What you see when you walk outside our house at 8 a.m. in bare feet.
Quiet morning in the woods.
Actually, it’s not quiet at all. People only think the forest is quiet. Actually, it’s a noisy squawking pounding cackling world out there. The woodpeckers drum on the rotten trees, searching for insects. Robins and sparrows and 341 other species of flying creatures call, careen, sing, bicker, chirp and tweet.
Light begins to filter through the trees very early. I’m not sure exactly what time. (I’ll know on Tuesday morning when I hop in the car and drive way down to Rhinelander, Wisconsin, to catch my flight to NYC via Minneapolis. Will probably have to depart around 4:30 a.m. although the final decision is still out.)
It gets dark late here in the Northwoods in June. In less than three weeks (the Solstice, you know) it will be light until about 10:50 p.m. Honest! Part of the reason for this anomaly is that we sit directly north of Central Time Zone. We probably should be in CTZ. But we’re not. So we enjoy sun late, late, late into the long summer nights.
Back to the woods. (Oh, excuse me. The intent for writing this blog today is to avoid starting work on my township checks and other book work. Procrastination, you know. Suddenly blogging seemed a much more appealing project! Hank, that’s why you blog, Hank that’s why you take pics...see yesterday’s blog if these italicized words seem like gibberish.)
But back to the woods. Yesterday a wee bird flew into our window and sat, stunned, eyes closed, on the deck. I almost stepped on the fellow while preoccupied with a luncheon plate, carrying it out to the deck table. The bird refused to move. It never budged when the big eye of the camera approached it–really close. I photographed it for five minutes and it never blinked.
Poor injured little bird. Finch? Sparrow?
Suddenly it occurred that perhaps I shouldn’t be coldly clinically photographing the little stunned woodland creature. Perhaps prayer and energy might help it re-awaken and fly away. I tried to imagine energy filling it, healing it. The bird opened its eye and blinked and tried to move. It still couldn’t move. Ahhh, let it rest awhile longer. And later–I looked again–and it was gone. Flown away.
Cheerful orange-breasted robin in maple
That’s when I noticed the red-breasted robin sitting in a nearby maple. It’s the papa-robin watching over mama-robin in her nest beneath the deck.
And a flicker dug for worms or insects in the damp earth beneath the robin.
Flicker
Green, green, green leaves electrify the woods everywhere! So do mosquitoes and the new hatch of black flies. Just when the woods are the most beautiful, you don’t want to enter for fear of attack. They like to lunch on tasty warm-blooded morsels. Yes, you. They would like to eat you for breakfast, lunch, dinner and sixteen snacks. Just sayin’.
What happened to our black & white world?
Our garden is 86.5% planted. After today it will be 93.5% done. Tomorrow–should all go well–should the bean fence be resurrected–it shall be 100% planted. (Dear Rain God, Please Hold Off any more Moisture. Thank you.)
Our garden. To be fully planted by tomorrow. We hope.
We are bringing our garbage to the Garbage Man between 11:30-12:45 at the Aura Town Hall. We are hoping he will agree to take our ancient vacuum cleaner. I wondered to Barry why we BOTH had to go to the Garbage Man. He explained because it’s our “date”. Ahhh….see how we entertain ourselves in the woods?
OK, I have just written 672 words attempting to avoid my township work. It is now time to turn bravely toward the checks. The birds are all chirping and hollering in agreement. The temperature is supposed to reach 80 degrees today. (26.6666666666 in Celsius, so says the Google search. There were probably a lot more 6’s but I thought you would understand.)
A perfect ideal wonderful awesome incredible gorgeous magnificent day in the woods! (Except for those mosquitoes and black flies and wood ticks. Here’s one now. Slap! Slap. Miss…)
Lake Superior Spirit 
Kathy,
The woods are not quiet at all, as you have express, not only the birds chatter, squirrels scurry about, the leave shimmer and tree branches bang and moan in the wind. It is all a very interesting experience, so full of life.
Great photographs of your local birds and the green of the wood. I hope now that you have written you got to doing your “work” ! I know when the urge to write or to photograph happens, everything else be damned!
I see you are coming to NYC, I messaged you on Facebook about maybe connecting while you are there. I am only 2 hours away. Let me know?
I am Love, Jeff
I am glad you know the experience of a noisy shimmering moaning woods, Jeff! It IS so full of life. (I did get my work done. smile.) I WILL let you know…it would be so nice to get together while in NYC. Just need to find out what Kiah has scheduled for us, first. Will send you a FB message.
10:50 is amazing. Clearly you are in an odd time zone. By the 21st, it’ll be light till 9 pm here in Nova Scotia. I’ve been know to garden in my city front yard by the light of street lamps. My eyes grow accustomed to the dying light and I just don’t want to come in.
