It seems to me that many of the birds here are now finished their nesting and are busy raising the young that have emerged. I watched two young flickers leave the nest 2 days ago and the parents are actively feeding them and caring for them where ever they may be. Thanks to all the wonderful bird sites on the internet I could gain a little more understanding as to the habits of some of these birds and have found my knowledge to be more than lacking. There are so many birds here.......chickadees, flickers, bluebirds, house finch, grosbeaks, wood ducks, swallows, great horned owls, sandhill cranes, mallards, canada geese, cedar waxwings, robins, cowbirds, yellow headed blackbirds, coots, red winged blackbirds, kestrels, all kinds of hawks and the list goes on!!!!! The sounds of young birds in the nest, young birds in the trees fills the forest with song during the long daylight hours we so enjoy at this time of the year!
There is one bird I have failed to mention who makes its presence known all through the day. The raven. The young were flighted quite early in the spring and spent most of their time making sure the parents knew where they were and that they were hungry! Now they make their rounds throughout the forest and farm learning all there is to learn and keeping us on our toes with their antics. I have observed the parents placing their young in the field near a small creek for the day. (daycare, I suppose) From here they come and go, feeding them throughout the day. While the parents are gone the young play with each other, toss sticks and pick through the piles of horse manure. Most of their activity seems to be more for entertainment value than anything else. They are able to fly and can fly to the nearest tree for safety but spend most of their time on the ground waiting for Mom and Dad to bring lunch. So interesting to watch.
I have always been observant of my surroundings and now taking the time to really observe has been so rewarding. I haven't had to go far as I am so blessed to live close to all of this, a walk through the woods, a quick canoe ride in the swamp meadow, and a horse back ride to the farther reaches of my home.
Taking time, breathing deep, watching the cycle of rain and sun, listening to the myriad of sounds around me and laughing along with the whatever strikes me as funny.
As species specific as some of these bird's behavior is, there is still an element of individuality. They seem to be able to judge what is right for them and it doesn't always match what is "normal" for them. They function within the parameters of their instincts, with a twist. Sometimes it works and sometimes it is a disaster. Like the young flickers that built their nest only 5 feet from the ground and all the young were later found pulled out and dead on the ground below. Or the young flickers that built their nest here by the tent, same distance above the ground, and all the young fledged out and flew away.
Why? Life is like that.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Practice
I hope I haven't lost my readership, it has been a while since I posted my last bit of "wisdom". Not that I was out of things to say but mostly because I was lazy! The weather was rainy and it just made for an easy excuse not to do anything.
I spent alot of time thinking about a lot of things like, youth, maturity, priorities, must-do's and things that we really don't need to do. I am not sure what exactly the thoughts around those things were but I do remember a sense of cliche! It funny how we hate cliches but they are often so true.
I have been watching my kids make decisions. I am very proud of them, they make good decisions. They have a sense that time is running out on them and that they need to do this or that before it is too late. For myself, on the contrary, time seems to slow down and it is never too late. Maybe it is all that forward thinking that many of us are caught up in, projecting ourselves down the road 10 years from now could be exciting, could also be scary!
Living in the present, is not just living, it is comprised of mindfulness, thankfulness, observation, and relaxation. Think of it as a 10 day vacation in 24 hours. Learning to enjoy what we have, when we have it, is an art. It must be practiced, as practice makes perfect!(there's a cliche). When we do this we extract every minute of every day. Nothing is lost, nothing is wasted and time does not slip past us unnoticed and untended. We have mastered time, we have made the Old Man slow down and sit a while and together we have walked through the day and savored it.
It is not rocket science this "living in the present" stuff. It is there for each and every one of us to have, we just need to reach out and take it. We may find excuses, like I did about my blog, but as we practice the newly found knowledge it becomes an integral part of our everyday life. It seeps in and saturates us and as we then move through our daily activities it oozes out towards the ones we love. Many thing become effortless, things that we thought we may never achieve, begin happening, taking shape, transpiring...........health, a sense of belonging, achievement, love,peace of mind and then some. What some might consider work to get to becomes a simple path that we are on, a river that we float down, filled with smells, sounds and memories that we will never forget.
