![\"\"](\"http:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_0956.jpg\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This morning on my way to the laundry room
\nI see a black squirrel perched on the red bench
\nlittle paws to mouth
\nhaving a snack
\nand I say to him,\u00a0 oh that would make a lovely picture
\nand me with only a laundry basket in hand
\nof course he seems not the least bit interested in this conversation
\nand goes about his munching<\/p>\n
I step outside, and see another squirrel stopped in for a drink at the pond
\nand I decide to have a little wander
\nrain most of yesterday means the early snows are gone
\nand everything again has thawed
\nat the little pond I see that one of the fish has perished
\nI apologize to him, as it appears his death may be, by neglect
\nand nothing not even simple sometimes plentiful goldfish need come to this
\nI go to get something to scoop him out
\non my way to the shed, I notice the flap and shadow
\nof large wings just leaving the garden
\nthe fish have all gathered in the big pond,\u00a0 brilliantly bright and all
\nquite pleasingly, very much alive
\nwhile I am watching, a delicate white feather floating on the water\u2019s surface
\ncatches my eye
\nand then I notice another
\nI look around the garden and realize
\nyes,\u00a0 the hawk has indeed been
\nand while I do indeed take delight in seeing him here
\nI well know why it is
\nhe lands<\/p>\n
I continue to walk, stopping to look closely at each feather I come across
\npurity in its white some with a small edge of red
\npondering the soul by this feather
\nperhaps, stained in blood
\nnot even quite sure who it is that has been prey
\nI step gingerly through wet leaves
\nslightly leery of coming across the
\nvictim<\/p>\n
as always in the garden
\nas with life
\nthere is beauty and there is sorrow
\nquestions without need
\nof
\nanswers
\nthe circles of beginnings and
\nendings
\nthe sprouts of spring give way
\nto the decay of late fall
\nof course I know the hawk needs to eat too
\nand just this morning, the blue balloon
\nmagically somehow, has returned to its place
\nof resting
\nby the fence
\nI decide to take in the beauty
\nand wisdom
\nand the whispers of wings
\nthat
\nsurround me<\/p>\n
a brief chat with my Mother-in-law this morning
\nwho is 92 years old
\nand has just lost her sister
\nbecause of a little geography I have been unable
\nto wrap my arms around
\nfor comfort
\nas we are signing off she fumbles with my name,
\n\u201cOh, what is it they call you?\u201d she says
\n\u201cHey you, \u201d I offer
\nand we laugh together like school girls
\nafter hanging up I am filled with gratitude for the great gift
\nof laughter and kindness
\nof life and
\nof love<\/p>\n
and it is my\u00a0 hope, that somewhere
\nin your day
\nyou may be touched by each one of these gifts
\ntoo<\/p>\n
and that possibly you may think
\nin your wanderings
\nto stop for a minute
\nand say
\nThank you \u2665<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"