I was outside at 6:30 a.m. writing in my journal when I heard a coyote yipping in the distance. Then more joined in. It got louder, closer and sounded like a pack murdering prey right outside our fence. I’ve never heard anything like it! I can’t run, so I hobbled my way inside the house. It got quiet.
Then I watched coyote after coyote slink along our fence. I couldn’t count how many, because some were hidden behind bushes. I got a photo and video of one coyote jumping on the wall.
I posted this photo — which is blurry because it’s a screen shot of the video — to social media and I got an interesting response.
“Great shot and love your Soleri bell!”
I have never heard of a Soleri bell before and I wasn’t sure what she was talking about.
I googled Soleri and found out that the prior owners had indeed left us a Soleri Wind Bell.
In a nearby town called Paradise Valley, an artist from Italy named Paolo Soleri made bronze and ceramic wind bells in the 1950s and 60s.
Cosanti Originals bronze windbells are made using handcrafted techniques and traditional designs in our Arizona studios for over 65 years. They feature vibrant colors, organic textures, and design motifs that vary from piece to piece or artisan to artisan. Each one is a true “original.” They come in a variety of sizes and complement both indoor and outdoor spaces. Each purchase supports The Cosanti Foundation which promotes sustainability through experimental architecture and agriculture.
What a fun surprise. I read all about something that’s been hanging in our yard for years that I knew nothing about. When the weather cools down, we will take a trip to Paradise Valley to look at the gallery. The wind bells range in price from a little over $100 for recently made ones to close to $8,500 for original vintage ones made by Soleri himself. I’m sure that the prior owners of our house would have taken this Soleri Wind Bell with them if it was an original! But I’m pleased they left this one with us!
What surprises have you had lately?
My surprise is that those are called Soleri bells. Who knew? Don’t you love learning new things thanks to friends online!
I’m so excited to learn that I had a Soleri bell! Who knew and now I get to visit the gallery and studio.
Seeing how calmly you’re writing about a coyote in your yard is a surprise …
You should have seen the video I was taking. I was shaking so bad the video went from the coyotes to the pool to the ground.
Oh I get it
My first impulse was to run, then I remembered the mountain lion advice to never run. After that I realized I can’t run on my broken ankle! 😅
Good thing you have a large wall separating the yard from the wildlife! Gives you a few moments to make it inside just in case 🙂 Local news here has been saying areas NE of Seattle are having major sightings of coyote groups all over the urban corridor. Hope you post once you get to visit the gallery EA. Maybe you can even add a few new pieces to the yard!
I don’t mind a single coyote. The packs make me more than nervous. The wall separates us from a golf course. The space between our fence and the wall seems to be a major thoroughfare for wildlife. A lot of the gallery is outside and there’s a dome shaped space made from rock. That’s why I have to wait for it to cool down. Interesting that there are packs of coyotes in NE Seattle, too.
I wonder if there is a wildlife group you can call. They have it for alligators and pythons in many parts of Florida, mostly down South near Okeechobee.
They have some that remove rattlesnakes but the other wildlife passes by. We called several organizations when we moved in and had a bobcat living on our roof. They almost laughed but not quite.
And there have been coyote sightings across the way on the Golf Course nearby but Temple Terrace area took care of it somehow. We did have a loose goat and the neighborhood was fascinated and relocated it to a farm. Years ago, there was a bear cub found less than a mile from us. In areas with more recent development there are more spotings of wild animal life. The saying is that if you see water in Florida, there is an alligator nearby in the lakes, etc. swamp, so be careful.
We live next to a nature’s preserve with 130 miles of hiking trails. Next to that is the Tonto National Forest. We will have wildlife passing through the wash behind our house, because the animals don’t distinguish between a residential neighborhood or the miles of wilderness next to us. I’m thankful we don’t have bears or alligators!
I hear coyotes at night here quite often, but have only seen them during the day once in 20 years.
Fun discovery about your bells.
The bells were a nice surprise. The pack of coyotes not so much!
My surprise is how close the coyotes get to your house but then in Florida we are consistently surprised by stories of alligators coming up to doors and trying to knock their way in. The only action we see are large tortoises in our front yard and occasionally egrets stalking our yard. I am good with that, the fewer surprises the better.