Life has not passed us by.
I spent alot of time thinking about a lot of things like, youth, maturity, priorities, must-do's and things that we really don't need to do. I am not sure what exactly the thoughts around those things were but I do remember a sense of cliche! It funny how we hate cliches but they are often so true.
I have been watching my kids make decisions. I am very proud of them, they make good decisions. They have a sense that time is running out on them and that they need to do this or that before it is too late. For myself, on the contrary, time seems to slow down and it is never too late. Maybe it is all that forward thinking that many of us are caught up in, projecting ourselves down the road 10 years from now could be exciting, could also be scary!
Living in the present, is not just living, it is comprised of mindfulness, thankfulness, observation, and relaxation. Think of it as a 10 day vacation in 24 hours. Learning to enjoy what we have, when we have it, is an art. It must be practiced, as practice makes perfect!(there's a cliche). When we do this we extract every minute of every day. Nothing is lost, nothing is wasted and time does not slip past us unnoticed and untended. We have mastered time, we have made the Old Man slow down and sit a while and together we have walked through the day and savored it.
It is not rocket science this "living in the present" stuff. It is there for each and every one of us to have, we just need to reach out and take it. We may find excuses, like I did about my blog, but as we practice the newly found knowledge it becomes an integral part of our everyday life. It seeps in and saturates us and as we then move through our daily activities it oozes out towards the ones we love. Many thing become effortless, things that we thought we may never achieve, begin happening, taking shape, transpiring...........health, a sense of belonging, achievement, love,peace of mind and then some. What some might consider work to get to becomes a simple path that we are on, a river that we float down, filled with smells, sounds and memories that we will never forget.
Life has not passed us by.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Carpe Diem
Another new day! Yesterday we had a wonderful thunderstorm all afternoon. So much rain fell that it grew in intensity at least five times! Little creeks formed and it fell off the roof in sheets. All the while I made jam over the woodstove and felt so cozy inside.
This morning everything is shining. The horses are just shimmering in the sunlight, their freshly, washed coats absolutely gleaming. I don't think I could even get them that clean.
The wind is picking up, which is not unusual here. As soon as moisture fills the air it's as if a vacuum is created whirling the wind into action. If it keeps up all day the ground will be as dry as a midsummer afternoon. At least my rain soaked laundry will be dry!
Last year we had a wet and windy June. It was good for the livestock as the grass grew unending and everything stayed a beautiful green............not the norm here. I can't tell if all this is a sign of global warming or not.........I am sure I could find out, but it would be better to just take each day as it comes.
Knowing something like that doesn't really change the way I do things. My life will still consist of living conscientiously.
Knowing something like that causes anxiety, fear, depression, a sense that everything I do is for nothing. I have observed that in this age of information we have concerned ourselves with our mortality, hung a noose around our necks and went looking for tree.
Sufficient today is the evil thereof.
Modern psychology teaches us to "take one day at a time", break things down into smaller tasks and live in the moment.
The world bombards us with tragedy, sickness, disaster, crime, and news of things that we can't possibly affect. We end up feeling frustrated, helpless and lost, as if someone or something stands at the helm and steers us to places we don't want to go. We become fatalists, self centered, paranoid, anxious, sad, angry, and inward.
It doesn't have to be that way. Each new day is new. Isn't that the point? It is ours for the taking to build that which is lasting and important, to love, to live, to breath in the fresh air, to have, to hold, to protect what is our own by nurturing it and passing on a life worth living.
Carpe diem!.........Seize the day.
This morning everything is shining. The horses are just shimmering in the sunlight, their freshly, washed coats absolutely gleaming. I don't think I could even get them that clean.
The wind is picking up, which is not unusual here. As soon as moisture fills the air it's as if a vacuum is created whirling the wind into action. If it keeps up all day the ground will be as dry as a midsummer afternoon. At least my rain soaked laundry will be dry!
