How lovely! I looked after a male goldfinch during the pandemic, helping him until he was ready to fly away. What a delight it was to have him visit me the following two springs! I ended up having to move away and I still think about him and wonder if he wondered what happened to me.
I actually laughed out loud when I read this, my friend. But it was a bit of a nervous laugh, too. The word picture was delightful.
And yet, I do feel those involuntary flinches when walking and I come upon a woman, young or older when my presence is the only other presence within sight, when I see the wall of determined caution come down as they keep walking my direction, only now with the added calculus of needing an escape route, a defensive move in case I should prove to be another man who would willingly become a threat to them. I raised daughters and saw how freedoms I took for granted were not so readily available to them. I grew up with four sisters. I know that my Mary will not walk many of the paths I walk alone because she does not feel that it would be safe.
It breaks me that we have a male predator, tormentor trying to regain the most powerful office in this land, knowing how much more overwhelming that must feel to women, for all the unfairness and inequality they already experience in micro-doses on a daily basis.
I love being the weird guy lying down in the weeds on a naturalist level and wish like hell that there was only a fun and funny way to read that description.
May your day be kind and may you and all of my sisters in wonder find paths this day where you need not bite your lip and talk yourself into being brave just because some weirdo with a pair of binoculars has just come around the corner out there on the trail, too.
Jeez, what a nightmare. I think I’ll go back and read ~
The Mooncatcher’s Dream before bed tonight. I’ll ask the orb weaver to make me a Dreamcatcher, to capture the bad ones. Seeing she probably has some free time and hopefully extra silk , after capturing the moon. I’ll tell her, I too am a “humble gardener”. Maybe she’ll be more likely to help me out.
You may want to do the same.
“How fortunate he was, this humble gardener, awakened by a spider to witness her dream while she deftly captured the moon.”
David, there is no doubt in my mind that you are the person out there that sits in silence. Crunched up in the tall grass (in contorted positions) , laying motionless in swamps or standing squished between a tree and ‘a hard place’ .
All to capture that one moment on film , that no one has ever seen before. I feel very fortunate to be the reader and observer. To learn more about the intricacies of nature. Where else would I be able to watch the Goldfinch harvesting Thistledown or ever ponder this. The photos and story are absolutely wonderful. For lack of tweezers, nature must provide a treatment, perhaps a borrowed beak removal procedure. Though at the end you had me smirking;
Try saying “…with thistle down and thistle seed…”
5 times. I think I made it to 4 , not sure, mumbling by then…
You are such a treat, Lor. I am so often just delighted with your kind notes and playful observations. Yes, I am that guy... ask my sisters, I've always been weird this way.
And you know what they say, smirking is good for your face.
Today seems like an excellent day to contemplate a fuzzy face bird and anything else that will help fill the imagination with smiles and wonder. Thanks Cheryl
Totes lovely! Your Thistledown Chronicles give me a rich sense of connection to these goldfinch beauties and their summertime lives (and also to that wonderfully-observant friend o' mine on the ground in the weeds!)
Ohhh those 'sproinks' of down in their eyes---I just wanna gently remove them---wow, I had no idea this occurred so commonly.
Anyway, these up-close portraits and from-a-distance view of Daddy Goldfinch among his thistles are such a treat this morning!
How lovely! I looked after a male goldfinch during the pandemic, helping him until he was ready to fly away. What a delight it was to have him visit me the following two springs! I ended up having to move away and I still think about him and wonder if he wondered what happened to me.
Ohhh, what treasure you share. Thank you for letting us glimpse something exquisite with you...
Thank you for this up-close look at something I have known about for decades, yet never experienced!
The world needs more “weird guys lying down in the weeds.” 🙏
I actually laughed out loud when I read this, my friend. But it was a bit of a nervous laugh, too. The word picture was delightful.
And yet, I do feel those involuntary flinches when walking and I come upon a woman, young or older when my presence is the only other presence within sight, when I see the wall of determined caution come down as they keep walking my direction, only now with the added calculus of needing an escape route, a defensive move in case I should prove to be another man who would willingly become a threat to them. I raised daughters and saw how freedoms I took for granted were not so readily available to them. I grew up with four sisters. I know that my Mary will not walk many of the paths I walk alone because she does not feel that it would be safe.
It breaks me that we have a male predator, tormentor trying to regain the most powerful office in this land, knowing how much more overwhelming that must feel to women, for all the unfairness and inequality they already experience in micro-doses on a daily basis.
I love being the weird guy lying down in the weeds on a naturalist level and wish like hell that there was only a fun and funny way to read that description.
May your day be kind and may you and all of my sisters in wonder find paths this day where you need not bite your lip and talk yourself into being brave just because some weirdo with a pair of binoculars has just come around the corner out there on the trail, too.
Namasté
Jeez, what a nightmare. I think I’ll go back and read ~
The Mooncatcher’s Dream before bed tonight. I’ll ask the orb weaver to make me a Dreamcatcher, to capture the bad ones. Seeing she probably has some free time and hopefully extra silk , after capturing the moon. I’ll tell her, I too am a “humble gardener”. Maybe she’ll be more likely to help me out.
You may want to do the same.
“How fortunate he was, this humble gardener, awakened by a spider to witness her dream while she deftly captured the moon.”
You know I love that story…🕷️🕸️🌜
P.S. Weird is good.
You’ve made my day. Thank you.
David, there is no doubt in my mind that you are the person out there that sits in silence. Crunched up in the tall grass (in contorted positions) , laying motionless in swamps or standing squished between a tree and ‘a hard place’ .
All to capture that one moment on film , that no one has ever seen before. I feel very fortunate to be the reader and observer. To learn more about the intricacies of nature. Where else would I be able to watch the Goldfinch harvesting Thistledown or ever ponder this. The photos and story are absolutely wonderful. For lack of tweezers, nature must provide a treatment, perhaps a borrowed beak removal procedure. Though at the end you had me smirking;
Try saying “…with thistle down and thistle seed…”
5 times. I think I made it to 4 , not sure, mumbling by then…
You are such a treat, Lor. I am so often just delighted with your kind notes and playful observations. Yes, I am that guy... ask my sisters, I've always been weird this way.
And you know what they say, smirking is good for your face.
May your day be kinder than the supreme court...
That fuzzy face bird! Ah! Great shot.
Today seems like an excellent day to contemplate a fuzzy face bird and anything else that will help fill the imagination with smiles and wonder. Thanks Cheryl
Lady and Lord Thistledown … May the gods smile upon you and your pathway to parenting be paved with kindness. 🫶🏻
From your mouth, to the gods ears, Jann. Thank you for adding to the potluck.
Totes lovely! Your Thistledown Chronicles give me a rich sense of connection to these goldfinch beauties and their summertime lives (and also to that wonderfully-observant friend o' mine on the ground in the weeds!)
Ohhh those 'sproinks' of down in their eyes---I just wanna gently remove them---wow, I had no idea this occurred so commonly.
Anyway, these up-close portraits and from-a-distance view of Daddy Goldfinch among his thistles are such a treat this morning!
This just makes me smile, Toni. Thanks for sharing this Goldfinch/Thistle fascination.
Thank you for doing all the work David! So we get all these wonderful intimate views to enjoy. You make it look so easy!
My pleasure, Frank. Thanks for the smile.