I love Tuesdays!
They're my mornings off--my mornings to get out, explore and catch up with so many places I only briefly see any other day of the week.
And today, it seemed to be a refreshed earth I was walking in--last week's rains have sprouted newness and greenness where before it had become brown and lifeless.
The phoebes are about to fledge.
Four precious faces, now barely squeezed in a cup.
I always check the floor beneath the nest as soon as I enter the doorway--so afraid I'll find one fallen.
Messy little eating machines!
And, it's the mess over here that caught my eye
--even messier eating machines here, too?
Four more precious faces--barn swallows, also very soon to fly.
And with almost no headroom--that's cozy!
The grapes are now about the size of green grapes you'd buy in the store--but these need to ripen--to concord purple this fall.
As I came across the field, a doe stepped out in front of me, snorted and stomped twice.
Immediately beside me, in the tall grass, 2 small faces peered back.
Our older, little pond, now dry, has filled with fresh, tender grass--a salad bowl for grazing.

And the thrush woods--very leafy and dense.
Down in the dry creek bed, the bee balm-- red dots amidst fresh green, minty stems.
The world seems alive again.
In Search of the American Wigeon
5 hours ago

























