The Morning the Windows Open Again

And the Small Bird Who Knew It First

Morning brought its own small announcement today.

Out on a branch of the Honey Locust tree just beyond the window, a Carolina Wren had taken up position and was delivering his familiar seven-note song — over and over and over again — with the bright confidence of a creature that believes the whole world ought to hear it.

And the remarkable thing is that the world usually does.

It never ceases to amaze how such a tiny bird can produce a voice large enough to fill the yard, echo across the nearby trees, and make itself known to anyone within reasonable listening distance.

The little fellow sang as though he were warming up for something important.

Spring, perhaps.

Somewhere in the quiet workings of the seasons, preparations are already underway. The light shifts a little. The ground softens. Birds begin testing their voices again.

And this particular wren seemed determined that nobody should overlook the moment.

There is probably a lesson hidden somewhere in all that — the old reminder that sometimes it takes only one voice to make a difference.

But that is a subject for another day.

This morning, the message felt simpler.

He was reminding me — It might be time to open the window.

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When the Seasons Made Sense

March 1st has always been the first day of Spring for me.

Not astronomically. Not technically. Simply.

March, April, May — three months. One Season.
June, July, August — Summer.
September, October, November — Autumn.
December, January, February — Winter.

Four Seasons. Three equal months each. Clean. Understandable. No misunderstandings. No negotiating with it.

That calendar has served well for a very long time.

There was a time — and it does not seem so very far away — when the rest of life followed that same rhythm without effort.

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The Smallest Invitation in Winter — National Bird Feeding Month

A Handful of Seed, a Dish of Water, a Safe Place to Rest — and Why Small Actions At Home Matter

February can feel long.

Not dramatic. Not tragic. Just . . . . long.

The trees are bare. The color has drained from the fields. The air moves a little slower.

And yet — there is motion.

A flutter in the honey locust.
A finch on the ledge.
A woodpecker arriving like he owns the place.

February is National Bird Feeding Month.

And it is not only about enjoying the view.

It is about helping birds make it through winter — and preparing the ones who are about to arrive after journeys that stretch farther than we can easily imagine.

 

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