TerrieMiller.com

The nice folks at Paw-Talk have posted an interview with me about citizen science and my evolving interest in animals and wildlife. (Their introduction certainly makes me blush!) I enjoyed talking about some of those connections, my experiences as a birder, and mentors I’ve looked up to as a child and as an [...]

This is a sutra I first heard at Stone Creek; Sandokai, or “The Harmony of Difference and Sameness”, by Shitou Xiqian, an 8th century Chinese Zen teacher and author. Every time I read it, I’m struck by something new, so I thought I’d post this translation that I’m appreciating so much.

Harmony of Difference [...]

I’ve been wanting to write this for a while, and this morning’s unexpected rain seemed like a sign that I should get to it. Living in California makes it easier to see rain for the miracle that it is.
We live in a culture where we’re encouraged to repress the expression of our feelings…even encouraged [...]

If I think of it as a blackberry patch, I don’t have to think of the blackberries as an invasive weed problem, right?

I had to do some assigned writing in preparation for an Ecology of Leadership course I’ll be attending all next week. It made me realize how long it’s been since I’ve posted [...]

For the past couple of years, I’ve been really interested in mandalas, and I’m intrigued by Jung’s work on mandalas and other symbols. A separate path (or so it seemed) lead me to permaculture, and through that I’ve just started to scratch the surface of an long-standing interest in Native American and other [...]

Hive Boxes and Bee Keeping Equipment

Originally uploaded by terriem

Today we got our beekeeping equipment, all ready for the bees which will arrive in about a month.
We’re starting out with two hives; if one begins to fail, we might be able to rescue it with frames from the other. The Schweitzers of Redwood City are [...]

Justin sends along this link, saying, “Do you subscribe to the big picture? If not, you’re going to love this.”

Wow. Photos that are not for the feint of heart, but they stir something very deep in me. Thanks Justin!

Those Kiwi’s really have it together. How do I love this talk? Let me count the ways.
But you know, I’m not scared by any of this. I regret the suffering, I know it’s big trouble — but it promises massive change and a massive change was inevitable. The way we ran the [...]

And we’re delighted with our ladies!

Justin asked what we do with the 3-4 eggs a day we’re getting now in spring.
Other than marvel at their colors, we eat frittata and quiche (using Justin’s quiche post as a guideline, of course. Bake. And I love giving them to friends and neighbors.
I might try to [...]

I’ve heard this legend a couple of times, but I don’t have a real source for it. Whether it’s real Native American legend or urban myth, I don’t know. But when it comes to stories, I know what I like, and I like this:
During times of drought, the tribes sometimes joined together to [...]