Decompress

Had a short time to spend at the river.  They had six units running and the water was a bit too fast to be successful at catching anything.  It, fortunately, was cool enough for a light weight jacket so there was no desire to do any wading.  I don't like to wade the river when the water is up that high anyway.  No bites, no fish.  The only thing I caught was a chance to relax, sit on a large boulder, watch a blue heron flying overhead, and the teens up at Big Spring trying to warm themselves in the sun after swinging off the big rope into the cold spring water below.  Hearing the laughter makes me smile.  

This year the free fishing weekend starts at noon, Friday, June 11 until midnight, Sunday, June 13.  That is the time that I enjoy watching others fish.  The best years have been those that the kids come to visit.  We pack a shore lunch and head for the river.  By then it is warm and the cool water is very inviting.  Sometimes, we take the canoes and just enjoy the scenery.

There is a large hawk perched in the tree outside my window just surveying the ground below for anything for lunch.  It appears to be a duck hawk.  It is amazing how they can strike another bird by diving down like a bolt of lightning and knock them to the ground.  

The big pileated woodpeckers have already begun their jackhammer efforts in the trees.  That always causes me to pay attention to where the noise is coming from just so I can watch them.  They appear to be an awkward bird until you have a chance to observe them in action in the trees and while in flight.  They are both graceful and playful.  It won't be long before the hummingbirds arrive.  Having several feeders always encourages them to be unafraid of humans and they will get very close.  If you have ever had the opportunity to be have one light on your hand, it is amazing how weightless they seem.  They are gentle and more trusting than most any other bird.  That is, until you discover how territorial they are with the feeders.  They will dive at any other hummingbird that comes near its favorite feeder.

A pair of bluebirds have been exploring the birdhouse hanging on the front porch.  I think they would be happier if the birdhouse wasn't so close to the door, or to the dogs going in and out.  I have some gourds that have dried.  I think I will drill them out and make birdhouses to hang from the tree limbs.

All of this and more are my stress erasers, my decompression chamber, and the only price is to take the opportunity to enjoy it, to absorb it, to inhale and appreciate these gifts.