Sacramento River Delta Clean Up
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills: Get Close to the Heart of the World for #Earth Day

Thank you for joining me on this Monday instead of Sunday, when I traditionally publish the Sunday Stills challenge. I hope no one was too confused. Easter Sunday was a BUSY day with church and family celebrations. I hope your Easter Sunday was memorable and relaxing.

This week’s theme, “Earth Day,” is inspired by the annual recognition of Earth Day, which originated on April 22, 1970.

Earth Rock
Large Rocks represent Earth on a small scale

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity” ― John Muir

Who Was John Muir and Why Was He Important?

Today, April 21, also marks the 189th anniversary of the birthday of visionary and author John Muir. Muir was born in Scotland and emigrated to the United States in 1849, settling in Wisconsin.

“As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can.” – John Muir

“Muir’s first mountain pilgrimages were not out West but in the East. Before he ever stepped foot in California, Muir embarked on a 1,000-mile trek from Louisville, Kentucky, to Cedar Key, Florida, that changed his life. The journey inspired Muir’s transformation into the leader and conscience of the environmental movement.” Source

Muir wrote many articles and books that inspired others to love nature and to draw attention to the need to protect the environment. His innate wanderlust eventually moved him to the San Francisco area, and there he discovered the Sierra Nevada Mountains 260 miles to the East.

John Muir plaque

Upon discovering Yosemite, he used his political acumen to help protect it from threats by commercial development. Muir was also the founder of the Sierra Club. Yosemite officially became a National Park in 1890.

President Teddy Roosevelt was influenced by Muir and as a result, “set aside 148 million acres of forest reserves, created 50 regions for the protection of wildlife, founded 16 national monuments and established 5 new national parks.” ~ National Park Service: John Muir

Painnted Half Dome
Half Dome, Yosemite

Muir’s writings produced hundreds of well-known and memorable quotes on nature as he hiked countless miles through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in California and beyond.

“The mountains are calling and I must go.” ― John Muir

Tuolomne Meadows Cathedral Range
Cathedral Peak in Tuolumne Meadows
In every walk with nature...Muir

Celebrate Earth Day By Visiting an Iconic Natural Wonder

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” ― John Muir

In my 65 years on Planet Earth, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting many of the Western United States. Enjoy my gallery of iconic EARTHY scenes found in nine western states:

woman gazing in antelope cyn
Awestruck in Antelope Canyon
Man and woman in Yosemite Valley
Yo-Selfie in Yosemite Valley
Kilauea Crater 2018, Big Island, Hawaii
Kilauea Crater 2018, Big Island, Hawaii
View of Grand Tetons from Rexburg, Idaho
View of the Grand Tetons from Rexburg, Idaho
Big Sky Country Central Montana
Big Sky Country Montana
3 men
Family fun in Valley of Fire, Nevada
Oregon Coast Seastacks
Oregon Coast Seastacks
Wall of Windows from Bryce Point
Bryce Canyon, Utah
Liberty Bell Peaks
Liberty Bell Peaks, North Cascades, Washington

And if you’re inclined to enjoy your own backyard as your go-to place, spring is a good time for people to reimagine their backyards, replant gardens, or celebrate Spring holidays.

“The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth.” – Chief Seattle

backyard work
Added 200+ feet of drip line
Backyard Fenced Garden
Fenced Garden

Sharing this week for Lens-Artists: My Go-To Places.

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently from mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link to a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind comments and condolences on the passing of my dear father. I really felt the love, and I shared Wednesday’s post with my family.

Do the rocks cry out if you haven’t visited them in a while? Tell us about the natural wonders in the state/province/country you’ve visited.

I can’t wait to see how you interpret this week’s theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme. Join me next week as we celebrate National Kids and Pets Day.

graphic

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110 comments

  1. […] Thanks for visiting our Retired Life & Travel blog and I hope you enjoyed finding the #SundayStills Challenge. You can join the weekly challenge by visiting our hosts blog Second Wind Leisure. and checking out Terri’s post for this week, Close to the Heart for Earth Day. […]

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  7. As you know, I love your national parks system and always enjoy seeing your photos of the various parks – either remembering ones I’ve been fortunate to visit or learning about others I might want to see in the future. I read that it was National Parks week so thought I’d join in marking that as well as Earth Day, and double-dip with Monochrome Madness: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-a-celebration-of-national-parks-in-black-and-white/

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  13. Happy Earth Day (plus 1), Terri! Like you, I feel so fortunate that my parents taught me the wonder of nature and the love of our precious national parks when I was young. I fear for the health and well-being of our parks when I hear about recent policy changes but then I remember that Earth Day was originated as a national demonstration to raise awareness and inspire action. We can do it again!

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  17. Terri, your post inspires everyone, whether they already enjoy walking or hiking in nature, to step outside. I have always liked the Muir quotes – we think alike, even he was a little before my time. I already have my pics picked for my Earth Day post, but haven’t written it yet, but I went on a long walk at the Wildlife Refuge today and that hike would have been great for an Earth Day post too, but I will likely use it later. Every gorgeous day is a gift after that brutally long Winter we had here.

