Seasons

House Hunting    

I am fond of saying "God sends pets and other animals to us to distract us from our problems!" This has certainly been true in my own life, even on those days when my own pets are getting into mischief!

Here, along the Central Coast, during the first week of January, we have been blessed with a few days of 70 degree weather. This glorious respite from last weekend's rains, now coupled with the warmth of the sunshine, will hasten the transformation of our parched and golden hillsides, to carpets of green grass, followed in the coming weeks, by our annual displays of purple lupin and golden poppy wildflowers.

The pet doves in the aviary in my patio are enjoying the sunshine, fluffing their feathers, sweetly cooing while they preen, and groom each other, as "lovey doves" are known for doing!

I remain busier than ever, taking calls from patients, both newly diagnosed, and "veterans" of multiple surgeries and chemo treatments, while I am writing, editing and publishing the winter issue of the newsletter for cancer patients. I am attempting to decipher the new postal rates which become effective at midnight! I have been too busy to even prepare for my upcoming trip to the snowy east coast for surgery!

Today, in between errands and while hauling groceries in from the car, I heard the distinctive sound of the hummingbird that visits, seasonally, near my front door. If you have read the story I wrote about “Pepito” last year, you'll recall that a hummingbird built the teensiest next in a flimsy bamboo plant, near my front door, last summer!

For sentimental reasons, I declined to take that nest down after Pepito grew up and flew away last year. Although the bamboo plant supporting his nest (which was so expertly woven and intertwined in the branches by his industrious mother) is scrawny and frankly, unattractive, I did not want to cut the bamboo down, as I preferred to protect that worn little nest, exactly where Pepito's mama had built it.

Therefore, today, imagine my exclamation, while carrying the groceries, I heard and saw a hummingbird approach the nest, investigating and touching it with it's beak, over and over and over again!

Was this hummingbird the mama, evaluating the worn nest to determine it's durability for the next season's precious egg?

Or, was this Pepito himself, returning to his birthplace, and now, as an adult, re visiting his original home?

I do not know! But I was delighted to see this beautiful creature, hovering with its wings shimmering in the California sunshine, while recognizing that this was, indeed, a hummingbird's nest!

I am glad that I did not prune that bamboo plant last year (and those of you who have visited my home know how much I scrutinize my garden!)

Now I feel enthusiastic and am wondering weather another little "Pepito" will be raised there this summer near my front door this year!

This experience was a lovely interruption during a busy and mundane day! I hope your life is interrupted by beautiful little "distractions" that inspire you to enjoy beauty, wherever it comes across your path, or, right to your doorstep!


An excerpt from “Where the Red Tailed Hawk Flies”
Copyright January 2006 by Gabriella Graham/Red Tailed Hawk Publishing