It’s something about the first time I came out here when we  first moved here when I was at the age of 5, everything at that age is fascinating. Maybe it was the water, when it would run quickly with currents that made you relax and make you want to close your eyes and believe in a perfect world. Back when the water was deep, when it wasn’t an unfortunate drought like today. Or maybe it’s the way the wildlife was behind our house and gave me an opportunity to disconnect from my problems. Or maybe it was the way I would skip rocks and watch myself reflect from the water and see myself in a trippy manner.

 Throughout this process of exploring and looking deeper into the Water Canal located behind my house, I’ve grown fond to loving this place and grow feelings towards it emotionally. I’ve learned so much from this place and it’s insane how much you can learn from something or somewhere, all by observing. The entire idea of observing never fully convinced me of growing feelings and I find it crazy how you can find so much beauty and wonder in a place you never cared about no matter how close or far away it is from you. The meaning of Observation based on Merriam Dictionary is:   “a statement about something you have noticed” But is that what it truly means? Based on my experience that is somewhat similar to what I think, but not exactly. Throughout this process I learned that dedicated observing will make you notice things you have never noticed before and attach you to the certain topic you’re working with. Just because you’re observing does not mean you’re only watching characteristics enhance, it also makes you wonder about the things you’re seeing. Such as questions like “Why is this happening?”, “why do these birds only come in the morning?”, “why do these creatures choose to live here?”, or “why do people not treat this place as a living area when it gives us so much to depend on?” Etcetera. We begin to wonder many things and grow ambition towards finding out answers. 

 

Not only have I grown fond to this place, but I have discovered that nature is the best remedy for anything. Mentally and physically. This water canal has honestly helped me a lot mentally with my emotions I had at the beginning of this process. Every moment I came out here, it was like a disconnection of reality of stress into a new world of peaceful vibes with the sound of water running by, birds chirping and the smell of rain rising upwards and into my lungs. One of the most amazing feelings is watching nature take its course without the help of humans. Knowing nature is independent is astonishing, the only thing we can do is help protect and preserve it. I've always loved being around nature and taking walks or hikes with friends, but there's something about being alone while at it. Something very different. I love walking on the trails, along the edges of the water. I love being part of nature. I love walking alone. It is therapy. One needs to be alone, to recharge one’s batteries. It's where one can think of anything without the fear of worrying about problems because you distance yourself from those thoughts. Even though sometimes thoughts don't seem to leave your mind, you notice taking your time in the middle of nature to think about your problems makes you feel better. Better in the sense you tend to find solutions to your conflicts rather than listen to others or looking at others. You begin to notice the beautiful things and see the bright side. In fact, scientists have long known that sunlight can ease depression, especially seasonal affective disorder. New research is expanding those findings. A 2007 study from the University of Essex in the U.K., for example, found that a walk in the country reduces depression in 71% of participants. The researchers found that as little as five minutes in a natural setting, whether walking in a park or gardening in the backyard, improves mood, self-esteem, and motivation (Nature therapy). Just like they say, nature is cheaper than therapy.

These days it’s easy to tune out the natural world around you. Yet, on a clear night, when you accidentally catch a glimpse of a star out of the corner of your eyes, take a moment to gaze up and soak in the night sky as more stars emerge into view. The struggles of everyday life quickly wash away as I realign with my place in the universe. Next time you go outside, take a deep breath and be thankful to be living on a planet that is made up of nature’s finest components. The air you breathe and the grass you stumble on, everything. Every single thing on this planet should be preserved and noticed, just how the world depends on our actions.

 

 

 

"Observation." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/observation>.

 

Feature, Carol SorgenWebMD. "Nature Therapy (Ecotherapy) Medical Benefits." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/nature-therapy-ecotherapy>.

Natures useful offerings

Recently, I started taking everything a step further within my observation process. Rather than sitting around on the footsteps that lead to the edge of the water canal, I Have begun paying closer attention to the things that stand out and catch my attention while walking around the water canal and look into much more than just nature its self out here. Just because it’s a water canal with wonderful nature surroundings, does not mean human interaction hasn’t taken place out here. It’s also a place of homes for creatures and a place where people have found this canal useful. Such as the tunnel created so cars can drive over to get to their homes. Nature isn't always something to observe, it comes with many useful factors such as nutrients, food, homes and even useful for humans in many ways. 

