Sept. 28, 2014
One Christmas when I was stressing about not being able to
get everything done (one Christmas?
Just one???) a pragmatic friend said,
“Don’t worry about it! Christmas will come again next year.”
Today I’m grateful for the good things that do keep coming around. Coming-Around
might be a second chance to improve on that Christmas that wasn’t quite as
meaningful as I’d have liked it to be. It can ease the sadness at seeing
something I enjoy end because I know it will
come again. In a world of so much uncertainty, it really is a gift to know that
some things are givens!
Like hummingbirds, for example. Earlier in the summer, I
bemoaned the fact that despite my diligence in putting out fresh nectar every
three days, I never saw a hummingbird. The day I saw two for an extended
period, I wrote about my smile. Not long after that, the hummers seemed to have
found a home in our back yard. They perched in the trees near the back door,
and we learned to recognize their chirps. A male with a bright orange neck
would hover and eat at one feeder, then perch atop the shepherd’s hook for 10
minutes at a time, apparently defending his turf, as he would shoo and peck at
any other hummer that tried to feed there. Three “regulars” were constantly at
one or both feeders, and they had a captive audience in me and Husby because we
couldn’t pry ourselves from the window – which was a good portion of the day
for about two weeks.
 |
| Hanging out in our trees |
 |
| Guarding his food |
I did some reading and learned that hummers start migrating
south as early as mid-July. By mid-September, they are feeding constantly to
build up their body weight to endure the long trip south – as far as Central
America or Panama. Well, we were happy to supply our little entertainers with
fuel for their trip, and then just as we got in the habit of looking out the
windows to see their antics, they were gone. I suppose they got as fat as they
needed to be and departed for longer days, warmer weather and more bugs to eat.
I had so enjoyed watching them that I felt let down when they up and
disappeared. But guess what? Hummingbirds come back in mid-March. Every year.
Hasta la vista, little birds, and I’ll have the nectar out for you in March!
 |
| A perching feeder encourages hummers to stay awhile |
 |
 |
| Love his iridescent green back |
Guess what else? Just as the hummingbird window closed,
autumn knocked on the door. Even though it will be a while before we see any
leaves turn here in Texas, the days are noticeably shorter, and fall (and
ragweed, unfortunately) is in the air. I love Fall and all things associated with it (except ragweed) – warm gold and red
colors, cool nights, crisp apples, pumpkin cookies (which I won’t be eating
this year, and I don’t how I’ll bear it), and wearing sweaters.
One thing does make me sad – really, really sad – about autumn, though: the end of pool time. When a cool front came through early this week with
low humidity and nighttime temps in the low 60s, I feared that last Saturday’s pool
time was the last one for this season, and that’s a big deal because the water
keeps Freddie at bay. The pool temp dropped to 76° and never got above 81° this week, but I got in every day, and each time I gave thanks that I had one
more! And I have something to look forward to, right? Hummingbirds, summer and pool time will come again!
�� Smile
ReplyDelete