birds – Site Title

A Gorgeous Morning

I made it early to the fields this morning and the sun was already high up in the sky after hiding for several days. We’ve had rain, wind, and more rain. I decided to take advantage of the nice weather before everybody else had the same idea. Unfortunately, there were people already there with the same idea in mind!

The fields were like they used to be but only this time it looked a little untidy. What happened to the regimented way of caring for nature? The farmers around here keep it in tip-top form but it seems like they’ve let go for a little while. The Rapeseed plants are still there reaching to the skies, no longer pretty but dull and brown. The pathway I was on was narrow and on both sides the plants stood unrelenting and covering my view. A feeling of claustrophobia knocked at my door but I took a deep breath and kept on walking. I needed to be outside today and I needed nature to do its thing of calming me.

I was told to watch out for deer among the plants. It seems they sit crouched within the plants with only their brown backs showing. “Be careful,” was the message because they do jump out at times and if you’re in the way, well you know. So I kept my eyes peeled but nothing seemed to spell trouble. It was quiet out and the air was crisp and fresh, the way I like it. I decided to go by the forest way just for a change and although it is not my favorite route, I decided that the quiet and calm would do me good. It did. There was something soothing about the birds chirping in the trees and a lone Woody Woodpecker knocking at some tree trunk. I couldn’t see it but it was there and although it was loud, I took it in stride. Anything to keep my mind from thinking!

Then I saw it, a lone blue Heron standing all by itself in the middle of the field like a lone sentinel keeping watch. A sign of a good omen? Certain cultures swear that a heron sighting brings good luck. Fingers crossed! As I passed it, I sensed it watching me but it made no move to leave and I left it there to enjoy the morning as I was doing. Walks in nature are a great way to refresh the soul, to put a different perspective on things and to calm an agitated mind. It was doing all that this morning and then I noticed the dark clouds in the distance. I guess we’re not over the rain yet. Oh well, it’s time for another cup of coffee and to be thankful for all that I have especially the gorgeous fields that give me so much pleasure and peace.

Have an amazing day.

Flip-Flop Days

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

My feet are shod in flip-flops today. The sun is already shining and it is supposed to be a glorious day. I stare down at my feet and my toenails in a darker shade of pink are staring back at me. They are happy I presume. The black flip-flops are comfortable, perhaps deceptively so, and a soft sigh of contentment escapes from my lips. It’s been months since my feet felt this kind of freedom having been encased in boots and when at home socks or fur-lined house shoes kept them warm during winter.

Now, it’s time to let freedom reign! It’s not quite summer yet but the warm days and lots of sunshine brings me back to another time and place. I was an island girl once a long time ago. I loved those carefree days of walking on the beach barefoot or feet in flip-flops as I looked for whatever treasures the ocean had dimmed fit to throw at my feet. Some days, I would sit on the sandy beach as close as I could get to the water and let it wash my feet as I leaned back on my elbows and dreamed of faraway places. Places I wanted to visit someday. Little did I know that that dream would come true one day.

The island girl mentality still shows up when the weather takes a turn for the better and my hands reach for those flip-flops! The days of carefree wonder still runs deep and is waiting just beneath the surface waiting to be rekindled again. Today is such a day.

I am dressed for comfort in a white t-shirt and dark blue linen pants. It is still cool in the garden so a grey sweat jacket completes the ensemble of understated and laid-back dressing. The flip-flops on my feet bring a smile to my face. I can picture myself on that beach again but only then I was running around in shorts and whatever t-shirt I could find. Clothes didn’t matter way back when my life was simpler and the ocean was my best friend.

I notice the quiet in the garden but I know that nature is hard at work. I see its handiwork in the clematis drapping over the green fence, their pink blossoms simply gorgeous. The scented rose bush is awash with blooms and the lovely scent, a cross between vanilla and something sweet is mesmerizing. I make a mental note to get the glass bowls out and get some potpourri going. The rose petals make the best potpourri and instead of letting them fall to the ground and wither away, I’ll put them to good use as I did last year.

