This past week was a good one. The weather warmed up a bit and we had several good outings, plus visits to the barn. The little babe and I both did something new this week - trotted bareback! It was actually rather exciting and Kermit the pony was very tolerant. I wouldn't say he was thrilled, but he will get used to it. I really enjoy the contrast between the tall TB horse with good manners and the short furry pony with bad manners (but a calm disposition). I love both of them and am so thankful for this luxury.
Because of the cool Spring, my garden is very slow to start, so I don't really have anything to do there at the moment. My little potato leaves burned from the frost, but luckily the tiny carrot seedlings weren't harmed. My big beautiful Bleeding Heart plants keeled over during the frost and most of the fern tops are ugly and brown. The plant is not dead, but guess I'll have to snip off their brown heads.
And now for the exciting news! The warblers are here! They have invaded the turtle pond and are so amazing to see. I never really understood when birders got so excited about warblers, but now that I am seeing them up close and actually know enough to identify some of them, it is really a fascinating warbler world. They are just so bright and colorful (most have some combination of black, white, and yellow). We are fortunate to live near a warbler hot spot and they literally were just flying all around us. I encourage you to check out Cornell's All About Birds website - if you type "warbler" into the search, you can scroll through all of them. We have seen the following warblers: Yellow, Blackburnian, Black and White, Townsend's (I am 80% sure), American Redstart M&F, Chestnut-sided, and Common Yellowthroat. There were probably others, but this was all I could positively ID. I love that the little babe is a willing birder. She spots birds that I don't and is pretty good about giving identifying features. When she exclaims, "Oh, they are beautiful!", it makes this frustrating job called motherhood so worthwhile. Simple joys. Amazing joys. Wonder and awe. Curiosity. Nature provides and cultures so much - we just have to get out there and be open to it.
~The dog woods are in bloom.
~Can you spot the Killdeer nest? The mother flew off and then I almost stepped on the eggs. We are hoping the tractor doesn't start...
-See those little black specks? That is new life just beginning. Tadpoles in an unlikely spot - the middle of a cornfield.
-The path to exploration and wonder.
~Pure joy.