My Wild Life

Sometimes people ask me " What do you do all day in the country ?" , implying that they would die of boredom if they were to live out here in the country, far away from friends, neighbors and people generally. Actually,we have lots of unusual neighbors and quite a lot of excitement.Here's what's been happening the last few days :
the swallows have returned , filling the barn with their chatter and their amazing aerial acrobatics. I am greeted by them every morning when I go to feed, and suddenly the quiet barn is filled with excitement and life once again.


This is not a swallow, as you may have guessed, but a wild turkey, who was strolling on the front lawn the other morning, just sightseeing. He inspected the pen where the guineas live and both turkey and guineas stared at each other in amazement for a long time. I wonder what went through their little birdie brains ?

And then there's Mr. Fox, who hangs out under the birdfeeder in the backyard. I think he may be the rascal who is emptying the suet cage every night, but we have yet to catch him at it. Or maybe he's just dropped by for a little swinging ?

Next up are the snapping turtles, sunning themselves on a log in the pond. Mamma Turtle is the big one on the left and then come all the babies lined up neatly in a row.

In a tree above the pond, I spied this handsome fellow - or possibly madam. There's a nest in the tree and a baby eagle has been seen !

We also have less exotic neighbors who drop by for a little slurp on the cheek once in a while !

And tonight, while I was having a last walk around the house, I saw the first hummingbird of the season. It makes me so happy to greet the swallows and hummingbirds after a long winter's absence and to realize that once again they have found their way back to the farm where they spent last summer.
It's deeply comforting to realize that we are all part of the great wheel of the seasons , which is at once familiar and predictable in its regularity and fascinating and exciting as each detail unfolds in turn.

So what do we do all day ? We open our eyes and pay attention to what is happening all round us and appreciate the incredible things we can discover by doing so.