Wolf at Kroschel Wildlife Center in Haines, Alaska

Photos of Wolf at Kroschel Wildlife Center in Haines, Alaska. Highly recommend this bus tour from Skagway. Cruise ship – Island Princess.

Took great bus tour to Kroshel Wildlife Center in Haines, Alaska

In August of 2018, I went on a fourteen-day cruise aboard the Island Princess to Alaska. This was a back-to-back cruise. Many passengers either took the seven-day land tour first and then boarded the ship for seven days. Or they reversed that order. As for me, I was one of almost 300 people who chose to stay aboard the ship for all 14 days.

The last time I took an Alaskan cruise was 19 years before. My Carnival Jubilee cruise ship of 7 days did stop in Skagway; however, I think this wildlife center was either just getting started or wasn’t open yet.

I would highly recommend this tour as you get to see and photograph so many different wild animals. The owner took these animals in as orphans. They all appear to be quite content with living there and interacting with him and his employees.

This blog will show off pictures of the beautiful wolf that lives there. Wolves are one of my favorite animals!

He encouraged my tour group to howl in hopes of motivating the wolf to howl as well. Apparently, we did not hit the right pitch as it never did. Lol!

We were able to poke our long lensed cameras through the fence; however, he told us to immediately back up if the wolf charged the fence. After all, this was not a tame wolf. This was a wild animal.

At the end of this blog, I will include the link to this center’s website where there is a video you can watch. He also has several videos on YouTube, as well.

Link to Kroschel Wildlife Center Website

Here is the link to the Kroschel Wildlife Center in Haines, Alaska. It will open up in a new window.

Kroschel Wildlife Center (DBA Kroschel Films). Not A Zoo - It's An Experience,

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Sunset Inspiration

When staring at a beautiful sunset, what comes to your mind? This was the inspiration I received when I stared at a past 2011 East Tennessee sunset.

If a Sunset could talk, what would it say?

Introduction: They say a picture can say a thousand words. Don’t worry. This blog will not be that long. As you gaze at this series of three pictures of a sunset taken in East Tennessee on the 16th of February 2011, what does it say to you?

FYI - This was something I wrote back in 2011. But as I read through these words, it reminds me again of how very much I have to be grateful for.

An additional FYI – Viewing a sunset or another aspect of nature is almost like taking a mental journey. In your mind’s eye or in the deepest region of your mind or heart, you might react rather poetically or feel particularly inspired. So given that disclaimer, so to speak, every now and then, this blog will include articles such as these.

© 2011, 2019 by Debbie Dunn. Three photos taken February 16, 2011.

Nature's Notes: Sunset Inspiration

This is what it said to me. In other words, these are the thoughts it inspired me to think, write, and share.



Peace. Peaceful.

Peacemaking. Peacemaker.

Rest. Repose.

Gratitude. Grateful. Thank you.

Love. Life. God’s gift to us.

Go in Peace.



Breathe in as you read those words again. PEACE. Savor the picture in your mind’s eye.. Breathe out.

Breathe in as you think about what it means to be PEACEFUL and how being peaceful feels. Breathe out.

Breathe in as you think about what it means to be a peacemaker, peacemaking, a maker and co-creator of peace. Breathe out.

Breathe in as you think the words “Thank you.” Think about all the things you have to be grateful for. There is much to inspire gratitude in this world like the delight of a sunset – however brief. Breathe out.

Breathe in as you contemplate God’s love for us, the life He blesses us with, and all the other gifts from God that we are a direct beneficiary of. Breathe out.

Once again, breathe in as you contemplate the wonder of being peaceful, feeling peaceful, experiencing the perfect peace and wonder of God’s love for you, His beloved child.

What is the moral of this monologue?

This is the lesson, the moral of this beautiful sunset. It is too easy to default to being too busy to take the time to really breathe and really see and savor a beautiful sunset or a flower or a puffy cloud. These are all blessings from God. It is His way of giving you a mental hug, an attaboy hooray for a job well done, a special greeting as you are touched by His extraordinary grace.

Have a very peaceful day. Hug someone you love – either mentally or physically. Remember to make time to take those deep, calming breaths at special moments throughout the day or night.

Go … in … peace. Adieu. Bon Voyage. Good-bye.

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Tale of the Aquarium Fish

While enjoying a meal at Hosabi Kitchen in Morristown, Tennessee back in 2011, this is what I imagined was going on in the minds of the Aquarium fish.

