I’ve been sick and slowly recovering for at least two weeks…I think…who counts things when they’re sick? We probably all know at least one person who would…but I digress. The upside…I found out the wonders of probiotics. Once I identified my digestive issues, 35 billion little probiotic buddies came to my rescue. That much I’m happy to count.
Half of my seedlings died (along with me…I swear it felt that way) due to lack of water; the other half were assaulted by little food-seeking birds scratching. Once it started raining, there were the birds. It rained for days. The grass that hasn’t been mowed grew about two feet. The bunnies have awakened. I’m so far behind the critters now.
The bird that was nesting in my husband’s rubber shoes sitting on the shoe shelf next to the front door has hatched out her young and they are gone. It was fun to watch. She started building a nest in each of four shoes on the shelf before she finally decided on the first one. Don’t question the nesting habits of a pregnant female…
Yesterday evening just as it was getting dark…the days are so much longer now, it was around 9pm…a doe showed up with a newborn fawn. The day had been stormy…windy all day, raining off and on, sometimes quite heavily…and the weather was no different as it darkened. Enter a tiny fawn, hardly able to walk, shaky little legs. It was seeking refuge under the seat of our picnic table. Crouched, not lying down, under the seat, not the table itself.
It’s mother was nearby, licking it, obviously trying to coax it to a safer place, but the fawn didn’t want to leave. It finally did, though, wobbling off. Forgetting my own shakiness and weakness after not eating much for a couple weeks, I sent that little one all my love, trying to imagine how it felt to emerge from quiet, warmth and security into a tempestuous world. I wish you, little one, and all those without shelter, a place to lay your head and gather strength.
I hope to see that little one soon, leaping with joy in this green place where deer find solace.