Due to the fact these past couple days I haven’t just been sitting on the footsteps that lead to the water edge of the water canal, I’ve seen much more than just the tunnel that’s always next to me (Image 1).  I’ve discovered many holes that have been about 4 yards away from where I’m normally located (Image2, Image 3) I counted about 12 of these. These holes can come from two different creatures. From past experience and living in the houses behind this area, I have encountered many water snakes while living here the past 12 years. My father always told me that they came from the water canal and shockingly I’ve seen only 2. They slither through the edges of the water, but since they’re water snakes I highly doubt they live in these holes so the only other creature that can be living in these holes that stretch about 7 inches wide must be squirrels. I tend to see those adorable suckers around here a lot. Based on research I made, it fully convinced me that squirrels are the ones that live in these holes.  I found out that these squirrels are called Ground squirrels. They have chosen to dig their homes underground and though they can still climb trees quite well, they don’t live in trees. Ground squirrels can become a problem in the yard and around the home when their burrows lead to flooding. Their presence brings fleas and other insects or even worse, the transmission of disease. Ground squirrels will readily eat our gardens fruit and vegetables as well as our nuts and flowers. If left alone, they will quickly populate to levels which can cause mass destruction in little time.

Another thing that’s gotten my attention out here has been this giant apple tree that always seems to be the spot for birds, squirrels and ducks to meet, greet and eat (Image 4) In the image shown there’s no birds or such creatures around, but you can see why this place is the main hang out spot for the living things out here. One last thing that caught my attention is shown in (Image 5). I noticed there’s many human abandoned pottery and garbage as well. I wonder why people are so selfish and don’t bother to pick up their junk and throw things away in garbage bins rather than neglecting their rubbage in open nature habitat.

Image 1 

Image 2 and 3 

Image 4  

Citation:

"GROUND SQUIRREL CONTROL." PEST CONTROL SUPPLY WHOLESALE WAREHOUSE. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. http://bugspray.com/article/groundsquirrel.html.

Beauty, so unique within everything.

Behind every element that makes a leaf, a water molecule, a living creature and absolutely EVERYTHING out here at the water canal and everywhere else on this world, every species you’ll encounter on Earth is, near as we can tell, chemically the same inside. We are all descended from a common ancestor. We are shaped by the same forces and factors that influence every other living thing, and yet we emerged as something unique. Like the different types of Birds. Such as the one I ran into the other day out here on a Sunday morning around 8:45 am. I sketched it in my notes while viewing it from a distance.

It was very tall with long legs that would sink to the bottom of the water canal and half of its legs would still be visible above the water. It had a long neck and a long beak. So very white, too white. So white, that it would actually look bright and make my eyes want to look away, due to the sun hitting it and the water reflection below it.                                               

                                I admire the way nature continues to grow out here. Through we destroy it with littering and selfishness. Amongst it, the way this water canal smiles and shows its beauty though leafs with tints of orange. It makes me wonder why people lack the attention towards this place, it fills this part of the neighborhood with colors that vary and change constantly. This is basically the way the earth tells us that beauty is found in ignorance, and that beauty is found in the simplest form. 
         

                             

Moss in October out at the canal

There's so much to view out here its incredible. It's golden and misty. It finally feels like October with theses breezes in the air and the smell of cinnamon and chimneys coming from the houses behind me. The way trees are slowly becoming dull, but alive in their sense of color. These past days I have learned so much, and I am thankful for it. I have noticed so much about the water canal, things that I never paid attention to so much until now. Like the moss that stands out like a rose among thorns growing on the edges of rocks that slightly touch the water. "It makes me wonder how moss grows out here especially  now since it's cold October, based on research that I just found out on a website by the following name of  http://www.mossacres.com/ on my phone, I found out moss can grow at any time of year since it's a small flowerless plant that grows in clumps of single celled thick leaves. I touched it and noticed it's very soft. I don't know if it's bad to touch moss since i've never really encountered it till now but I sure liked the texture of it. " - Field notes 10/18/2014.
 


