Brown bears, a pesto recipe, and a book giveaway (Goodness from Kodiak newsletter)

Published: Tue, 06/30/20

Photo of Marion greeting you from Kodiak, Alaska

Hi there! Thanks for being a part of this newsletter family...

Once upon a time, I put on my boots and grabbed my water bottle. This hike would be different: I left my camera at home.

Instead, I slipped a tiny magnifying glass--a loupe--into my pocket.

I love my loupe. When I bring it up to my eye, I don't just stop to smell the roses. I peer at them. Bugs, too.

"Oh my, Mr. Fly. What big eyes you have!"

Kids of all ages enjoy playing with these loupes. It's a cool way to study the hidden worlds of butterfly wings, tree bark, and snowflakes?

I keep several of them around the house, and one in my camera bag. They're the size of a wine cork so they're easy to bring along to the beach or inside the house. Go ahead. Look closely at Shredded Wheat, newspaper type, even dust bunnies!

Sometimes we need an excuse to slow down, to discover magic in everyday things. For me, this 10x loupe does the trick. I glow about it in my latest blog post, Why garden cress is more tempting than a Cinnabon. No, really.

I also share my chart of the Top 20 Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables and one of my favorite vegan recipes for pesto.

You'll know you're at the right place when you see this silly photo of me:

Ask a question and win a prize: The winner is...

Lynda English, from Maryland

Congratulations to, Lynda English of Maryland! You win an autographed copy of Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul, the book I co-authored (it spent 3 months on the New York Times Bestseller list -- woohoo!).

Okay everyone, here is Lynda's question:

Hi Marion,

I love your newsletters! My son is in the Coast Guard in Kodiak along with his wife and my 3 adorable grandchildren. The island is beautiful. I enjoyed hiking and going to my son's favorite fishing holes. However, I was on edge about running into a bear! My question to you: Do you ever get fearful of the bears? Any advise on helping me with my fear of bears would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, Lynda English

Dear Lynda,

I'm more fearful while driving on freeways than bumping into a bear. Did you know that only one person has been killed by a bear on Kodiak in the past 75 years?

Yes, I live in bear country. (Wowee, there are about 3,500 Kodiak brown bears in the archipelago). But my nervousness depends on where I am. For example, if I'm photographing in Katmai National Park and Preserve, as I have for 30+ years, I have no fear of bears. Even when they're 20 feet away, like in the photo below. You see, the bears have never been hunted in Katmai, so humans are not regarded as threats.

One of the best ways to overcome your fear of bears is to learn all you can about these fascinating creatures. For example, this Kodiak Bear Fact Sheet or The Essentials for Traveling in Alaska's Bear Country, both by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. And the folks at Discover Kodiak are all about helping visitors understand the do's and don'ts of bear viewing.

I hope that helps. And thanks for asking the question!

For next month, remember:

Ask me a question about anything. Photography, composting, Kodiak Island, growing cucumbers in Alaska, what I had for breakfast... And I'll choose a winner and send a prize. It might be a custom photograph, a packet of purple poppy seeds, or a rock (just kidding). This is fun, so go ahead and ask. You've got nothing to lose, right?

Please go here to ask me a question and win a prize. I look forward to your questions. Thanks for playing, everybody!

How to encourage people to look at your photos

Wouldn't it be nice if people looked at your photos for more than a micro-second?

Here's a tip my students practice in one of their photo assignments. And I condensed it into a mini slide show and posted it on Instagram.

To view the slide show, look me up on Instagram (marion_owen_photography) or visit my Instagram feed by clicking on this online link: marion_owen_photography.

Finally, let me know if your future travel plans include Alaska. I can help with questions you might have.

Until next time, Cheers (and happy 4th of July, U.S. of A)

Marion

P.S. If you know someone who might want to subscribe to my newsletter, here is the direct link to share.

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Marion Owen • 1223 Kouskov W • Kodiak, Alaska, 99615 • 907-539-5009 (mobile)