Go for It

Chipmunk - Copyright 2025 JeanMaher.com

I captured a chipmunk in action one day. She had her eye on a bird feeder near my garden and was very determined to reach it. She took a moment and jumped, grabbing the base of the feeder and swinging up onto the tray. She sat there, stuffing seeds into her cheeks as fast as she could.

Chowing Down - Copyright 2025 JeanMaher.com

The feeder is drained every day - it's a popular place. At any moment, the chipmunk could be dethroned from her perch by larger creatures hungry for a quick easy snack of seeds. On the larger size are deer, gray squirrels, black squirrels, turkeys, crows. Diminutive songbirds like this fly-up feeder, among them: indigo buntings, goldfinches, sapsuckers, blue jays, and house finches.

On alert - Copyright 2025 JeanMaher.com

As I thought about her making that leap onto the feeder, she had to commit. She had to let go of that pole and focus on that feeder tray - on what she wanted: a prepared meal.

Her actions remind me I am no different. If I focus on what I honestly want, experience is teaching me that things open up. Usually not in the way my logical mind has imagined it to happen, but if I trust what appears and follow the thread, things work out.

It's taken me a bit to move this along. Is it really OK to do what I want? Old beliefs are sticky.

Answering 'what do I want?' is my challenge. Today I want to 'get out there' in the world; to shrug off my tendency to hole up. I want to further my writing and photography, complete the next book while I share the book I published. I want to be my best self every day. I've believed for so long that it is a selfish thing - to do what I want. But I'm growing up a little and am letting that sink in. I can be a better person if I follow what comes naturally to me.

It's the idea of flow. I lose track of time when immersing myself in a walk, curating my photos, editing presentations for others, sharing my enthusiasm for Nature with kids and adults alike. It's fun and meaningful for me. And I'm a better person because of it for me, and hopefully, if I stay out of the way, I can be better for others, too.

Back to the chipmunk -- this little one was brave enough to make a grab for the feeder. I know she was keeping an eye on me, but she stayed with herself to take the opportunity that appeared.

I see you! Copyright 2025 JeanMaher.com

She looked at me and held her spot. She apparently did not see me as a threat as I held my spot.

I find it intriguing how Nature in all its forms keeps me in the present and out of my head, if only for a minute. I'm grateful for this small creature sharing this moment with me.

Ready, Set...

Fireworks 2025

Being the 4th of July weekend, I decided it was a perfect time to stretch my skills and experiment with taking photos of fireworks. I thought about it, how beautiful the photos could be. I pictured myself finding the perfect location, having the perfect settings, there would be no bugs... Nirvana.

Where I live, there are two towns in close proximity. I wouldn't have to drive far. Each had their own starring night. Good. I Googled the first one in Stillwater, MN, a beautiful river town: "Are there fireworks tonight in Stillwater?" The answer came back. Yes, there are fireworks, they start at dusk, around 10:00 PM. Check.

So I put a different lens on my camera, changed the settings according to instructions I had, grabbed a tripod -- make that two: one for my digital camera and one for my cellphone "just in case." I loaded up my car, and headed to where I planned to park (according to my instructions), "well ahead of the event, so that you can make sure you have a good viewing place." I parked. There were only a few cars here yet. Good. Must be early enough.

I grabbed my backpack, my two tripods, an extra battery, my cellphone and started trudging downhill toward the place I'd envisioned would be a good perch. Something began to niggle a bit in the back of my mind, though - this must be a really good location, but where IS everybody? I walked on. There were just a few casual strollers along the way. I began to get a little suspicious. There should be more early birds like me here by now.

Hmm. I had my cell phone with me. Maybe it would be a good idea to check again. But the internet is always right... I checked again: "Are there fireworks tonight in Stillwater?" The answer came back the same: yes. EXCEPT this time, I read to the bottom. There in bold letters, was the date. I was here on Saturday.

The fireworks were Friday.

Well, the best laid plans... I'd been in a bit of a hurry, as usual to get here. Just glanced at the internet.

OK - no real harm done, and I was glad to head home as it started to rain.

Round 2: I KNEW that Hudson had fireworks Sunday night. I put my plan on repeat, grabbed my tripod, made sure my settings were correct on my camera, brought my cellphone, and headed downtown toward the fireworks that are held over the river in Lakefront Park. This time, there were tons of people. It took me a bit to find a location, but I found a perfect place that was back a bit from downtown.

Parked the car, set up my tripod for just my digital camera. Last minute change to not take picture with my cellphone. The fireworks were beautiful, lots of them. I snapped the shutter and tried to time it right -- basically, click just before you think the fireworks will display. Felt like I got some good photos! The right location, easy to set up, dark enough. Check, check, check.

Saw some great fireworks and with the time going fast I just kept taking photos, I didn't look at the previews until I got back to my car and things were over. I couldn't wait to see what I captured! Maybe there would be one that would be a keeper.

I pressed on Display. Hmm. just black showed up. I zoomed out a bit. It appeared they were all black. So must be a mistake. I thought about what it could have been. Settings were correct, I had plenty of space on the memory card, good angle for the photos, tripod set up was fine. There was just one little detail...

I had the left my lens cap on.

I am still laughing about it. I don't think I'll forget to take the lens cap off next time. Like everything, it's a matter of me slowing down and staying 'right here.' with whatever I'm doing. The joke is on me! :_)

Baltimore Bomber

Baltimore Oriole [copyright 2025 jeanmaher.com]

I’ve got an idea flitting in my head about something that is just out of reach. It involves a picture of a ‘breaking the sound barrier’ Baltimore Oriole. I just happened to catch the bird in action with a photo one day. It’s a little blurry, but all right. The bird knew exactly what he was doing. He stuck the landing. He had his eye on where he was going and what he wanted to do. Pretty amazing, what birds do.

So, what’s flitting around in my head is the idea of comfort and discomfort. Discomfort comes to me when I want to do something or say something, but don’t because I fear the outcome. So what happens is I am deceiving myself and talking myself into something and/or ignoring my feelings. It’s a lot of work to keep that up, like what a character actor must go through. It’s exhausting to be someone I’m not. Back to pleasing others and not rocking the boat.

I am just beginning to see how important it is to be my own person no matter what or whatever that is.

I do know this: folks that are fine in their own skin are themselves. They are not mean or unkind, just honest about stuff. And I’ve observed that it doesn’t matter where they are, or who they encounter. They don’t change their inner compass. They are true and others feel that.

So, my goal is to be like that Baltimore Oriole. Remember to stay centered in myself is we hurtle through this life. And just practice that.