Birds calls

I had dinner the other night with a close friend. We gabbed on so many topics; honestly, I can’t remember everything we covered. It had been quite some time since we caught up with each other. However one topic sticks in my brain that I thought I’d share with you guys. It was about birds. Not the ones falling from the sky like the apocalypse is coming either (-;

My friend recounted a story about finally getting to see and hear her favorite bird in the world, the Loon. With sparkle in her eyes, she told me about being on a quiet lake in New Hampshire, in the early morning and finally getting to see her favorite bird with a BABY. She said the baby was quite large and Mama Loon would have agreed, because as the frightened baby kept trying to jump on Mama’s back for a free ride about the lake, Mama was insistent that Baby swim along. I couldn’t wait to get home and find the call on Youtube: Here it is:

This brought to mind my love of a certain bird and its call. I love all birds, but one in particular stands out for me; the Mourning Dove. I must now admit to you, the reader, my early years of ignorance, clear into my thirties! I thought because I seemed to hear this bird only in the morning, it was called a Morning Dove. Why someone had to give this bird such a sad name, I don’t’ know. I suppose her call can sound mournful. But I always tried to pretend it was saying something. Something I just couldn’t quite make out. Today, that seem silly to some, but I know now that I am not the only one to do this. My daughters think their breast pumps say things to them like: “Wanna coat” or “Need a cot” and more. Maybe one time I’ll write about just that!

I have recently taken to telling my oldest granddaughter that the dove is called the “hide- and- seek bird” I told her if she listened very closely she’d hear it call “Where ARE you, Helen?”

I told her not to answer because that was part of the fun. The bird had to find her. Silly I know. But don’t you think it is fun to think that a bird will play such a simple game with you? I do(-;

Maybe my friend’s endearment to a Loon MEANS something. Maybe my adoring the soothing call of the Mourning Dove says something about me. I don’t know. What I DO know is birds make wonderful sounds if we just sit down long enough to enjoy them.

Ice Ice Baby!

First it was a drought last summer. Than came a wet fall. However, this winter…whew! Enough already!

I actually saw some crazy woman interviewed that said “global warming” was responsible for opening a “artic corridor”. What? I don’t know that I believe in all the global warning stuff. I don’t think I have studied the subject enough, nor do I care to. There are way too many “experts” on the topic for me to want to way in. But I know this;

My poor willow cannot stand much more. As I looked out my picture window Tuesday night and watched the rain weigh the poor baby’s limbs down, I wanted to cry.

She has withstood a previous drought, this last drought and now this. Do I intervene?

Well, yes I do and did. I watered the crap out of last summer.

I love trees. I always have. An abnormal attachment that even makes me cringe when I see loads of cut timber on the back of semis. I have asked the question “Do you suppose trees cringe at the sound of a chain saw like we do when we hear screeching brakes?”

Trees hold the earth down. I think that is why I love them. They hold us all down so we don’t drift away into oblivion. Tress give shade, furniture, warm and land. Just gives it all to us without charge. Amazing that we all don’t give back more than we do.

So…I worry about my tree. I pray for my tree. Stupid I know. Nevertheless, I hope that the patron saint of trees, whoever that is, looks out for and cares for my willow. Amen