their relatives) are among the most intelligent of all the birds. A lot has been written about this, but the book “In the company of Crows and Ravens” is highly recommended (it has lovely art in addition to the natural history writing being very good). Watching the neighborhood crows really confirmed this for me. I simply adore making friends with this family and I am learning a lot from them.
Once again, the avian world delights.
© Christopher M Buddle 2024
-
The Good Boy
paws
pause
goodbye to a perfect friend
always a good boy
Recently a friend had to say goodbye to his dog. He was a special pooch (all of them all, really), and a family member for my friend and his spouse.
Loosing a pet hurts so much. Dogs love us unconditionally. They wag their tails and jump and smile when we come into the house, even if we are gone just a few minutes. Every day is a new day with a dog; a great day. A day to be filled with long walks, good smells, food (yay!), and adventure.
We could learn a lot from dogs.
And, to my friend. We are all so sorry that you had to say goodbye to your good boy.
-
Grubby
beneath the turf
coiled packet of protein
beetling about
Last week I was working on our front walkway and part of the process included lifting and removing some grass. Lo and behold, I discovered the meaty beetle larvae, known as grubs. These insects are common in lawns (and other habitats) but not seen as larvae unless you dig about a bit. These grubs are distinctive, and common, and full of protein. Surely many of the birds you see pecking about your lawn are looking for these tasty treats. I’ve heard they can be yummy to eat, and while I have not tried them, I suspect if you are lost in the woods without food, they are a relatively easy source of protein. I hope to not have to test that theory!
Insects are, of course, everywhere and so many species have interesting life cycles. These grubs will feed on the tender roots of grasses, and emerge later in the summer as adult beetles, and some species will then fly about and munch on the leaves or flowers that might be found in other parts of your garden or yard. “May beetles” or “June beetles” have these grubby larvae, and will often land on your front porch if you leave your light on in the evening. They are distinctive, chunky scarab beetles.
Some species within the group are invasive/introduced and can cause quite a lot of damage. So, while their larval existence is quiet, solitary and out-of-sight, they can be pests as adults (and, while some of the larvae are true pests of turf grass too, although the ones in my lawn are not really damaging my weed-filled lawn!).
© Christopher M Buddle 2024
-
mossing about
a verdant pillow
lay your weary head down
nature always listens
I did a sketch and added some colour based on what I think was a species from the genus Polytrichum. But, I am not confident in this. Regardless, FUN! I’ve quickly become obsessed with moss. This came quite naturally after reading Robin Wall Kimmerer’s “Gathering Moss” – truly outstanding natural history writing. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to do so! It will draw you into the world of bryophytes, and you will discover astounding beauty. It will cause you to pause when you see a carpet of green on the side of a tree-trunk, or hugging a half-visible rock in your local woods. or covering the ground in the deep, dark forests.
Mosses (and their relatives) are well worth your time. They are secretive, special, green, and water-loving. They don’t have flowers or seeds or roots, but still do so much and have important ecological roles in ecosystems, but also create wonderful, soft mats upon which to rest your weary head.
Over the long weekend that just passed I walked my dog through many forest patches in town, carefully collecting small samples of moss and trying to identify them (this book is a good one to get you started!), and learn about them. My dog finds it weird, of course.
My moss hunting buddy, Quincy, taking a pause in a stream. Many years ago I realized that the Butterfly Bush had the scientific name Buddleja davidii – which piqued my curiosity. I started to learn about the Good Reverend Adam Buddle (1662-1715) and his botanical interests, which lead the naming of the genus Buddleja. I went down more than a few rabbit holes understanding what he did, and interestingly, his interests were very much moss-related. This article talks about him being a ‘Moss-cropper extraordinaire‘. My family has roots in the United Kingdom, and at some point I would like to see if there is a blood-line connection to Adam Buddle. That would be fun, but regardless, I find looking at mosses helps me see nature a little differently and lets me dream and imagine the world of Reverend Buddle as he collected and worked to catalogue bryophytes in his backyard so many centuries ago.
The moss obsession in full swing. Nature.
History.
Natural History.
Mossing about is well worth your time.
© Christopher M Buddle 2024
art, bryophyte, bryophytes, collecting, drawing, history, moss, natural history, nature, pen, Plants
Nature's Reverie 