If these Aquarium Fish could talk, what would they say?

Introduction: Have you ever eaten at a restaurant that had an aquarium full of colorful fish? As you stared or gawked or took pictures of them, did you ever find yourself wondering what must have been going through their minds?

As for me, while enjoying a meal at one of my favorite Asian restaurants back when I still lived in East Tennessee, this is what I imagined was going on in the minds of those Aquarium fish. The restaurant was called Hosabi Kitchen. It was located in Morristown, Tennessee. Back when my husband was still alive, this was a place we liked to go to as a special treat.

FYI - This was something I wrote back in 2011.

© 2011, 2019 by Debbie Dunn. Aquarium photos taken in 2011.

Aquarium Fish at Hosabi Kitchen on Feb 17, 2011

While I ate at Hosabi Kitchen in Morristown, Tennessee back on that 2011 day, this is what I imagined one of the aquarium fish would say to me, if it could actually talk.

Please be aware that as a writer and as a professional storyteller, I spend a lot of time constructing stories in my mind and nurturing my very active imagination. So, with that as your introduction, here we go.

If Aquarium fish could talk, what would they say?

If Aquarium fish could talk, what would they say? Would they joke about the humans gawking at them? Would they enjoy watching the clothes that we humans like to adorn ourselves with? Would they be thinking thoughts like the following?

"Where is our food? Feed us now!"

"We're hungry. Stop staring and give me food."

"There goes those funny-looking humans again."

"Why is she pointing her camera at me? Do you mind?!! A little privacy, please."

Enough levity. What would they really think or say or be willing to convey?

Here is what I feel they would say

Greetings to you. I am the large silvery fish to the left watching you watching me. I want you to notice that I push the limits as much as I can within this environment where I live. I make good use of the entire stretch of this aquarium. I pulled that word from your head, by the way. In other words, I do not stay in one place. I do not whine about what I don't have. I make good use of the things that I do have - sunlight, well-filtered water, plants, food, friends and neighbors, etc.

In the same way, it would be helpful if you would make good use of all your resources that you already have access to. Think about the good things that you have in your life. You have sunlight and moonlight. You have food - probably in excess. You have a place to lay your head at night. You probably live in temperature-controlled rooms. You have family, friends, and neighbors. You have plants around you and places to go where you can see and enjoy more plants. You have transportation. You have clothes to put on your back. I've learned, from my observations, that having clothes seems to be important to you humans. So whether you have a lot or a little of that thing you call money, you are still rich in the things that you do have.

The moral is ...

The point I am trying to make is that you need to glory in the things you have and do not fret for the things you do not have.

Glory in the things you can do. In my case, I can swim and glide with the current. I can swim against the current. I can stretch. I can be still. I can breathe. I can do many, many things that bring me great pleasure.

Focus on the things you can do. Work at them. Glory in them. If necessary, practice doing some of those things until you polish and perfect them.

Do not whine or fret about what you can't do. For one thing, if you work at them, some of those CAN'Ts may turn into CANs. Or perhaps you will discover a few new CANs that you had never considered before by interacting with the people around you. You see some of the CANs that they are able to do. You try some of those things and behold - you now have a new set of skills you originally did not know you possessed.

Gratitude, remembering to breathe, taking stock of your ever-growing list of CANs, and making good use of your full resources are all things that should hold the majority of your focus.

I've enjoyed my conversation with you. Now, it is time for me to take a little swim with that cute little yellow fish over there. Until next time. Have a great day!

More photos of Aquarium Fish taken on March 8, 2011

© 2011, 2019 by Debbie Dunn. Aquarium photos taken in 2011.

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Tale of the Free Vulture

If a wild vulture feasting on roadkill could talk, what would it say? As a flight of fancy, conservation seemed to be this bird’s focus.

If this Vulture could talk, what do you think it would say?

Introduction: If you came across this particular vulture feasting on some roadkill in the middle of the road in Mosheim, Tennessee, what do you think it would say?

FYI - This was something I wrote back in 2011.

© 2011, 2019 by Debbie Dunn. Vulture photos taken the end of February of 2011 in Mosheim, Tennessee.

Nature's Notes: Tale of the Free Vulture

This is what I imagined the free vulture would say, if he had the ability to talk.

