And What If?

April 1, 2019April 1, 2019 ~ JoHanna Massey

What if you slept?
And what if,
In your sleep
you dreamed?
And what if
in your dreams,
you went to heaven
And there plucked

a strange
and beautiful flower?
And what if,
when you awoke,
You had the flower in your hand?
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Earth Day Events:

Locally: Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration Red Rock State Park

Arizona Regional- Go Green Earth Day

Global: Earth Day Network

Wishing everyone a peace filled, safe, joyful, prosperous, healthy, creative and some heavenly dreams this month of April when we celebrate our planet Earth. Thank you for stopping by.

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Songs Too Sweet and Wild

February 1, 2019 ~ JoHanna Massey

“Some birds are not meant to be caged, that’s all.
Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild
So you let them go,
Or when you open the cage to feed them
They somehow fly out past you
And the part of you that knows it was wrong
To imprison them in the first place rejoices,
But still, the place where you live
Is that much more drab
And empty for their departure.”
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption:
A Story from Different Seasons-Steven KIng

House Finch ((Carpodacus mexicanus): Verde Valley Arizona Winter 2019 JoHanna Massey

House Finch(Carpodacus mexicanus): Verde Valley Arizona Winter 2019 JoHanna Massey

Penduline Tits- Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) – Winter 2019- Verde Valley Arizona JoHanna Massey

Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)- WInter 2019- Verde Valley Arizona JoHanna Massey

buffleheads- verde valley arizona winter 2019- johanna massey

buffleheads verde valley arizona 2019- johanna massey

buffleheads- verde valley arizona - winter 2019- johanna massey-1

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)- Winter 2019- Verde Valley Arizona – JoHanna Massey

Red-tailed Hawk (buteo Jamaicensis)- Verde Valley Arizona USA – Johanna Massey

Red-tailed Hawk (buteo Jamaicensis)- Verde Valley Arizona USA – JoHanna Massey

Red-tailed Hawk (buteo Jamaicensis)- Verde Valley Arizona USA – JoHanna

Kill Deer (charadrius vociferus)- Winter 2019- Verde Valley Arizona USA- JoHanna Massey

Canada Geese (Branta Canadensis)- Winter 2019- JoHanna Massey

Canada Geese (Branta Canadensis)- Winter 2019- JoHanna

Mallards (Anas Platyrhynchos)- Verde Valley Arizona – JoHanna Massey – WInter 2019

ducks- lower pond verde valley arizona winter 2019- johanna massey

Baldplate or American Widgeon- Verde Valley Arizona – JoHanna Massey -Winter 2019

Pleased to share with you some of the birds I have captured with the camera lens in these past few weeks. May peace, love, freedom, be Yours this month of February. Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Your support of my website is valued and appreciated.

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Would You.. Could You.. Hike A Thousand Miles?

May 28, 2018May 29, 2018 ~ JoHanna Massey

“The Mountains Are Calling

And I must Go.”

John Muir

Curt Mekemson has just left on a thousand mile chunk of a hike that begins in Ashland Oregon, travels south to Mount Whitney, through Siskiyou, Marble, and Sierra Nevada Mountains.This is quite the hike, through some of the most beautiful places in America. Places most people, Americans too, never will see. Curt Mekemson is an excellent nature writer, with an eye for detail and a way with words that could convince anyone to go outside to play, to explore, to see the beauty of it all.

Author of The Bush Devil Ate Sam, I first came across a batch of stunning photos, the Burning Man Collection, and have been enjoying Curt’s writings, adventures, and photography since. His insatiable curiosity for exploring the planet is matched by his wife Peggy, who sharing his wanderlust, high spirits and a fine camera eye of her own, …makes their website Wandering Through Time and Place one of the best and most interesting websites to savor and enjoy. A fellow WordPress Blogger, Curt has in turn been a real source of inspiration, support, and contributor of smart comments for my own, JoHannaMassey.com for several years now.

When it comes to backpacking, Curt Mekemson speaks with experience on provisioning, food considerations, resupply points, and permits that all need to be planned out and reviewed when undertaking a big or small adventure. Whether a novice backpacker, a seasoned explorer, or someone wanting to see/learn of the back country of America in almost real time, here’s your invitation:

I’m inviting everyone to join me, tell all your friends and family, co workers, neighbors, and acquaintances too. This is a real big deal hike and I am thrilled for my friend. Let’s tag along this next three months with Curt Mekemson’s Hike of One Thousand miles. I just think it would be so cool, if a million people worldwide, but especially the WordPress bloggers followed along with Curt Mekemson’s One Thousand Mile Hike.

No matter how huge our numbers swell to, how gaily and daily we tramp along with Curt, via WordPress, we will ‘leave no trace’ behind us, the lightness of Curt’s steps one for all and all for one!

All my best to each and everyone of you. See you along the trail!

With The Noise Of It

May 14, 2018May 14, 2018 ~ JoHanna Massey ~ 2 Comments

When the green woods laugh
With the voice of joy,
And the dimpling stream
Runs laughing by;
When the air does laugh
With our merry wit,
And the green hill laughs
With the noise of it.
William Blake

Beaver Creek - Verde Valley Arizona - Spring 2018 JoHanna Massey

Being near cold flowing water, with an overhang of trees is where I feel most whole and in grace. These strips of riparian paradise exist Worldwide, each unique and mesmerizing. No matter where we wander, there is a familiarity, recognition, and welcome in the rivers, streams, and creeks. Especially when shared, the truly best kind of days. Perhaps a past or future as fish. This stretch of Beaver Creek has been a favorite for twenty five and some years, and I am happy to provide you a look about with these photos as my submission for WordPress Photo Challenge theme of Place In The World.

