After THREE significant snowfalls this April, (yes you read that right) we finally have a warmer weekend day that I can enjoy. It is not very warm. I am dressed in my warmest sweatshirt and gloves to keep me warm from the chilly wind that is blowing outside. Weather.com says the temperature is 57 degrees and feels like 54 degrees, but that is only in direct sunlight and when the wind has settled down. However, it is sunny and there is no way I am going to pass up spending some time enjoying this beautiful weather.
Elliot and I are currently dog sitting my parent’s dog Bailey, the sweetest and cutest Shiba Inu, while they finish up some remodeling work in their house. This morning I had to take her for her morning walk and we decided to take an extra-long route because it was so beautiful out. Because it was the weekend, I had more time to spend walking her, so I really took the time to enjoy nature blooming back to life at each house I walked past.
A few houses had flowers that have bloomed and I stopped to take a minute to enjoy the beautiful colors in all their glory. And while most of the plants have not fully bloomed, I did start to see some growing and some buds forming on a few bushes and trees.
After our walk, we went back inside to eat breakfast and I began work on a few blog posts I was trying to finish. While we were inside, Bailey spotted a large bunny (that I think may have been pregnant) eating grass in our backyard. Shiba Inus have a strong prey instinct, so Bailey ran to the window and watched the rabbit’s every move intently.
After the bunny left she just kept sitting near the door looking outside and looking back to me, so I promised her when it warmed up a little more we would go sit outside.
It finally warmed up enough to take my writing outside. At first, I tried to sit at the table on my patio to work on my blog posts, but since it stays shaded until late in the afternoon, I was too cold to sit there and work. Instead I moved a patio chair and end table out to the lawn in the full sunlight and got to work. Bailey spent some of her time sniffing around and exploring the yard, but ultimately decided to lay down and just enjoy the gorgeous day with me.
While we were outside we enjoyed all the sounds and smells of nature. I have a lovely set of wind chimes that were making beautiful music periodically in the background as an accompaniment to the birds around us chirping. My next-door neighbors have a lot of bird feeders in their yard which was attracting many different species for us to enjoy watching. Nearby the Robins were collecting pieces of dead leaves and stems to build their nests.
Back when we had a pergola, the robins always built their nest on the upper ledge. I loved this because I could sit on the sofa in my living room and stare out at the mother sitting on the eggs and then see the babies be fed, grow bigger and stronger, and ultimately take their first flights. It is silly but that has been one of my favorite things about living in the suburbs and I really have been missing my baby robins.
I tried to see where they were building their nest, but so far, I have not been able to determine the location among the trees around our house. I have been thinking of purchasing a robin home for my backyard, so they have a nice place to live in clear view so I can once again enjoy my baby robins!
While I was outside I also saw some cardinals and some other beautiful little birds. Living in the suburbs has made me want to learn what types of birds these are. A new addition this year, are some red wing black birds. They are beautiful to look at but they dominated the bird calls Bailey and I listened to. While they are very noisy, I must admit that sitting out in the fresh air, listening to all of the sounds of nature around me is so tranquil and relaxing. It has made me realize how much I miss spending time outside.
So, a less information focused post this time, but more of a window into a part of my life that brings me joy. Perhaps it will inspire you to take time to enjoy the first nice days of spring.
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