I took a little walk about the garden yesterday, through the mud and past branches strewn like pick up sticks, remnants of other storms.
The Creeping Charlie has already started invading the awakening flower beds, competing with Creeping Jenny, who is welcome here.
Midway, I stopped to clean out the bluebird box of the twigs and feathers last year’s wren family left. A tiny remnant of an egg cracked through. How do these birds do it; weaving sticks and twigs and candy wrappers into a prairie homestead on a post?
Here, a male cardinal flattered, dashing in his red coat. There, two goldfinch fought, mid-air, for first dibs on the thistle feeder.
The white flags of several doe signaled my intrusion as they grazed in the vacant lot next door.
My eyes wandered, looking for the red fox Tom spied crossing our little acreage a few days ago, heading first toward the east, then, soon afterwards, back to the west and our neighbors’ property, a prize in its mouth. We suspect a den nearby.
I scratched some leaves around, looking for new growth on the underbelly of the Cutoff and found tips of hosta poking through the ground. I covered them up for a few days more, then noticed the clematis and roses putting forth tentative shades of green. Nearby, the celandine poppies and brunnera Langstree are happily congregating in the softest of clusters.
There is hope, my friend, in this garden of life – and hope here on the Cutoff. What have you noticed lately in your own walk through life? Did you ever play pick up sticks?
As I was backing out of a parking space today (with Carnell, which makes this story even more incredible), a male cardinal buzzed my car.
A male cardinal is ALWAYS my Mamaw. She loved them. Her whole house was decorated with them. And, every time I see them, I know it is her. Speaking to me. Trying to tell me something.
Today, given the horrible nature of it, I know EXACTLY what it was. And I miss her all the more because of it.
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I find it beautiful and comforting that your Mamaw visits you this way, Andra, and that you are so aware of her continued presence in your life. That longing for a love one never leaves us, but, hopefully we find strength in the flitting of a cardinal and the things we continue to learn. I hope you have a better day today, dear Andra.
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How beautifully you evoke these signs of new life, Penny, and the hope that they bring. Such a poetic post, and I enjoy your Freudian slip in,’ a male cardinal flattered, dashing in his red coat’ — I’m sure he was flattering himself, showing off for the females!
Of course here, everything is on the decline as the rain persists and autumn makes her bed.
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How sweet you are to say so, Juliet, and how observant you are in catching my “slip”. I love the male cardinals the best when they are seen in the snow. Up here, they often adorn Christmas cards as much at Santa Claus! Thank you.
Yesterday brought yet more rain here. It is interesting that it is rain that pummels both hemispheres as our new seasons try to take hold. I just loved your post on the kumara harvest and am now quite anxious to start digging into the earth here.
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You had a lovely walk and I certainly enjoyed sharing it. I am viewing my spring mostly from the deck and the porch and through raindrops, but always enjoy the promise of what is to come.
Of course, I played pick up sticks. It was one of the games stashed in the basement corner where we retreated during threatening weather. I always thought it was made more difficult because of the booming thunder.
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Soon, Janet, sooner, I hope, those raindrops will stop falling and spring will be in full bloom. Isn’t it interesting how a few months ago we were lamenting “no rain”?
What a great little game to have stashed in a corner for those threatening storms and a quick retreat! ha Thunder can certainly rattle pick up sticks. I’m thinking I need to pick up some pick up sticks soon for the grands of all kinds that come to visit – or for me to play with when the severe weather sirens go off. Love it.
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What beautiful early spring images your words evoke Penny! No changes when Spring arrives here in SW Florida is (at least to my Pacific Northwest born-and-bred eye). So thanks for the memories (although we lived in Oregon, early spring would have been much the same as you describe in the Cutoff>)
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You are very welcome, Sallie. I’m sure you will see a bit of spring when you head back west. In the meantime, keep posting your lovely photos of all those birds and flowers and signs.
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Another observant and thoughtful post that is a crystal clear description of your walk. I could SEE everything plainly.
On a light note, 2 raccoons ran through the back yard by our slough yesterday AM just before dawn. The outside cats are having a war with the moles and chipmunks on a daily basis. Our cats are 9 years old and I wouldn’t think they had it in them. Do you ever see Midnight???
Yes, pickup sticks were great fun for this “only” child!
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I’m so happy to hear you could SEE everything, Marilyn. You’ve made my day, which is just starting here.
Isn’t it fun to see all these “visitors” in your back yard? Yes. We have seen Midnight. I’ve seen him snoozing under one of the cars in the driveway a few mornings and he has meowed at the back door a few times, looking for milk. We just discovered that there are five fox living under the neighbor’s shed. Should be interesting.
I imagine you spent some time picking up those sticks, Marilyn. I really need to pick up (pun intended) some soon. Wonder if they still sell pick up sticks in one of those cans?
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I’m so glad to hear that you are seeing signs of spring–some rather definitive ones I would say! 🙂 Patience has paid off. I notice the birds making nests. The flowers and the plants have been showy for a while now, but the birds getting really busy is just getting started! I love it! Happy Spring, Penny!
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Even more signs today, Debra, with the sun out and temperatures warming. Yea! Bird activity is quite active here as well. Spring has sprung, at long last. Enjoy your weekend.
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A beautiful walk, shared with us. Thankyou Penny. For once those precious signs of spring are being experienced at round about the same time here in Yorkshire, as with you ….usually, we have been able to boast of daffodils and other things peeking through weeks before you…but with the heavy snow only just melted, its a bit like Illinois here too! ( no deer roaming around my little patch of garden though). Jx
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It is interesting how the seasons have presented themselves this year around the globe, isn’t it, especially with all the snow you have had there? Today, it is very spring like and I plan on doing some garden clean up as soon as I finish here. Thank you, Janice. I’m glad you can share the walk.
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Such a lovely, evocative wander – those little touches of Spring there but hiding a little still. You do conjure up some lovely mental images for us.
Here, we went from winter to summer in a weekend and my new garden sprang into life… and now we’re heading back to winter again! Snow is forecast for much of Spain this weekend though it might not quite reach Andalucia. I do hope not!
Axxx
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Annie, I thank you for you words, and hope that you are back to spring in a jiffy and that snow will cease. We’ve experienced the same swings here. We will have a bit more cold, but, I think (hope) we have rounded the corner.
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I really loved coming with you on your wander round the Cutoff in spring, Penny, despite the storm debris. You evoke so beautifully the renewed signs of life in nature, from the courting and nest-building of birds to the greening of trees and shrubs and the glory of the spring flowers. A beautiful post.
PS I had to click on your ‘pick up sticks’ link, as we know the game as spillikins.
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I’m so glad you have , Perpetua. Thank you.
I was thinking you had the same game, different name. I really enjoy this sharing that comes about through blogging, and how we all have different names for very similar things. Spillikins. A great name for this game.
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I looked for pickup sticks and found lots of choices on Etsy, vintage toys, at a reasonable price! I would order some for myself but am not sure I could get up off the floor after playing!!!
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I know what you mean, Marilyn. I can get down pretty good, it’s the getting up that is a challenge. Thanks for letting me know. I went to Etsy and spent a bit of time having fun looking around at pickup sticks. I may go back again and see what kind of trouble I can get into.
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Beautiful post, Penny. Life is waking up with incredible speed, even more vitality than normal. It’s a wonderful time of year.
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I love it when spring finally comes, Kate, and truly appreciated your use of the word “quickening” when describing what was happening there as the sun shone in your beloved England. It is quickening here as well and is, indeed, a wonderful time of year. Thank you.
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