“Take Up Your Mat and Walk” - An update on our sidelined naturalist

 

When last I wrote, and it has been some time ago hasn’t it; I was probably giving too much information on a rod being placed in my leg.  Well, HUZZAH, it has been four weeks and finally, finally, I am able to gimp about with either just one crutch or no crutch at all, depending on how much I am willing to embrace my “Egor” walk.

During the time of recuperating I can’t say I was glued to my window looking for the latest in bird behavior.  Although one thing that stands out, was laying on the coach hearing a far too frequent banging on my roof, on the eaves to be precise.  When I finally could walk about a bit, I went to investigate and there it was, a huge hole in the eave that a golden fronted woodpecker was expanding daily. In my opinion he was taking the “Mi Casa es Su Casa” a bit too far. With all the dead trees about must he excavate my house!  Interesting though.   Could this woodpecker be as confused about the seasons here as I am?  Or was he just building a shelter against the cold 

I won’t claim to know the answers but this can’t be good for the eaves.  I suppose a more disturbing thought is that he found a nice collection of ants i and was just there to dine.  Pretty large hole though.  I did double check and the earliest reported breeding is March so a nesting hole seems unlikely. We went to my daughters at the University of Illinois for a week at Thanksgiving, and now that we are home, all seems quiet. Perhaps he has moved on.

                   

Seasonal ricocheting has been the main theme for the past few weeks. From the 20’s and 30’s of Illinois, back to the 70’s of Texas, and in a little over a week it will be the freezing temps of Maine. Messes with my mind. I don’t know which part of Handel’s “Messiah” I should be singing. It feels more like the “Halleluiah Chorus” time in Texas and then it will be back to “Unto us a Child is Born” in Maine.  It all fits though, for without the prelude, there would be no Halleluiah chorus. 

Wishing everyone, whatever the outside temperature is, the joy that comes with knowing the amazing true reason for this season.   And if you hear tapping on your roof, may it just be the sound of reindeer hoofs.

 ^“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

Peace to you all and may 2015 see us all walking the trails of life again and once again having eyes to see the Glory of God that truly is all around us.