Conservation. That is what you would hear me say. Or perhaps, I will use the famous saying of "Waste not. Want not." I am a bird of prey who does not let anything go to waste. I am a Free Vulture - Free with a capital F. Free. Unlike those vultures who have gone and gotten themselves injured or captured or killed. I am free and glory in that freedom.

I am not meaning to sound conceited or crass. It is just that I celebrate each day that I am a free bird. You personally may not find me beautiful or comely to look upon. That matters not. For I find many reasons to celebrate being me. I am free. I can glide. I can soar. I help to keep Mother Earth free of road kill. I help keep Mother Earth clean. Conservation is the key.

What do I mean by conservation? I mean that you find ways to make use of the resources you already have on hand. Instead of want, want, want, need, need, need. You glory in the fact that the great Father and Mother of us all provides for our every need. All you have to do is use your eyes to look and really see what you already have available to you right now.

I woke up this morning and gloried in the fact that I had a comforting shelter to lay my head. I looked around and saw that the sun was shining. Mother Nature was busy doing her thing by replenishing the Earth of everything green and new and fresh. After all, it is getting closer to being the tail end of winter - the end of February, I hear you say.

I realize that I am hungry. No worries. I take to the wind and glide and soar and use my eyes to gaze upon the land. Aha! What do I see? I see some road kill of some kind. Rather than make one of you humans to have to rid the road of this poor animal, I will avail myself of my Conservation-Free-Bird privileges and volunteer to do the honors for you.

I settle down upon the road. When a car goes by, I take to the air, fly a little, soar around in a circle, and then come back to land upon the road. You were kind enough to stop your car and take a picture of me through your front windshield. I gazed at you out of the corner of my eye while you gazed upon me with delight. It was a stand-off. Then another car drove up from the opposite direction. Fair thee well! Have a gliding kind of day yourself as I continue on with my feasting.

Oh, Brother Animal. I say my own form of grace. Go back to the Good Father and Mother who made us all. Take your animal spirit off to Animal Heaven while I carry on with my conservation-task so that nothing is wasted and every resource is well-utilized.

I hear you chant in your head those well-formed words you learned years ago from one of your favorite authors, Mary Baker Eddy. "God's creatures are harmless, useful, and indestructible." That is truer than you or she knew.

So I say to you all, make use of all the resources you currently have on hand. Until you do that, you really do not have room for more. And when you realize that you really have need of something new, rely on the good Father and Mother who made us all to provide that need with the most ideal timing and in the most perfect way. All is well! Well-being truly abounds for one and all.

Have a blessed, gliding, soaring kind of a day and I will do the same. Go in peace!

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Black Vulture Tale

If the vulture at Bays Mt. Park could talk, what would it say? As a flight of fancy, here is what I imagined it would say if it could actually talk.

If this Black Vulture could talk, what do you think it would say?

Introduction: If the black vulture at Bays Mountain Park in East Tennessee could actually talk, what do you think it would say?

As a flight of fancy, so to speak, here is one possible monologue that you might hear if you happened to converse with the black vulture that resided at Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, Tennessee in 2011. Perhaps, it is still there to this very day.

This was something I wrote back in 2011. The photo was taken at that time during that Bays Mountain Park visit.

© 2011, 2019 by Debbie Dunn. Photo taken in 2011.

Nature's Notes: Tale of the Black Vulture

See me strut my stuff. I fold and unfold my wings. I glory in being able to spread my wings to their fullest extension.

Yes, I live in a nature preserve. True, I can no longer fly and soar in graceful glides over the land.

However, ...

There is still joy to be had in what I am capable of doing.

So yes, you human, you may have had your wings clipped, so to speak, as you suffered a loss.

There are all kinds of losses some of you humans have had to face. In one way or another, many of you are held captive by the way you perceive your life.

As for you, you lost both of your breasts due to breast cancer.

FYI - I had a double mastectomy on August 11, 2010 and was still coming to terms with that fact when I wrote this story. I did not have reconstructive surgery until 2012.By the way, in 2019, I am very grateful to report that I am still cancer-free. God is good!

So, back to that vulture’s monologue.

Some of you may have lost a loved one.

Some of you may be dealing with some dis-ease that transformed into a full-fledged disease.

Some of you may actually be dealing with incarceration.

Some of you may be dealing with some other situation that is causing you feelings of angst.

Nevertheless, stress not. Take a leaf out of my book.

I will be living out the rest of my life in this nature preserve. Yet, I do not let the limitations hold me back from reveling in what I can do.

I can help educate the public about vultures.

