327: A mink crossed my path today

Yesterday

We had a gorgeous sunset last night, full of color.  My tendency is to look up at the sky during nature’s sunset color displays, but last night it was the reflection of the colors and light on the pond that grabbed my attention.

The big picture

The reflections and shadows created by the trees at the back and sides of the pond sometimes soak up the colors of the sunset.  Last night the colors arrived early enough to be seen on the pond.

The biggest star in the evening sky

I did something different today.  It wasn’t intentional, and I didn’t notice the difference at first.  When I did notice it, I realized I have become a creature of habit when it comes to my walks around the pond.  I’ve been taking the same one or two routes, with little variation.  Today I went in the opposite direction, and that allowed me to see things from a different perspective.

The last gladiola

As I was out on my opposite walk, a rather large frog jumped in front of me, splashing into the pond.  Following the frog was a mink.  The mink and I stared at each other for a few seconds, each of us surprised by the others presence.  Then he high-tailed it back into the meadow.  I managed to get a quick shot of his tail before he was completely out of sight.

You'll have to look closely to see his tail. (Click on the photo for a larger view.)

The mink is that brownish hump behind the head of grass seed sticking out of the meadow.  I don’t know why I never think to pick up the camera when I have such encounters, but it’s probably just as well.  Without the camera, or thoughts of the camera, I can enjoy the moment and the encounter.  The mink is a beautiful little creature.  We have him to thank for our lack of muskrats (a good thing).

Ted Andrews in his book Animal Speak is silent regarding the mink so I had to search online.  I found this:

Mink shows how to walk in the spiritual and physical world with joy and playfulness along with a balance of fighting for just cause. He teaches attention to intuition and timing, keen senses, awareness and how to move in the emotional waters balanced with the mental world. Mink aids in understanding the nocturnal realm of dreams, visions and hidden knowledge. He will teach how to remain within, a quiet solitude of personal space for contemplation. Are you completing a life cycle, something that you started long ago? Mink will aid in this returning with understanding and compassion. Perhaps you are ready for a move? Mink will also guide in this direction and will last approximately 2-3 weeks. Allow Mink’s wisdom to show you the power of adaptability and balance.

~ From the website Animal Totems

Interesting.

Full sun

It is a beautiful day here in the Bogs.  Warm (in the 80s) with low humidity, sunny skies, and the occasional puffy white cloud.

Reflections of the day

I stayed by the pond today, moving in a counterclockwise direction.  Widdershins.  I saw a variety of dragonfly I’ve never seen before, noticed the wisteria is now growing in what looks like a heart shape, and came across some new (to me) butterflies.

I took my time, enjoying the breeze, the scent of the fresh air, the amazing sky, the warmth of the sunlight, and the new discoveries.  Summer flowers are fading now and those I associate with autumn are beginning to appear.

The blue of the pond is a color I also associate with the autumn months.  As I made my way up the sledding hill, I was hit with a strong sense of deja vu.  There is more than a month left in my outdoor commitment, yet it feels as though I’m already taking photos of things I noticed and photographed when I started this journey last September.  I’ll have to find some time to have a look back to see if that’s true.

That’s about it from the Bogs for today.  Thank you all so much for dropping by and joining me on my walk.  If you’d like to take one of the boats out on the pond before you leave, today is an excellent day for it.  It’s a good day to drift on the water and watch the clouds go by.  🙂

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