Last year we had a wet and windy June. It was good for the livestock as the grass grew unending and everything stayed a beautiful green............not the norm here. I can't tell if all this is a sign of global warming or not.........I am sure I could find out, but it would be better to just take each day as it comes.
Knowing something like that doesn't really change the way I do things. My life will still consist of living conscientiously.
Knowing something like that causes anxiety, fear, depression, a sense that everything I do is for nothing. I have observed that in this age of information we have concerned ourselves with our mortality, hung a noose around our necks and went looking for tree.
Sufficient today is the evil thereof.
Modern psychology teaches us to "take one day at a time", break things down into smaller tasks and live in the moment.
The world bombards us with tragedy, sickness, disaster, crime, and news of things that we can't possibly affect. We end up feeling frustrated, helpless and lost, as if someone or something stands at the helm and steers us to places we don't want to go. We become fatalists, self centered, paranoid, anxious, sad, angry, and inward.
It doesn't have to be that way. Each new day is new. Isn't that the point? It is ours for the taking to build that which is lasting and important, to love, to live, to breath in the fresh air, to have, to hold, to protect what is our own by nurturing it and passing on a life worth living.
Carpe diem!.........Seize the day.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Rain
The last couple of days have been lazy ones.......on my part. It rained and the weather got cooler and I jumped at the chance to rest.
Some people would consider this differently. They may say that they were so tired they couldn't get anything done. They may think that they "should have" done this or that. They may have blamed the rain and cooler temperatures for their lack of productivity and wished for the sun. They may have spent the last few days completely miserable and made others miserable in the process. That is what some people may have done.
I have learned that each day is a gift. Each day brings something to me that is new and refreshing as long as I look for it. When the sun shines we "make hay" as the old cliche goes, but what that implies is hard work. We work hard taking advantage of the long daylight hours. The rain comes and suddenly we are forced to wait.......wait for the sun.
If that is what is required, waiting, then I give that to myself. I give myself each day, conscientious of the gift that it is, I say to myself.........Take it, it is good! As a result I have noticed that everything comes right at the time that it is most needed......like the rain. The rain brings nourishment to the land, washes the dust and dirt away, fills up the puddles and ponds and numerous other things that we don't see or notice. For me the rain brings respite. A chance to charge up the batteries, think about things that need to be worked out, maybe even clean a few corners!
Rain. When it begins to patter on the rooftop, form puddles in the driveway, hang tenaciously to the clothesline and fill the air with that wonderful smell. Think of it for what it is..............life.
When I live in the moment, there is no monotony, everything moves in cycles, my life has been "inflated" by this discovery. Like inflating an air mattress, suddenly it becomes full and 3 dimensional and holds purpose..........how great is that?
Enjoy today, that is really what is most important, because there is something in it for you to discover, something just for you.
Some people would consider this differently. They may say that they were so tired they couldn't get anything done. They may think that they "should have" done this or that. They may have blamed the rain and cooler temperatures for their lack of productivity and wished for the sun. They may have spent the last few days completely miserable and made others miserable in the process. That is what some people may have done.
I have learned that each day is a gift. Each day brings something to me that is new and refreshing as long as I look for it. When the sun shines we "make hay" as the old cliche goes, but what that implies is hard work. We work hard taking advantage of the long daylight hours. The rain comes and suddenly we are forced to wait.......wait for the sun.
If that is what is required, waiting, then I give that to myself. I give myself each day, conscientious of the gift that it is, I say to myself.........Take it, it is good! As a result I have noticed that everything comes right at the time that it is most needed......like the rain. The rain brings nourishment to the land, washes the dust and dirt away, fills up the puddles and ponds and numerous other things that we don't see or notice. For me the rain brings respite. A chance to charge up the batteries, think about things that need to be worked out, maybe even clean a few corners!
Rain. When it begins to patter on the rooftop, form puddles in the driveway, hang tenaciously to the clothesline and fill the air with that wonderful smell. Think of it for what it is..............life.
When I live in the moment, there is no monotony, everything moves in cycles, my life has been "inflated" by this discovery. Like inflating an air mattress, suddenly it becomes full and 3 dimensional and holds purpose..........how great is that?
