Turned to the Wall

July 9, 2009

There hasn't been much immersion in nature happening these past rainsoaked weeks in Atlantic Canada. Indeed, the only use for my kayak is to maneuver the roads of the village!

Finally beginning to succumb to the desparaging gloom that's hung low over Isle Madame interwoven with the fog, I lumbered out to the shed in my oversized rubber boots to get an armload of dry wood. Perhaps a cheerful fire to ward off the chill and damp would also serve to perk me up!

Beside the shed grows a row of trees, planted many years ago along the border of this property and the next. Now lush and thick with its summer cloak of leaves, this very morning at that exact moment they hosted a flock of Cedar Waxwings, with their distinguisable thin lisping cries filling the air. My heart warmed instantly - no need of a fire!

I stood under the branches of the trees, partly shielded from the rain, looking up - each bird sitting still on his own branch, each bird with is back toward me, totally unnerved by my presence. Time stood still for only a few moments before they lifted as one and flew across the meadow out of sight, their message delivered.

"To a person uninstructed in natural history, his country or seaside stroll is a walk through a gallery filled with wonderful works of art, nine-tenths of which have their faces turned to the wall."

-Thomas Huxley

*****

July 12, 2009

Summer has finally graced Isle Madame with its appearance, at least for a few days. This morning's special treat was a snipe (Gallinago gallinago) in the rock garden!

I've been hearing their "other-worldly" calls from the nearby wet meadows and my heart raced as I slid open the backdoor during the early morning hours to enjoy my first cup of coffee in the rising sun and there he was. I only needed to turn to grab my camera, which is never too far away.


And now that the days are sunny and warm, my favorite attire is jeans and a beautiful, bright, cheery tie-dyed t-shirt from Lizzyoos. A quick visit to her Etsy shop will reveal lots of delightful surprises for every shopper.