I can walk around and flap my wings.

I can enjoy my food and my surroundings.

I can do many, many other things, as well.

The Moral is ...

Your job, you humans, is to celebrate and revel in your life. Practice the things you can do, striving to do these things to the best of your ability. Work on turning some of your current CAN'Ts into CANS.

Just like in that children’s tale you adored as a young child called "The Little Engine That Could" by Wally Piper, practice the thought forms of:

"I think I can.”

“I think I can.”

“I think I can."

Until one day, you can look back with joy and gratitude as you proudly state:

"I know I can.”

“I know I can.”

“I know I can."

So now, take your proud self, giving the credit to your true source - the good God - and happily and gratefully strut your stuff.

The End

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Tale of the Buds from a Burning Bush

If a Burning Bush could talk, what would it say? As a flight of fancy, here is what I imagined it would say if it could actually talk.

If these buds from a Burning Bush could talk, what do you think they would say?

Introduction: If the buds of a Burning Bush could actually talk, what do you think it would say?

As a flight of fancy, so to speak, here is one possible monologue that you might hear if you happened to converse with the buds growing on the Burning Bush right in front of our log cabin. That was the home I used to share with my husband back when he was alive.

In case you’re wondering, we used to live in a log cabin out in the country. The little town we lived in was called Mosheim of Greene County, Tennessee. Mosheim was so small, it didn’t even have a red light.

We lived in a log cabin that had one house on either side of us (both vacant at the time), two houses quite a ways distant behind us, but nothing but fields in front of us. Those fields were always full of cows.

For Geography buffs, Greene County is relatively close to Tri-Cities, Tennessee: Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City. I have lived in both Kingsport and Johnson City. I never did live in Bristol.

So back to my little flight of fancy of what the buds on a Burning Bush plant might say if it could actually talk.

This was something I wrote back in 2011. The photos were taken in February of 2011. It was a little promise that spring was truly on its way. It also was me celebrating the fact that I was in full remission from breast cancer. I was actually bald in 2010. If you check out my photo, you can see that I have hair in abundance as of 2019. God is so very good in countless different ways!

© 2011, 2019 by Debbie Dunn. All three photos, taken in February of 2011, were of the buds on a Burning Bush that grew right in front of our log cabin.

Nature's Notes: Tale of the Burning Bush Buds

So here we go, back to my little flight of fancy of what the buds on a Burning Bush plant might say if it could actually talk.

I sit right outside your front door, mostly ignored by your husband and you.

Each day, as one or the other of you go in and out, I am sharing my story, in the only way I know how, with color and scent and shape and contours. Rarely, do you see. Rarely, do you stop and acknowledge and enjoy.

What is that phrase I hear in your mind as you scribe my words? Ah, yes, rarely do you "stop and smell the roses."

Haven't you learned that real life is made up of many of those moments?

The good news, as is indicated by my buds on this Burning Bush, that life is also about new beginnings and second chances.

Yes, I now hear you think of another couple of wise phrases: "Start again with a clean slate" and "Today is the first day of the rest of your life."

Last year, in 2010, as you focused your energy on overcoming breast cancer, you saw many things as perhaps that would be the last time you saw it.

This year, in 2011], with breast cancer being an overcome condition of your past, you now come closer to resembling my current status more than you have in several decades.

You are a tiny bud in its gestation period seeking to create, as you once heard on that Oprah show you sometimes make the time to watch, "a new normal."

This is the beginning of a new decade, a new life, as you recreate a new you on the other side of cancer. Scribing my words is perhaps part of this new life.

Make time to breathe, to really look, to really see, to really hear, to really revel in your five physical senses.

Then, take a little baby step into a bit of the unknown. Embrace the gift of your sixth sense to be able to sense or intuit the messages that all of nature would like to convey to you and others.

You will be enriched. Your life will be fuller. That is part and parcel of reveling in God's grace. Go in peace.

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Cow's Tale about her Tail

If a cow could talk, what would it say? As a flight of fancy, here is what I imagined one of the cows might say who lived near my former home.

If a cow could actually talk, what do you think it would say?

Introduction: If a cow could talk, what do you think it would say?

As a flight of fancy, so to speak, here is one possible monologue that you might hear if you happened to converse with one of the white cows who lived practically next door back when my husband was still alive.

In case you’re wondering, we used to live in a log cabin out in the country. The little town we lived in was called Mosheim of Greene County, Tennessee. Mosheim was so small, it didn’t even have a red light.

