Good morning everyone and Happy Saturday! We are very happy that you decided to join us today! Well, it was not so cold this morning, with a temperature of -15F (-26C). And there was no wind, which was also very nice. So out I went nice and early, I actually was out before any birds were around even though it was daylight. However, the redpolls and chickadees showed up while I was out there, they came along sitting right beside me while I put seeds on the feeders and hung up the hanging feeders.

I put the feeders away at night now so the deer cannot get at them. They learned quickly that there was no longer any food available so they don’t come up on the deck at night anymore. I wish the bears would learn that fast. This time of year is when it feels like winter just does not want to quit. Even though the days are getting longer, which gives some hope that spring is coming, yet we still know that there are weeks, and perhaps 2 months more before spring arrives.

Spring. Such a nice word. Yes, I like to dream sometimes. I sit here and look out the window and dream. Of warmer days. Of trees filled with leaves. Of birds singing early in the morning. Of sitting on my deck with my morning coffee. Of tossing my coffee cup who knows where and slamming my face into the door because of a bear. Okay. Skip that one. That’s not a dream, it is a nightmare! Back to dreaming. Of sitting beside a calm lake on an early summer morning. Listening.

The quietness of the wilderness. Yet not completely quiet. A squirrel is sitting on a log, eating his breakfast. The birds are singing from trees and bushes all around the lake. Loons are calling their beautiful, haunting notes. Such an amazingly beautiful part of solitude. It echoes all over the lake. Loons from a nearby lake answer. I wonder what they are saying to each other. Then they begin their characteristic laughing call. These are called “common loons”. There are other species of loons as well, but I don’t know what their calls are like.

A pair of mallard ducks swim past making tiny ripples on the calm water. A song sparrow sings from a bush by the waters edge. A white-throated sparrow sings from a birch tree behind me. Little warblers singing their cheery summer songs are all around me. No artificial noise which is stressful. Natural noise is calming and relaxing. This is solitude. For now, just a dream. Thank you for reading today. Have a beautiful Saturday and God bless!

Steve and Muffin (who is enjoying her morning nap) Top featured image is a song sparrow.

©2022 Steve McLeod.