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    • Thank you, Linda! I didn’t do much today, but last year in this day we visited the Palouse Falls. On Earth Day all Washington state parks have free parking/entry. Hans is doing a lot outside to get the property ready while we’re gone for 3 weeks. Kind of an Earth Day for the yard 😁 I’m glad you’re getting some good weather.

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      • That’s nice Washington State Parks have free parking/entry. We might have for National Park Week/Day last week. Some of our large state parks in northern Michigan have not opened since the ice storm almost a month ago. They are hoping to open in advance of the tourist season, especially on Mackinac Island. I hope you get to see all your new flowers come up in advance of leaving. I’m appreciating the good weather and it is finally feeling more like Spring. I am behind in walking, so have to step it up!

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  19. Sure enjoyed this Earth Day celebration and introduction to John Muir. So thankful that he inspired Roosevelt to set aside so many of our national parks and reserves. Every few years here in El Paso some developer asks to purchase land at the foothills of the Franklin Mountains. Not sure who is responsible for staving off the developers but so far, so good. Just makes me sick to think of losing more of these natural wonders to civilization!! I think my father heard and answered the mountains’ call as we very often vacationed in the Rockies. Of all of your beautiful photos, I am most drawn to the Antelope Canyon and Bryce Canyon. They both remind me of this area where I call home. Beautiful captures.

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    • Thank you, Leslie! Muir was a gifted writer and story teller. The Southwesern states are gems of the desert. We sure need to protect all of it! How cool you spent time enjoying the Rockies! I’ve only touched their northwestern edge. Horseshoe Bend is another amazing place to visit, just minutes from Antelope. Hope you had a blessed Easter with your family.

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  23. Good morning, Terri,

    I love your Earth Day picture—good for you! Your Gallery of Western States visits made me smile. They are great memories and fabulous places to visit. I am blessed (and grateful) to have been to many of them. Hopefully, things have warmed up where you live. Enjoy your week! Joe

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  24. Beautiful post, Terri. I love the quote you shared “The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth.” – Chief Seattle. I wish more people understood the meaning of this quote. 💛💚

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  31. Poor deer. It looks like you’ve got fences around fences. They will never get any fresh garden vegetables! I love all your boxes. You have so many great National Park pictures. You’ll have to teach me how to do what you did with Yosemite. That looks amazing. 🙂 xxxxxx

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      • Yep, those deer are out of luck. 🙂 We are enjoying our yard so much. The breezes at this time of year almost feel like they are from the ocean! Amazing. We need to enjoy it while we can!

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  33. Hi Terri, thanks for all the great Muir quotes, they always resonate with me, as we enjoy the natural surroundings in our beautiful part of the world and of course when we travel. You’ve captured some magnificent earthy scenes, some places I know I’ll never get to!

    I do hope your family is doing OK (as far as possible) after the death of your father. Take care and thanks for the inspo for Earth Day posts.

    My post is here: https://debs-world.com/2025/04/21/reflections-on-earth-day-a-photo-challenge/

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  37. Beautiful ode to our amazing Mother Earth Terri – perfect for Earth Day! I too have seen many of the places you’ve highlighted (although I still haven’t done Antelope and I’m dying to!) and I honestly remember thinking if only everyone could see these places in person our care for Mother Earth would increase exponentially. Sigh. Loved your post

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  38. Terri you have some beautiful captures of nature and I’m glad you’ve introduced me to Muir. I often wondered how America still has such vast areas of natural beauty, given your older history and growing population. Now I know. I’ll see what I can select from my archives – nature is probably 90% of what I photograph.

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  39. I commented earlier and it disappeared. ~Nancy

    Thank you for this challenge and your beautiful post! I enjoyed all your photos and am amazed by all the places you have visited.

    i am so glad you mentioned David Muir and Teddy Roosevelt. Two very important and inspirational people for our planet.

    I will be sure to share tomorrow. Happy new week to you my friend.

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  40. Excellent Terri! I enjoyed all of your photos and the places that you have been. You both amaze me with your travel. You mentioning John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt who were both inspirational for taking care of our planet.

    I will be sure to share this Tuesday.

    Enjoy the new week my friend.

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  51. Wow, Terri, I wish I had your fenced gardens! The rabbits eat everything we plant here, so it’s been a struggle. I have a few pots on the deck but I think we will need to grow much more this year. Happy Easter, my friend. The news about the Pope was very sad this morning. 💖

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    • Happy Easter, Colleen! I’m just hearing about the Pope now on the news. The day after Easter. 🥺
      If we didn’t have the fenced garden, the deer would eat everything. We also have rabbits. We also have to place fencing around most of our 25 young trees, so the deer don’t scrape their antlers on the back in the fall. I wish you luck!

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