Author Archives: Susy

Lane County Audubon Society has published my poem, Bitterns, in the November issue of their newsletter, The Quail. Bitterns won a 3rd place honorable mention in the Oregon Poetry Association fall contest this year. Bitterns Bitterns look as if they could have flown in the days of … Continue reading

  3rd Honorable Mention in New Poets Category Bitterns Bitterns look as if they could have flown in the days of dinosaurs, flown with pterodactyls, and now just pop forward to our time for a brief visit now and then. … Continue reading

Wisps of smoke curled up from the blackened remains of a campfire, one piece of wood, unburned at the far end, still hot and smoldering above warm charcoal. Not 15 feet away the McKenzie River flowed, icy cold and easily … Continue reading

The River Like a strong wind blowing leaves of deciduous trees The sound of the river fills the space between My heart and soul. And right here near shore Water swirls around a mossy boulder, Cups it The way a … Continue reading

  A Few Thoughts in a Basket Late in 2012 I remember an online discussion about being thankful for, and taking pleasure in, daily occurrences. Some of us decided to track these events by jotting them down and putting the … Continue reading

It was one of those end-of-summer days that hint strongly of early fall– clear and warm, with a few scattered clouds. The air seemed soft.  Nothing could really go wrong on an afternoon like this We drove to Cottage Grove, … Continue reading

It takes four generations of Monarch Butterflies to complete one yearly cycle. The eggs hatch, the caterpillars eat, caterpillars make a chrysalis and a butterfly emerges. Butterflies mate, lay eggs and the process is repeated. After a 2-6 week life, … Continue reading

After celebrating the 4th of July in Trinity County style we paused at the top of Scott Mountain, on Hwy 3, on our way home. I wanted to look at the meadow below the U.S. Forest Service campground there. This … Continue reading

  This morning I spent a couple of hours volunteering with the McKenzie River Trust on Green Island, over 1,000 acres located at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers. During high water it is an island. During lower … Continue reading

  Where is a good spot to take a long hike on a warm summer day? June 7th, three other women and I hiked the length of Silver Creek that’s within in the state park and includes 10 magnificent waterfalls, … Continue reading