Madison River convalescence
the one where I regained a bit of strength in the Madison River valley…
In the words of my favorite author, John Steinbeck, “I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana, it is love.”
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Happy National Hummingbird Day!
the one where we celebrate our tiniest friends…
Today is National Hummingbird Day! Established by birder Penny Elliston in 1996, National Hummingbird Day occurs on the first Saturday of every September. A day to celebrate our tiniest bird friends and pollinators. An old friend of mine describes hummingbirds as “audacious flirty birds” – and I would agree. Another friend told me that in Mexico – when you spot a hummingbird or a “chuparosa” you are blessed with good luck – especially in love. 💖
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the one where the black-headed grosbeak lands in my story…
I turned 65 this year (as confessed in another post), and in doing so I’ve become a cliché: a birder. I am more than a little obsessed with my new role.
According to e-bird, I’ve counted birds for 191 days in a row.
Many of those counted birds are visitors to my small garden in Idaho’s Wood River Valley. My front yard is a tiny forested area created by 5 healthy aspen trees.
Out my back door is a 6 by 8 foot deck completely enclosed by a canopy of large lilac bushes.
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I turned 65 years old this year. (I may start every Substack post with this line.)
It has been a pivotal year for me in many ways.
The beginning of The Third Act? – Of course, that is assuming a lot – things that are not and will never be – known.
With this new era – I must acknowledge something: I have become a cliché.
I am a bird woman.
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