I was buzzed by a hummer. I knew the day was coming, willing to put the feeders out, but not going to be preemptive about it. I made some time before heading into work to put up two feeders.
I keep them on opposite sides of the house. I know the birds are going to be territorial and/or fight over the food resources, but if having them not visible to each other, perhaps the underdog gets a better shot at survival.
Now, if I were to let go, not have an agenda, allow nature to run its course, I’d simply put out one feeder and let them duke it out, survival of the fittest and all that. (Or would I feed them at all, read on!)
Enter the human variable. We have had enormous detrimental impacts on Earth, that’s also “part of the plan” but I’m interested in sharing some balance to that. Hiding a feeder from the other and feeding the underdog won’t stop, let alone balance climate change, nullify our destructive history. However, on the little patch that I steward, maybe my good intentions will make a positive impact.
Maybe. Hopefully. I am not that good at letting go of certain things, I love my relationship to Earth (Happy Mother’s Day to the big one!) and willing to admit an unbreakable commitment to help, NOT let go.
Of course I have an impact, take, do things that aren’t “best practice”. That’s all part of the dance, the relationship of give and take. With her guidelines and laws in mind (that I’m sadly sophomoric about) I explore actions that might balance my negative impacts.
Would not boiling water and using sugar be better? Would not feeding the birds at all be a “more natural” act? Let us revel in the luxury of even having the time and resources to ponder such things!
It’s my Saturday, so I’m puttering around the property after a busy week. Admittedly I’m exhausted, but in a delightful way. I feel worked. It’s mental, physical, even spiritual. I DO NOT feel depleted. I feel the effects of rigorous work, the impact of being part of team that hustles to feed people, the weight of diving into a brand new context, a kitchen and the dynamics within it, learning a menu, making it, timing my portion of it with others (pizzas cook faster than burgers) and then cleaning up the wreckage in the wake of a bountiful shift.
I miss PA, but not the kitchen at Happy Acres. I miss Harpswell but not the salad room at Bowdoin. I miss the propinquity to Deedles but not Southern Maine.
I’m still processing the busy month the just slapped me like a dead fish, amazed at how much can transpire over the course of a few days, weeks. Grateful I am, completely in awe and utterly grateful.
I’m here on my land, begun the moto-commute, part of a brand spanking new high functioning restaurant and kitchen, relishing the gently waving spring blossoms, listening to the birds and smelling the spring forest. Oh the luxuries indeed, spank with more goodness Earth, I love you…
DeedleDoodleDaily 