Saturday, October 6, 2018

Bird and Straw




Wattle-laden loader roars
Across the west field
Toward a tiny bushtit
Perched on our farmwire
Fence --curiosity and
Courage come in all sizes.


21 comments:

  1. Indeed they do. What a great shot that is!

    What are wattles? I have Googled it but gotten a couple of different definitions, and it's hard to tell from the photo.

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    1. Without cracking the dictionary, when I was a little boy wattles were weeds packed and wrapped to slow erosion where the levee was weak in winter. Years later, I read W.B.Yeats' Innisfree: "I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, ... And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;. Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee." It was a love poem. And I loved the idea of building a house with wattles. So there's history and romance involved in the word, Jenny. Now, construction companies string long wattles athwart threats of erosion to their work. That's what's happening in the fields here. We reserved a half acre for wildlife, but sold nearly as much to Parks And Recreation Dpt. as they re-contour our million-year-old creek.

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    2. Thanks for the explanation, Geo. What a clever way to use weeds, isn't it? It makes my heart glad that you and Norma kept some property for wildlife to retreat to.

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  2. Geo., wattles are also the hangy-down parts of various birds. They are caruncles are carnosities under the chins of turkeys, roosters and cassowaries --as opposed to snoods, which are on top of their heads. Which sort of wattle do you mean? --Sven

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    1. Good to hear from you again, Sven! I think we've covered all the meanings of 'wattle' except the western bartender's welcome question,"Wattle it be?"

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  3. Tears … ya, friend Geo … courage come in all sizes … Much love, cat.

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    1. Dear Cat, the little ones perched on trees, fences and us have got used to the machines of humans. I wish I could.

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    2. … and some of lil birds are just not made for this world … omg, friend Geo … many tears … Love, cat.

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    3. Dear Cat, after a childhood as a thoughtless boy, I made a promise to the birds. They line fence because I put it there, and monsters cannot touch them.

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  4. Indeed. This one resonates with me.

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    1. Kind Rick, it's a brave new world with such creatures in it.

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  5. What a brave little soul to sit there an watch the mighty beast approach.

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    1. The bird? Certainly! But we must also credit Norma, who held her ground until satisfied with the charging behemoth --friend of Leviathan and Ziz-- to get her photo.

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  6. Brilliant word choices and very concise, Geo. The photo is a perfect match.

    May you be in good spirits and health.

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    1. Dear dear Robyn, thanks from Norma and me. I shall in all my best obey you, madame (from Hamlet, Act 1) and aspire to good spirits and health. I wish the same to thee.

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  7. Brave little bird! Smaller than the palm of my hand, it would be safer facing down the digger than trusting my hand.

    Wattles. I remember walking through Shakespeare's house and seeing the woven wattles in the wall (a cut-through). They would prevent erosion.

    Sweet brave little bird.

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    1. Dear Susan, thanks. I seem to remember fences of woven twigs across rural UK gardens were also called wattles. It's a wonderful word --walls would also describe its value in architecture. I find bravery in even the smallest birds. Hummingbirds will hover within inches of us.

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  8. It's good that most birds can fly!

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    1. Indeed, Lon, especially because several cats have claimed hunting privileges on our property.

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  9. Aww. cute little bird - and so brave to remain there and watch the huge beast approach.
    Your words sum it up beautifully...😊😊

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    1. Dear Ygraine, birds are among my favorite life-forms. Imagine, riding your arms into the sky!

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