59 Comments
User's avatar
Paige Rideout's avatar

Welcome back!!! Oh how I’ve missed the Sunday essays! Thank you for this one— GORGEOUS!

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Thank you my beloved first reader. This blog wouldn’t exist without you, and your love for this planet and her creatures is a daily salve!

Georgena Felicia LPCC's avatar

Creator resides in it's creation.

You have captured that in word,

Image,

Metaphor,

Evidence

Spectacularly!

Poem at the end delicious dessert

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Boundless gratitude for you Georgena, thank you!!!

Jennifer Hillman's avatar

Another beautiful piece💕

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Thank you sweet Jenny. 💕

Susan Nordin's avatar

The description of the faces when seen in detail! Thank you for this. It gives me inspiration to run to my physiology books to delve into the microcosm. For within each living being is yet another infinite fantastic world of collective individuals whose artistry and elegance takes my breath away.

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Wow, this comment made my day!! The microcosm indeed Susan. Thank you so much.

Dawn Smith's avatar

It's wonderful that your guide was so generous with his binoculars. When I was finally able to afford a high quality pair, like you, it changed my life. Now I can share those sights with others just like your guide did, and watch faces change, see the awe and know that I made a little difference in someone's view of the natural world. Maybe made one more person think about caring for it.

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Well said Dawn! And I love hearing that I'm not the only one whose life has felt changed by a pair of binoculars. It's a bit like seeing the world for the first time, but over and over again, in miraculous color and detail. Amen to your viewpoint that this clear sight can and should inspire more caring about the world we are but a part of. <3

Peter Wood's avatar

Beautiful and insightful, as always.

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Thank you always PW! And for living your entire life with this viewpoint on the creatures of our world. So grateful. <3

Peter Wood's avatar

Thank you, SB! You are too kind. xo

Alissa Bonnell's avatar

Beautiful! I am only just learning to see myself.

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

It’s a continual evolution, isn’t it, dear cousin? Hugs!

Julie C's avatar

Your writing evokes the sights and smell and sounds of Africa for me! But to have 5 weeks to explore and delve into it as you did is pure blessing!

Thank you for sharing your clear sight and observations with us!!

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

It really IS the Garden of Eden, and so life-changing too. Thank you for always cherishing the beauty dearest Auntie! And for reading and being here. <3

Maya Sarin's avatar

What beautifully written recount of your experience! I would love to visit Africa one day and bird there! ✨

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

I hope you can too Maya. I am forever changed by it, although there is special beauty across this planet, isn’t there? Thank you for taking the time to comment, it means so much.

Maya Sarin's avatar

Absolutely 🙏🏽✨

The (Wild)erness Journal's avatar

Lovely descriptions! Thanks for taking me to Africa with you. 😊

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

And thank YOU for traveling with me, and reveling in the Wild as you do! 😊

Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

Eagle, eye-to-eye!

Good field glasses play fine trick.

Not foreseen trip gift.

...

Buffalo sightings!

Trusty matriarchs consult.

Obstinate? 😉Not quite.

...

Life-changing clear-sight!

Near-sightedness steals yearnings.

Binocs claim them back.

...

Oh, to really see!

Trueness escapes in distance.

Love lens sees one-near.

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

You read and write, and LIVE, through and with a love lens Marisol. May you always know how uplifting this is to me. Thank you always. <3

JF's avatar

Thank you for sharing the beauty of life you witnessed in your travels, and the connection of all of us!

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Adore you JF, and your loving care of the very smallest creatures who often go unseen and unheard. Thank you for bringing your own binoculars to the mini-miracles of this planet! <3

James Ballantyne's avatar

Oh this is beautiful....thank you for sharing....love a bit of birdwatching and nature walking too....but Africa....oh wowee!

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

Thank you James, for being here and commenting. She has my heart for all time!

Simon Lemon's avatar

I loved the message here.

I usually get caught up in the excitement of just seeing a creature. This post has reminded me that a whole new world of micro-details is awaiting me. Perhaps I need to keep my binoculars on hand!

Always fantastic to hear about foreign lands.

Stunning writing, too.

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

REALLY appreciated this thoughtful message Simon, thank you! I am looking forward to diving into your own wonderful written work about living alongside animals, wow. To all the micro-details awaiting us both! <3

Simon Lemon's avatar

Thank you, Stephanie.

I love your writing style. It has a beautiful flow and some thoughtful philosophy running through it, too. 👏

Rea de Miranda's avatar

You paint an exceptional picture of the heartbeat of Africa, Stephanie! Beautiful imagery! You do it perfect justice.

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

What a gift this comment is to me, Rea, especially in light of how much I appreciate your own work. Thank you for feeling the heartbeat.

Anna Wood- A life in nature's avatar

Beautiful descriptions, especially using binoculars to see so clearly. Wish I had a pair like that!

Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

I think the heart can work a lot like binoculars, Anna. Thank you for already seeing as you do!