Enjoy today, that is really what is most important, because there is something in it for you to discover, something just for you.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Mornings
Mornings are like midwives. They hand me the day, new, unspoiled and mine entirely. I will love today, I just know it.
Forts
This morning when I woke up the sun was blasting through the front wall of the tent. I thought that maybe I had slept in and it was some ridiculous hour like 10 or noon...........or something like that. A quick glance at the clock told me that it was 5:30. A sense of urgency overwhelmed me............I needed to get up, to greet the day, I didn't want to miss a minute of it. As I stepped out into the early morning sunrise I felt like a child again. Anticipation as to what the day would hold. 24 hours and it's all mine. I can do with it as I please and nothing will be wasted. I can be productive, organize something, clean, cook, build, or I can play. Play- so closely linked to role playing, children becoming adults practicing what will be important to them for their own survival. There was always a thrill in playing, and mostly in planning just what we would play. Then there was the preparation, the fort building, exploring, collecting and setting things up just the way we wanted them.
I went on a walk with my daughter the other day to see where her fort used to be. It was some scrub brush and a few dead logs along the side of a small creek. To her and her cousin (both in their 20's now) it was a kitchen, a living room and a bathroom (complete with running water!). And most importantly it was filled with memories. Memories of conversation, laughter and fights............relationships.
These children had hit on something big and their "unadulterated" wisdom taught me what was truly valuable.
They worked together, built something, laughed, resolved conflict, and made so many great memories. As adults it held something so magical for them that it called them back to see, smell, taste, touch and hear the world around them from that very spot. It was a reminder of what was critical to them. Relationships.
When she saw that her Dad had cleaned up around the creek, removing some of the very brush she had called her fort, and cutting up the dead logs, she mourned the loss of that special place..............a place she called home.
My fort was my home. My home is my fort. Living in the present like a little child, counting only what is vital to that moment creates such strong and scented memories. I want that. I want to make every minute count in my life. I will create a room full of memories that I can revisit over and over again....................just like I did my fort.
I went on a walk with my daughter the other day to see where her fort used to be. It was some scrub brush and a few dead logs along the side of a small creek. To her and her cousin (both in their 20's now) it was a kitchen, a living room and a bathroom (complete with running water!). And most importantly it was filled with memories. Memories of conversation, laughter and fights............relationships.
These children had hit on something big and their "unadulterated" wisdom taught me what was truly valuable.
They worked together, built something, laughed, resolved conflict, and made so many great memories. As adults it held something so magical for them that it called them back to see, smell, taste, touch and hear the world around them from that very spot. It was a reminder of what was critical to them. Relationships.
When she saw that her Dad had cleaned up around the creek, removing some of the very brush she had called her fort, and cutting up the dead logs, she mourned the loss of that special place..............a place she called home.
My fort was my home. My home is my fort. Living in the present like a little child, counting only what is vital to that moment creates such strong and scented memories. I want that. I want to make every minute count in my life. I will create a room full of memories that I can revisit over and over again....................just like I did my fort.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Birds
Every morning the birds shed the sleep from their feathers with a quick shake and get to work. They have very little time for leisure. First they must preen and present themselves as having the best genetics for the survival of their species,and then upon being accepted, comes the task of building a suitable home for their mate and certain family. Afterwards they are busy with sustaining their featherless bundles of joy. "Food, food, food" is the constant cry that rings in their little ears! Still this is not enough, they must teach their children! Teach them to fly, teach them to forage, teach them what is good and what is bad and teach them confidence. Once this goal is reached they then release their little band of ruffians on the world and hope for the best. Sound familiar?! If you think about it long enough it is almost eerie. If you observe you get to see it. If not, it passes you by, happening all the while.
Nature reflects truth.
The most important part of this analogy (in my humble opinion) is that all the time the birds are so hard at work, so diligent.............they are singing!
Can you hear them?
Nature reflects truth.
The most important part of this analogy (in my humble opinion) is that all the time the birds are so hard at work, so diligent.............they are singing!
Can you hear them?
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