Zefir's Garden

Zefir.

My first dachshund named by my hubbie, Tony, after the little brown monkey in the Babar children stories. She was something. Full of beans and interested in all aspects of our life. Nosing her cold wet nose into my garden pots and projects. She taught me more than any teacher or book. A good friend of mine Stacy Green made a beautiful sign in her memory for her favorite place, our garden. 

Bluebird Meditation

Bluebirds symbolize happiness and inspire songs. When I hear their melancholic warble, a Portuguese word comes to mind...saudade:(so dodge ee) meaning a yearning for something that is lost, that you can't reach. Bluebirds know about loss, is that why their song is so haunting?

 In 1977, Lawrence Zeleny, Bluebird champion, had an article published in Time, 
"Song of Hope for the Bluebirds", spotlighting the crisis these birds were experiencing, 
when extremes in weather and manmade intrusions hit them hard. Bluebirds needed nest-boxes and the trails of hope were built. Andre Dion says eloquently in his book, "The Return of the Bluebird",
Let the tempest rage:its plaything rebelled; Bluebird would conquer."

Here at home in the Huachuca Mountains, Bluebirds sing and nest-boxes abound. All of us can take inspiration from these beautiful birds. We can get through life's challenges if we come together, work together and value all the beauty that surrounds us.

This is my meditation. My bluebird meditation...Walk upon the Mother, keep your hope, spirit, and courage of convictions beating in your heart. Shine your light, speak your truth. 

Saving the best for last, Emily Dickinson's poem:

"Hope is the thing of feathers

 that perches in the soul, 

And sings the tune without the words, 

And never stops -- at all.

And sweetest in the Gale-- is heard

And sore must be the storm,

That could abash the little Bird,

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land

And on the strangest sea

Yet, never, in Extremity,

It asked a crumb--of Me."

A crash in the forest!

What makes your heart beat faster? Hmmm...? For me, its hearing the shrill cries of the juvenile Cooper's Hawk, while the Red-tailed Hawk screeches overhead.

Yesterday, during a very still moment late afternoon, you know when it's so quiet all you can hear is the flow of blood in your ears? I heard this unusual crashing sound, one that had me running to the back door...!

Behind our vegetable garden, perched haphazardly up in an oak tree was a beautiful, juvenile, light-morph, Red-tailed Hawk, who moments before had just taken a dive on one of our Cooper's... Missed! (Photo credit by Bill Schmoker, 3/07, Colorado)

He let me get so close to him, he was that focused, calling constantly to a family member, who answered faintly from south of his position. He was definitely perturbed! A few moments later off he flew, while the adult Cooper (who had come from out of nowhere) circled above getting his word in edgewise for almost eating one of his offspring! My kind of drama!

A place to call Home

Over the years of nest box trail walking at our "Over the Rainbow" outpost in the Huachucas, looking inside those magic little houses never ceases to give me a thrill. What each family has to overcome to survive and thrive. Let's see, we had a record breaking heat wave followed by torrential monsoonal rains. And guess what? All of our bird families managed to feed their nestlings and fledge to larger horizons. Thankfully for me this year, there was no eyes squinting, carefully and cautiously opening the nest boxes to discover that one hadn't made it out. Whew! I haven't always been so lucky...

Currently we have two remaining stalwart Azure Bluebird couples hustling to get their little ones out and about before too long. Something to note, one of the couples chose a nest box in close proximity to a Cooper's hawk nest, where 3 Cooper's hawks have fledged. The Cooper's nest was assembled near our back porch a few years ago, which they always decided not to use. The Mexican Jays always managed to keep them away with their constant scoldings. This is the first year the hawk couple prevailed and with three young voices whistling and calling constantly to their parental units, I can tell you it has been fun. I didn't realize Cooper's were such yackers! And yes, I know, songbirds are their diet, but its all part of the web of life, one we have to respect. It is great to know that all feel welcome at our little mountain cottage and ranch...A place to call Home.

Always Becoming

Today was the day to see who of our feathered friends was still sitting on eggs in our nest boxes. Current counts are (2) Bluebird and (1) Elf Owl nesting pairs. Given we have cows with their young calves currently munching in the fields of summer grasses (Grazing prevents blazing!), I have cause to worry like an old Mother hen. One of our boxes took a tumble earlier this week with 5 newly-laid Buebird eggs turning to broken yolks, thanks to our bovine visitors. You see they like to use my poles as back-scratchers, which doesn't bode well for Bluebird parents. Luckily, this morning I found the persistent couple with 4 beautiful new eggs in another box!

Looking in a nest box and seeing Bluebird eggs always inspires me.

Here's to Hope.

Happy Solstice!

Oceans Day

In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided that, as from 2009, 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as “World Oceans Day”.  Many countries have celebrated World Oceans Day following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

    The oceans are essential to food security and the health and survival of all life, power our climate and are a critical part of the biosphere. The official designation of World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans.