good sense

the sense of smell can trigger lots of things both pleasant and unpleasant.  sometimes, just a quick sight of something can do the same and when we finally get a good look at it, we may also get a good laugh at ourselves for the misperception.  sounds can do many things to the senses, especially if you really aren't listening.  spending time in the garden, and being completely focused on a task, i often fine that my sense of hearing is acutely tuned to the wild life around me. part of that is the result of living in such close proximity to the zoo.  it is entirely normal to hear the siamangs and gibbons during the day.  the other main factor is that we live in an old and established neighborhood where there really is no room for new construction and the houses are spread out with plenty of old growth to provide room for the wildlife.  we also have lots of wild life to keep it interesting.

a few nights ago, we were woken from a deep sleep  to the sounds of what must have been two possums battling over a find in the compost heap.  the dog heard it too and she only added to the noise level.  quite often, while sitting in the dining room or working in the kitchen, i am seranaded by the hopeful little wren as he advertises for his future mate.  the little bird house is chock full of sticks and he flits around from the birdhouse to the fence to any number of places in and around the vegetable garden and all the while he is calling out repeatedly and waiting for a response.  cardinals, blue jays and goldfinches all stop by and make their presence known.  every so often, we spy a blue bird but we generally don't hear them.  we have hawks nesting in the old growth that forms boundary lines between various houses and i hear them frequently as they fly over head.  since we live at the bottom of the hill, it is not  uncommon for them to fly low up the driveway and thru the trees as they head uphill to their nest.  surely they are hoping to find the chipmunks that are suddenly no longer present, we suspect the snake skins we have recently found have something to do with that.  darry and i have also caught glimpses of a fox.  it has been in and around our yard and in other parts of the neighborhood.  i am thinking that it is a vixen, it is not very pretty, rather bland in color and markings and the tail is not especially fluffy.  whether these are signs of gender, immaturity or inbreeding, i am not educated enough to say but i hope this means that there are more to keep her company.

one thing i haven't experienced so far this year, cicadas.  we are supposedly expecting a bumper crop, a mass hatching if you will.  it has been all over the tv and newspapers.  so far, we have found a few shells on trees and in various plants, and with this neighborhood being so old, we should see or hear many soon if the predictions hold true.  look for photos to be posted if they are!