Monday Musings

I began the weekly Monday Musing blog as an extension of my  Website  and outreach for my writing. The first blog was published over three years ago, on July 12, 2021. It has appeared continuously, except for a few timeouts for illness or family issues. Since then, I have expanded my blog to other sites, the first of which was Medium. The content now appears on social media:  X ,  LinkedIn ,  WordPress ,  Blogger ,  SubStack  and  Pinterest . It was on other minor sites for a brief period, but those have since been discontinued. The primary goal was to advertise my writing: poetry, fiction, and memoir, but I realized my audience would soon tire of promotions. I then revised my blog to contain various topics: gardening, travel, day/month events, miscellaneous items, and occasional writing updates. Long-time readers and new adherents, I would like your opinion on my blog content. Are you happy with the current themes, or would you prefer other ...

  The news has been awash with political chaos for the past ten days. The future is ripe for more dissent. Many creative spirits have taken to social media to broadcast their opinions. I have not, nor will I, make partisan political statements on my Author platforms. That does not mean, however, that I am ignorant of critical events. To remain up-to-date, I follow news from trusted commentators who have proven to provide accurate reporting over time. I research occurrences and analyze assertions for validity. I don’t take content at face value because I wish to dissect the truest kernel of issues. My closest colleagues and I rigorously discuss evolving current matters. We have varying ideas about worldwide happenings, but gathering information, examining, comparing, and contrasting data, contemplating situations, and then weighing in on possible consequences is crucial. My inner group and I have vowed to agree or disagree rather than reside in an echo chamber of single sentiment. F...

  Linda Eaton Hall-Fulcher established this relatively recent holiday on July 15, 2015, to encourage generosity and thoughtfulness while simultaneously assisting the needy. Giving is an act of kindness and an agent for social change and personal growth. Americans tragically  own much more than they need . It’s an excellent time to declutter: less stuff means fewer possessions to worry about, less stress, and better mental health. Box up your excess possessions: share them with friends and family, or deliver them to a local charity. Sometimes, generosity is less about giving and more about superfluous taking. Avoid scooping up give-a-way goodies or going on a wild shopping spree. Multiple options exist for giving. You can donate goods or services to charity, volunteer time or skills, or contribute financially. Have you ever been astonished by the  emotional reward in response to a small token you have given ? It triggers a sense of joy and fulfillment. You can follow the A...

  One of the delights of mountain living is the emergence of new fawns as does bring them out of hiding. Fawns are born in June when the night skies are lit by the Birth Moon, the native American name of the Tlingit nation for the June full moon. June’s full moon is also known as the Strawberry Moon. My haiku above was published by  Cold Moon Journal on 06/24/21 . We saw five fawns on our drive up and down the mountain today. The first on our way into town, as we drove along the country road that follows a run (the country name for a creek), a doe and fawn dashed into the undergrowth. Later that morning, a doe and her triplets sauntered up a rarely used driveway. Minutes later, a doe and fawn crossed our path back up the switchback road, the pair posing above. Our does and their stag partners had a prolific mating season late last fall. Fawns are being spotted all over the mountain. We have  Whitetail Deer  in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Lots of infor...

  Although the name “ zoo ” was first created in London after the Zoological Society was established, zoos are an ancient concept. Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt gathered a collection of African animals in 1500 BC in  Hierakonpolis . The first zoo on the American continent was discovered in Mexico in 1519 by the explorer Hernán Cortés. The first modern zoo, Ménagerie, le zoo du Jardin des Plantes, opened in Paris in 1794. A boom in zoos worldwide began in the 19th century, but early zoos were enclosures focused on entertainment and not life span or creature comfort. Tragically, during World War II, dangerous animals were exterminated to prevent their escape into the general population in the event of a zoo bombing. After World War II, the emphasis changed to the preservation of species, with the breeding of animals close to extinction. Currently, 39 extinct species exist only in zoos. There is a unique science specialty related to  captive breeding and its pros and cons . The ...