Today I Turned Four!

Says The Quaking Poplar 🌳.

Dear Beloved Readers,

Wow. I knew my Substack anniversary was today, but I thought she turned three until I scrolled back and realized she’s four!

I can hardly believe it.

This is my 150th post.

Not bad for a pokey writer. :)

Just to be clear - I don’t mean pokey in a derogatory sense - I mean it in an honest assessment of my writing mojo. It’s slow like my friend, the Turtle. 🐢 And you know how much I love Turtle.

Speaking of Turtle, yesterday I went for an early morning walk hoping to beat the biting flies before they began their feasting. I was not so lucky, but I did manage to walk the path to say hello to Mr. Wise and Sleeping Turtle Rock.

Something magical happened along the way, and I’m still a little buzzy from it. I was walking with my Merlin stick, and when I took a step, Merlin pressed down on the ground, and I felt a vibration pulsate up the stick! I took a few more steps, and the same thing happened again and again and again.

Merlin

That was it! I continued my walk and have added that to my list of Magic. Has it ever happened to you?

Mr. Wise had some wise words for me that I’m keeping to myself. He tends to come up with one-liners that always seem to land in a spot-on kind of way. And without him even moving a granite muscle…

Next, I headed west to the woods where Sleeping Turtle Rock lives. If you’ve never read about this stone friend of mine, click here.

He’s the one who gave me the name Little Crone. Best nickname ever, in my humble opinion.

However, yesterday when I approached Sleeping Turtle Rock, I felt strong Mother Earth energy emanating from her, and indeed, she told me that:

She is the mother, the feminine, the creative force - and the writing, the painting, the healing work - it’s all the same. It’s coming from my second and fifth chakras, and it’s clear and humming and healthy. No worries about what happened recently that knocked me off my center. Just be myself. Don’t be anything but myself and all will be well.

—Sleeping Turtle Rock 🐢

I tried to get a photo of her to show just how massive she is, but it doesn’t do her justice.

I told her she looks like an abstract painting or sculpture, and I think she liked that! :)

When I walked to the other end of her, look what/who I saw!!!

Gasp!! Sleeping Turtle Rock has two heads!!

Also, doesn’t it look like she might make a perfect den for a Fox or a Coyote or a BEAR??

I don’t know if I mentioned in my last post that the Dragonfly Brigade has arrived- HOORAY- to eat the biting flies! They are magnificent!

I was walking back from the Pond earlier in the week, and the deer flies were angrily buzzing around my nerdy netting hat when, all of a sudden, an army of Dragonflies looked to be escorting me down the path toward home. I thought to myself, “I wish one of you would land so I could take your picture” when this happened!!

I want to thank you all for taking the time to read or listen to my Nature musings or whatever else is on my mind that I feel the need to write about.

I imagine if you’re still here, that you must have a love of Nature and Truth and Wonder and Hope and Magic and Joy.

Many thanks to those of you who leave a comment, join in the conversation, and add your gems. Your wisdom. I love reading each one. In four years, I have never had to even think about deleting or blocking a comment. I think that’s pretty remarkable and says so much about you readers.

I want to give some extra love and gratitude to my dear paid subscribers.

You don’t get anything more than free subscribers do, and so I know that your generosity comes from a special place of pure support. I am not a prolific content creator, and I know myself well enough that trying to become someone I am not would suck the Joy right out of me. I work hard to infuse this page with the Peace and Joy that I’m able to absorb from this little piece of Nature Paradise that I call Home.

I’m grateful to Substack for creating this ad-free site for writers and readers. I have loved the ease of writing here for the past four years and am excited to see what this next year will bring.

With So Much Love and Gratitude,
Barbara 🐢

Or, if subscriptions aren’t for you but my writing has inspired or informed you in a significant way, here’s a link to make a one-time gift. 🩷

Luke Kohen via Instagram

Gone-Away Pond in Summer