Y’all! I’m wildly excited over the changes happening in Nature right now—the changes that are inching us ever so slightly closer to Spring! The most significant shift of all being the Light. Oh the Light! Since the end of January, in my neck of the woods, we’ve gained 45 more minutes of light in our days—the sun comes up just a little earlier and sets just a little later. That Husband o’ Mine is particularly thankful for a little more light at the beginning and end of his commute to work each day and I’m thankful for less of his drive time being in the dark.
The other thing that has me all a’twitter is the birds! (*snort* could not help m’self there!) As an enthusiastic bird watcher, I’ve been delighted to see the return of the robins and red winged blackbirds to my backyard this week—it’s been months since I’ve seen either out my back window!
Yesterday I noticed the return of the eagles to their nest down the road—and I’m pretty sure they’ve laid this season’s egg(s) because I got to watch what I call the changing of the guard. One eagle was settled deep inside the nest—I could just barely see the white of its head— when another swooped up into the tree and perched on the nest edge. The settled eagle stirred and flew away while the new arrival moved around, fluffed up so to speak, and settled down into the nest. Gotta keep those babies warm and toasty! I’ve been watching this nest for several years and never, ever tire of it. Eagles are so majestic and to have them nested close by, see them day to day, is downright ethereal. When I was growing up eagles were endangered and rarely seen, today on a lunch time ride I saw four. Isn’t that incredible?!?
While we are still amid winter and February—and sometimes even March—can be cold and snowy here, these signs are the hope of Spring and they are an incredible boost to my spirits while I wait for porch sittin’ season :)
How about you—are there seasonal changes you enjoy and celebrate in your neck of the woods? In Nature? In routine? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
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Eagles! How lucky to be able to see them so easily. I see the seasons through my community garden and right now it's a cilantro and beet time of year.
I saw snowbells on my walk this weekend. That's an early sign of Spring up here. My daffodils and hyacinth are peaking out of their cozy beds.
That daylight though! You know it hits my soul as much as it does yours. We tend to have more clouds because of our proximity to Lake Michigan. So the extra daylight has been life changing.
I also saw Canada geese at the park on our walk yesterday. Change is coming!