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Our bunny is back

5/24/2021

We thought Grey was a male; we though Grey was our fox, living somewhere on our propter. Wrong and wrong.
Grey is a female living up the street in under our neighbors shed. Actually, she is not living there anymore but it was the home she picked to birth her nine (or was it eleven) cubs. Our neighbor has videos showing the cubs appearing and disappearing from under the shed, but unfortunately I don’t have copies. The family disappeared for a week, then reappeared to the birthing shed, but now they are gone.
There have been many sighting of Grey throughout the neighborhood, along our busy street, and on the side streets behind the cemetery. Bunnies have returned to our yard, which convinces us that Grey hasn’t been here since she gave birth. We wish her and all her cuties well.

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Animal watch

5/19/2021

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A resident is peaking out of that hole

Just a catchup on the latest animal watch around here. The last time I saw Grey was a week ago as he proudly strolled across a neighbor’s front yard. I was on my way home from my evening walk to the cemetery when I saw him; he hardly gave me glance. They say fox are not afraid of humans.
Much to our relief our resident bunny made an appearance near our patio a few days ago.
Today I must purchase a humming bird feeder and stand. Two hummers arrived yesterday winging around for food.
Finally, I am still concerned that when we cut down one of the big maples in our yard, the families of squirrels living there will have to find another apartment building. We’re sorry to have to evict them, but if we don’t take the tree down, it will find its own way—probably not onto our house, but maybe toward our neighbors or across the road.

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Solitude is not synonymous with sedentary

5/17/2021

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Solitude can be a challenge for ADHD type like me. I don’t/can’t sit still for long. Actually it’s only a challenge if I think I should sit still for a long time. As a kid I was sometimes told to sit still, or at least people comment on continual moving about, although they were always nice about it. Probably because I was a happy-go-lucky kid. I learned early that people are kinder to kids who smile. True for adults, too, but I think it’s harder for adults to catch onto that if they didn’t grow up acting happy. They have to work at it, that is if they are even aware of what they can get away with by smiling.
As a kid, even though I was social, I loved spending time by myself. Many memories, still vivid, are of playing alone in my room, or wandering in the woods checking out my forts. I was always on the move.
And so today, in my solitude, I move from post to post, from activity to activity. Solitude is not synonymous with sedentary.

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Resident fox

5/13/2021

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We have a resident fox. Grey, as in fox, first appeared a few weeks ago, and has continued to visit every few days, at daybreak of late afternoon. At least, that’s when we’ve noticed him.
One morning I saw him dash away from my kitchen window where he must have been enjoying the birdseed dropped from the feeder. No wonder I haven’t see our resident bunny later. In fact, my son saw the dinner remains of some furry animal in our woods.
We love seeing Grey once in a while. He is more afraid of us than we might be of him. Truth be told, a resident fox doesn’t get in the way of our solitude.

According to humansociety.org, “A fox cutting through your yard is probably just passing through on their way between hunting areas and no action is necessary on your part.”

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Serious Lock Down Advice

5/12/2021

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This from Raven’s Bread, a newsletter for people who appreciate solitude.
http://wwww.ravensbreadministries.com

Serious Lock Down Advice: Please be careful because people are going crazy. I was just discussing this with the microwave and the toaster while drinking my tea, and we all agreed that things are getting bad. I didn’t mention this to the washing machine because she puts a different spin on EVERYTHING!! Certainly couldn’t share with the fridge ‘cause he’s been cold and distant. In the end, the iron straight- ened me out. She said the situation isn’t all that pressing and all the wrinkles will soon get ironed out. The vacuum, however, was very unsympathetic...told me to just suck it up. But the fan was VERY optimistic, giving me hope that it will blow over soon. The toilet looked a bit flushed but said nothing. I asked its opinion but the front door said goodbye 2020. I was becom- ing unhinged and the doorknob told me to get a grip. You can just about guess what the curtains told me: they said to “pull myself together.” We will survive.

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We only need one car

5/10/2021

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Now here is simplicity for you. No, not for you to follow, but as example of what we are able to do to simplify at this juncture in our life. “We now only have one car.” That’s the positive way of reporting it. I could have said, “We got rid of one of our cars,” which isn’t a negative statement, but may give a little clue to how delighted we are.
We don’t need two cars anymore. We can share. We are saving money by not paying insurance, registration, yearly inspection, and maintenance. We have more room in the garage. We gave the car to our son who will pass it on to one of our grandchildren. We kept it in good condition, but his mechanic will give it a look-over to be certain it is still good for the road.
That 2004 green Camry made important trips with me. Trips around town; trips to visit my mom; trips to the cottage-by-the-sea. Throughout it’s entire life, it proudly wore an Obama-Biden sticker, which I told me son, may be worth more than the car itself.

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Water of Leith Walkway

5/6/2021

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I came across this post that I had written June 6, 2017 in Edinburgh. I was there writing for a week and for some reason I never posted this one. Maybe I had saved it for this special moment of longing to be wandering about Edinburgh. I am grateful for the memory. In fact, those of us who love solitude, and spend time in it, are always appreciative of memories and seem to be able to call them forth with ease, and with enjoyment and gratitude.

     After a productive morning writing at the National Library, restless set in. Isn’t that the way—a burst of energy and then a letdown! I find that a change of pace, which often includes some exercise, usually lifts the fog.
     There’s always something new to discover when I wander about a city. Today, it was the Water of Leith Walkway, “a public footpath and cycleway that runs alongside the small river of the same name through Edinburgh, Scotland, from Balerno to Leith.” I came across it during my walk to the Royal Botanical Garden.
     Tomorrow, my last day, I plan to return to the walkway and tour the gardens. That is, after a visit to Holyroodhouse. I’m skipping the Castle this trip. Today the lines were way too long, which means way too crowded for a solitary travel like me.

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Keeping solitude

5/4/2021

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Now that things are opening up, and now that I personally feel more comfortable being out in public, I have to be careful that I don’t wake up one morning with a calendar full of social activities. How easy it could be for solitude to become no more than a good idea, something I long for, a dream for the future.
Since the beginning of the millennium twenty-one years ago, my life in community has found balance with my life of solitude. Those solitary trips to Italy and Scotland, and those winters at the cottage-by-the-sea are now in the past, but my solitude times at home remain deeply rewarding. There is no reason those shouldn’t continue, but I am aware that I must stay attentive so that the social me doesn’t take over the introverted me.

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