17 Comments
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Bettie G's avatar

Dear Lynn, your beautiful photography is always a breathing space for my heart! Your Northland descriptions keep me feeling a little closer to my Alaska kids and grandkids. They have had a moose frequenting their yard also. Scary for this Grandma, but they all have been well-versed in safety protocols! ☺️ And no, tics are definitely not on my co-existing radar. We tend to freak out when we see one on our little Schnauzer. I'm trying to be better also!

Lynn J Simpson's avatar

It's interesting how little bugs can cause one to "freak out." :) But that is what they can do to me, and I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in that! And glad to know a sister who is also "trying to be better." Always nice to see your words here, Bettie, that encourage me keep on taking photos and writing!

Rita's Seasons's avatar

Thank you for sharing this — I really enjoyed reading it.

I love how honest you are about the tension between appreciating nature and still not liking certain parts of it. That felt very real.

And the way you connect that to people and our differences is beautiful. 💛

Lynn J Simpson's avatar

Thank you, Rita. Yes, there is a tension! Acknowledging that the tension is real helps to release its stronghold, I think.

Joanne Viola's avatar

Lynn, I must admit between moose and astronauts, your title grabbed my attention. Now of course, it was sandwiched with bugs in the middle :) I know they have their place in our world but stink bugs is my aversion. Your photo of the moose is beautiful. That is the one animal I have been wanting to see in its natural environment!

Barbara Harper's avatar

I am not a lover of bugs--especially those that bite or sting or cause illnesses. I know they have their place in God's creation, but I'd rather not encounter them personally. :)

Lynn J Simpson's avatar

I'm with you, Barbara. I prefer they stay out of my space! The sides of our house and my She Shed attract the maple bugs (box elders) in the late summer and fall, and that feels just too close to my space to be comfortable! However, they are harmless and maybe God is teaching me how to co-exist with all his creatures better! :)

Melissa Henderson's avatar

I'm not a fan of bugs. I definitely don't like snakes. My husband and I have learned about alligators since we moved to the Lowcountry of South Carolina about 8 years ago. God creates the most wonderful creatures. I'm thankful God understands that I like some of those creatures more than others. :-) Have a blessed week!

Lynn J Simpson's avatar

I am sure he understands, Melissa. I wonder, too, if he planned for us not to like some of those creatures because he knows they could be harmful to us! I'm sure you have had to learn alligator precautions, not unlike how we have had to learn what to do when we see a bear. Have a blessed week too!

Donna Bucher's avatar

Lynn, how I laughed at your bug aversion! Growing up in the woods, I have yet to meet a bug that caused me any anxiety. I suppose I learned early on as I collected newts and salamanders to coexist! When my now 7-year-old granddaughter was just 3 years old we used to lie face down in the grass to get a close-up view of bees on the clover flowers, we even saw their little pollen bags!

Lynn J Simpson's avatar

Donna, you are creating wonderful memories with your granddaughter, sharing your interests of bugs! I brought my granddaughter skating for the first time when she was 4 years-old, and then many times after. She even was part of a figure skating club for awhile! Our skating days together and watching her figure skate are some of my fondest memories. I must admit, I'm much more tolerate of bugs if they are not in my spaces. :)

Donna Bucher's avatar

Oh, so true, Lynn, they keep us young! Seeing and experiencing things through their eyes enlarges our perspective.

Linda Stoll's avatar

Dear friend, Your photography always touches a thirsty place in my soul. I didn't realize how much I needed a little visit with you 'til just now. Thank you.

Lynn J Simpson's avatar

Hi Linda, I'm always encouraged that you feel refreshed from my photos. I'm looking forward to taking picture while visiting the Rocky Mountains this year starting in May and as much as possible all summer long.

Donna buys's avatar

I’m wondering if the tics on the moose endanger the life of the moose.

Lynn J Simpson's avatar

Hi Donna, From my research, yes, tick infestations can endanger moose especially young or malnourished moose. The ticks drop off before summer. If our winter season is consistently cold, and we have a cooler spring, there are less ticks due to the eggs from the dropped ticks not surviving the weather, so better for the moose. We do see healthy moose around here too, who have been able to thrive regardless of the ticks, thankfully!

Lisa Blair's avatar

Beautiful photos! Mosquitos as pollinators?!! I too learned to not be afraid of bugs when I had little children who wanted to collect them. We lived in the country when the kids were growing up, so we taught them not to be afraid of rattlesnakes and how to kill them with a hoe and shovel. I look at photos now and I'm surprised at how little they were, buy they grew up unafraid and confident. Meanwhile, I screamed this morning when I was surprised by a non-poisonous snake in my garden. Lol