The first day of my Nature Project and as I begin to walk I could feel the calming summer breeze begin to cool and gently nip at my skin to give me goosebumps. I head up towards the long narrow road with a two lane parkway. The air feeling fresh and crisp as I keep heading up the road, as I look and hear to try and observe and find something to write about I think of why Farias might have us doing this project. I have a mental conflict until a smell so foul and fresh hits my nose and I process. COWS! I could observe the cows to start off! so I do.
I look at the cows. I begin noticing their fur, spots, ears, feet, tail, and face. They drink water from a long tub, I examine the tub. I examine the floor closer, I see cow prints mixed with their droppings, they mush them into the floor when they walk and the smell, moist and thick, diffuses into the air. I notice the caging by wooden fences, that also mix in the crisp air, if you've been to Virginia City you might know what antique smell the fencing holds. A flying bird lands on the fence and turns to the valley and mountain range to, just like I am, watch the yellow-orange sun set. I hear other birds and look at them soar over the sun and rush by, hitting tree tops and electrical wire that's continuously buzzing. I look at the trees connecting the valley to a small creek filled with water flowers and bushes on its bank. The water flows down the road, gently splashing and hitting small rocks on its way down. You can almost see the water rumble and slightly ripple when a car rushes by.
That's it! The project! We are to observe a slice of nature to not only hear and look but to listen and see. The difference between hearing and listening is, being able to hear, taking the outside in and letting it change you from within. However, listening starts internally and having the courage to change the outside by the way you see from the inside. It's a matter of really paying attention and analyzing to breaking apart and becoming aware to fight the ignorance.
Field notes September 12-15 @ Sunset.