I can feel the dew drops brush against my feet as I make my walk through the garden. It feels good. The apple tree has lost its sweet-scented flowers and little apples are starting to form and there are plenty of them. A bumper crop this year? Who knows? I’ll let it surprise me. The cherry tree has more than two cherries this year so everything speaks of abundance! The bees are moving from one flower to the next and a lone blackbird is singing from the roof-top. Its song is high-pitched but sweet nonetheless. Everything is touched with sunshine, not the sticky variety that shows up when summer is in full-swing but the kind that feels good on your skin and for now sitting outside with a hot cup of coffee is heaven in itself.

I snuggle back in the chaise lounge just as a huge bumble bee goes whizzing by oblivious to my presence. It too has work to do but my mind is on relaxing today. The sky is a bright blue, the birds are singing and I am at peace. Oh, and my feet are loving their freedom shod in flip-flops! It’s going to be a gorgeous day.

Have an amazing day.

A Beautiful Day

Photo by Karsten Sporenberg on Pexels.com

It is absolutely gorgeous today. The sun is shining and the sky is a vivid blue with not a cloud in sight. It is still a little cold but nothing a jacket and a pair of gloves can’t fix.

“I wondered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills, when all at once I saw a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils; beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” William Wordsworth

And my soul took off. Well, not quite. It is still winter and just like the winter tease of “no real snow” this too might be short-lived and winter might just make a showing again. Anything is possible these days.

The fields are coming alive and the sound of birds chirping noisily in the trees is deafening to the ear but still a lovely sound. The planes droning overhead is soothing and the criss-cross patterns they are making as they make their way to wherever they are headed looks like a tapestry of some sort. On a day like today, everything seems touched with magic.

Spring says: “Wake up darling. It’s time for your soul to bloom.” Ave Mateiu

I see two rabbits sunning themselves oblivious of my intrusion into their space. They couldn’t care less because they’re preparing for bigger and better things to come. Soon it will be “baby season” and when summer rolls around there will be an abundance of rabbits scampering around as they did last year. It was and will be a sight for sore eyes.

Just be patient my heart whispers. It’s just a matter of time before the next season rolls around like clockwork and my eyes will be greeted with what is taking place below my feet right now. In the deep and dark areas, nature is breathing life back into what has lain dormant all winter. When the time is right, it will be mesmerizing of this I am sure.

Suddenly I spot two herons standing like sentinels close to the forest line. Several Native American Tribes look upon the heron as a “symbol of patience and good luck”. They believe that a Blue Heron sighting brings a message of self-determination and self-reliance. Hmm….I especially like the part about good luck. Fingers crossed!

It was a great walk and I’m looking forward to many more in the days to come. I know each new day will bring new gifts the earth below is hiding for just the right moment to present itself. It will lift and nourish my soul, no ifs or buts about it!

“She turned to the sunlight and shook her yellow head and whispered to her neighbor, “winter is dead.” Unknown

Have an amazing day.

Nature, “My Other Love.”

“Nature has been for me, for as long as I remember, a source of solace, inspiration, adventure, and delight; a home, a teacher, a companion.” Lorraine Anderson

The rain had stopped but there were reminders left behind as I stepped over mud-covered pathways and navigated around small puddles of water. I had a sudden urge to jump in them as I used to as a young girl but I had to stop myself as I am a grown woman now and such antics would not be looked upon kindly. It was cold this morning but that’s nothing new. Winter was marching in and little by little the wide open expanse before me is being transformed into a bare and desolate landscape ready to go to sleep before the biting cold sets in.

Today, I am greeted by loud squawking. Birds were flying overhead zooming in and out haphazardly. Watching them I noticed that they weren’t heading anywhere in particular but just flying around with no formation whatsoever to speak of. Were they heading south? Each year, it is a ritual for the migratory birds to fly out of here before the cold sets in. It is a display of precision, of single-mindedness and of loud shrills and squawking as they made their presence known to those of us below who watched them mesmerized as they flew out of here and to places unknown. It was also a sign that nature was getting ready to take a well-deserved break from the breathtaking display of color to one of drab and grey. Today I was alone as I watched the birds fly and then settle in the trees nearby. Perhaps they were taking a break from their journey to recuperate before they took off again. Whatever the reason, I welcomed their company with a big smile on my face.

