Erika! This post is just what I needed this evening - thank you sooooooooo much!
I've just sat down with pencil and paper and watched as words landed on the page - such a cathartic exercise. I'm going to give it another coat of looking at it tomorrow and see how they connect. How do I feel? EMPOWERED!
Oh my gosh, this feels like a HUGE compliment!!! I’m truly happy this meant something to you and that you sat down to create, too. That’s one of my goals—for anyone reading to then go and try or make or explore something in their offline life. So thank YOU for that. 🥰
I love the idea of limericks bringing back your zing! And murmurations are just stunning. You've had better luck with your bird app - I downloaded one in lockdown and it said absolutely everything was a herring gull... think I need to find a better one as I'd love to be able to tell a bird just from its song...
Thanks for reading, Jane! 😊 If you have access to the Merlin app, I highly recommend checking it out. The app has sample calls/songs along with the species it identifies, so you can confirm that it matches what you’re hearing or seeing. It’s been so fun and I hope it works for you too!
Ooo, reading this post felt delicious. I felt my own curiosity poke up her head, felt a little spark of joy in listening to you discover new birds, found new music to sink into. And then surprise delight to see my name pop up in the mix. Big contented sigh. Thank you🙏✨
I love this so much Erika! I'm glad that Merlin has opened up a bird world to you - it makes me happy to think about ideas being shared across newsletters and opposite parts of the continent! And gosh the accidental recording of you and your partner is SO cute.
I like seeing your mind map - that's my way in to writing my newsletter also. Seeing everything spread out helps me remember the depth of my interests, even when feeling mentally smushed. Which, by the way, I SO related to in your last post. Not everything in summer has felt sunny and I really appreciated your candour about that! <3
Re: birds on the brain, this is a short film that I find so moving:
Hi Emily! 👋🏼 Thanks a bunch, truly. Now other friends and family members are enjoying the app too. Oh, the power of a good recommendation! Glad you enjoyed that little sound bite. 🤗
Also—the film!! This is the sort of beauty I’m talking about. I’m so happy you shared! This quote by one of the men stood out:
“I’m lucky. With the people that taught me about birding, my mentors back in the 1950s, they never got tired of seeing any bird or anything. They were not always looking for the new. Just enjoy what you have. Look at this.”
Reminds me how we can find richness right where we are. Even in our backyards or from the parking lot! And I’m really drawn to the shot at minute 7:57. Something about the sunset and hundreds of birds reflecting off the windshield… gorgeous.
I’m glad my previous post was meaningful to you. Writing it was so cathartic.
Erika! This post is just what I needed this evening - thank you sooooooooo much!
I've just sat down with pencil and paper and watched as words landed on the page - such a cathartic exercise. I'm going to give it another coat of looking at it tomorrow and see how they connect. How do I feel? EMPOWERED!
Oh my gosh, this feels like a HUGE compliment!!! I’m truly happy this meant something to you and that you sat down to create, too. That’s one of my goals—for anyone reading to then go and try or make or explore something in their offline life. So thank YOU for that. 🥰
❤️
Thanks for letting me murmerate in your brain space. 🦋🧚♀️🧠
😂 lolol. Thanks for reading my stuff bae!
I love the idea of limericks bringing back your zing! And murmurations are just stunning. You've had better luck with your bird app - I downloaded one in lockdown and it said absolutely everything was a herring gull... think I need to find a better one as I'd love to be able to tell a bird just from its song...
Thanks for reading, Jane! 😊 If you have access to the Merlin app, I highly recommend checking it out. The app has sample calls/songs along with the species it identifies, so you can confirm that it matches what you’re hearing or seeing. It’s been so fun and I hope it works for you too!
Ah I will go and look for that one now!
Crossing my fingers it works for you! 🐦⬛🎶
Ooo, reading this post felt delicious. I felt my own curiosity poke up her head, felt a little spark of joy in listening to you discover new birds, found new music to sink into. And then surprise delight to see my name pop up in the mix. Big contented sigh. Thank you🙏✨
Awww Rebekah! Of course, and thank you. Here's to curiosity unfolding more and more! 🥳
I love this so much Erika! I'm glad that Merlin has opened up a bird world to you - it makes me happy to think about ideas being shared across newsletters and opposite parts of the continent! And gosh the accidental recording of you and your partner is SO cute.
I like seeing your mind map - that's my way in to writing my newsletter also. Seeing everything spread out helps me remember the depth of my interests, even when feeling mentally smushed. Which, by the way, I SO related to in your last post. Not everything in summer has felt sunny and I really appreciated your candour about that! <3
Re: birds on the brain, this is a short film that I find so moving:
https://emergencemagazine.org/film/exit-238/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Hi Emily! 👋🏼 Thanks a bunch, truly. Now other friends and family members are enjoying the app too. Oh, the power of a good recommendation! Glad you enjoyed that little sound bite. 🤗
Also—the film!! This is the sort of beauty I’m talking about. I’m so happy you shared! This quote by one of the men stood out:
“I’m lucky. With the people that taught me about birding, my mentors back in the 1950s, they never got tired of seeing any bird or anything. They were not always looking for the new. Just enjoy what you have. Look at this.”
Reminds me how we can find richness right where we are. Even in our backyards or from the parking lot! And I’m really drawn to the shot at minute 7:57. Something about the sunset and hundreds of birds reflecting off the windshield… gorgeous.
I’m glad my previous post was meaningful to you. Writing it was so cathartic.