We lived in a log cabin that had one house on either side of us (both vacant at the time), two houses quite a ways distant behind us, but nothing but fields in front of us. Those fields were always full of cows.

For Geography buffs, Greene County is relatively close to Tri-Cities, Tennessee: Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City. I have lived in both Kingsport and Johnson City. I never did live in Bristol.

So back to my little flight of fancy of what a cow might say if it could actually talk.

This was something I wrote back in 2011. The pictures were of two of those cows.

© 2011, 2019 by Debbie Dunn. It was taken on corner field on May 2, 2011

Nature's Notes: Cow's tale about his tail

You may call me a white cow. My color matters not to me. It's just a matter of pigments. Of what use is pigment to a cow?

You humans love to label things like white man, black man, brown man, red man, and yellow man. Do you know how silly that sounds from my cow's perspective? It all boils down to pigments - like I said before. Each of you humans have different pigments that alter your skin color from light to dark. Other than that, all you humans are the same.

Some little kid described us cows as a large four-legged animal with hooves and a tail. There are a lot of four-legged animals out there with a tail - large and small. Granted, not all of them have hooves. So that is not what makes us unique.

Some other kid might say, "Cows like to chew their cud."

Okay, that does makes us a bit more distinctive.

Almost every little kid is encouraged to answer the question, "What does a cow say?"

The kid proudly responds, "Moo!" The parent or grandparent or older sibling or preschool teacher applauds.

Guess what our response would be if you ever asked us cows this question: "What does a human say?"

Our response would be, "Blah! Blah! Blah!" No offense. But it just sounds like a bunch of nothing to our ears.

Another kid states, "We get our milk from a cow." That is certainly true of dairy-farm cows.

Another kid states, "This hamburger I'm eating was originally a cow." I'd rather not think about that. However, it certainly is true about some beef-farm cows. I certainly hope I'm not one of those.

What I really want to discuss is my tail. In fact, this is the tale of my glorious, very useful tail.

© 2011, 2019 by Debbie Dunn. Both photos were taken from my open car window the end of February 2011.

Behold my tail!

When I wave it, I can shoo away a fly.

When I'm hot, I can wave my tail to cool parts of me off.

When I'm cool, I can wave it in such a way to generate some heat and get my circulation moving.

I don't know about other cows, but I like to use my tail for steering. When I want to move right, I angle my tail to the right. When I want to move left, I angle my tail to the left. When I want to go straight, I point my tail straight down.

When I see a delectable patch of grass or one of my cow friends or even a human I particularly like, I wave my tail in gentle motions. If I see something or someone I don't like, I wave my tail in jerkier motions.

If I see a particularly delectable patch of grass that I want all to myself, I use my tail to kind of throw the other cows off course. They see me pointing my tail in one direction and they gravitate that way, then I quickly hightail it for the food I want in another direction. Psyche! Smile! LOL! I learned that phrase from a kid who lives nearby.

Okay, I told a little tale earlier. I have selective hearing. I can klnd of understand what some humans say. It takes a lot of effort though. Mostly, I would rather relax and chew my cud in peace.

What is the moral of this monologue?

The point I want to make is that you need to make use of each of your body parts and treasure it. Make it work for you.

Did you notice how many uses I found for my tail?

Can you try to do the same? Maybe your arm hurts; however, can you still use it to wave or lift or shoo a fly away or hug? Celebrate that fact. Focus on the things that you CAN do rather than the things you can't do.

Don't bemoan your body shape or parts as not being good enough. That is being cruel and unjust. Celebrate you exactly as you are.

If you want to make a change, such as the goal of losing weight, do it gently and tactfully.

For Example ...

You could say things like, "Body, you are great just the way you are. Body, you are beautiful. Body, you are a gift from God."

Then gently steer your body in the direction you want it to go.

You might say, "I've heard that we will be a lot healthier if we lose a bit of weight. I love you just the way you are; however, I want us to have a really long time to continue on together. So, how about we try to shed a few pounds which will increase our longevity? What do you say? Can we work together as a team, Body, to try to do that?"

Doesn't that sound a lot more diplomatic than saying, "Body, you are ugly! I'm going to try to lose the outer part of you as fast as I can."

Do you get the drift I am trying to make? Be a friend to your body, and it will be more of a friend to you.

And now, I'm ready to end my Cow's Tale of my Tail. I hope you liked it!

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