12 Jan

Posted at 04:44h in eco writing, nature, New Mexico, shelley armitage, southwest landscape, Uncategorized by
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We're often asked to examine our "own backyards."  That is, to check out what's closest to us and perhaps not noticeable, to admit to our own glass houses when we're poised to throw rocks. And so it's particularly disturbing to realize that some of the most grizzly and unethical "hunting" activities take place in "the land of enchantment," New Mexico. Wildlife killing contests.  Have you heard of them?  Many, maybe most, people have not.  They occur in most states in the U.S. with the exception of California which recently outlawed...

10 Nov

Posted at 21:06h in nature by
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Most days here in Las Cruces, I take walks out along the farm road that circles behind the small cul-de-sac where I live. For about two months now a Prairie Falcon has eyed my walk from his perch on the traversing telephone pole. I've come to watch for him.  A camouflaging speckled breast, brown back, and eye streaks--like those intimidating black swipes football players wear under their eyes, only vertical--make it hard to see him.  And he's smart, hiding in the shadow of the telephone pole crossbar--still, waiting. Am I...

07 Aug

Posted at 15:51h in eco writing, friends, nature, New Mexico, Orion, shelley armitage, Uncategorized, writers' conferences by
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We were a group of writers at a University of New Mexico workshop in Santa Fe.  Ten of us poured over xerox copies and computers; the workshop leader, a faint redhead who looked vaguely like a recreational hiker--khaki shorts and pale checked shirt--shared our reading of the day: "Raptorous" by Brian Doyle. The piece had appeared in Orion, a prestigious nature/environmental magazine, and it had all the hallmarks of perfection: great voice, pacing, vivid language, and ever present surprise.  Doyle began by discussing facts about hummingbirds and riffed on...

18 Jul

Posted at 23:34h in nature, Uncategorized by
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Recently I received a request from my newly hired publicist for a "head shot."  It sounded simple enough. I clicked on a couple of photos used by the press previously for my book and off they went. "Can't use. Low resolution.  If you can't fix it, send something else."  And yet the press, two newspapers, and others had reproduced the shot without fuzziness. Maybe it was just my glasses. I wrote back to my good friend, David, who made the original shot. "Take out the turkey neck while you are at...