The tapestry of summer is a learning experience. The five senses awaken and reach far beyond the early signs of spring. Sight and sound combine to serve as the teachers of nature. Who the teachers are is the question. The summer of 2007 has been no exception to this. It has brought with it uncaptured memories.
A storm began while travelling this summer. Streaks of lightening darted across the river forming a mirror image of reflections. The rain followed along with it to create a chorus of sound. The sky glowed with lightening.
It is the warm months during which a range of wildlife frequently interacts with humans. The question exists about who needs the other more. Since the beginning of time, animals have existed. The bond between animals and humans is irreplaceably undisbutable.
A variety of critters found a vacation resort at our home this year. This began with a few scattered squirrels who found birdseed a more than suitable diet for themselves. Thoughts of colorful birds being the center of attraction were quickly set aside. Chipmunks were the next to arrive on the scene.
The outdoor diet quickly expanded to include intersting seed mixtures. A solution being looked for as August approaches is to keep the stash of the chipmunks exclusive. Added to this mixture are the occasional bluebirds and cardinals who approach the scene. They seem to have a sense as to who the party is for and act with a sense of being intrusive even if it is only for a moment.
Groundhog Day was months ago. Walking into our garden one evening a week ago, that would not have been the first guess that was made. A groundhog had become a presence without a shadow. He has become a guest with an unspecified vacation time choosing the outdoor deck like people select a vacation cabin.
You can read more at Action Voice in Fairfax County History at
www.topix.net/forum/holidays/groundhog-day/TJ6D215F7JJ458RDD .
It was late one evening during the same week that the French doors of the house were open. A breeze wafted through the rooms of the house. A crashing sound was heard from the kitchen area. A racoon had invited himself into the house. Without hesitation, he found a bag of birdseed and rapidly sunk his teeth into the unopened bag.
A wave of panic swept through my entire sense of soul. The enormous size of the racoon was a frigtening sight. He had sporadic threatening stripes covering his entire body. He seemed to be at a loss that I was not much more welcoming towards him. He was missed after he was gone.
The long days of summer are starting to become shorter. The skies reluctantly provide less day light hours. The critters that inhabit the outside world are still seen and heard in full swing. It is their kingdom.
Late yesterday afternoon, a rustle was heard. A squirrel was seen scampering from the deck. A tortilla shell had fallen into a corner as a leftover from a recent dinner. The squirrel had stolen it from the deck. Watching the squirrel running up a tree, I wondered which one of them was the real treasure.
Shannon Bridget Murphy
Tags:
chipmunks, daylight hours, five senses, groundhog day, racoon, squirrels, threatening stripes
Posted at: 02:35 PM | Add Comment
| 
| 
del.icio.us
