...pure comfort

'Twas a day of tug o' war between bright sunshine and ominous clouds. The wind a frantic cheerleader, switching sides at a whim. A Red-shouldered hawk swooping down against the turbulence to snag a meal from within the tangle of a fallen trees skeleton. Then laboring, pumping its wings to carry its dinner to a nice plump oak branch to serve as a dining table. No need to clear the table, just drop the inedible leftovers into the creek below. Holding my camera in my hand I decided to make an effort to find something beautiful in the sleeping landscape. Something worth capturing in the short distance from the barn to the house. Lichens on the trees along the driveway became my muse. As the sun fell, the peeper chorus began to grow into a deafening din. But it is a sound that is so familiar it blends into the background and my ears have to make a concerted effort to single it out. Sort of an "Oh yeah, the peepers are singing." That's what living in the country does. It wraps you in a blanket of sounds, sights and smells that feel like something that's been there all your life. Pure comfort.

Signs of spring

Oh spring, you are here. The wonderfully familiar "Phee-bee" greeted me on the way to the barn this morning. I worry for my little Phoebe knowing they are insectivores. As much as I would rather not see insects this early, I hope there are enough to feed my little bird. They nest on the house and barn so they are constant companions during the warm weather months. Their aerobatics are incredible to watch. They make up for the drab gray of their plumage.

After feeding the boys, the big boys started to bark in the direction of the neighbors pond. I didn't think much of it, since I heard a tractor in the distance. Between pitching forkfuls of manure into the Gator, when I finally got around to glancing in that direction,  I saw a line of dark silhouettes slowly strolling across the levee. I retrieved my binoculars and zoomed in on 18 turkeys slowly evading the oncoming machine. Sharp birds that they are, they saw me looking at them and once again adjusted their planned escape route. Their coffee ground brown bodies with a golden chestnut rectangle of tail feathers and bright red throat and waddle were quite a stunning contrast to the dull grays and pale browns of the still dead landscape they were hiking through. Before I know it the parade will be punctuated by gawky looking chicks that always shock me with their ability to fly despite their tiny, immature looking wings. Time flies. Oh how time flies.

Greeting the day

Very early this morning, I was fortunate enough to be awake and outside at the barn to greet the new day. Employing the term "morning" conjures up a vision of a beautiful sunrise but I am speaking of one a.m.. No sun, but on a cold, clear night, a celestial ceiling of billions of stars spanned endlessly overhead. It would have been so easy to keep my head down and trudge to the barn, do my chores under roof, and pull up my hood and trudge back to the house, never engaging in nature. But I chose to make a special effort to stop, look and listen to all that was unfolding around me. The stars provided a visual main feature. The sounds of coyotes howling and barking came from down in the hollow across the road, providing the chorus. They were joined by dogs all over the neighborhood, most distant but some as close as next door. Even farther off in the distance, the occasional sound of howling semi-truck tires on the highway blended in harmony. The tinkling sound of water from the drainage pipe under the driveway falling into the creek provided the rhythm. Behind me the sounds of my old boy munching on his hay brought a feeling of comfort that all was well. The presence of Bubby and Bear by my side confirmed that I was safe and protected. The chill of the cold air was just enough to heighten my senses without being uncomfortable enough to distract me. I stayed for a little while, appreciating all that was presented to me. It is far to easy to take all these things for granted so I make the effort to enjoy them when I can. Someday I may not have that opportunity, but for now I will seize the day.