Wednesday, April 14, 2021

One Morning in April


It's day 5 with our Grace Hopper, and I am feeling like we have a routine. If baby goats are anything like my baby-babies were, then I am sure the entire idea of having a routine will be dismantled by the end of the day, simply because I imagine I am getting a handle on all of this! Even though I've become a morning sloth since the start of lockdown, moving as slowly as slothly possible to start my day, I have been getting to Grace with a warm bottle everyone morning at 6:30 am. Okay, today it was more like 6:50. She loves her bottle and leans into me, eagerly draining her breakfast. The chickens look on curiously, Ada and Tasha watch from the furthest distance possible, aghast. I wipe the foamy remnants from her pink lips (I thought, We could name her "Starbuck," because she's like a barista, expertly whipping up milk into a froth!") Then, she and I head out of the enclosure, and explore all of our yard, front and back, 'round and 'round. We hop, jump, run, explore and make discoveries. I water, pull weeds, put things away, talk to her, watch her, and take pictures. Keeping up with a baby goat, even encouraging her to run around by my example, is invigorating, and stimulating, and all of those positive expressions around activity, and it's tiring, too. I am going to bed ready to recover! The first morning session goes for about an hour, and then I do it again around 10 am, then noon, we have another visit and playtime about 3, then 5, and a last romp and bottle around 7:30!

Yesterday it rained. That's news. We are so far behind for decent rainfall, and the light showers, though not forecast, were very welcome. Even today, it seems like it could rain, again. I took lots of pictures, and I want to share them... almost all of them. It's been a good morning, an April morning, and I want to remember this day.
This little flower... it's one in a million! I scattered and tended a huge container of wildflower seeds, and so far this is all we have to show for it! If anyone can identify it, I'd be thankful. It's very pretty. Our scrappy deciduous tree, the one that looked uncharacteristically beautiful last October, is leafing out, and I am reminded of the poem... Nothing Gold Can Stay, by Robert Frost: "Nature's first green is gold."
One Torrey Pine, white sage, and the rising sun casting a warm glow on everything.
I love our old apricot tree, the lichen, even the hope, that is usually dashed, that we will get one more big harvest of delicious apricots. Every year but one, I tell her, It's ok. You've done your best. She really is a good tree.
Purple, violet, indigo, lavender... I am delighted to find all of these shades of lilac and plum, and all of the synonyms for purple!
And now, a visit with the honeybees, for GretchenJoanna, whose borage is starting to bloom. She is waiting for the honeybees to arrive, and asked if we've seen bees, yet. Our climate, near the coast, in Southern California, is about as mild as can be, and we are fortunate to have honeybees year-round. I didn't notice, until I saw the pictures on my computer, how tattered this one bee's wings are. Poor fellow. Still, he seemed capable and busy, and, I hope, happy in the borage and nasturtium. If these links work for you, GretchenJoanna, you can watch the bees visiting our borage. And a few weeks ago, I revived a weary little bee that was resting on a window screen, with a drop of honey water.
Good morning, friends. I am sending wishes your way for invigorating activities, good rest, honeybees, and time to enjoy all that you love.

8 comments:

dewatobay said...

Wonderful spring time post. Love the photos. Sadly it's been awhile. Have you ever put your posts and photos in book form?

impguin finnell said...

Your photos are wonderful. You have a good eye. I enjoyed reading and seeing the pics of the baby goat. So sweet.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Maria, thank you! We have a few family photo albums that I let Apple publish for me, but that's probably not what you are thinking of? I don't have anything of mine published. I always feel flattered at the suggestion that I should write, or have a book, but I am insecure... like frozen in doubt! Honestly, after almost twenty years of blogging, and little evidence that there is much of a following, I find it hard to believe any of this is book worthy. I try to imagine these are just letters to a few, and even to myself, a sort of compulsion.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Impguin, thank you. That little goat is a joy, and I think the pictures show it!

Ruth McCormick said...

Thanks for the beautiful Spring pictures.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Ahhh... you are very welcome. It makes me happy knowing that they're appreciated. How is your April garden doing? What's blooming?

gretchenjoanna said...

Oh, my -- the pictures are so lovely. You made me realize just now that I keep growing borage not only for the bees' sake but so I can take pictures again and again of its beautiful flowers, and if I'm lucky, a bee drinking there, too!!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Thank you, GretchenJoanna. I feel like the world was making it easy to take pretty pictures. Everything is in a clear light, and fresh, bright. This is the best luck I've had with borage, including last year when it first came up. I hope it comes back every year, now, because it is so unique and appealing, and those happy bees!