Welcome to my Porch

sometimes i feel like i could spend the entire day sitting on this porch. i imagine i'm nature's silent partner observing life from my swing. my refuge. it is here, with nature's backdrop, that i can sort out my feelings; think deep thoughts; communicate with God; be inspired; cry; or just hang out with someone special. but today, for this moment, it is just me in my swing on my porch.

a slight breeze whispers through the leaves of trees surrounding me. it is almost fall and the leaves are beginning their ballerina descent from their summer perch. slowly they spiral through the air to the ground beneath the tree they called home for so many weeks. sometimes, if i listen closely, i can hear God's voice in the soft whispering breeze.

a hummingbird gracefully alights on the feeder nearby. i love sharing my porch with him. sometimes he brings a friend or two. but today, it is just my redchested friend. he hums and buzzes busily back and forth between the flowers on the rose of sharon bushes and the feeder. his visits are fewer and farther between than they were just a few short weeks ago. soon the feeder will have to be removed and packed away for the winter. until then, i enjoy watching my friend take advantage of the dog days of summer.

birds love our yard. in addition to our feeders, there is a plethera (i love that word!) of all natural, organic BUGS for the birds to feast upon. the birds swoop from tree to tree, noisely calling out their greetings to one another. the dove couples arrive together and sweetly share their meals off to the side. the doves are my favorite. cardinals, the virginia state bird, love to fly in and grab a bite to go, eating their meal on a nearby tree limb. another favorite is the indigo bunting. they are beautiful, but very shy. they spend most of their time chattering to one another at the ground level. more than content to eat the fallen seeds and crumbs the others leave behind.

the water in the tiny creek nearby lazily trickles over the rocks and splashes into the pool of water below. i imagine late at night there are many wonderful little critters that enjoy the cool water - but during the day our dogs own the creek. they splash around and try to catch the little water bugs floating on the surface. it is their special spot.

there are many other things i see from my spot here on the porch. such as the spider building a web in the corner. the funny little green bug that darts to and fro looking for an ant from whom to steal a bit of food. A butterfly meandering across the driveway and into the yard. The neighbor's cat sneaking through the woods. the heavily laden walnut trees, the squirrels will be happy this year. and the slow decent of the sun as it sets for another evening. another day is finished. i've just witnessed God's masterpiece at its finest. and all from my front porch swing.

hmb