April Hallelujah
“Spring is made of solid, fourteen-karat gratitude, the reward for the long wait. Every religious tradition from the northern hemisphere honors some form of April hallelujah, for this is the season of exquisite redemption, a slam-bang return to joy after a season of cold second thoughts.”
―Barbara Kingsolver
Imaginary trees, acrylic ink and pen.
April has always been one of my most favorite months. The deep snow recedes, the days grow longer and the earth slowly awakens from slumber. While May is certainly more colorful with bright wildflowers and new migrant birds arriving at break-neck speed on warm southerly winds, April allows us time to bid a fond farewell to the species that have kept us company throughout the cold dark months of winter, while the birds of spring are arriving. A changing of the guard of sorts, and a fun mix of both seasons. The Snow Buntings, the Red-breasted Nuthatch, the Pine Siskins and the darling Brown Creepers. The magnificent Snowy Owls. They will all be missed once they make their journeys back to their breeding grounds.
Turkey Vultures, Red-winged Blackbirds, Sandhill Cranes, American Woodcock, Killdeer, Song Sparrows, Osprey and Common Loons are all early migrators, and all have returned to our area over the past few weeks. Their exuberant calls and songs are such sweet music to my sound-starved ears.
Mojo continues to do well, and is scheduled to have his sutures removed this coming Thursday. We take long walks around our property each day and he is more than anxious to start keeping our local chipmunks on their toes. He’s normally a very active dog, so the no running/jumping restrictions have definitely challenged his patience, but he seems to possess that quality in spades. As with each of his surgeries, the recovery time only strengthens our already strong bond. I couldn’t ask for a sweeter companion and friend.
Since I’ve had to keep a closer eye on him than usual, I’ve been picking up my art supplies and tools as a means to deal with my own boredom. When a beautiful Wild Turkey tom wandered into our back yard yesterday, I was unable to take photos due to the birdscreens that cover all of our windows. I picked up my pen and watercolors and drew a quick sketch of the turkey. I keep these small paintings in my daily writing journal, and like photos, they document something I found beautiful or interesting that day.
Wild Turkey, mini sketch/painting
I have a few procedures and doctor visits to complete in the coming month, but I honestly have not spent much time worrying about what still lies ahead. My recovery from the radiation treatments has been my main focus along with helping Mojo through his surgery recoveries. That was enough. And what still lies ahead also includes many singing migrant birds, chorusing frogs and exquisite wildflowers. Moths and flowering trees. An abundance of fresh air and long nights watching the starlit skies. Those are the things I tend to think on. The many beautiful and wonderful things that bring me joy, and thankfully that list is so very long.
Peace.
