On The Fly

In this episode, catching up with Sierra . What happens when you combine a little imagination, modern digital tools, and the willingness to make a glorious, muddy mess? You get our guest’s latest project. I’m Patrick Ball. Welcome back to On the Fly . Today, we are diving into the world of native plants and guerrilla gardening with twelve-year-old creator Sierra. After watching her impressive, self-produced tutorial on how to make ‘Seed Balls,’ I had to know how she did it. It’s incredibly inspiring to watch Sierra evolve from a young artist wielding crayons and stationery into a savvy digital creator. She’s writing scripts, mastering voiceovers, and editing—all to make a positive, green impact on her local community. “She shoots, she scores, and she’s here to tell us all about it.” Please welcome Sierra to On the Fly ! Let’s get into it. Audio interview . . . For more blog posts showcasing Sierra’s talents, see: The Mailbox Surprise . . . and The Summer Surprise I’m Patrick Ball. Sta...

In this special episode,  The Mailbox Surprise . . .  Oh, the post! Oh, the mail! What a treat in the box! Not bills, not junk mail, no boring old rocks! A letter arrived, all folded and square, Like a yellow toy building block, sitting right there! From young Sierra, a friend so grand, Creative artwork, made purely by hand! My fingers fumbled, excited to see, What whimsical wonder she'd conjured for me! I unfolded the paper, and there, to my gaze, A street-side cafe, in a colorful haze! With crayons and pencils, such masterful art, A croissant, a coffee cup, warming the heart. A menu was hanging; the sign said "Cafe." A delightful small world, to brighten my day! And then, on the other half, lovely and neat, A thank-you in pencil, oh, wasn't it sweet! For a LEGO-built present, her Eleventh birthday passed, A message of kindness, meant surely to last. No tapping on screens, no digital light, Just paper and pencil, a pure, warm delight! In a world full of beeping and ...

In this episode, Morning Coffee . . . Now, I’m not saying everyone needs coffee. Some folks get by just fine on, I don’t know, sunlight and positive thinking. Me? I’m pretty sure I started drinking the stuff sometime around the Reagan administration. Reading John Gierach’s "Ode to Campfire Coffee" in Trout Bum (a book that should be required reading for anyone who sees sleeping on the ground as recreation) got me thinking about how we’ve managed to complicate something as fundamentally simple as boiling water and adding grounds. Taste, you say? Look, black coffee is an acquired taste, like tequila or cilantro. I just don’t get it. Gierach, bless his heart, mostly drinks his java streamside, probably while wearing wool socks and waders and contemplating the mysteries of the universe. As for me? My outdoor coffee experience is a bit different. Picture this: the High Sierra, where campfires are banned (to avoid agitating Smoky Bear), and I’m huddled over a Whisperlite , coax...

In this episode - San Diego Safari Park . . . (Listen for today's special guest) . The audio version - No foolin'. Where do you live? Have you ever entertained the thought that you live near a magical place? No, I'm not talking about Disneyland; I'm referring to your backyard. You say, "My backyard is in the middle of nowhere.” California residents are fortunate; sometimes, with work, chores, and daily routines, it's easy to forget we live among nature's bounty of landscapes, plants, animals, and tourist attractions . One of the most famous attractions is the San Diego Safari Park  in Escondido, California. A world-renowned wildlife sanctuary and botanical garden that provides visitors with a unique experience of observing and interacting with animals in their natural habitats. This park spans over 1,800 acres, making it one of the largest wildlife parks in the United States. On Sunday, March 26, 2023, we were invited to share a birthday celebration with m...

“Let’s do it, this morning drive to Glacier Point , the weather is beautiful today, no plans, just spend some time exploring.” Little did we know that the trip would provide an experience we would fall in love with yet again. For our 30 th anniversary, we were drawn once again to the tranquility of Yosemite. Exploring the National Parks - exquisite solitude, exhilaration, and the delight of re-discovery. Once we arrived, no set agenda, just go wherever nature leads you. This year, we arrived in Yosemite early October; the gold and crimson colors were clearly evident. The vibrant colors of fall, mixed with the stark coal-black recent fire damage, tiptoed up the mountain walls. Early mornings, a slight mist hugged the meadows at Wawona, illuminated by a soft diffused light. The air was crisp and cool – many would say downright cold - clean with the fresh scent of wet pines carried on the breeze. Temperatures dropped into the 30s at night. Our vacation home this year...

Views of Summer Summer is upon us; officially, the summer solstice occurs today  at 6:34 p.m. EDT. With a midwest twang severely off-key, I’m out the front door; earbuds plugged in, arms pumping, on my routine early morning walk. Of course, I must look ridiculous and sound even worse echoing the chorus of -  Sunshine on my Shoulder, makes me happy . . . Thankfully, there’s no one else on the streets.  According to Ker Than in an article for National Geographic, “The solstice is the result of Earth's north-south axis being tilted 23.4 degrees relative to the ecliptic. This tilt causes different amounts of sunlight to reach different regions of the planet during Earth's year-long orbit around the sun." Translation, daylight lasts until after 8:00 p.m. in Southern California. T his year, the first of many, I’m planning to spend my summer in California. Now, I can hear you say, “Ok, what’s the big deal, don’t you live in California?” Yes, but every June, for t...