Eva and I couldn't resist a walk on this January morning. The earth was covered in frost and the air filled with steam coming off the water's top. As we started down the driveway, I was amazed at the amount of birds fluttering from tree to tree. There were robins and blue jays collecting seeds and cardinals chasing one another through the limbs. As they flew through the woods, they filled the air with their songs and praises. They were acting more like busy bees instead of carefree birds. I guess they too, had realized that winter was coming and they better get prepared for the chilly temperatures.
As we walked down the driveway along the water's edge, I noticed that "Frank" our grey heron was sitting on a tree atop the water. I, slowly, creaked into the wood line to snap a photo through the trees and out over the water. It wasn't until I returned home to review my photos that I noticed, Frank hadn't been alone on his tree but was accompanied by one of our "diver ducks" that I normally only see in clusters in the fall and spring.
I absolutely love that this "nature preserve" is on my homeland and that I can embrace all of these creatures daily. The longer we live here, the more we seem to notice in these woods. Just this past season, we witnessed several coyote sightings, an array of seasonal ducks and geese, raccoon, opossum, turkey, fox and a variety of deer population that we are studying heavily. Literally, two nights ago, Casey and I looked out our bedroom window to observe a large buck standing in the pasture. It is such a blessing to call this place home. I've enjoyed nature my entire life and the reality that I will be able to teach our kids about nature in this environment excites me.
