Here we all are.. we have stepped into another new year.. we have been through another full cycle of another beautiful year. This however, is a year so different than any year any of us here on earth now have ever experienced.
I know this, and I can feel this with all of my being. Things are changing, everything is always changing, but it is different this time. The universe, the earth, the entire energy is crying out for healing, and crying out to be re-noticed.
Like I have said so many times before, our ancestors before us were so much more connected, to each-other and to everything around them. They knew the plants, the animals, they knew on a personal level everything around them that could be of use, and so importantly they knew and valued the exchange of energy. Giving and receiving on so many levels.
I was taking my daily walk out to the fields today, It
was a little cooler today than it has been. The sky pretty overcast, letting us
know that at any moment it could pour down and delay some of this planting we
had set on for today. I love to close my eyes as I am walking and just listen.
The birds here are amazing. There are so many sweet songs that go on further
than my hearing will allow me to take in. We have quite a collection of so many
kinds of birds, and the melody change walking from the woods to out in the
fields is like changing the channel on the radio. The fields are so full of
killdeers and red-winged blackbirds right now. The song of these two alone
would satisfy me fully. The red-winged black bird males love our nature field,
all of the nice tall slender left over stalks from last years wildflowers make
excellent standing grounds for them to perch their amazing bodies and blast out
their impressive song to all of the ladies around.
The killdeer have become quite fond of our mounded
lavender rows. Their little legs seem to get much more running and exercise
than most birds. If you have never seen a mother bird put on the most
extravagant display of distraction, you have not been close to a killdeer nest!
Last year was the first time I experienced this. It was early spring and I was
checking out the winter ice damage in the rows.After hearing several displays of a racket coming from a nearby bird, I
was so alarmed to see that this one seemed to be severely injured. It flapped
around horribly on the ground, one wing spread out and curved. “Aw! poor bird”
I was already thinking of placed I could call that surely would know how to
save this birds wing. I turned towards it, changed my direction and up up and
away it went. Good as new. That mamma sure did distract me from the direction I
was heading.. straight towards its nest it had decided to make in the middle of
a half dead lavender plant. That is a smart bird! Also one of my favorite to
listen to may I add. Their tweeting repetitive sound, their white ringed necks,
and there little slender legs make you feel like you are on the sandy ocean
shore listening to a bird that would be nested in a rocky outcrop by the edge
of the ocean water.
As I walked down the driveway this year I saw the same
marvelous display, although I was not being tricked this time. The Earthship
has now become a wonderful nesting community for them, and I am very happy to
open up an apartment community for these beautiful creatures anytime.
The barn swallows have not yet returned this year. I
reluctantly decided removing the mud packed nests in the barn from last year
was the only direction I could go with them. Not much further in the season in
2007 they had chased out all of the red-winged black birds, killdeer, mourning
doves, and any other flying creature around. Although I have a childlike
passion for birds, these mean little bullies are no longer welcome on this
harmonious farm. Even if they do return I believe our killdeer population has
definitely outnumbered what they used to be and maybe they could work something
out.
My next objective here is to help the little traveling
hummingbirds find the acre of lavender yummyness. They have returned like they
do every year to the trusty feeders we have in the woods. Although lavender is
said to be a favorite of hummingbirds, I have come to the conclusion that since
we have no blooms early season when the scouts are around, they are missing
what is there for them the rest of the year. I had wanted to get the feeders
closer to the field for them, but may have missed my early season opportunity
for that. Hopefully with the helpful watch of visitors to our farm this year we
will see that they have discovered it on their own! I’m excited to see if we
gain these tiny marvels to the fields as well.
The simplicity of the birds, and the way they bring so
much joy into every day field work is such a simple blessing that could easily
be overlooked if there was not so much work to do out there! No matter how much
rush, or business, or list of things I am not sure how to accomplish before the
next day is in my head, soaking in the sweet songs of the birds instantly melts
it all away. So with the bucketful of nightcrawlers in the kitchen and the
luminous moon peaking through the cloudy sky, Its time to get some rest, and
look forward to what will come as the season moves on.
Season is here and the great spring rain has past for the next several days leaving us with warm temperatures and an abundance of MORREL mushrooms waiting to be harvested.
Hunt on the Eastern and Northern facing slopes. They can be found under honey suckle bushes, leaves, trail edges and near any old fire burn pile. Definitely check around your back yard fire pit. There here so be vigilant and have a great hunting season this weekend. I know we will in between the field preparations.
Come back and post your harvest for all of us to see. We will also be posting some Morrel recipes after this weekend.
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