I woke to what was to be the third sunny day in a row - can spring really be settling in? Or is it another Farch joke? I could hear the piercing calls of the two resident male cardinals, voice-mapping their territories. I had two cups of coffee!
While there is not exactly a spring in my step (hip number two is scheduled for an overhaul in mid-May), I was seriously contemplating work in my emerging garden. With the dogs, cat, sheep, llama, and chickens fed, I snapped the ice tip out of the way on my cane, opened the door, stepped out on the front deck, tottered down the ramp to the garden, raised my face to the sun, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. At the exact moment four dump trucks (two going in each direction) hurtled down the road in front of the house, kicking up a tsunami of road-salt dust, that proceeded to roll up my front yard. My neighbor immediately fired up his chainsaw and commenced cutting down his woodland. A school bus rolled by, kicking up more dust. A dented Honda with no muffler roared by with the bass turned up loud enough to trigger the Richter scale. As I beat a semi-hasty retreat to the house, I was reminded of that character actor that walked with a stiff leg and rapidly moving elbows. Yeehaw.
I went back inside, shut the door and made a third cup of coffee. And considered spiking it with something adult.
I resigned myself to enjoying the day on the back deck and, as I stepped through the sliding glass door - a very immature red tailed hawk careened past me and bounced off the glass. I froze - along with the chickadees on the feeder. He/she took a break on a nearby sumac tree to catch his/her breath and that started chicken hysteria. I shooed him/her away, turned around and went back in the house. I believe the chickadees are still frozen on the feeder. I have put a load of laundry in to wash, feeling that it's the only safe thing I can do, presently.
It looks like spring will be ... interesting.
18 comments:
living on the street that is the main tourist attraction in this city during a pandemic has proved to be even more interesting than usual. i honestly feel like i live on the edge of an actual indy 500 racetrack. and not a cop around to be seen.
I'm glad I live on the city limit line on a dead end street so I get limited traffic.
What timing, to see the hawk do that! I don't think I realized you were getting your other hip done. Wow, you'll be practically bionic! -Jenn
Yowsa! Memorable day! Good read!
Your description of what drove you in from the garden made me laugh out loud! What a picture you painted!
I have one of those ice tips for my cane. I didn't need it once this winter. Knock wood.
You'll need to borrow a bowler and grow a mustache to play the part a bit more realistically.
The picture of you drawing a deep breath of serenity into your lungs only to have the world explode in cacophony made me laugh out loud. I had a real need to get that off my chest. The guilt was crushing.
Indoors; the only safe space left.
That must have been quite a shockingly surprise for you and those chickadees!
Thanks for the laugh; I think the surgeon tuned up your funny bone when s/he replaced your knee!
My word! You live in a real danger zone! Think what could have happened if that hawk had put a gash in your forehead instead of the glass door! (Now how would you have explained that when you went in for stitches?) Considering the fact that you still don't have two good wheels (legs) on which to navigate, please give yourself permission to take it easy.
I had one of those hawks smash into my family room slider. It hit so hard, it lay stunned on the patio for about five minutes. Not a single bird came out of hiding during that time.
We run a little earlier than you for spring here in northern Virginia. I planted some peas on Sunday. Never grew them before. The nights are still cold so the other seedlings are germinating in the basement under grow lights. Your retirement will be good for your garden 😉
Time for my second cup of tea. Take care!
we had an adult red shouldered hawk fly into our front door once, no glass, it was chasing a small bird and didn't quite make the sharp left turn to avoid the door. we peeked out the window. it sat there stunned for a few minutes then flew away. nothing spoils nature's serenity faster than a bunch of loud traffic.
Oh man, that stinks with the noise and dust. Same thing here in the city
Or at least noisy, if this day is anything to go by...I hope you have some quieter days ahead.
hahaha! Interesting or not - Welcome Spring!
Well written! I love starting the day with a smile. :)
Yep, your only choice was to go back in, grab more coffee and maybe some handwork, and call it a day! There's always tomorrow or so we think! LOL!
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