A Quiet Day of Delight

A quiet day at the cabin was filled with little surprises of delight! A cup of tea sipped on the viewing bench gave us opportunity to talk and enjoy the ever-changing view from the point. The ridges are showing golden, as the grasses are drying in the summer heat. Peak fire season is here. We're always glad when we're through it and passed without incident.

Tiny strawberries are well-hidden under their green leaves. Sweet and special, you have to be dedicated to get more than a thimbleful!

The Indian Paintbrush is striking against the tall green foliage in cabin meadow. It's especially welcome, since the pale pinks and lavenders of early spring flowers are now well past. It's quite interesting to observe wild flowers and their passage through the seasons. Early spring bears more purple and blue; summer some red, yellow, and lots of white.


A flock of ten wild turkeys came to visit. We observed them at the fire pit from a quiet spot by the window. As they left, I quietly followed them down Cabin-Woods Lane and was excited to be able to photograph them.

At late evening, it was time to pack up and head on home. A pileated woodpecker visited a tall dead snag near the cabin, looking majestic and beautiful sillouetted against the mountain ridge. About the size of a crow, he is the largest of all the woodpeckers in North America. He was too elusive for me to photograph --- visual observations were enough, though. Striking!

It is the custom to take a walk before we head home. This time we walked to a little homestead cabin at the far end of the property. A barn sits nearby and inside we found remnants of a neat and tidy little bed of grass and branches that were probably made by the little lost girl the week before. Her daddy said she had tried out the barn first before she decided to walk farther and found our 'more lived in looking' cabin. She was a competent young woman!


As we drove down the mountain towards home, we were delighted to see a young moose crossing the road ahead of us! We do not live in moose country! Reports of moose in our mountains are usually met with skeptisim, but this is the second sighting by anyone in our family. He was in no rush, walking past our truck and then heading through a dry meadow behind us. I was able to hop out of the truck and get quite a few pictures before he disappeared into the woods. He seemed to be looking for someone or something. Quite a guy!

May your week be blessed with many tiny delights and a few big ones too!