Inspiration for this weeks Challenge – Erica V

For this week’s photo challenge, explore what it means to find your place in the world. Where’s your safe space? Where do you go when you need to feel inspired or cheered up? Let loose and give us a glimpse of who you are in the grand scheme of things.

All my best to Each and Everyone.

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Music: Pete Seegar Sail Up & Down The River

I Would Venture To Guess

April 12, 2018December 5, 2018 ~ JoHanna Massey ~ 15 Comments

“I would venture to guess
That Anon,
Who wrote so many poems
Without signing them,
Was often a woman.”
Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own

Wood Duck may well be the most beautiful bird whose acquaintance I’ve made. Close to the edge of magic. From the riverbank I witnessed the rising sun engage each feather of Wood Duck individually, collectively, colors high and vibrant. Wondering if that rustle in the still brittle reeds is a mate nesting.

Equally amazing and always surprised is that every once in awhile photograph, that pleases me immensely…..this captured Wood Duck’s image is just such a photo. I am pleased to share all of my photos today, but especially Wood Duck with you.

Enjoying the Jail Trail located in Old Town Cottonwood Arizona. Visiting frequently to observe and photograph the unfolding of Spring and ending the morning back at the Trail head where the sidewalk leads quickly to latte and pastery, or lunch if we have lingered. Sidewalk cafes and restaurants abound , where locals and visitors mingle over second and third cups of coffee.

Thai Palace- Old Town Cottonwood Arizona -Photo: JoHanna Massey Spring 2018

The Jail Trail: A riparian oasis of sorts, running with the Verde River, Dog walkers, birders, families, lovers, photographers, joggers, fisherman, a science class, an artists doing watercolors, or those pausing while just passing through. It’s a well loved and used area , and yes, worn in places. Welcoming to the eye and spirit is this greening up towards lush ribbon of riparian respite. Going green anyway, in this Spring of dry weather, no rain, no wildflowers, High Sonoran desert. A morning haven with birdsong, river music, and the sound of a million bees enjoying the flowering of the ancient cottonwoods. The old trees give the sense of permanence and peace to this very special place.

Verde River Jail Trail- Old Town Cottonwood Arizona JoHanna Massey

MistleToe-Verde River Jail Trail- Old Town Cottonwood Arizona JoHanna Massey

Black Hawk Verde River Jail Trail- Old Town Cottonwood Arizona JoHanna Massey

Jail Trail Old Town Cottonwood, Arizona: Lent 208

A Pair of Black Hawks teased all the morning long. – Black Hawk Verde River AZ March 2018 JoHanna Massey

Lizard Jail Trail Verde River Spring 2018- Photo: JoHanna Massey

Jail Trail Verde River Spring 2018- Photo: JoHanna Massey

Verde River-Jail Trail Verde River Spring 2018- Photo: JoHanna Massey

Jail Trail Verde River Spring 2018- Photo: JoHanna Massey

Wren-Jail Trail Verde River Spring 2018- Photo: JoHanna Massey

Ants- Jail Trail Verde River Spring 2018- Photo: JoHanna Massey

Jail Trail Verde River Spring 2018- Photo: JoHanna Massey

Earth Day- April 22- The global theme is to reduce plastic pollution.

The Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival is April 26-29 2018.

Heron- Verde River Jail Trail- Old Town Cottonwood Arizona JoHanna Massey

Peace and Blessings to Each and Everyone of You.

In Response to this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge – Awakening

A One Time Event

April 9, 2018December 20, 2018 ~ JoHanna Massey ~ 8 Comments

“Revolution is not a one time event.”
― Audre Lorde,

Hummingbird Verde Valley Arizona Lent 2018 JoHanna Massey

Audre Lorde, deep to the bone voice poet and feminist who championed the rights of the marginalized, comes to mind as I listen to the young people speaking out and making their voices heard their visions and goals clear, and their commitment an honest one. I am just thrilled at the groundswell of positive activism taking place globally. And the diversity of the voices is reassuring.

Peace and Blessings to Each and Everyone.

Rising From Marsh Mud

February 1, 2018February 1, 2018 ~ JoHanna Massey ~ 13 Comments

“I rose from marsh mud
algae, equisetum, willows,
sweet green, noisy
birds and frogs.”
― Lorine Niedecker

There are times when only a good marsh soothes and centers, showing true north clearly once again. Tavasci Marsh is not the blue/black boot sucking mud tidal marshes of the Delaware Bay; or the aloof… frigid… moving ice, scattered sedge, and reindeer, of the Spitzbergen.

Tavasci Marsh is a fresh water marsh, with no tidal interface or brackish/salty water, located in the high desert region of the Arizona Southwest. There is a delicious sense of time thinning, stretching, going fluid at Tavasci Marsh.

Toozigoot, a pueblo built by the Sinagua people around 1000 AD visible on a nearby hilltop, the sound of the Verde River, rustling reeds, and birdsong invites the mind, body, emotions, and spirit to join together again… to desire a vision of something good and new and engaging in the going forward. Indeed, there is a pleasure, peace, and promise, that comes of lingering with the not quite solid ground of a good marsh.