Been a happy day today. Blue sky, no clouds. Breakfast and lunch on the porch. Lots of birds singing. The birds are enjoying the bird baths with the new fountains circulating the water. The morning bird symphony was changed to a leaf blower symphony mid-morning. Thought it would never end. I think it disrupted the birds, too. I made a mental note of the birds I saw on the feeders. Two woodpeckers, six goldfinches, four pair of cardinals, a wren, two doves, a wood thrush and a gray catbird. Was hoping the cowbirds would come back. Thought I saw a female cowbird but she didn’t stay long enough for me to be sure. I think the hummingbirds got mad because I didn’t change out the sugar water soon enough. I’m not good with hummingbirds. Maybe my feeders aren’t hanging in the right place.

Got a letter in the mailbox today from Boss Lady. I love finding a letter in the mail box. She’s always so good to write back. She answers back faster back than I do. She wrote the funniest story from years ago about a headline error in the newspaper where she worked. They changed the headline and the second headline was worse than the first. The staff had to run around and try to get the papers back. I laughed till I lost my breath. Next time you run into me I’ll tell you the headline. I’m laughing again as I write this. Boss Lady has a black snake in her yard, too. She named it Klint. Haven’t named mine, but I think I will name him Balthazar. Have not seen him since I chased him around with a shovel.

Been sitting in the swing till dusk, watching the clouds filling up with rain. We only have a five percent chance of rain but I can see a big line of thunderstorms on the weather radar. I’ve been typing with two fingers in the swing. Came in and turned on the wireless keyboard, have two, could not get either one to work. Even changed the batteries and then I realized I had turned off Bluetooth. I’m impressed I figured it out and didn’t have to listen to a technology lecture from Stew.

Oldest brother ate supper with us tonight. He dropped by for a visit after work just in time for dinner. Nice to have a dinner guest. He’d been in the hay fields all day, a longer work day than usual. Told him he had a suntan like he’d been to the beach. He just laughed. He looked tired. Made me feel ashamed that a little porch cleaning had worn me out and he’d been in the hay fields since early morning. He’s seven years older than I am. I think retirement has “ruined” me. I just do what I want to do all day every day. Don’t go anywhere except to visit the grandchildren. I’ll do better when I get my little garden going.

I don’t think I waste a day when I sit on the porch in the swing and ponder life. I’m always thankful for the birds. The birds represent a spiritual side of the earth to me. When the yard is full of cardinals, I can feel the presence of the Lord and in my childlike faith I believe he and Chief have sent these beautiful creatures to help me focus on all the blessings in my life and give me the courage to live out the rest of my life in a semblance of happiness.

These tiny creatures with their multicolored coats have healed my soul and given me peace on days when my heart is heavy. And like the angels in heaven they have wings and they soar in the skies of heaven. Their songs bring me joy. I sleep with a window open at night and bird songs greet me every morning and uplift me as I start my day. Audubon says birds are an antidote to our despair. I know that’s true. Birds really make me happy. Birds help us slow down, stop, and pay attention to the earth around us. Birds restore our faith in the natural order of the earth. They help us be calmer and more hopeful. The loss of a loved one can make it easier to appreciate the small things in life, like a bird song. Bird songs soothe our souls.

“The presence of a single bird can change everything for one who appreciates them.” —Julie Zickefoose