I couldn’t handle alligators at my door! That would be too much. A tortoise I could handle and enjoy.
I could not handle pythons but the sightings of them are more in the Everglades area. Pet pythons escape anywhere, so it is good to know your neighbors.
A python would terrify me. I can’t understand why anyone would want one as a pet!
If the coyote gets any closer, you might have to call in the troops — Red and company — for protection. Ha, ha. He can stay on the wall. I wouldn’t want him getting any closer.
It’s so surprising when they jump on the wall. It’s six feet tall! I’ve seen it several times. We have a lot of wildlife now, which seems odd because it’s 107 degrees outside. Maybe they like the neighborhood with swimming pools to cool off.
I really am convinced that you live on a nature preserve! Elizabeth’s wildlife and bird preserve!!! Ha ha. 🤣 😎😎😎
We are across the street from a nature’s preserve. It’s exciting to see the wildlife. I haven’t seen Red or Mrs. for a few days. Maybe they are busy with little Reds in the nest?
Oh, Elizabeth…when we’ve had a pack of coyotes in our yard stalking prey (successfully) the sounds are horrifying. I know it’s just nature…but…it’s absolutely unsettling for me. Hoping it was a one-off experience for you. The image of the daring one on the fence is startling.
It is a scary sound! I’ve never heard anything like it before. This is the second time in a week I’ve seen a coyote on the wall. They have no problem jumping on it and it’s six feet tall. It makes me believe they could jump over our fence!
Good that you’re so watchful and aware! 😉😉😉
It is exciting to see wildlife so close — as you know with your deer.
It is…and you do such a great job of capturing photos! 💕
Thank you! 😊
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Wow – what an incredible surprise! How fun to get that information when you posted it for a completely other reason!
It was an exciting bit of information. I probably will add another Soleri bell or two!
I don’t like coyotes- they will attack small dogs and cats. But on the upside, how cool to learn about your bell!
I am with you on coyotes. I read about coyotes attacking dogs and even people out for a walk around here. I am so excited about the bell!
That’s very interesting!
It was a nice surprise. I hadn’t really noticed the wind bell. The prior owners put so much statuary, chimes and things all around the yard. I’m glad someone else noticed and pointed it out to me.
Yes, it’s a very cool ornament.
😊
Wow, I love the wind bell too! I was thinking about replacing my old wind chime. Hmmmmm….
They have them on ebay and their website. Google Soleri Bells. Their website tells you the different sounds bells make. It has to be pretty windy for us to hear the bell.
We hear coyotes in the distance from time to time where we live. It’s unsettling so I can imagine how you felt seeing one on your wall! I find it incredible when you posted it, a reader overlooked the coyote and focused on the bell! Which, by the way, is really cool!!
Isn’t that something that the person focused on the bell? I’m glad she commented and I have information about it. This morning I had a pack of coyotes between the wall and fence. One jumped on the wall again, but I got my husband rather than my iphone!
Two great stories in one! What a nice surprise for someone to share with you about a different aspect of your photo. She might have assumed you knew what you had. Very cool to have a coyote walking the wall like that.
She did think I knew what the wind bell was. I had another coyote on the wall this morning while I was journaling. The birds were making a racket and I wondered what was going on. It was a pack of coyotes outside my fence!
How fabulous. Having Coyotes and and wonderful wind chime
Both are exciting, but in different ways!
Yes, that is so very cool. You didn’t even know you had a work of art, right there! I think the capture of the coyote on the wall is pretty amazing, but also: YIKES!!
Isn’t that a special surprise to find out about the wind bell? This morning I had another (or the same) pack of coyotes between the wall and fence. One jumped on the wall and the rest were hanging out in our yard!
I can’t imagine hearing that pack of coyotes, Elizabeth! I would’ve hobbled inside too! 🙂 And what a treat to learn about the bell! 🔔
Wow, about the bell. How cool!
I would much rather hear the Solari bell ringing than the coyotes howling. LOL!
So true! I’m so excited to visit the Soleri gallery and find out more about them.
Definitely sounds interesting! So glad you found out about it.
Me too! 😊