The Green Heron's Tale

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

While I was walking along the San Antonio River on Friday, July 27, a green heron appeared from behind a rock. After taking a look around, it flew a short distance upstream and landed on the east end of the weir dam.

Seemingly out of nowhere along the opposite bank of the river, a second green heron, older and / or of the opposite sex, suddenly appeared at the west end of the dam. It marched quickly with a very fearsome expression to the center of the dam.

Alas, no feathers were ruffled. The first heron turned nonchalantly, walked to the edge of the dam and flew to the river bank a bit further upstream:

Great Abundance

Monday, August 6, 2012

Comanche Lookout Park, Library Loop > Comanche > Deer Loop Trails

Today's photos:

I grew up with the U.S. space exploration program. I was in seventh grade when Alan Shepard became the first U.S. astronaut to make a suborbital flight in the Mercury space capsule on May 5, 1961. Early Monday morning, NASA achieved another major milestone with the successful landing of the Curiosity Mars Space Laboratory. I was glued to the computer watching NASA's live stream coverage of the event.

So, what does all that have to do with While on a Walk? First, the main reason this post is being published on Tuesday afternoon instead of Monday night is because I just couldn't stay awake Monday evening to finish producing the post after having been up into the wee hours of Monday morning. I just don't have the stamina I used to.

More importantly, however, is that I have spent much of the time since watching the Curiosity's landing, working through an epiphany I had regarding the perspective the Mars exploration program places on life on Earth. The Curiosity brings us a step closer to discovering if Mars has in the past, or possibly still does, support some form of life.

Scientifically, that is important to know. So far, all the images sent back from Mars by all the spacecraft, including the two smaller rovers: Spirit and Opportunity, show a totally barren landscape. In contrast and more important to our everyday lives, we do know and interact with life here on our own planet, Earth. Life is here in great abundance and diversity of form.

We are totally and completely dependent upon its presence. We are stewards of its continuing existence and well being. Look at the barren photos from Mars, then look at photos from our home here on Earth. Seeing them in juxtaposition is jarring. Be thankful for the abundance with which we are blessed. Protect and nurture it in all its manifestations.

Morning Inspiration, A Sunday Special Edition

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Morning Inspiration at Cathedral Rock

"The sun is peering, like a curious child, over the trees. I'm loving life!" - Manuel Scott

When I posted "Vespers, A Sunday Special Edition" this past Sunday, I had no intention of making "A Sunday Special Edition" a regular feature of While on a Walk, but life happens. It may still prove to be as ephemeral as Bexar County's creeks.

The photos in today's Special Edition where taken on my walk Wednesday, August 1 at Cathedral Rock Park.

More of the Little Things in Life

Friday, August 3, 2012

Eisenhower Park, Cedar Flats > Upper Shady Creek > Hillside Trails

Today's photos:

The effects of the continuing drought are very apparent at Eisenhower Park right now. We have had a fairly wet year since December, but we need a lot more rain to make up for the lack of rain the previous year.

A surprising number (at least to me) of the junipers have died in the past year. Many of the larger deciduous trees are clearly stressed. On the other hand, much of the understory and ground cover vegetation is doing quite well.

I found myself taking a variety of photos as I walked along the trails. The impact of the drought could easily have been the theme for today's post, but in the editing this evening, once again the photos of the little things I encountered particularly stood out.