Driving along a country road near the levee, we encountered these deer standing motionless out in the back of a farm field. Undoubtedly, they were watching closely, ready to retreat back into the woods at the least unexpected noise or movement.
“Nature’s music is never over; her silences are pauses, not conclusions.” ~Mary Webb
Late on a cold, crisp afternoon, I stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air and take in some of nature’s sights and sounds before nighttime fell on our little part of the world.
A small flock of cedar waxwings, with their high-pitched whistles, flitted about in the sky before temporarily settling in the top of one of our maple trees.
A group of grackles shared an adjoining maple tree, the males puffing out their feathers and bellowing out raspy squeaks in an attempt to outdo each other.
A robin peered down at me from its perch in the top of a neighbor’s tree.
Then I heard them — the faint and familiar sound of a bird that I have been looking forward to seeing since they returned to their wintering grounds at a nearby refuge. Flying high above, they slowly came into sight — my first seasonal glimpse of the Sandhill Cranes.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” ~Maya Angelou
One of my favorite “relaxing places” is on a bench in our backyard. From there, I can sit and watch the birds as they busily search for seeds and berries or perch on sunlit branches to soak up the sun. I enjoy hearing the different songs they sing and watching their interactions with each other. It always amazes me how quickly they scatter at the first sound of danger, and then just as quickly, reappear as if nothing happened. I find that these little breaks with nature can be calming and uplifting for the soul.
“I don’t feed the birds because they need me; I feed the birds because I need them.” ~Kathi Hutton
The squirrels, whether because of curiosity or out of caution, often stop their hustle and bustle to keep an eye on my backyard activity. It’s always fun to catch them sneaking a peek at me.
“Who doesn’t want to know that we notice them and value them? And who might respond to us better when they feel that they matter? It probably cannot be overstated – it matters … that people matter.” ~ Steve Goodier
walking on a country road 