Dear Sunday Letter friends,
Hi there! I hope everyone is hanging in there during these crazy times. I’m not gonna lie. A couple of days this week, I thought I might climb the walls. I’ve been inside my head, going a bit mad. I want to go to the lake, travel to see my kids, sit at a table at a restaurant and eat something delicious that doesn’t involve washing the dishes afterward.
I want to take my new book on the road and talk to book clubs and libraries.
Rainy days are especially awful right now. And we’ve been experiencing this monotonous, every other day pattern.
But our plants like all the rain; our backyard world is lush and green. This morning, the birds sound extra happy. I plan to spend my Sunday out there with them. And I’m hopeful for a beautiful week ahead (despite more rain the forecast).
Over It.
I found the absolutely perfect coronavirus tee. I bought this Over It tee online from Copper Rose Boutique in Waxahachie, Texas. Copper Rose is owned by my mother’s first cousin’s son’s wife (aka my second cousin’s wife aka my cousin-in-law).
Copper Rose does online sales on Facebook nearly every day.
I know I can’t really be over it, because this whole coronavirus thing will likely be part of our lives for some time to come. But I can feel over it. And I can scream it to the world in the form of a hot pink shirt. Then, I will continue to be responsible, wear my mask and wash my hands, and hope better summer days are on the horizon.
Woodpecker Hole
This old dogwood tree is one block from us. I’ve walked by it many, many times. I’ve taken pictures of it many, many times, mainly because I’m intrigued by the woodpecker hole just above eye level and the fungi growing all around it.
Yesterday, I was out for a walk with Annabelle when one of our neighbors told me (from six-feet away) there was a woodpecker nest inside it!
Sure enough.
Take a listen to the babies.
Seriously, is this not the coolest thing???! I was having an extremely blah day until the second I heard these baby birds. And then my day turned around.
I tried to peep inside the hole, but couldn’t see in. I walked all around the tree—there’s another hole on the opposite side. But the babies are safely tucked inside. It’s like the whole tree is vibrating.
You can bet I’ll be watching this tree for the foreseeable future.
Rest in Peace
Last week I found a dead bird beneath the bird feeder. I made a note to dispose of the poor thing, and then forgot about it. Later, I noticed Annabelle in the yard doing this thing she does when she’s trying to bury a bone underneath a blanket on the couch. She pushes the blanket around with her nose, moving it this way and that, until she covers the bone well enough.
I remembered the dead bird and ran over, hoping she wasn’t eating it.
Annabelle had been working hard to bury it.
Two months ago, we had scattered straw in the yard to protect the clover seed we’d sowed. Although the straw had mostly disappeared into the yard, Annabelle found and pushed pieces around to cover the little bird. And then she sat beside it looking worried.
Or maybe she was burying it like a bone she might return to later. But I choose to believe she was giving it a proper burial. Annabelle is sweet that way.
Score!
Yesterday while planting Jacob’s Ladder, I scored this! This is the most colorful of all the broken pieces of plates and cups we’ve found buried in our back yard.
And then John found a sturdy old chain.
See where John was digging? That’s where he found the chain, and there’s something more down there. He broke the shovel trying to get it out. The chain was obviously attached to whatever it is, possibly the door to another world. A treasure chest. A Civil War relic.
To be continued…
Things Momma Says
If you think about it, Asian people are smart. They’ve been wearing masks for years.
***
Thanks for reading another Sunday Letter, friends.
Wishing you a calm, safe week, one that brings beautiful weather, good news, and lots of positive vibes.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
P.S. Join me HERE for a virtual book discussion on Gene, Everywhere on Friday, May 1 at 6 p.m.
Years ago our daughter left her dog with us as she was still a police officer and her schedule was so random and hectic. In addition to her time on the street on patrol, she was teaching a lot of classes in the police academies of many of the localities as well working with a wilderness search and rescue organization. That is how we came to care for Savannah who was found at the county landfill.She was the oddest mix of breeds. Let’s just say that mama really got around and was obviously a very popular date. Savannah was famous for burying all kinds of things including her favorite toys. A few years after she died, I was out digging and found SOMETHING? We pondered and pondered just what it could be. I was about to decide that we had found Jimmy Hoffa, but we finally remembered giving her an emu foot.
Haha. I don’t think this is anything Lucy or Annabelle buried. It’s deep and oval shaped with a rim and a notch in the top.
Thank you Talya. These words fit , to a T, exactly how I am feeling. Also love the baby birds in the tree. Hope John finds a treasure. Take care.
We have woodpeckers around our house. They have jigsaws for beaks. See how round and smooth their holes are.
I don’t mind telling you, it is beginning to get to me. I’ve been a good girl,, trying to be positive and doing something productive every day. I am doing bible study on line, attending church on line, gardening and staying in contact with my family, all the good stuff, But I’ve had enough! On a positive note, my dog found a tiny little turtle in the yard and didn’t kill him. He is Doxy with a history of not being nice to little creatures! I’m afraid he doesn’t have the empathy of Annabelle.
Wow! Love those woodpecker babies! What a great thing to be able to follow. I always love hearing the sound of a woodpecker drumming away at a tree – even better if I can spot it!
Maybe someone buried their sterling silver and heirloom jewelry in a box attached to that chain! Working in our flowerbed is a nice form of therapy for me, but I haven’t found any buried treasures. I love seeing and hearing the birds. I got to watch a little bluebird fledgling try its wings last week, and there’s a bird nesting i the corner of our front porch that I haven’t identified yet. I hope I get to see those babies, too. You look cute in that shirt!