TFTD Nature's Gift - 6 June, 2002

Subject: TFTD Nature's Gift - 6 June, 2002
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 11:55 AM

I hope no one minds the random nature of these Thoughts for the Days. Not sure if anyone would want them on a daily or weekend basis again, but once in awhile something strikes me and I'd like to share. Of course, they are not the same without Peter T's weekday input.:-)

Nature's Gifts

Having just moved back to Colorado, I find myself constantly watching the landscape for new sights: different trees, birds, flowers, etc. A couple of weeks ago, we were on a very busy four lane highway going from one small suburb to a larger town. I saw what looked to be a dog, or dogs on the far side of the road. As we drove by I could see it was a fox! There was no way Rog could stop in that traffic, turn around and go back to take a closer look. So, we drove on in to town, running errands with a vow to watch for them on the way back.

About two hours later, we found ourselves headed home, my eyes "peeled" watching for the fox. Sure enough, right there by the side of the road, we saw her. Pulling over, just abreast of her, we found a mother fox and three kits. The kits were old enough to romp around and play with one another, away from mom. She kept a wary eye on us and the other on them. I spoke to her, thanking her for the beauty of seeing them. She was still being careful while the kits played on seemingly oblivious to us.

Then I tried a quick high-pitched whistle as a communication device. Everyone's ears perked up and she gave them a signal to be ready to head out. I don't know what I said to her, but it did alarm her a bit. I quickly stopped whistling, went back to telling her what a beauty she and her kits were and giving thanks for such a gift. There they were, not 20 feet from us, between the road and the railroad tracks, sun shining down on their beautiful coats, her bushy tail full and proud. It was one of those rare and incredible moments when I felt so connected, so filled in my heart with wonder and gratitude at this seemingly random "gift." After a few minutes, we drove on. I've since found the exact spot; she had a bolt hole dug there, but I've never seen them, again. I am grateful for seeing them, so close and for the luxury of time to notice and stop to look.

Please tell us about any close encounters you may have had with Nature this spring.:-)

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: TFTD Nature's Gift - 6 June, 2002
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 11:59 AM

A groundhog and three babies have taken up residence under my front porch. She has to keep reminding my cats to keep the hell away. Not nearly as romantic as your fox but the new family is giving me some very happy moments. And they consume enormous amounts of dandelions!

Subject: RE: TFTD Nature's Gift - 6 June, 2002
From: Mrrzy
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 04:08 PM

Got caught in the most delicious rainstorm the other day, with the twins who'd apparently never been caught in this kind of tropical downpour - it had been hot hot hot, and there was distant thunder so we couldn't swim; we were heading back home not in a very good mood (well, in three not very good moods), stopped to get some takeout, and the skies just opened. We danced and ran around with absolute glee, until the hail started... when we danced around with our hands over our heads. We all got SOAKED and it felt GREAT! Just GREAT! The cool water, hot air, cold ice... great combo. Am still trying to dry out my car from us getting back into it... aaaahhhhhhhhhh - it was better than Water Hot Poured Down The Back to hobbits.

Subject: RE: TFTD Nature's Gift - 6 June, 2002
From: Mudlark
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 04:43 PM

Kat, what a great story. It does seem as if sometimes the wild things put their fear on hold for the right person. I will never forget camping out in the desert, sitting around a fire in the dark, when a kangaroo mouse came up onto my knee and drank milky tea out of a spoon I was holding for it. It's like living in Eden before the Fall...

Subject: RE: TFTD Nature's Gift - 6 June, 2002
From: Morticia
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 05:06 PM

Not nearly as poetic as your encounter but...I was having a really bad day today...stuck in traffic for two solid hours, visited a 'home' that will leave me with horror images forever and made me want to take every last resident home with me NOW...and so on and so forth.Anyways, I stepped outside the office to calm down after a particularly offensive letter from a fellow 'professional' and we are lucky enough to have a small brook by the end of the car park. I watched the ducks and their little duckies splashing about, a very gentle spring rain with all the attendant fresh smells was falling and somewhere a blackbird was giving it's all in song....and, just for a moment or two I was granted a rare serenity, a small message of reassurance that all was well with this small corner of the world, if I only had sense enough to notice.

Subject: RE: TFTD Nature's Gift - 6 June, 2002
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 05:40 PM

Morticia, that is beautiful. Thanks,luv.

Mudlark, how precious...a wee kanga-mousie! And, how trusting...your energy must be very "safe" feeling for them.

Sins! Pix, pleeeeaaassee!!?? They sound adorable!

Mrzzy...my kids and I used to do the same thing...isn't it fun!

Thanks ya'll...beautiful, just beautiful....

katentranced

Subject: RE: TFTD Nature's Gift - 6 June, 2002
From: Mrrzy
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 09:29 AM

Yesterday I attended a city council meeting, my first foray into civic issues, what a treat. Coming out and heading back to my car, a friend and I were treated to the most beautiful sunset-time Eastern sky I have ever, ever seen. The quality of the light falling on the coal tower (no snipers today), the colors of the sky were incredible. We stood there and kind of drank it in, and then my eyes went up a little and I realized there was a huge, absolutely perfect rainbow, with its apex practically at zenith so it wasn't immediately noticed as the sky below it was so lovely. As we stood there in awe, a secondary rainbow formed - first the feet, then slowly, slowly, the arch formed above us. We stood there till they faded... I wish my brain were a camcorder, I don't think in colors and cannot "run" the movie of my memory accurately. It was stunning.