Sat on the porch this morning in the dreary drizzle and I heard a symphony of nature’s creation. Started listening to three distinct rain drips drumming out a pattern that mixed perfectly with a soft ringing of the wind chimes. As I relaxed and marveled at the symphony, two neighbors’ trash cart lids slammed down like cymbals, breaking the quiet movement of the music. Nature started her second movement of the symphony with some birds chirping, the call of a pileated woodpecker, and the drum brush sounds of the leaves of the tall bamboo rustling in the breeze. Laid my head back on the swing chain trying to think of a perfect title for this piece of music and just as I shut my eyes that crazy Eurasian dove let out one of his loud strangled coos. That coo just broke the symphony up. The sun broke through for a brief moment so guess Mother Nature gave me a few warm rays on my face so I didn’t cuss the dove. A burst of rain ended the symphony and I came back in the house. Might name my symphony A Rainy Day Repose.

When the rain stopped I went back to the porch swing and saw lots of birds during my porch ponderings. Eight male cardinals perched on a bare oak tree limb. A few females joined them. So pretty…looked like ornaments on a Christmas tree. I think the finches have passed through. Maybe the indigo buntings and grosbeaks will visit soon. Hummingbird feeders need to be up by March 15. Think I’m going to put my hummingbird feeders on the back deck. Surely Grandpaw won’t bother them. Well, just researched that topic and learned that bats, bears, raccoons, and squirrels all drink the nectar. At least I don’t have to worry about the bears! But Fatty and Grandpaw are going to learn to leave it alone. Gonna get me some motion detector lights. I think that will deter Grandpaw. Maybe I need a deck scarecrow to stand by the light! Stew just said he flicked the deck light off and on at 2 AM one night and Grandpaw just looked at him. Might be time to call in the posse.

Oldest brother came over with tales of the raccoon he’d killed last night. The raccoon had been cleaning out his bird feeders. You don’t mess with brother’s bird seed! Waited till the raccoon jumped off the porch and killed him in the yard. He must be kin to Grandpaw raccoon, who lives here, cause he said he was all of 45 to 50 pounds. He’d never seen one that big. We talked about our gardens. We laughed knowing some folks will get excited with these warm temperatures and plant a few things. Mother Nature is not through with her winter yet. She’s waiting till March to tell us she’s in charge. We’re going to get us some Big Boy tomatoes to plant this year. Daddy always swore by Big Boy tomatoes. Got three more garden pots to clean out and I need to clean out my zinnia and sunflower beds and I’ll be ready for Spring.

Had to work on one of my wind chimes today. One of the poles had fallen off when we had those strong storm winds a few weeks ago. Been avoiding it because it would involve the step ladder to get it down and put it back up. I have no dexterity in my right hand. Spent 20 minutes trying to thread the string through the hole in top of the pole. Finally gave up and got a piece of florist wire and the deed was done. The wing chimes are ready for the next symphony.

William Shakespeare said, “The earth has music for anyone who listens.” Nature has her own soundtrack of music. If you sit quietly outside, you’ll hear the music when the birds are speaking to each other and you’ll hear music when the soft winds rustle bare winter branches. The animals, the insects, your yard has a symphony of sounds. The symphony changes with the seasons. You just have to listen for them. Take time to be quiet and hear the music.