Birds, too much thinking, bees, and The Beatles

I am finding this year that I have a special appreciation for birds. My mom has always loved the birds, her favorite is the little Wren who sets up her housekeeping in a tiny house hanging in the Pine beside our front porch. Nearly every year we have a Wren nest there. I remember many times my mom saying, "I just love that little bird, and her lovely little song." I always wondered at her fascination. I think I am understanding it now. Birds are kind of amazing little creatures really. They sleep, eat, work hard, build and tend to a home, care for their babies, and where I live many of them migrate to warmer areas for the winter. I wonder if they vacation and sip fruity cocktails by the sea someplace tropical? Hmmmm.... I doubt it for I have never seen a bird with a suntan! As I am pulling weeds or puttering around doing odd chores I find myself several times each day stopping to watch the birds and appreciate their chatter. I love to watch them flitting about, or busy in the garden. Recently, my daughter pointed out to me that the sound of the Cow bird sounds like a drop of water dripping into a puddle. Cool beans, as the me from long ago would say. I find it wonderful how birds keep their lives simple....they seem to have it all figured out.....work hard, keep focused,  take time out everyday to sing, and you will have a productive life. It is not that I think the life of a bird is easy, in fact I imagine it is quite a struggle at times...I am in awe of the simplicity. We humans think we are so superior...ha...the birds must laugh at us!

This past winter

I couldn't find a good photo, but in the winter when the snow lays on the branches of the apple trees, we can look out and there are "red birds" as we call them decorating the tree.

I think I am ready to follow the birds example. I guess that probably sounds silly, but I have a longing for simplicity. I realize how silly we humans are to be so pressured by our own fears and "living up to" the standards of others. How many opportunities have I missed out on because I was afraid someone would call me foolish? How many times have I hidden my own thoughts because I did not want anyone to judge me? Where has this gotten me? Certainly not where I long to be, but in time I hope to find myself there. I have much to be grateful for, and while I long for change in some respects, I am blessed beyond measure in many ways. My eyes are not closed to this, and I feel lucky.

Too often I find my thoughts drifting to an old friend. She is lost to me for reasons that have nothing to do with either of us, yet our friendship is on hold or maybe ended altogether because of the selfish actions of another. It was a good friendship, an honest one, something I find that is rare these days. I find myself wondering--why do some people work so hard to tear down what someone else has worked hard to build?  Why are there those out there who feel an entitlement to something they have no rights to? Have they no conscience? Be it a friendship, a family, a marriage, a business, or just a growing self-confidence...why are there those out there who seem to actually feel proud of destruction? I do not get it, I do not think I ever will. Obviously, there are too many thoughts swirling through my brain this week. Enough of this...I am off to the garden for some therapy....aka: weeding! More later.....for now, a song!

Jenny Wren by Paul McCartney
Like so many girls, Jenny Wren could sing
But a broken heart, took her soul away

Like the other girls, Jenny Wren took wing
She could see the world, and it's foolish ways

How, we, spend our days, casting, love aside
Loosing, site of life, day, by, day

She saw poverty, breaking all the home
Wounded warriors, took her song away

[Solo]

But the day will come, Jenny Wren will sing
When this broken world, mends its foolish ways

Now we, spend our days, catching, up on life
All because of you, Jenny Wren

Lilacs and a lovely visitor

Lily-of-the-Valley

Okay, therapy is over for today! Paul McCartney, obviously leads my thoughts to The Beatles. I was not even alive when The Beatles took over the planet, my mother tells me she was not a fan. I wonder then where did my almost 16 year old daughter find her obsession for The Beatles?? She is in major crush mode with Sir Paul McCartney.....I am thinking this is a good crush for her considering he lives thousands of miles away, is 70, and married. Suddenly I feel quite happy about her complete devotion to Paul:):) Seriously though, I never even knew I liked The Beatles...this is a situation that replays itself in our house over and over....she is playing a song and I find myself singing along and saying, "Katie, I love this song!" Inevitably, she roars with laughter and tells me it is by The Beatles. As I am certain you have guessed, I am one of those people that rarely knows who a song is by. I am generally content to just love the song or not. Who knew I was a fan too and never knew it? I'll stick to the music though, Katie can keep Paul:)

Happy Daisies!

Lady Bug, Lady Bug, fly away home!!

We've had two long days of rain this week. Yesterday, hubby, me, and the kiddos went to Pinchot State Park which is about 10 minutes from our house. It is home to bike trails, tons of hiking trails, and at the heart of it all, a beautiful lake. Austin fished and hubby helped Autumn with her casting. Katie and I took a walk into the woods and explored some huge rocks. We went back to collect Autumn and took another walk along the shore path beside the lake. I love the water, I find myself restful and content when I am near it. While walking, we found that the Welcome center (which was the Environmental Education Center before budget cuts) was open today. Katie, Autumn, and I went in to check things out and found they still have some exhibits from the Environmental Center days. Some of this stuff was from when I was a kid and went on school field trips there. It was really cool, like going back in time a bit.. They had the old "touch and feel" boxes, where you put your hand into a box and try to guess what is inside. I am happy to report that we could guess all three correctly...a bird wing, a deer skull, and a turtle shell. YAY, big pat on the back to us! What really held our interest though was the honey bees. They have a hive that is in the center...there is a wooden box with a plexi-glass front where you an actually see the honey bees working. A clear plastic tube  runs to the outside for the bees to come and go. I have no photos, I wish I did, but forgot the camera at home. I will make time in the coming weeks to go back and post photos. The bees seemed quite happy and content to ignore us and go about their day. It reminded me of the birds and that simple life thing....although they did not break out into song like the birds do, I found them to be fascinating.