March 12, 2026
Horned Grebe at the Celery Farm
My first ever here. And the spring arrivals are arriving! The grebe was No. 186 on my Celery Farm life…
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
July 2, 2020
A Stolen Hour, by Charley West
Prologue: Various exigencies of late have kept me isolated so I went to the CF for an hour @ 6:30 this morning to unburden. I parked myself @ the Carlos Parnell Lopez bench, which faces NW when looking straight ahead over Phair’s Pond.
The morning introduced itself with 50% cloud cover with low, cumulus puffs with ill-defined edges in a light-blue sky. Breeze was non-existent — it was as if a tree would be penalized if it were to stir a leaf.
I hasten to point out (admit?) that I’m like the three Chimps with their respective hands covering ears, eyes, & mouth. Not that I’ve got any wisdom to impart, it’s just that I can’t hear or see as “before,” acknowledging that I’m on the shady, downhill-side of the mountain.
Thanks to their lower calling frequencies, I heard Am. Crow & MoDo on the walk-in, and later a Red-bellied WP.
Multiple families of Woodies were ignoring social-distancing and convened in a large group of 16.
A family (?) of 6-7 Northern Rough-winged Swallows took turns snatching breakfast from the air and quick drinks from the pond’s surface.
An unseen bullfrog in the western quarter of the 50% algae-covered Phair’s, bellowed his presence.
A thin-necked doe, resplendent in her cinnamon-colored summer frock, browsed silently along the eastern lake edge.
A Green Heron flew across from west to east, followed by an Am. Robin. Expected honks from Canadas on Lake A. did not materialize.
At some point, my central nervous system screamed for a caffeine fix and my stomach growled in support thereof, so I begrudgingly left my post.
A brilliantly hued male Cardinal celebrated my departure.
It was a LOVELY morning!
— Charley West
10 comments
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Charlie,, I really enjoyed your beautiful writing from the Carlos Parnell Lopez bench. I have sat there on many mornings but could never express myself nearly as well as you have. Took a few nice photos from there, though.
Stay safe and well.
Jerry Barrack -
I Always enjoy your “compositions”. You have a way of stringing together Nouns, Adjectives and Verbs, creating colorful paintings with your Author-ian paint brush. This one is a watercolor…I’m on that mountain too
Laurie Neu -
Artfully stated!Thank you so much Charlie.
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Just what I needed today. Beautiful!
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Thanks for making me smile.
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Bravo ✔️
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I was leaving when you arrived. I enjoyed your your writing and love this place.
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With age we see and hear with the help of wisdom. No youthful bustling to camouflage our perception.
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Your writing is lovely, poetry
Thank you -
This is fabulous. What a wonderful wordsmith and observer
Leave your comment
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10 comments
jerryoradi@gmail.com
Charlie,, I really enjoyed your beautiful writing from the Carlos Parnell Lopez bench. I have sat there on many mornings but could never express myself nearly as well as you have. Took a few nice photos from there, though.
Stay safe and well.
Jerry Barrack
Laurie
I Always enjoy your “compositions”. You have a way of stringing together Nouns, Adjectives and Verbs, creating colorful paintings with your Author-ian paint brush. This one is a watercolor…I’m on that mountain too
Laurie Neu
Gil Hawkins
Artfully stated!Thank you so much Charlie.
Traci L Woods
Just what I needed today. Beautiful!
Monica
Thanks for making me smile.
Peter Burger
Bravo ✔️
Rochana
I was leaving when you arrived. I enjoyed your your writing and love this place.
Jon Davis
With age we see and hear with the help of wisdom. No youthful bustling to camouflage our perception.
Anne Keating
Your writing is lovely, poetry
Thank you
Sallyt
This is fabulous. What a wonderful wordsmith and observer