Author | Lightnews

Songandbranch

@songandbranch.bsky.social

340 followers 840 following 310 posts

Ceramic artist, silly lady, queer and ttrpg player. I am a humanist and I have an interest in nature - all of it (birds are my favorite though). Former wildlife biologist and corporate drone. I have a chronic illness so no more 'real' jobs - self employed.

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Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Jul 4

I am hoping the monsoon in New Mexico comes through for us tonight. It did a great job silencing the eager beavers last night!

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Jul 4

I appreciate what you have done but today feels hollow.

Reposted by Songandbranch

Natee (they/them) @himmapaan.bsky.social · Apr 26

I have the hardest time believing it, but yes. I do need it.

Jennifer @mindfulnessmatters.bsky.social · Apr 25

I needed this, you may too.

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Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · May 6

As a lifetime member of "aggravate your less observant friends and family with all the vascular plants of the PNW while on a hike" club, you are valid. I am also good at bird ID and yep aggravates people who think hiking is about fitness, not standing like a statue every few feet to listen.

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · May 4

Making me miss the pacific northwest - I made tea from the douglas fir tips an yes very citrusy. I doubt my pinon pine would make good tea (plus no fresh tips yet).

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · May 3

My first glance was "that is a slime mold' congrats on your new organism.

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · May 3

More tins.

Box with a quote from Carl Sagan. Two tiny bunnies under a starry sky inside a small tin

A quote from Winnie the Pooh. A painting of a forest with a bear figurine

A quote from Fleetwood Mac and a painting of a rough ocean with a seal miniature

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Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Apr 30

Been making little box dioramas with my miniatures. One of my favorite authors, the quote is unfortunately topical from a book about eugenics. The dinosaur is a reference to another of his books. #mixedmedia #art

A altoids type tin with a quotation from Stephen Jay Gould from his book 'The Mismeasure of Man'. The deeper compartment contains a little hand painted Jurassic scene with one of my little dinosaur miniatures. Gould wrote extensively about many topics including eugenics (not positively) and the brontosaurus and was a great introduction to natural history. Greatly missed, left us too young.

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Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Apr 17

I love it! Modern birds also use air sacs - prairie chickens are weird little guys! So why not have a dinosaur use its pneumatic systems externally. I would love to see a documentary with a rapidly expanding sauropod displaying bright colors and making "PLOP!!!!" Noises.

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 23

I actually laughed out loud. My oldest sister married a white supremicist, my small town had a bar where a Mexican had his ear cut off for DARING to be a foreman in the timber industry. My dad had me change the TV if anyone a shade over apricot was on. Yeah no racism at all! Ah the 80s.

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 23

I learned DnD from a 60yo school teacher who was awesome. My parents were oblivious to my existence which meant through the 80s my house was a refuge for all of us nerds. I did have one kid quit because his mom found out and she spread some fun rumors about me corrupting her child. It was a delight.

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 22

yeep. I am an artist professionally because I am disabled. I cannot hold a 'regular' job because I need frequent breaks, but I can make enough to sell and pay my bills. It also took hours and hours of practice and I am not done getting good. People saying AI helps the disabled can kiss my ass.

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Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 22

That's certainly a thing.

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 22

I definitely have some "I learned it in elementary school" toothpick cages I made for a scenario stashed somewhere in my closet. They look very grim and gothic honestly and my players were less than thrilled when I put them on the grid. Always good to have crafting skills as a dm.

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Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 21

I am weirdly in mourning for German tourists. Where will they go if I am not encountering them at Zion or Chaco Canyon? I always had such great conversations with them about natural history, being a long retired biologist and all :( Someday I hope they will be back.

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Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 21

There is a special magic watching my Fantasy Grounds window. In anticipation of a session 0 on tuesday I have left it open for my players and as I am going about my day I see people log in and create or tweak their characters. It's like having a very special bird feeder, only it's my friends. #ttrpg

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 21

Oddly compelling.

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 21

are they your sculpts or resin prints. If they are prints where/who prints them? I have been wanting to make some dino scenes recently.

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 21

Here is my dog Kazzy. I am supposed to be making art but I am instead online talking to people. Which has resulted in nothing but sadness because complicated thoughts are impossible in a short format. She's a cute dog though. I am going to go make things. #dogsofbluesky #dog #mutt #cattledogcross

A spotted gray dog with orange markings, including orange eyebrows, reclines on a comfy fluffy blanket while staring at the camera. She has huge ears. Should we all be so lucky as this dog.

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 21

It's a probably little more dramatic and explosive than the intended sentence :)

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 21

I am incredibly frustrated that me, with my spinal arthritis and mobility problems, went out protesting twice and none of my friends can be bothered. It's too much time and effort. I strongly feel we need to be seen. I feel the fascists are counting on people being too tired to care.

Reposted by Songandbranch

Kingfisher & Wombat @tkingfisher.com · Mar 21

I just loved the framing on this shot of a Curve-Billed Thrasher.

A gray-brown bird with unsettling orange eyes perches with its big curved beak framed nicely by the bird feeder roof.

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Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 20

makes me wish I was a man with an overly large bladder to pee in them all.

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 18

Epically tiny and beautiful jumping spider! Still a bit too cold and windy to see any here in New Mexico, but soon!

Evelyndroid's Aperture Séance and Spooky Spood-Finding 🏳️‍⚧️🕷️ @apsciencebylyn.bsky.social · Feb 24

Walked several miles and poked through countless patches of brush and swamp grasses today to find one (1) tiny Chalcoscirtus diminutus lad because I was at a new spot and knew they had to be out there because the habitat was right. He did not disappoint 🖤
#EmotionalSupportSpood

Little shiny black jumping spider with a bright orange face, on my finger, peering at you

The lad on a dry pine needle, peering up at you

The lad on the pine needle, peering at something to right of frame. He's barely longer than the pine needle is wide

Songandbranch @songandbranch.bsky.social · Mar 18

I did need a bit of good news. I hope we all get to see more butterflies.

ThatAnxiousArtist @whitneyyoh.bsky.social · Mar 18

GOOD NEWS!

This goes on the #5GoodThings list for Tuesday for sure!

Kingfisher & Wombat @tkingfisher.com · Mar 18

Who wants some good news?

The overwintering monarch population, which had plummeted last winter, has doubled this winter! www.worldwildlife.org/stories/east...