Eagles Fly!

Here begins the rush to spring. By now everyone is passed even tolerating snow, slush, ice and frigid temperatures! I mean it really makes the journey in to work yucky!

Now, of course that's not true for the real winter enthusiast, they are those who wait for the ski trips and snow mobile rides that make the winter fun. But why is it that we don't like winter as a culture? If you think of the Native cultures that live up in Canada and beyond you know there are many descriptions and names for snow. So why is it that we get cabin fever? Some of it has to do with our culture that doesn't value the natural world much except in a picture frame, or if we do we want to keep out there - in the National Parks, or the wilderness areas. We're in the modern world and we cannot let this winter weather affect our commute to work, or to where ever we have to get right now.

If you died as a wealthy man or woman, but never experienced a sunrise sitting on a porch as a forest came alive you've missed the world. If you haven't watched the birds at a feeder or seen a hawk or an owl on the prowl for food you've really missed out on nature's beauty. John Denver's song is right and fits me perfectly we are so into technology and miss what makes life really tick - the gifts of nature all around us.


He was born in the summer of his 27th year
Comin home to a place hed never been before
He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again
You might say he found a key for every door......

And the colorado rocky mountain high
Ive seen it rainin fire in the sky
I know hed be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly
Rocky mountain high................

(Check out the whole set of lyrics the next time you get the chance, and appreciate the gifts all around you.)

Winter is a Thoughtful Season

Winter has returned after days of 50 degree weather here in the North country. We have about 2 inches of a slushy snow and temps are dropping. Isn't it funny how the weather affects people? For me winter means a time of solitude and thought, and enjoying the total change it brings in my yard.

I love watching the foot prints in the snow of our area critters because it gives an idea of what we have in the area. I see the plodding tracks of a large racoon, bunnies, squirrels and the occasional cat. This time of the year I see the leftovers of our local hawks as well. They are also wonderful to watch in the sky circling their territorial areas. We even have a small flying squirrel nesting in one of our trees that if I stay up late enough I can enjoy at one of the many bird feeders in our yard.

This off season for me is also a time to order seeds and prepare for spring in my garden. I have new flowers every year with the many annuals I plant, but also look forward to those that push through the earth every spring.

The garden is a place I enjoy all year long because even in winter I have birds using my trellis' and bushes around the garden as hidding places. My dogs love to jump in the middle of the holly bushes to send the birds exploding in every direct every time they are in the yard. They sniff through the lilacs and butterfly bushes in search of fun since neither are hunters.

I enjoy the winter because it is a time for thoughts with out the hurry to get out and weed or care for the garden. It's where I meditate and find peace even in this the coldest time of year.