Colorado 2010

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Time to fly!

The babies have grown and now have all their feathers. Most of the baby fuzz is gone. It looks awfully crowded in that nest, so it must be time to fly soon. Mom and Dad are kept very busy feeding this nestful.

Phoebe's babies

Phoebe's eggs have hatched and their little beaks are sticking out over the edge of the nest. Phoebe sat and watched with a concerned eye as I stood on the ladder and took pictures of her babies, but she didn't fly in to attack and didn't even chatter a warning.
Meanwhile, another bird lost a little one. A pale blue egg was found lying on the ground under the pine trees, undamaged, but cold and lifeless.
We worked on cleaning up the invasive bushes and trees under the pines this morning. Tim chopped a couple of good sized Chinese elms down and we both worked at pruning lower brances off the pines. Now our view has been opened up to the fields and forest beyond.

Under the eaves

A phoebe has built a mud nest under the eaves on top of the outdoor lights over the deck. What is it like in that nest at night when we turn the lights on for Gryffin to go out? It must be very bright, but probably also cozy and warm. I first noticed a pile of dirt, sticks, and mud on the deck and wondered how it got there. Now it is obvious ~ it's the overflow from nest building.

Till all things now living unite . . .

A swallow flew into the fellowship hall at church this morning. We had just finished singing

Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
to God the Creator triumphantly raise,
who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
who still guides us on to the end of our days . . .
We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing
with glad adoration a song let us raise
till all things now living unite in thanksgiving:
"To God in the highest, hosanna and praise!"

The swallow was in a panic to get back outside. No one could coax it toward a door. A few people were uncomfortable with a bird flying around them so closely. Finally someone caught the bird in his hat and released it back outside.

Despite our hymn about all of God's creatures uniting in a song of thanksgiving, it may be a long, long while before people and birds unite in songs of praise.

What is so rare

"What is so rare as a day in June? Then if ever come perfect days. " ~ so wrote the poet James Russell Lowell. A day like this in May may be rarer still.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, flowers are blooming about a week ahead of their usual time. The day is a wonderful gift laid at our feet. 

2010 Pictures - click the photo, then click slideshow

Wild flowers

The wildflowers on East Oak Hill are different than those here in the valley. They have a haunting grace up there where the road curves, rises and falls. They bloom in secret places. Their color is touched only lightly by the sun. But when the sun does stike them late in the day, they seem to glow from within.

Remembering

These are the flowers that bloom from the plant that Rademacher's brought for Rikka's grave. Life is so short and precious. A year ago Rikka was frail, but still determined to walk with us down the road past the old white dog's place. They would see each other out of the corners of their eyes, keep a respectful distance, but leave each other a bit of their scent in greeting, watering the grass at the edge of the white dog's farm.

This year Gryffin has spring fever. He was ecstatic this morning when no one got up to go to work - it's Saturday - and delighted that the rain is past.

Trilliums

Tonight we saw trilliums in bloom at a wayside along the Chippewa River. It seems early for them. The flowering crabs are also looking beautiful right now.  It is hard to remember from year to year just when things start to bloom, but it seems most years flowering crabs are at their peak around Mother's Day.  Many years I have missed the trilliums altogether - just haven't been at the right place at the right time. They are one of the loveliest spring flowers with their large white petals shaped like a three-corner hat.

Spring!

April 18th and the fields are green. The sun has been shining often. This is Gryffin's second spring and I don't know if he remembers spring last year. His delight is evident on every walk.