Rebirth & Birth

Spring has long been known as a time of rebirth and new beginnings.  The earth wakes up and rolls out its bright green carpet of grasses.  Tiny blooms peek out from long dormant weeds. Trees thicken with a multitude of buds that pensively open in warm breezes and sun in the ever lengthening days.

A young bird's fancy turns toward the fairer sex.  Frankly, many fancies are turning.  Birds, bees, cows, horses and bunnies.  My bit of country has blossomed with babies.

Our little eastern phoebes have a nest in the eaves of our porch.  Mrs. Phoebe laid five speckled eggs, tucked away in a quiet corner.  One afternoon as I potted tomato plants I noticed a bit of bright yellow at the edge of the nest.  I grabbed my binocs (my eyes aren't what they used to be).  A droopy bit of fuzzy-headed chick rested against the nest.  We watched for the next few days.  Day by day new heads peaked out, their bright yellow beaks a beacon in the shadows.  Five wobbly, bobbly heads reaching blindly for a tasty morsel.

One afternoon, as I headed to town I discovered at the end of my lane the familiar buff mare had, tucked close, a tiny buff foal, white blaze across his face.  Handsome fella.  

A little further down Coyote Trail stood a Scottish cow beside a wee grey smudge of a calf.  Mama was still working on the afterbirth.  Surely, we were the first to see this ashen baby.  

The other side of the pasture were two speckled foals of a donkey nature.  They stared at us warily from beyond the fence.  Baby donkeys are particularly fuzzy and quite sassy.  Earlier in the season, a tawny foal had appeared.  We call him Frankie.  Now there are three!

Our first country spring has been an utter delight.  Goodbye to the drab muck of winter.  

Spring is here at last!