These early, giddy days of spring are intoxicating aren’t they ? An oh, the marvellous birdsong !
Your garden is huge. I wish I had your view out my back window.
Isn’t it an odd time zone, Sybil? The rest of Eastern Time Zone is normal. I think we’re in the TWILIGHT ZONE. LOL! thank you for appreciating our garden.
Kathy – I love how you feed all my senses. Your words and pictures have me hearing your sounds, smelling your smells and seeing your sights. Poor little bird recovering from his blow. I was glad you gave us a happy ending for him! Congratulate your husband on that fantastic wood pile. Looking at it I imagine lots of sweat and hard work! Bravo on getting your garden finished and I will be looking forward to watching it grow with you. I can’t help but think what a change New York will be from your “non-quiet” setting. Have a wonderful trip and come back safe!
Susan, what a joy you are! (Both of you Susans are joys.) I am glad to have fed your senses this morning. (One of the reasons why I blog.) I will congratulate Barry~~except that is a pic of last year’s woodpile, not this year’s. He is still working on this year’s, poor lad. Psst…tomorrow is his birthday. Shhh, don’t tell. Wait a sec. His birthday is Monday, but we’re celebrating tomorrow. Glad I did not tell a lie.
Love life in the north! I remember the sun setting late and still having light at 11:00 p.m. My parents who lived on the eastern side of the CTZ could never believe me when I said the sun was just setting! 🙂
Dawn, I am glad you remember. No one understands these late-setting suns. It’s strange visiting downstate–or NYC–and marveling at how early it gets dark at this time of year.
Oh, your bird photos are stunning! So glad the lttle one revived and flew off to – hopefully – better experiences. By now, you are on your date to see the Garbage Man. Who could resist a husband who turns garbage trips into romance? Hee-hee. Maybe he’ll sing some different tunes for you in answer to your “whys” today.
Nursing a golf-ball size black fly bite on the nape of my neck. It’s officially Spring! Got bit in good company! It was lovely to see you and chat a bit before you take off for NYC. Please take the laptop in case there are fun things and people to record in Rhinelander. We know there are in NYC. So happy you will see your Kiah bebs and I know you two will have a marvelous visit. Much love and safe travels, dear heart.
Oh don’t we have the most romantic dates?? Garbage men and newspaper assignments. High school football and basketball games. ha ha…by the way I sang “your” song to Barry this morning. “There’s a hornet in the house.”
So sorry you had a GOLF-BALL size bite. 😦 That is just mean of that black fly to do that. I will probably bring the laptop. Must decide by this afternoon. Well, guess you’ll soon know! Thanks for your good travel wishes.
It’s so lovely to start this sunny Sunday morning reading you, walking in your noisy and colourful woods. Beautifully noisy, I should say. As I write, birds are chirping right outside my window; later in the forest there will be a whole concerto ! Even the dog stops, tilts its head to the side and listen to the music… or maybe he had other plans in mind ? ;)Thank you Kathy for those happy moments and have a wonderful stay in NYC.
Maybe your dog wants to go outside and join the chorus, Isa? He thinks barking should be part of the noisy woods? I am glad you enjoyed this Sunday morning respite. And I am SO excited to get to visit my daughter tomorrow! Thank you.
Amazing woods! heavenly paradise!! the birds are so cute. Such a wonderful place to live, Kathy. Through your photographs, I can feel the freshness of the lush green environment. Do you sometimes put up tents and spend the night in those forests? I can imagine having a barbeque, putting up tents, watching the stars and the moon and spending the night in the jungle! wwoooowwww!! 😀 😀
Hi Sonali. You do like pics of the woods, don’t you? Do you have forests in India? I’m sure you must, but I’m feeling geographically challenged this morning. We have–sometimes–put up tents and spent the night outside. I gave my favorite little tent to my son, though, shhhh, hope he’s not reading. So haven’t been doing that much camping lately. Sometimes it’s fun to sit on the deck at night and watch the stars and moon twinkling overhead.
Gorgeous shots! That sweet little birdy, so glad he recovered. Unfortunately we get little victims of cat abuse being brought in from time to time. However, luckily, our cats are such wimps that they let the poor critters go once they’ve got them in the house. My job is to chase them high and low, until I can free them. Who knows their fate. The downside of being a cat owner. I really enjoyed our walk in the woods, thanks for taking me along!
Lynne, we used to have cats. Oh yes. Our cats were wimps, too. They actually loved to pounce, but most of them had no clue what to do next. Oh, yes, one of them knew what to do. I will not discuss the gory details here. I am glad you enjoyed the woodland walk!
beautiful forest!
