hummingbirds Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

New Friend

Tiffany discovered she has a new admirer today. She was sitting on our porch, minding her own business – actually, she was playing with the puppies – when she felt a stirring in her hair. To be fair, the wind was picking up and she assumed it was just the breeze playing with the strands a bit. When the tickle persisted, she ran her fingers through her hair – and discovered she’d picked up a new friend.

Surprised, she flicked it away. It landed on the step right beside where she was sitting and looked a bit bewildered at its rapid reposition.

Almost immediately, this stealthy hunter (remember: hummingbirds!) started walking toward Tiffany again. It was as if she were magnetically drawn to her, helplessly succumbing to Tiffany’s irresistible allure.

Mantis Misdirection – Photo: L. Weikel

Photogenic

There’s no doubt about it. This bug was hot on Tiffany’s trail. Indeed, the Mantis looked a bit guilty for it. If you take a close look, you can see what appear to be its pupils glancing off to the right of the scene, sort of indicating, “Hey! Enough of me. Can’t we go after a bad guy or something?”

But I refused to be distracted. I wanted as intimate a portrait as I could muster of this otherworldly creature, and I knew this was my best chance.

I was impressed with just how photogenic this Mantis was. She liked being photographed, and even seemed to watch us with great interest. It does make you wonder.

It also was keeping an extremely watchful eye on the puppies. We all know Mantises were a seasonal treat for Sheila – and only last year (and the late summer, this year) did Spartacus start picking up the slack. I am pretty sure Mantis was both of their most loveable roadkill snack.

Last But Not Least

I wouldn’t feel right depriving you of a puppy photo tonight. In this one, Brutus is proofreading. He did a terrible job.

Brutus proofing – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-41)

Hummingbird at our porch feeder – Photo: L. Weikel

Porch-Vacating Heat

Even though they called for it, I’m still trying to wrap my head around just how hot and muggy it was today. By the late afternoon and early evening, the atmosphere was unbearable and I had to go inside. Reluctantly. Dripping with sweat, but nevertheless dragging my feet.

I’m probably a bit weird. (As if you hadn’t figured that out yet; amiright? My façade is so well-maintained.) As I was saying, I’m probably a bit weird, but I adore sitting, writing, talking, reading, working, musing, Medicine Card picking, bird-watching, and all around being on our porch.

It’s a bit odd, too, since the porch isn’t exactly roomy. And our house is sort of close to the road. I guess I’m saying it’s not a perfect porch. Not even close.

Our Porch

But it’s our porch. And so many good times have been had on that porch, so many beautiful sunsets have been viewed, so many games of hearts played, so many hummingbirds, crows, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, cardinals, fish crows, indigo buntings, mourning doves, pileated woodpeckers, wrens, blue jays, catbirds, house finches, red breasted woodpeckers, goldfinches, red winged blackbirds, sparrows, and both red tailed and sharp-shinned hawks (keeping the populations of the aforementioned in check) have been celebrated and excitedly welcomed from our porch.

We’ve also enjoyed squirrels (OK, maybe ‘enjoy’ is overstating it a bit when it comes to squirrels), chipmunks, deer, foxes, turkeys, opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, garter snakes, bunnies, bullfrogs, skunks, tree frogs, snapper turtles, and box turtles from the vantage point of our porch. I’m sure I’m leaving some critters out. I’d include weasels but the weasel that ran up to me so many years ago was actually out back behind our barn. Since I didn’t view it technically from our porch, I’m not including it in that list.

So Much Life – Just Off the Porch

Now do you get a sense of why our porch is simply the best? It’s better than a zoo. (Doesn’t even compare. I really don’t like zoos. But that’s another conversation.)

And beyond all those creatures mentioned above, we’re also surrounded by grass, trees, moss, hostas (also known as deer food), wild flowers, and bushes. All viewable from our porch.

I tend to gravitate to the porch, and spend a considerable amount of my time at home on it, from roughly mid-March through early December. So for me to abdicate my domain – you know it was hot, humid, and unequivocally miserable.

The Reprieve Arrives

And now, as I sit here on the couch writing this post, the close and exceedingly bright flashes of lightning and deep rumbles of thunder that began about half an hour ago have paved the way for a downpour, the promised reprieve. Ah – great. All the electricity just went out and I’m sitting here in the pitch black of the night. Except for the lightning.

Which of course, it now dawns on me…means no internet connection. Great.

I’m thinking it may be time for me to go to bed. I will post this as soon as I am able.

Here’s hoping this storm marks the end of this heat wave.

(T-859)