Month: July 2024

by

Sometimes the song is not a melody

Hey friend,

There was a woodpecker dangling from the new feeder the other day. A small one with beautiful black and white markings. I wonder now if the tiny feather I found outside my door was a woodpecker feather…huh. Anyway, I love the mixture of birds that have been coming to the new feeder. We hung one of those simple ring suet feeders in the trees outside our front door. You can just see it from the kitchen window above the sink. It is also quite nice to venture out onto the front porch and watch all the different friends zoom in and out testing out the taste of the day.

We picked out a selection of rings; fruity nut ones, nuts and seeds, and one even had meal worms in it. Fancy! I haven’t done a data spreadsheet as to which ring brought which birds and how many…it’s summer, I’m vibing. However, this little woodpecker came to the feeder with all the other friends. Instead of hanging on the tree, or waiting until he could have the ring to himself…he was zooming in and out grabbing snacks.

Woodpeckers are amazing. Stomping through heavy bark looking for food with the beaks. Their heads are build in a way that prevents them from flying away from a tree like they were just holding a jackhammer. It’s amazing their brains are not pudding or meringue. They have incredible fortitude those little ones. I also love that from what I can tell, their drum beat is their call. I love going about my day and hearing the rhythms of a woodpecker stop me in my tracks to invite me to go deeper into my internal rhythm. Am I jamming with my beat, am I on flow? They will provide something so primal and soothing till you find yours. That is an amazing thought, not every bird’s song is a melody. Guess I hadn’t thought about it before.

I hope this message finds you well and brings you joy. And most of all, let’s be in rhythm with the woodpecker’s protection and make good choices – or as best we can. Keep listening to your heart and creating your contribution to this big ring of an orchestra, my friend.

In Joy.

by

Bug Away Spray

July 1

Hi Friend,

I hope this day is a greeting to you with Birdsong.

This morning I am thinking about little bits of advice or impactful choices that reveal confidence and wonder. Sometimes it can be difficult to ask for help. It can be frustrating not knowing what to do. It’s alright. I am learning that in my aging process. It is alright to not know things. It is alright to ask for help. What is important is where do I seek help and what do I do with it.

Out the window in front of my writing desk, is a compilation of plants that I am witnessing their growth and tending to daily. There are a few selections of peppers and tomatillos along with wildflowers and others. Not too long ago, my peppers and tomatillos were being ravaged by…something. I am not entirely sure so I will not cast blame in print. Typically, we grow peppers, because they do well. They have become our safety plant. We have grown weary with the let downs of others and I am now realizing we have a false sense of security in pepper plants. When they came under attack my safety net was under attack as well. In that instant I thought of all the books I have read, the products I have seen on endless aisles in countless stores.  I dug deep and knew I could attack this issue from a healthy angle. I found a simple solution using products that wouldn’t harm my plants or me when I eat the bounty. I’ll admit, I had that cynical moment creep into my brain doubting their effectiveness because they don’t come in a flashy can or full of some yet to be regulated product. I spritzed and sprayed my homemade mixture and wished my plants well. Days later they are thriving and growing beyond my expectations. I am filled with delight. I am reminded to pause and wonder what else can I do that causes less harm, less stress, and gets out of the way to allow growth and wonder. 

As soon as I type this, I think about the ways in which I might apply this to myself. How can I look at my own life and add a little healthy nurturing, less toxins, take pause and think of ways to promote growth and allow time to heal and thrive? How can I be brave and ask for help?

I have learned in my life thus far to shy away from the declarations. The overarching commitments and grandiose statements that I will do something everyday or from now on or something of that sort. I have learned to breathe, do one small thing that feels right. When I forget to keep a streak going or mess up, I take a breath and begin again. So I will simply look at little ways I can do something for myself in moments when I remember to think of it and hope for the best today. Friend, I hope this message gives you a chance to think about one small thing you might do for you. In Joy.