Mist and Rain

Lots to see and listen to on a cool, wet and gray morning run around the 5-mile Homeplace loop. Spider webs covered in mist and dew. Small green buds on the blackberry brambles, as well as small green leaves and the start of the bell-like flowers on the blueberry bushes. A few star flower plants beginning to push through the ground, although no white flowers yet. Patches of blooming trailing arbutus, plus delicate rue anemone and spring beauty, their pink and white flowers curled tightly, waiting for the sun to return. Fiddleheads pushing through the leaves.

A pair of cat birds, sitting atop greening branches in the swampy area near Topsham Crossing, mewing to each other, as the Towhees called in the distance. Bluejays squacking and sparrows chipping. Three deer bounding away through the brush, their white tails dancing. The rushing of the stream by the gully. The crackle of the powerlines above.

The purple flowers of the azalea bushes out front blossoming seemingly overnight, while the lilies and iris grow green and tall. The bright yellow forsythia in full bloom. The feeders out back frequented by chipping sparrows, white-throated sparrows, chickadees and a pair of goldfinch, the male sporting his brilliant summer plummage. On the ground, the grackle, mourning doves and a red-winged blackbird eat the fallen seed, while inside, Gigi sits, wide-eyed, tail twitching, watching.

Maybe not such a dreary morning, after all :-)