January 2, 2013

• For The Birds

  The bird in the tree outside my window doesn't know that it's 2013.  She just sings her song in my garden every day.  She is safe there with cover to hide from the neighboring cats and bigger birds that would make a snack of her.  She hops from branch to branch eating small findings as she moves along. 

  I whistle or chirp sometimes when I see a bird in the garden.  I try to mimic their call.  I probably freak them out as they hear the sound, then look my way and see the wingless bird on the ground.  I wonder if they discuss me among themselves as they start chattering to each other.  I never wanted to be a bird woman like in Mary Poppins: the woman covered with birds and looking happy as she sings to others to feed them for "Tuppence a bag".  I don't want that many bird friends at a time, but I'm a big fan of songbirds hanging out and I do get excited when I see a new one, unfamiliar to me in my yard.  A feathered gift.

  Day 2 and 2013 is already urging me into nature.  "Come tend to me", it calls.  It's cold here on the coast and we're whimpy about it as we remove our flipflops and shorts and grab for sweaters and coats that spend more time in the closet than on our backs.  I hunt through a basket that I swore had my gloves in it and has anyone seen that nice black scarf I got two years ago at Christmas?  My job takes me into early morning gardens and I have to layer myself for the slow warming of the day.  Sometimes by noon, I'm wishing I'd put the flipflops in the back of the car, but by 4pm, I know why I didn't. 

  This is our crazy weather time.  Warm then cold, then warm, then rain.  I have Lillies that are blooming or trying to bloom, roses that have no leaves, but beautiful buds that can't make up their minds about opening or rotting on the stem as it rains, warms up then gets down the the 40's to high 30's at night, then warms up again.  Change is in the wind. 

  I was asking my son, College Dude if he had goals for this year.  He wants to study in Italy, and he said that this year he was going to like who he was more.  19 years old and already thinking wisely.  I told him that many people my age were just learning or easing into accepting themselves for who they/we are, so he has a big jump on the gift of self love.  I think it brings us to a better space for everyday living as we think less of what others think of us and more about how we add ourselves into any given senario. 

  Anyway...back in the gardens I go and the birds chitter about my presence there.  They hop or fly away, changing trees but keeping me in view as I move quietly through clipping, and weeding and cutting back so that Spring can think it was all her creation when it comes time to bloom again in March.  I just trim as I go all year round and let mother nature call the shots, with a large tip from the weather.  The birds put up with me in their space. I'm not a threat as they fly to the area I just weeded and pull tasty morsels from the moist open ground. They never leave in mass rather they watch from their perch in the trees waiting and chirping encouragment for me to keep on tending to their garden. They probably consider me part of the circle...a meal ticket so to speak.  

  Cold morning thoughts.  Have a lovely day! 

  I work for many, some with feathers. It's a good thing.

  

  (pats heart, and points to you)

  • 12:11 pm
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