Easter's almost here. Death comes before resurrection, but there's this kind of anticipation of the shroud being flung off, even though we haven't got through that Best of Fridays yet. You can feel it in the blogosphere, too. People are talking about nature and life and the outdoors and . . . um, kicking things and private property.
Today I got the bright idea that I know someone with private property, with whom I could probably have a nice walk and a nice chat. So I invited myself over to Young Christian Woman's house and we went tromping through the rain-sodden forest. (It wasn't actually raining, but it has been, and the ground felt a little like pudding in places.) Let it be known that there are "No trespassing" sorts of signs in certain places on the property, but they are not overly prolific, nor are they yellow.
The walk was really beautiful, especially the swamp part. I'm serious. Have you ever looked at a swamp? There's something about dead trees jutting starkly out of the water that is so stunningly bleak and inspiring. Plus, at the tops of some of these tree-skeletons were the crackly tufts of herons' nests. YCW conceded that we probably wouldn't see any herons, though we had been wishing we would, and then suddenly and obligingly a heron flapped into view, pterodactyl-like, and perched on its nest. It remained there for as long as we did, which was quite a few minutes, and I felt some sort of benediction. Then we went inside and had hot chocolate, which was nothing to be sneezed at, either. (Although I think YCW did inhale some of the powder by accident.)
In another natural vein, I was finally reminded to check out Gustavo's blog. Gustavo is one of the men who works with my aunt in Costa Rica. I found out about his blog shortly after my visit there last autumn (which can be read about in posts like this and numerous ones thereafter--finishing here, and with a complete photo-post here). But then I forgot to visit it until my aunt's Christmas letter arrived yesterday. (I feel that I can be forgiven my tardiness, as it clearly runs in the family.) He is currently writing about trees and soda bottles. This is a good blog to read if you're interested in checking out some great stuff going on in Costa Rica. Plus I really enjoy recognising a few of the kids in the photos.
4 comments:
I like that about feeling some sort of benediction from the presence of the bird. I often feel that way too when the mourning doves begin their low cooing.
Isn't it amazing, too, what beauty is in nature in the "dead things," as well as in what lives? (the swamp, in this case).
Thanks for the link. Now it's mutual. :)
LL, yes. I think birds (especially ones less-often-seen) are so "other," that their sudden appearance feels sort of blessed. I've had that experience with unexpected swans, cardinals, and even parrots, too!
Thanks for the link!
Sisterly concern: When I see a very large piece of land with no tresspassing, I think of getting shot.
Anon--thanks for the concern. In this particular case, the friend I was walking with owns (or her family owns) the land we were walking on. If anyone had been out there aiming a gun at us, THEY would have been the trespassers.
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