Snow Falling on Chickory

*overwhelmed* Here is a re-run from last February. I hope you don't mind the re-post. If its new for you, I hope you enjoy this wintery valentine to the goodness and sweetness of Home.

Today

Waking to a red sky is a good indicator of a tumultuous weather day ahead. The clouds flew by like time-lapsed footage. The wind was crazy strong - maybe 40 miles an hour at times. Little wind devils kicked up the golden carpet of pine needles and spun them into columns. Anxious to return to my granite outcropping on the mountain to experience the weather, I left in the shirt I slept in and yesterday's jeans. 

Trout trotted ahead and then disappeared for a time. She returns from an unexpected direction before leaving me again and I know this will be one of many reconnections throughout our separate but together journey.  I startled an owl and marveled at how silently he flew away. So big to move gracefully through a thick stand of trees and then disappear altogether. Yesterday, the big bird sighting was a pair of pileated woodpeckers hacking away high on a dying virginia pine.

A red tree caught my eye and directed me to the tiny nest it cradled.

The wind thundered like a waterfall with layers of sound from whispery evergreens and the brittle rattle of dying leaves clinging to the tips of hardwoods. ( 33 second video)

I did not expect to find this turtle way up here but later it made sense considering how much water is stored in the depressions and holes in the granite. There is also an amazing diversity of tiny plant life there too:

Back home after the hike I arranged last year's scarecrow in the trees by my driveway. It is

very halloween appropriate - the fabric is rotting off of its stick form and his stuffing is falling out.

I went back out in the late afternoon for a short walk and stood at the top of the driveway to just listen.

I could hear 3 layers of insects: one a constant hum, another a rhythmic pulse of crickets and finally the occasional chirp of yet another species. I could hear a branch rubbing against another in the wind making a mournful sound and a barking dog far away. What seems really quiet when I am not paying attention is actually very alive with sound.

When I returned it was magic hour and some of the locals decided to take advantage of the open door...

Peggy Jean!

rainy night in jawja

Gladys Knight would have been inspired last night: yes indeed sometimes it feels like it is raining all over the world. creeks rose, traffic accidents multiplied and lake residents rejoiced. the news in the background seemed to delightfully report each and every mishap on the slick slabs around the city.

as it turned out, i declined to spend 5 days at chickory with V as we had planned. our marriage cannot survive that many days in such small quarters. love requires space; in my case, lots of it. So when the great outdoors are not an option, the charming little cabin becomes dangerous ground.

In Atlanta, the yard turned green over night with the drenching, and those greens seemed all the more brilliant against that gray rainy sky.

Cherry blossom petals swirled around like fake opera snow in the big wind that followed the rain. the petals were sprinkled over everything in the yard. the red buds are blooming and the dogwood buds are burst-ready swollen and a most agreeable color of milky green white.



i took some video of raindrops on a puddle to add to my "water" collection of video. i was quiet and still long enough to watch the pine needles cones and redbud petals move together as if magnetized to form little dams. all i could hear were the chimes from the porch and a mournful chipping sparrow -the one who's song has those three minor key notes at the end of the cycle - and i thought of my little Lisieux; if she had a song it would be like that.

Lisieux is still the smallest and most insecure bird of the four. She seems to gravitate to Ski and use him for shelter. something is wrong with one of her eyes it stays in a narrowed position. even with a magnifying glass i can't see why that would be.

she really doesnt yet understand how to take the water from the gravity feeder. I squeeze it so drops come out and she dashes over to get her water - im trying to avoid putting the other waterer in because when they scratch up their bedding it tends to get in the water tray and suck out all the water leaving the well dry and the bedding wet. so the gravity waterer is much better for them. when i take her up to be petted and photographed she still shivers and stays in a very frozen position.

Easter is the opposite. she (or he) is a very busy active bird. when i come to their pen to say hello Easter always rushes up to be first in line; never shrinking from my hand and seems to look forward to getting out of the pen. it was hard to get a good photo of Easter because he (or she) is always flying to me! This bird is a talker too. I really am charmed by this chick but still dont think ive gotten a beautiful photo of her/him.

I think Avila might be a rooster. if so, i should probably reconsider a proper name more fitting of a little tough guy as this pose indicates. and look at that comb! the most developed of all four chicks. This is a beautiful little chick - i should post a close-up of the lovely feathers. and the furry part of him is still a pretty pale yellow. Avila is strong; its hard to keep him in my grip he fights so to be free. as soon as it is dry and warm im going to give them some supervised outdoor time in the yard, and i know this chick will relish that time.

Ski is so funny. we only thought he was awkward before. Hes way bigger than the other birds. Im trying to figure out how i am going to transport these birds back and forth from city to country.Will i need a carrier for Dovey, Ski and then the other three? gah! Ski is the chick i can always count on to dooky up my clean white background sheet. and then he inspects it "did i do that?" oh yes you did!

I decided not to photoshop out Ski's shite -all three of these are his! (or hers) This bird reminds me so much of something....could it be this?

he fits right in, doesn't he? this truly was the right bird to choose for Moi's virtual pet. They are kindred spirits.

The man who said he was going to wait until May to till up my field for a garden must have changed his mind. When i arrived at chickory last tuesday, the vegetable patch was tilled and so was the wildflower area. Im glad -i was getting antsy about it.


I ordered a nice chicken coop from the UK for the chicks to have in the city, but i made V promise to build a bigger one for chickory. I want to get a garden shed and have V build a little deck around it and have the coop nearby so we have a hangout place out in the field. the garden is on the other side of the property from the cabin because that is where the sun is. I know im going to want to be out there -and where the chicken church coop is now its too dark and the hens wont lay well. so we have much to do. Im picking out plants now - i have a few seed packets: a mixed pack of summer squashes and some multi-colored cherry tomatoes. Also have some multicolored radishes but those are for fall. I m going to buy whatever they have at the country co-op; i figure they most know what they're doing.
while i dreamed and worried about the garden i went into the creek bed to see if i could find any red efts: juvenile salamanders. or are they newts? i forget. either way, I didnt see any. It might be too cold still. Trout had a big day out which was important. its been raining every day since. that's why V calls her "pouty trout". she is very pitiful when it is rainy. it can get quite tedious -the woebegone looks, the sighs and groans, the low tail. The unreliable hysterical drama queen weathermen are promising a sunny day tomorrow. I expect the Dog to return to a more companionable pet if so.

i hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.