I am out of town for a couple of days, and without my camera. Yes, there is the camera on my cell phone - which I haven't yet bothered to learn to use, and didn't bring the equipment to synch it with my computer. So...as little "tech savvy" as I am, I am inclined to handle this in an alternate way...as an exercise in description, as differentiated from a photographic depiction.
Yesterday was a gorgeous day back at home. I spent the morning doing various tasks and chores, then spent the afternoon and early evening out in the garden. The tilling is done, the roses and spring bulbs are fertilized, a few more weeds have been pulled up by the roots (okay, quite a few more weeds.) But what I noticed yesterday were the sounds.
The first hummingbird buzzed past me as I walked into the garden. I didn't see it - I only heard the rapid beat of its wings, with the signature sound they have. I also heard (and saw) the first mosquito of the season - a sound somewhat less welcome, but nonetheless promising of spring. In the evening, as we sat on the deck, a woodpecker was busy in the trees down by the Columbia River. We could hear her search for grubs and beetles within the deadwood that is so abundant there. And there were the magpies, who have a nest in one of our spruce trees out front. Normally raucous, when they have youngsters, they are eerily quiet. The only sound we heard from the pair (apparantly feeding newly hatched chicks) was the sound of their wingbeats as they moved in and out of the tree, across the lawn, and off to their favorite spots to find food. What do magpies feed their chicks? The adults are pretty opportunistic, eating just about anything, but I'll bet the kids are a bit fussier.
Gardening is in full force, so I'll probably be with the camera less, and you'll be getting more descriptions. It's good to be able to be out and working. Five plus hours yesterday left me with a very sore foot (and a weary back) but the progress is real. Last autumn, the most I could manage was about three hours. I am thankful for the progress, for the movement forward!
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