A Little Bit of Heaven

Today I had a visit from my oldest sister, Mary, the second in line of my family of seven children. Mary is quiet, kind and calming. It was good of her to visit me. I needed it.  Today marks week number two post-op. I am doing better but still sore and very tired. 

She took me on a ride today, the first I have been out for a non-medical reason. We went to what everyone around here calls "the flats". 

This time of year the flats are abundant with birding activity. Mary and I share that love. We are happiest with binoculars stuck to our eyes, heads swinging to and fro accompanied by an unending flow of utterances coming from out mouths when we see birds. "Oh look, see that oak tree? Look at the upper left side. WHAT IS THAT? I don't know that bird! Do you think it is a......"    and off we go with our speculations, comparisons and most times before we can get a good look, off the bird goes. 

Today we were lucky. We saw-

1. about 500 or more swan(tundra or trumpeter or mute?) Of course, I forgot one of my 15 bird books so we couldn't i.d. specifically. It was a breathtaking sight though. I have never seen so many together in my lifetime!

2. a horned lark (a very sharp, almost English looking butler type of bird)

3. an American Bald eagle (how exciting!)

4. gulls

5. many varieties of ducks ( couldn't i.d. most of them, no book!)

6. one nuthatch

7. robins

8. chickadees

9. one pheasant - a very proud cock looking for a mate I assume by the way he was strutting.

10. a multitude of Canadian geese

By the time we got home, I was very tired but it was a delightful time.

Our "sister days" go so quickly. I always remember something I want to show to them or tell them after they go. 

All of our times together are so precious. One of my fondest was when four of us went to Ireland together for a two week trek around the green isle. We laughed, had collective trips down memory lane and thoroughly enjoyed each other.

A Little Bit of Heaven

(Author Unknown)

Have you ever heard the story of how Ireland got it's name?

I'll tell you, so you'll understand from where old Ireland came.

No wonder that we're proud of that dear land across the sea,

For here's the way me dear old mother told the tale to me.

Shure, a little bit of Heaven fell from out of the sky one day,

And nestled on the ocean in a spot so far away;

And when the Angels found it,

Shure it looked so sweet and fair.

They said, "Suppose we leave it, for it looks so peaceful there."

So they sprinkled it with star dust just to make the shamrocks grow;

'Tis the only place you'll find them no matter where you go;

Then they dotted it with silver to make it's lakes so grand,

And when they had if finished, shure they called it Ireland.

'Tis a dear old land of fairies and of wondrous wishing wells;

And nowhere else on God's green earth have they such lakes and dells!

No wonder that the Angles loved it's shamrock bordered shore.

'Tis a little bit of Heaven and I love it more and more.

Have a 

good day lassies!

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Eau de Printemps

Today I ventured outdoors - aah, the perfume of spring!

 It is a mixture of mud, crushed evergreens under my feet and the fresh scent of the wind whipping through the trees but above all, the hope in your senses of better days to come.

I saw two robins, two mallards, some juncos and heard a woodpecker, probably a hairy or downy. Also, I viewed much evidence of deer and the flattened out, but resistant fern, as green as ever. The creeks have sprung to life, sort of like when we used to step out of the old hated girdles.

 

The water ripples were chorusing freedom and excitement if you listened. The wind was a little extreme at times to show that winter still was hanging on by blue fingernails but the sun was showing proudly, patiently through the clouds as if to say, "just a matter of time, my friend, just a matter of time."

The best thing I like about spring before April 1st is NO SNAKES! I usually see them on that day but not before so I feel like I can enjoy traipsing about without fear of them slithering near me during the next few weeks. I have always feared them. I think because they don't bark, chirp or otherwise make any sound. You look down and THERE it is!

Over the years I have been kinder to them. I give them three chances by carrying them away on a shovel (if I can deal with them slithering around). If it keeps coming back, it goes to the great hole in the sky. I hate them in the flower bed! I get so into my flowers and happily working and digging around, pretending I am Martha and that's when, BAM!, there it lies amongst my perfectly poised posy. I realize it is helping me out with the bugs but I can't get the creepers out of my blood.

It doesn't help when you hear stories about the 4-1/2 foot python that recently found its way into a kitchen within our news area!

Spring is a contradictory time as well. Along with the first show of buds and creeks, is  the graffiti of disgust. When I ride in the car, the landscape that whizzes by the window displays scenes as if nature has not tidied up her dirty bedroom in a long time - garbage bags, cups, cast-off tires, dearly departed Bambi's and everything else imaginable. We have become a nation of waste and laziness. If the garbage is near your residence, why not pick it up. Even if you didn't put it there, it degrades your home and makes the surroundings look like you live in a garbage dump. It takes such little effort to beautify a home. 

Plant a few flowers, pickup, mow your lawn and take a trip to the dump then sit back and enjoy the view!

Enough said.

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