The Critters of Lolo Pond

I think I could turn and live with the animals, they are so placid 

and self-contain'd,

I stand and look at them long and long.

Walt Whitman

I spent my morning feeding, rounding up, petting, and quietly observing the animals at my parent's house, wild and domestic alike. My folks are out of town this weekend, and while I was dreading waking up early on my first free weekend in two months (self pity is so counterproductive, isn't it?), I couldn't have been happier once I found myself surrounded by ducks and geese, dogs, miniature horses, a goat, cats, and rats (yes, rats...they are truly quite lovely animals who, like so many misunderstood animals, deserve more respect as a species..."Only the mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of a wolf," said Aldo Leopold). I won't begin a rant about the wrongs of hating an animal just because of the connotations and reputations that precede them, but I will say that spending time with those animals that are demonized by so many humans is an important lesson in impartiality. To be able to remove our preconceived notions and simply observe the traits and dispositions of misunderstood animals is an action of love that can be spread throughout our relationships with all beings.

The intimate relationships I have with the animals in my life I believe is what has made me as compassionate as I am as a human being. So, I thought I'd share some pictures today to introduce my readers to Lolo Pond and the critters that live here and that I love so dearly.

It is an absolutely beautiful autumn morning here in Lolo, Montana. On the walk to the pond from my house, the frigid fall air made my cheeks pink, but the warmth of the sun was already beginning to thaw the frost off of the rocks. 

 Long-legs, our sweet outdoor kitty.

 Eiger, our amazing dog (you'll inevitably hear more about him in future posts), and Wylie, his very best friend.

 Wylie is very special. He was a feral dog and was terrified of humans when we first found him. He started to hang around my parents house when the other dogs were out. After three months or so, my mom tricked him inside on a negative five degree day two years ago. He has been a happy member of the Leach family "motley crew" every since!

 Lucy the goose.

 Sadie gazing at the ducks.

Ali, our spirited and incredibly sweet mini.

Gimpy (so politically incorrect, I know), our three-legged rescue goat.

Lovely Lila!

And Kola, our wonderful head-case-of-a-dog. We got her when I was 15.

There are more critters that you will get to know (many more, actually). I'll post more pictures soon. In the meantime, I'm going to go enjoy this gorgeous fall day outside!

Sense of Place

Alright, I have to begin by being upfront: I don't really live on Lolo Pond. To be even more honest, Lolo Pond is a totally made up name for the man-made pond that sits below my mom and dad's house. (We live in Lolo--clever, eh?) My folks do, however, live just down the street from me--and being 26, I still consider their house my house (does that ever go away?). My husband and I thought "On Lolo Pond" was a clever name for a blog...like On Golden Pond...you know, with Katharine Hepburn, Henry and Jane Fonda...o.k., maybe it's a stretch. I also live about 100 yards from the Bitterroot River in Lolo, Montana. And that little pond and the mighty river that feeds it is a big part of me and my sense of place.

What I believe about becoming a part of a place is that you must listen to it deeply, know it well, visit it often, and immerse yourself in that place until you know its other inhabitants--humans, animals, trees, and rocks alike--in a way that makes it difficult to discern them from your Self. Just like you sometimes feel with a good friend, a lover, or a family member. Self, with a capital -S, because it's that Self that is Beauty, that is Nature, that is bigger than our inevitably impermanent image of our self (little -s), that is Everything. It deserves a capital letter. And also, I love to capitalize things that mean something to me, so get used to it. I realize I'm getting pretty deep pretty fast. But stick with me. I'm new to this and am anxious to find my voice.

I'm not here to preach, but I am here to share my own perspective of remaining tied of nature in a time when so many of us feel estranged from, or even fearful of, that which is wild. I hope that my experiences, on a little pond in Lolo and on adventures around my homeland, will inspire others to have their own forays into nature and touch what is Real. My yoga practice, studentship, study, and teaching, will inevitably make it's way into this blog as well (I find it deeply connected to my experiences in nature). So will my experiences working with teens as a youth worker and after school program coordinator at Hellgate High School in Missoula (I find it deeply connected to my growth). And of course, what is a good blog without good photographs or art? I will share images that inspire me. And I will challenge myself to be creative in this space and outside of it. So enjoy, check in often, and share your own experiences and thoughts. I look forward to it!

 A few of the happy inhabitants of Lolo Pond--painted turtles.