big celebration

upper and lower lakes

on sunday morning

i picked rich up at 6.

i was early. 

he was earlier.

just before we turned into the spot

five sandhill cranes flew over.

new to me.

exquisite, he said they're likely here now

they've been moving east.

 we took an easy hike out

to the observation tower

past a termite mound

and early morning birds and mosquitoes everywhere,

rich set up the scope and proceeded to teach me all about the birds

who have familiar voices 

and flicks of colors

but he taught me to see more

 he carted in binoculars, scope and camera.

i had my little red canon.

 a beaver dam

around this were nesting loons 

and some big fish, eating

and occasionally slapping on the surface

showing off fins.

 the loons were calling 

their great calls

paired up 

and one on a nest

 a sundog danced

a blessing on our time together.

 abundance

 abundance

 rich is as close to a brother as i will ever have.

a nephew, seven years younger.

he runs the natural history center in bar harbor, maine.

and has, 

i am amazed to say

my father's hands.

 on our walk back to the car,

the light having changed many times,
settling into day,

the termite mound had become someone's

breakfast.

 later, we celebrated my sister's 70th birthday!

my sister is rich's mom.

another sister made the trek

from florida to the north country.

all to celebrate this special day.

 there we were,

friends,

 relatives.

as close to a brother as i will ever have

someone who knows the earth 

a bit differently than me,

nevertheless, my friend,

giving me the gift of seeing tiny birds close and quiet and 

amazing.

thank you.
and 

happy birthday, claudia!

~~~

it rained a couple of days back 

in the sunshine the raindrops were diamonds 

and a dragonfly lit on my

broken screen

riding out the storm.

so many dragonflies this spring!

~~~

emily martin's fun mail art project

mine is at the bottom, fourth column, 

my purple shifu postcard.
~~~

the black squirrel has found a friend
there were shenanigans at the base of
grandmother maple.
(the black is actually a gray squirrel.)
there may be more
soon.