When the sun is setting, between dusk and darkness, there is a moment when the light turns blue. And the world stops for a heartbeat.
Transition day: laudry, unpacking, preparation, cleaning…
One of the biggest disappointments of becoming an adult is that you don’t magically know how to do things right. For example, packing for a trip.
Or folding a fitted sheet.
Stories have remarkable power. Is there anyone who looks at baby swans and does not call them ugly ducklings?
When Alanna was just about to turn one, we took her to a small zoo. She was absolutely horrified of the goats, but determined to go and pet the tigers.
This popped to my head when we visited a small animal park just an hour from home. The bunnies, horses and wolly lambs were lovely, but nothing compared to the snakes, porcupines, giant tortoises, reindeer – and especially the foxes.
The place was thoughtfully designed – children could interact with many of the animals, but only if the animals chose to. And, since it was quite hot, not all of them did. I think it’s important for children to learn, that animals get to choose, too.
But I was practically giddy when we got to interract with a fox. I’d never been that close to one before.
Always a kid.
The house belonging to kids’ scout group has a handfull of beehives at the edge of the property. The bees seem pretty used to strangers coming and going, and they paid no attention to me or my camera.
During spring, the kids sell the honey (there is a bigger farm further away) as one of their fundraising initiatives. This time of the year, they just observe the bees.
And learn to stay away.
A squirrel has moved into a tree in our backyard. It is getting braver every day – probably as Merlin isn’t here to scare it away anymore.
I know I should probably chase it away, but it is just too cute. For now, we will live peacefully side by side.
My sister has a parrot, a yellow-naped amazon called Niki. Occassionally, when my sister and her husband are both travelling, Niki comes to stay.
98% of the time, Niki is a very easy – and quite fun – houseguest. The only two exceptions are the times she starts loudly (and I mean loudly!) protesting for being excluded from the flock activities (eg., if she can’t see the dinner table from her cage) and when she needs to be moved.
For some reason, Niki does not like men. Any men. Even my sister’s husband is smart enough not to try to touch her. So, getting her from her “visiting cage” to her tiny travel cage is my problem. And Niki typically does not want to go into the travel cage.
Over the years we have become good enough friends, so she does not seriously try to bite me anymore. But it is a delicate balance of cajoling and being firm. And bribing. And in very tough spot, bribing a bit more.
Ps. My sister can handle her well. I guess Niki and I still lack a certain bond…
Blue Moment 