JUST ME :: and a stack of blank pages

:: Living creatively ::

About me

This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realise it is play. The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is. I’m here to tell you that the path to peace is right there, when you want to get away. When you are present, you can allow the mind to be as it is without getting entangled in it. If you miss the present moment, you miss your appointment with life. That is very serious!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Kalahari Elephants

Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye... it also includes the inner pictures of the soul.
- Edvard Munch

A daily practice of sketching and painting gives you a chance to exercise the big three P's - practice, practice, practice!

"Kalahari Elephants" watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm watercolour paper - Maree

I must be honest, I mostly stay away from animal programmes on TV, especially if it shows hard-ships or cruelty. The other night I was watching a program about one of our South African deserts, but included was this story of the elephants that are restricted to the northern parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana and their heart-wrenching migration of having to travel for miles to find water.

A portion of the Kalahari Desert transforms for a brief period each year from a parched expanse of arid wasteland to a bountiful floodplain packed with channels, lagoons, swamps and islands — and it has the Okavango River to thank for this temporary transformation into paradise.

During the annual inundation, the Okavango Delta region draws migrating animals like a magnet, among them herds of Kalahari elephants. Elephants must have water on a regular basis, so as the dry season reaches a peak, they follow ancient instincts across the scorched and desiccated sands to the promise of boundless waters in the west.

As the elephants slowly make their way toward the delta, many don't survive on what little resources they find until they finally enjoy a respite in the rich lands touched by the Okavango. Other herds will not complete the migration and may lose members to the harsh and competitive environment of the desert.

::

2 comments:

  1. I'm like you Maree I can't stand watching animal shows on TV that show hard-ships or Cruelty..I'm too sensitive for it. But your lovely storey is still nice even though some of the beautiful Elephants wont make it ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's a very difficult concept to grasp, not interfering in nature...

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are welcome! And thank you for visiting my blog!