nature

If You Build It, They Will Come.

Posted by Barbara Techel

If You Build It, They Will Come

If you add beauty to the world, it seems nature will nod her head to you and bring unexpected beauty right back to you. If you build it, they will come.

Yesterday afternoon, only two weeks after our new landscaping was put in, Mrs. Robin has taken up residence in the limelight hydrangea tree outside my writing cottage window. She is been very, very busy building quite the nest!

I’ve watched with delight as she has gathered sticks and materials, hopping along the chocolate mulch. I’ll have to take a picture of the whole nest as it is even complete with streamers along the bottom that fly beautifully in the wind. She is quite the interior decorator!  But now I’m wondering if perhaps this is Mr. Robin doing all the building so that Mrs. Robin has a lovely place to lay her eggs?  I guess I better brush up on my bird knowledge.

And then there is Mrs. Wren building a nest inside a bird house that I’ve had a few years, but never saw anyone take up residence in it before. She is quite comical to watch as she approaches the opening with a stick four times her size in length and tries to get it inside.

Such excitement happening right outside my writing cottage windows these days. I don’t know how I’ll get any work done with all the action. I may just have to grab a cup of tea and just enjoy the view.

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Did You Say Field Trip? I’m In!

Posted by Barbara Techel
Did You Say Field Trip? I'm in!
Winter garden rich with bunny, dog, bird and deer tracks

Remember field trips as a kid? Oh, how I loved them!

It’s an impromptu-of-sorts plan that John came up with and it didn’t take much to convince me (okay- twist my arm!).

Tomorrow we are going to have a field trip date day! After a morning meeting I have, we will head to the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory – a fancy way of saying, Milwaukee Domes.

Their specialty showcase right now is “Attack of the Giant Monsters Train Show.” While I don’t know exactly what that means, John loves anything trains. So we shall chug on down there to check it out.

And me, well, to be around lots of beautiful flowers and greenery and snug and warm inside the domes — well, that will be a bountiful feast my eyes will most happily take in and my body will most relish after these last two days of frigidly cold temperatures.

I read somewhere where someone calls this a one day vacation – though their little getaway included an overnight stay. I like the idea of a one day vacation, or as I’m calling ours, a field trip date.

We will have lunch somewhere too and who knows what else may strike our fancy to stop and take in.

But all I know, is I’m super excited to be taking a day to head out on a little adventure. I’m sure it will inspire my creativity in some shape or form and this is always a good thing. Good for the heart and spirit!

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Morning Wisdom from Rabbit

Posted by Barbara Techel

morning wisdom from rabbit

There was just a sliver of a moon in the sky as I shuffled across the deck in my slippers into my writing cottage this morning. You know that type of moon — the kind you want to jump upon, hang your legs over the edge, swing them back and forth, and wish you could live in the magic of the moon forever.

Lighting two candles, then getting comfortable in my over-sized wicker chair with floral cushions, Gidget nestled beside me, I started to settle in for my morning meditation.

But something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. It was a rabbit, standing on her hind legs, a trail of her tracks in the snow behind her. The sky was still sleeping, but soon enough dawn would break.

I was going to grab my camera to get a picture, but decided not to, instead opting to just sit and be with rabbit.

In my mind, I said, “Good morning little friend.”

I wondered what her message might be for me.

I sensed she was there to say, “Hey look, it’s a beautiful new day. A new year. A new start.  Can you see it?”

I looked a bit past her, past the birch trees she was standing beside, the winter gardens covered in snow, then toward the sky with it’s different hues of pinks and peaches.

I could more than see it as I sat with rabbit, I could feel it. I sensed this was her message to me, reminding me to start this new year in the gift of awareness. And to pause often and take in nature’s simple, but profound gifts.

My whole body melted into a sweet spot of warmth and comfort as rabbit hopped off, and I then sat in meditation for the next 15-minutes.

What a gift rabbit was for me this morning. I hope by sharing this with you today, she is a gift to you, too.

—

The Animal Wisdom Tarot card deck says this as message from rabbit:

Be open to mystical marvels, but keep an eye on your path.

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photo credit:  hoppelz.com