Approaching the apple trees, a sudden movement catches my attention. Two beautiful bob-tailed deer dash out from the forest line and across my path and onto the other side disappearing into a clump of bushes. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen any deer in a long time so this was interesting. The fields were certainly alive this morning. Perhaps the birds had stirred some life into them. As I approached the path where I had almost twisted my ankle the other day staring at some birds in the distance, I heard flapping and shrill cries in the sky. Just ahead and not too high up in the sky were six birds, their wings spread out like fans as they descended a little distance from me and landed quietly on the ground and then stood there as still as sentinels standing guard over nothing in particular. My breath caught in my throat. I had seen them twice before and not recognizing them, I had done some research and found out that they are grey herons. Slim, elegant creatures with long beaks and dark circles around their eyes. They are beautiful in a silent and regal way. I didn’t expect to see them today but there they were standing still and ignoring me.

In Greek mythology, the heron is associated with Poseidon and is seen as a good omen. Native American Tribes see the heron as a symbol of patience and good luck and in Celtic mythology, it is associated with transitions and adaptability and if that’s not enough to get your “happy hormones” in a spin, herons often appear to those seeking healing, calmness and stillness in their life. When you experience repeated heron sightings, it is there to remind you of the contentment that comes with knowing abundance is at your fingertips. All good right? I’ve seen them three times so it’s a wait and see approach now!

I decided to check out the deer and the birds as well. Something was up and me being the superstitious type, well not quite, but I do believe in some stuff so I was curious and needed to know if there was anything attached to these sightings. Remember what they say about black cats crossing your path? However, deer crossing your path is supposed to have an opposite effect. If you see a deer crossing your path, it is seen as a positive omen. It means that you will soon receive good news or fortune. WHAT?!! Let’s add birds to the mix why don’t we? Birds flying above you is a positive sign and it means that something massive is about to happen in your life and change the whole trajectory in the best way imaginable.

Hell, I’ll go jump in those puddles of dirty, muddy water, who cares what anyone thinks? Is nature getting ready to reward me? I don’t know but I have to get quiet, find a space to meditate and hope one or the other thing happens. Fingers crossed and I’ll keep you posted.

Have an amazing day.

The Straggler

I took a walk the other day. Walking is one of my favorite things to do. When the weather is nice, I am out there. When it’s cold, I am out there and during the in-between times I am out there. Lately I’ve had to put this passion of mine on the backburner because freezing weather has moved in and in between navigating the iced up patches of water and the muddy pathways, it has taken the joy out of an activity that I love.

I was bundled up but my face was exposed and the wind had decided to kiss my nose with its icy fingers to make its presence known. Just as I was about to give up and head back to the cosy interior of my place, I heard some squawking above. Looking up and to my surprise I noticed a flock of birds, they could have been ducks or geese, not sure which they were but they were flying in a L-formation, usually they fly in a V-formation heading to warmer temperatures down south. These were late heading out and there weren’t enough to form the V-formation either. Are they stragglers? When used in ornithology, it is defined as a stray, or strayed bird, out of its usual range or off its regular migration pattern. What had they been doing to throw them off course? Procrastinating? Couldn’t care less? We’ll make the journey when we feel like it? Or simply, we’ll move when the time suits us and not before.

Another definition for a straggler defines it as a person in a group who becomes separated from the others, typically because of moving more slowly. How many times have we experienced that? I know I have when life throws a curveball and I come to a complete standstill. At these times, I unsync myself and step out of the norm and what is expected of me. I move slowly and take my time and sometimes not at all. I stood watching as the migratory birds headed out, trying to keep up with what was expected of them and a thought ran through my mind. ”It is never too late” and another one followed suit, “Better late than never.” However, stepping out for a little while is ok but stepping back in and not letting too much time pass by is the key to moving on. You have to know the difference between the two..

Choosing to be a straggler is not always a good thing, keeping up with the status quo might be a better way of doing things but there are those of us who choose to be different. We tend to do things our way and if that means it takes a little longer to get there, to get back into the moment, so be it. Just so we never stop moving and we get to where we need to on time or a little late dragging ourselves to the finish line.

“Focus on what lights a fire inside of you and use that passion to fill a white space. Don’t be afraid of the challenges, the missteps, and the setbacks along the way. What matters is that you keep going.” Kendra Scott

I watched the birds fly out of sight knowing full well that some will make it and some won’t and that is the sad part because they waited and took their time. Reminding myself to get back on track, I walked home having learned a lesson from nature.

“The man on top of the mountain didn’t just fall there.” Vince Lombardi