spring happenings

spring has arrived here in boulder at the foot of the rocky mountains. it was a long winter with a heavy snow only last week. so, we are feeling more than ready to see the sun, enjoy this green brightness and witness bulbs and buds popping with confidence.....at last. we've had a good show of spring animal encounters as well. squirrels are running, chattering and chasing each other through the trees and one bright morning, a young sprightly squirrel hopped onto the balcony just a few feet from me as i sat reading in bed then perched himself on the railing and stared inquisitively wondering what i was doing there. we also have a sweet pair of ducks that have recently made our pond, just below our bedroom window, their home. each morning at about 6:00am we hear flap, flap, flap.....splash, as they settle in for their morning float. i've tried to photograph them a couple of times with no luck as they are very shy and quickly exit the scene flying into the trees to hide. i can see them landing on the branches and wonder, ducks with duck feet perched on a branch? how does that work?

the wild rabbits too are in full force. yesterday, i was on my way to the mailbox and saw a rabbit relaxing in one of my raised garden beds. i shook my head, "nope, you are not going to make yourself comfortable there. lettuce, spinach and other greens are being planted this weekend and they are not being planted for you." i walked over to shoo it away and the rabbit just stared at me, not moving a muscle. grrrrr! i got closer, even stepped into the raised bed and it still continued to ignore me. i waved my hand just over its ears and finally the rabbit stood up only to reveal beneath her four tiny babies snuggled together in the hole she had dug to shelter them. awwwww, what to do? i let them be and wished her luck. (we also have coyotes that feel very comfortable in these parts)

last saturday morning, paul and i were on our way out and as we got into his car, noticed the back passenger door to my car, parked in the carport, was wide open. "wait, what? did i leave the door open all night?" paul cautiously walked over to have a look and surprisingly found........claw marks through the upholstery and the front center console open, bashed and broken. what the? yep, a bear had confidently opened the door without a scratch and helped himself inside the car to rummage around and explore. there was no food in there but we did find a sunscreen mess. so, as well as the warnings of food, hand sanitizer and chapstick being left out while camping, (or left in your car, outside your house, while you are safely tucked in bed) bears like sunscreen too. good to know.

roxy, our dear old roxanne velvet has also taken a lot of our attention lately. this dear old madam is waning in years and struggling through her days. she is twelve years old which is a good show for a big english mastiff but life just isn't easy anymore. she has taught us so much about growing older with powerful lessons in patience, acceptance, commitment and choosing to live with a cheerful attitude. a couple of years back, roxy was struggling with the changes in her body and became quite depressed, so much so that all the kids home that christmas felt they needed to say their goodbyes before they left. paul and i watched her through the winter and felt the end was near. then, it seemed a switch clicked and roxy decided to accept her limitations, try her best, do what she could and ask for help when she needed it. here we are a year and a half later and she is still committed to those decisions. mind you, we've had to be on board as well as either paul or myself must wake up at 3:30am each morning to let her out as her bladder can't make it through the night and with the muscle atrophy in her hind legs, help lift her 130 lb. body 20 or so times a day in response to the quiet, gentle whine for assistance she gives us. (this act consists of standing behind her, clasping my hands together under her belly, and with an "ugh" lift her to her feet holding her until she is steady) her attitude is upbeat and when i ask if she wants to go for a walk, she attempts to prance like the pup she used to be with a big smile on her face only to make it down the driveway and on a good day to the next door neighbor's house. her example of cheerfulness with acceptance of her limitations are life lessons to be learned. thanks, girl.

The simpler my life,

the happier I become.