Isn’t it, Sister Bear? And you shall see it in August!
What a sweet little bird – glad he recovered and was able to fly away!! I know about those darn mosquitoes…. they’ve already feasted on all of us!! 😦
Darn those mosquitoes, Holly. I wonder what purpose they serve? You know how all the creatures serve a purpose…mosquitoes and black flies must be good for something. Wonder what?
Ah yes, the peace and quiet of the woods and country. A myth of mythic proportions. lol! We have mosquitoes and deer flies. Ugh. I don’t think I’ll be spending much time in the woods between now and the next frost, not without tons of insect repellent.
I am so glad the little bird managed to fly away. Wonderful photos. All of them. 🙂
Deer flies are awful biters. I have been getting such an allergic reaction to bites lately. You’d think they’d injected a vial of poison into the body. (I’m sure NYC has other challenges!) Thank you.
The woods may not be quiet, but it’s kind of a peaceful noise. Don’t you think? Except for that high-pitched mosquito noise, I could do without THAT! They are bad here, too! Yesterday Sara was helping her daddy mow the grass and came back into the house with almost 20 mosquito bites!
Yes, it is a peaceful noise. Very peaceful. Unless it’s 5 a.m. and you want to sleep. 🙂 Those high-pitched “skeeters” singing in the bedroom at night are AWFUL! Poor Sara…
Kathy – I’m going to take some time to recall my favorite children’s books. However, I want to wish Berry a happy happy birthday. Tell him I’m sorry for focusing on his unfinished (for this year) wood pile! Have a fabulous time with your daughter. Can’t wait to hear about it!
I will be awaiting your list of your favorite children’s books, Susan. I did tell Barry HAPPY BIRTHDAY from Susan D in Florida. He smiled. He didn’t even seem bothered by the unfinished woodpile, although he is thinking 55 sounds a little “up there”. Thanks also for the NYC wishes!
Kathy – I LOVE the Flicker. We NEVER (ever) see them on the GROUND! You’ll be up at the butt crack of dawn in the morning. Have a FANTASTIC time in New York!
Oh man, that WILL be the butt crack of dawn. It will be BEFORE the butt crack of dawn. But not for too long! Will wave when the Minneapolis plane goes over Chicago. And I am always amazed to see flickers on the ground, too. An interesting perspective, indeed.
WE ARE BLESSED WITH PARENTS WHO READ TO ALL THREE GRANDCHILDREN. AS A GRANDMA, I LOVED TO FUND SOME OF THEIR BOOKS. CHRIS AND KIAH READ FAR BEYOND THEIR YEARS. WHEN I TAUGHT EARLY ELEM, I KNEW KIAH HAD NO INTEREST IN STORIES I WAS READING TO MY CLASS. SHE ENJOYED THE AMERICAN GIRL SERIES. CLEVER STORY, KATHY. ENJOY YOUR TRIP. LOVE GA MOM
Grandma, I thought you would enjoy this blog as you bought so many books for the kids! Reading to the kids was one of the biggest gifts of parenting. Oh, yes, remember Kiah’s love of the American Girl series. Thanks for the good wishes about the trip. Having fun already!
I think that might be an Eastern Phoebe (see my blog for a comparison: Ornithology
Did you see this blog by Amy-Lynn last year about the flicker? The Flying Anteater. Looks like you got the perfect photo to illustrate the feeding behavior.
Enjoyed the rest of this article. You sure do know how to put one right into the story.
It could very well be an Eastern Phoebe, Scott. It is hard to identify some of those little birds. I DID see Amy-Lynn’s blog last year. (Although forgot about it.) Love her title: The Flying Anteater!
Pretty, grazing flicker! I love its little scarlet tattoo.
Here in Los Angeles, birds are nesting everywhere – in the eves of houses, inside street signs, in trees and bushes. Sparrows perch on top of the signs daring you to come close, mockingbirds chase ravens and cats away from their homes…Boyfriend and I have watched mourning doves raise their families from inside his garage.
Mourning dove babies will hang around home, trying their little panic-flights until they’re ready to leave home (or until their parents are sick of them – it’s the same the world over!)
Good morning, Aubrey! One of the reasons I love flickers is that they have four colors–red, yellow, black and white. You are lucky to be able to see nesting baby mourning doves. We have mourning doves, but never see their nests. I am now in NYC visiting my daughter and am amazed at the birds calling and chirping everywhere. Even in the heart of the city, they thrive. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Your entry reminds me of how much I adore the woods and especially the northern woods. Lovely!
I am glad, then, that you were able to join us in our green northern woods, dancingantelope! (by the way, cool name. Dancing Antelope!)