I find it incredible how such things grow on nonliving things. Just how we live on this living planet. We make a living out of anything that comes in our path. Just how we live in houses in the middle of no where, and how caves can form themselves without the help of anyone but their self. Science is an amazing things and has so many questions unanswered. I too ask my self many questions while im out here. Such as; why doesn't it rain to bring some sort of life to this place? or why do animals chose to live here out of all the other beautiful places in Reno?

Mother nature

Isn’t it crazy how everything we see, everything we inhale, exhale and touch is all made up by one important component? Mother Nature has given us more than what we need to survive, Mother Nature has blessed us with beauty to glaze at for days and give us the chance to be thankful for everything that’s on this planet.

 Roaming around here has made me realize a lot about life, I honestly thought this was going to bore me after a while. But instead it’s teaching me and amazing me every day that I come out here and never disappoints me. It’s October ninth. You’d expect it to be a little chilly but it’s not. It rained yesterday and the ground is still humid, it’s wonderful. It’s warm, sunny and slightly cloudy. I see a very light flow to this water canal, but I do see a heavy flow in the insects’ daily activities picking up leftovers or picking up leaves on their back and carrying them home. I see Birds and ducks on their daily activities wandering around, sitting, waddling and flying. Feeding their families and flourishing through their daily lives.


Coming out here gives me the chance to see all the features and small details that make this area beautiful and worth watching. It’s almost as if the earth has music to give us for those who listen. Nature is something to be blessed about, it’s a remedy. It’s a beauty we have to take care of.
There's so much to take in and so little is taken. Mother nature is such a blessing to this planet.

My first taste of nature

My first taste of nature

"Its 9/15/14, 6:25 pm.
I am sitting on steps that run down to the water canal behind my back yard that holds plenty of hidden features. Here I have all access to natures activity. It's slightly uncomfortable sitting on this rock but very much worth the pain. The stream of water soothes me just by glazing at it. So with that said, there's not much to complain about. There's not much of a flow in the water due to the fact there's a depressed drought but I know there is hope and soon this drought will turn into the same water canal it was before with a profound amount of water in it and faster flow where the ducks and fishes can swim through comfortably without worrying about mud or dry land to distrub their destinations. The sounds of cars are loud and the heavy winds ring through my ears. Theres a duck noise coming from a distance but I cant seem to find out where its coming from until i feel its presence behind me and get a glipse of it walking on the dry land before it takes off to mid air. Once again, the rushing of loud cars are very distracting but not as distracting as the beautfiful water stream in front of me. Nothing much has changed but the increase of the fires smoke, time passes and the heavier and stronger it gets to my lungs and makes my head feel almost as if its floating. The smoke from the fire at a distance is a pain but I have to appreciate nature. Because nature is a beauty, and the fires smoke is seeming to affect the wild life out here at this water canal. There's no birds and I've only seen one duck. Even the ants are beginning to go underground. It seems lonely but that's not the truth, the birds are hiding in trees and the ducks are under bridges. Everything is still alive but silent and blurry. It's amazing how much Mother Nature can affect its self but still survive .. " - field notes from my first observation.

Throughout this blog, I will be expressing what I see out at a water canal behind my house that has always caught my attention since we moved here 10 years ago. As a child I would always come out here to feed the ducks, birds, and even throw rocks into the water for fun. Normally, I always peek through my fence just to see what goes on at the water canal. If I ever see ducks, I throw bread over my fence so they can come and eat it. But starting now, I will be going back there Five days a week for my observations and cherish what I have right behind our house.

This is a painting I painted in my art class, its a picture of the water canal with a big red orange sun and smoky sky. Just as It is outside. The water canal with tints of green blue white and light red as it gets further way. As well as birds roaming in the air, just how they are out 365 days a year, even in the cold; there will always be life outside at the water canal.