
Erika explores the importance of nature writing.
This morning I woke up, turned on my cell phone, and knew what the sunset looked like in Japan. I saw a European Robin in England, all puffed up against the cold. I looked in awe at snowy peaks in the Himalayas. All without getting out of bed.
Moose are an iconic species in Maine. They are the inspiration for thousands of stuffed animal variations, paintings, photographs, sculptures, even chocolate shapes. Yet, they can be difficult to see in the summer, and even more difficult in the winter. In fact, I had never seen a moose between the months of October and May. That is, until this year.
I ended 2014 and began 2015 in Maine, where temperatures shifted from the warm mid-forties to the bitterly cold single digits. Regardless of the weather however, Maine is always beautiful, and I was lucky enough to spend some time on the rocky coastline, searching for Snowy Owls.
In life, it is important to be spontaneous. I am a planner by nature, but this past weekend decided to let my spontaneity fly when my fiance Brian suggested a camping trip to Linville Gorge.Continue reading
I didn’t expect to push my comfort zone at 10 p.m. at night, but that’s just what happened last weekend. We were camping in Fort De Soto Park on the Gulf coast of Florida, thirtyContinue reading
Kneeling on a dirt path in Duke Gardens, I leaned close to the yellow flower. In one arm I held my camera, in the other a reflector I had borrowed from the photography instructor. IfContinue reading
What do you get when you combine a friend’s visit, the last weekend before the end of classes, and a beautiful Saturday afternoon? For me, it all added up to a trip to a natureContinue reading