Spring

Recently we were driving across the prairies. I was observing all the signs of spring. In Manitoba we saw the flood waters that spread across the land, washing away roads, taking out bridges, threatening farm homes and animals. Because of the high waters, many deer were killed on the roads as they were trying to find high ground only to find more danger. We saw the Canadian geese returning, nesting and swimming in frigid waters. How do they do that and keep their webbed feet from becoming frozen?

What I enjoyed the most though was watching the spring calves. They are so adorable. I watched this one little guy trying to get up. He was so wobbly. He lifted his hind end, splayed his hind holves apart and then proceeded to life his head. He tried to unravel his front legs but did a face plant. Did he give up? No he tried again. His right leg got planted and then his left leg shakely spread at a triangle, he pushed and pulled till he had himself up. All four legs started to wobble and I thought he was going to go down again. He did stay up and then he tried to walk. That was so funny. We have 2 feet to co-ordinate but he has four. He had to figure out how to move 2 at once and then the other 2. Cows walk by moving one right leg and one left leg at the same time. Now how do they figure that out? It was so fun to watch.

We watched flocks of birds returning. I saw this one little fellow carrying a twig bigger than himself as he worked hard to build his new home. How he didn't fall out of the sky amazed me!

The other thing I enjoyed over the Easter weekend was the quiet of the country. O what bliss! When we live in a city, noise becomes so much a part of our lives that we don't hear it until there is absolute stillness and then we "hear" the stillness. It was heavenly.

Take time to enjoy the Spring!