Hello Friends,
Well, spring is finally here it seems! The snow is almost gone, the temperature has warmed into the forties and fifties, creeks are running, and everywhere creatures are singing, calling and gathering nesting materials. It is so nice to see the rich brown of the earth and the faint, beginning green of clovers, grasses and dandelions. It seems that there is even a slight swelling of buds on some of the earlier leafing shrubs and trees.
Yesterday I began my annual spring cleaning, a task which felt good to tackle after a long, cold winter spent indoors. I began my mission with first barn work, then garage, then basement, and finally on into the house.
My heart companion, still dealing with ongoing pain and recovery from his accident, sat quietly in a sunny chair by the window and gazed out across the lawn while I worked. Suddenly I heard, "What is that large creature over by the stone circle? It's just sitting there on the ground . . .Looks like a hawk, or maybe some sort of game bird."
Leaving off shelf-dusting I opened the front sliding door to take a look. . . I could see that the bird-creature was very large, very still, and a most unusual color. Hard to tell what it was though, too far away. I grabbed my camera and stepped off the deck, hopefully there would be a way to get a couple of close-up shots. Drawing near I could see that the strange bird wasn't any sort of hawk or pheasant at all . . . .it was a huge pigeon, at least twice as big as a normal pigeon!
I walked slowly closer, then closer still, the bird just stood there quietly watching with its bright orange eye, strangely calm and unconcerned. I wondered, was she injured? . . . but she looked quite healthy and unharmed. I spoke low words of dove-speak, reassuring her that I meant no harm and was only there to help. It was only when I was within touching distance that the creature moved away, not in flight as one would expect, but just strolling along on her little red feet, leaving small marks in the patches of snow and mud.
I walked alongside for a while, still humming and cooing reassuringly to her as doves and pigeons do to each other. She paused once by a snowbank in the driveway and turned to look with fiery eye at her odd human shadow. Quickly I snapped the photo below, catching the spirit and presence of my bird friend . . . the wonder of the moment clear I think . . .
Well, spring is finally here it seems! The snow is almost gone, the temperature has warmed into the forties and fifties, creeks are running, and everywhere creatures are singing, calling and gathering nesting materials. It is so nice to see the rich brown of the earth and the faint, beginning green of clovers, grasses and dandelions. It seems that there is even a slight swelling of buds on some of the earlier leafing shrubs and trees.
Yesterday I began my annual spring cleaning, a task which felt good to tackle after a long, cold winter spent indoors. I began my mission with first barn work, then garage, then basement, and finally on into the house.
My heart companion, still dealing with ongoing pain and recovery from his accident, sat quietly in a sunny chair by the window and gazed out across the lawn while I worked. Suddenly I heard, "What is that large creature over by the stone circle? It's just sitting there on the ground . . .Looks like a hawk, or maybe some sort of game bird."
Leaving off shelf-dusting I opened the front sliding door to take a look. . . I could see that the bird-creature was very large, very still, and a most unusual color. Hard to tell what it was though, too far away. I grabbed my camera and stepped off the deck, hopefully there would be a way to get a couple of close-up shots. Drawing near I could see that the strange bird wasn't any sort of hawk or pheasant at all . . . .it was a huge pigeon, at least twice as big as a normal pigeon!
I walked slowly closer, then closer still, the bird just stood there quietly watching with its bright orange eye, strangely calm and unconcerned. I wondered, was she injured? . . . but she looked quite healthy and unharmed. I spoke low words of dove-speak, reassuring her that I meant no harm and was only there to help. It was only when I was within touching distance that the creature moved away, not in flight as one would expect, but just strolling along on her little red feet, leaving small marks in the patches of snow and mud.
I walked alongside for a while, still humming and cooing reassuringly to her as doves and pigeons do to each other. She paused once by a snowbank in the driveway and turned to look with fiery eye at her odd human shadow. Quickly I snapped the photo below, catching the spirit and presence of my bird friend . . . the wonder of the moment clear I think . . .
After a minute or two we continued our unusual walk until the bird turned and moved into the shelter of the treeline. As she slowed I reached to pick her up, but she startled and flew a few feet onto a pile of cut logs where she perched almost as if waiting to see what I was going to do next. I moved slowly forward, she jumped off her log seat, flew a few more feet and walked through some low hanging branches to stand quietly beneath a large, white-cedar tree. I moved in, reaching out while whispering more quiet words of dove-speak. The bird bravely held her ground, allowing me to gently catch her up in my hands. . . . Amazing!
Excitedly I carried my magic bird back to the house for my partner to see. As we admired and examined her we could tell that she was still quite young, the soft down of juvenile plumage protruding like tiny threads of gossamer through the purple sheen of her breast feathers.
We wondered. . .Why did this huge, dove-girl appear in our world? Where was she from? Why was she so strangely calm and unafraid? What could be her story? . . .We may never know, but one thing is for certain, this beautiful creature of earth and sky, snow and rain came to us as a very special gift. Perhaps she was sent to bring the magical message that all members of the dove family carry . . . A message of gentle understanding, loyal companionship, prophecy, peace and the unerring ability to return Home . . .
Dove Blessings, SvG
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