Spring is the perfect season to celebrate Hildegard of Bingen, the medieval Rhineland mystic, naturalist, seer, writer, gardener, composer, and physician. The world is leaping to life in every color of green, a celebration of Hildegard’s central concept of viriditas–the “greening finger” of the divine in all of life. I’ve long considered Hildegard a personal [...]
Entries Tagged as 'seasons'
Welcome Spring
March 31st, 2013 · No Comments
Thank you Marigold, Ophelia, and Ethel for the beautiful eggs. And happy spring to everyone! I heard the neighborhood flickers drumming in earnest on my early morning walk today. Let the wild rumpus begin! You may also like:Our Urban Chicken Coop Plan Urban Chicken Retirement: What to do when older chickens stop laying? Buff [...]
Tags: chickens, eggs, seasons, urban nature
On Planners, Productivity, and Idle Pleasures
January 7th, 2013 · 10 Comments
Happy New Year, everyone! Here is my first confession of 2013: I’m a planner geek-nerd-obsessive. I love the tactile and aesthetic delights of a paper planner, as well as the practical benefits. Opening a new planner on January 1 is something I start looking forward to weeks before the calendar page actually flips. I absolutely [...]
Happy Solstice (and End of the World)
December 20th, 2012 · 2 Comments
Happy Solstice, dear readers! Assuming the world doesn’t end today (or even if it does) I wish you all a peaceful, joyful season. On the Summer Solstice (also our wedding anniversary) a couple of years ago, Tom, Claire, and I set out to climb the highest temple in the Mayan ruins at Tikal before sunrise. [...]
Homemade Ornaments: Pinecone Gnomes
December 9th, 2012 · 1 Comment
I love making ornaments from found, natural materials. Cat-sitting for my crafty neighbor Jane last week, I spotted these little gnome ornaments she had made from the pinecones that fall on our neighborhood sidewalks, and asked if I could share them on The Tangled Nest. Jane’s gnomes were inspired by this this Better Homes and [...]
Three Ways to Keep the Peace of the Season
December 3rd, 2012 · 8 Comments
Every year we see articles on “staying sane during the holidays”–advice for dealing with unruly inlaws while maximizing cookie production and shopping efficiency. I follow some of this advice. But here’s a confession: I love the inner dimension of this season. I love advent, the dark days leading to the Solstice and Christmas, and I [...]
Tags: inspiration, seasons, urban nature
A Cool Coop: Caring for Chickens in the Heat
August 16th, 2012 · 2 Comments
It’s actually hot in Seattle! Yes, I know that you folks in other parts of the country have had many 90+ days, but for us Pacific Northwesterners, it’s rare–our bodies aren’t used to it, and neither are our chickens! I’ve noticed the girls are panting a little, and seeking shade. Here’s one from the archives [...]
Tags: chickens, seasons, urban farming
Baby Crows In Our Midst
May 26th, 2012 · 15 Comments
This archive post first ran on June 21, 2011 One of the Crow Questions I hear most often is, “Why do I never see baby crows?” In truth, it is likely that we have all seen plenty of baby crows–but we are misled by the human tendency to conflate “baby-ness” with small-ness. A few crows [...]
Chickens Versus Snowpocalypse
January 18th, 2012 · 24 Comments
Hi, Tom here… Lyanda’s away on a writing retreat so I am hijacking her blog for a few days. In Seattle it’s a snow day–we are having our annual “snowpocalypse,” when a few inches of snow completely shuts down the city and sends cars skidding into the curbs and children flocking into the unfamiliar white [...]
Tags: chickens, seasons, urban farming
The Urban Winter Wild
January 10th, 2012 · 17 Comments
Winter is considered a time of quiet and hibernation, and often we wait until spring to think about viewing birds and other creatures. But the cold of winter increases the energetic need of wild animals, sending them out to seek food at all hours of the day. It’s one of the best times to watch [...]
Tags: birds, seasons, urban nature
