On this Monday of our week of spring break, the clouds drew me outside early. Something about their arrangement over the smooth line of the barn roof caught my eye, so I ventured out, camera in hand. I had snapped a photo when, out of the corner of my eye, I heard a flutter, saw a whisper of movement. I glanced over to see the door to an outbuilding had come open during the night–or perhaps been left open after all our yard work yesterday.
Looking in, I saw a small bird fluttering up and down, trying to escape through the window–though the open door was just as close. I stepped inside and slowly walked over to the window. As I neared, I reached my hands to the window sill, where the bird was now huddled, to pick it up. I placed my hands about it–felt the scrabble of feet, the quick flutter of wings, the insubstantial weight of flight. It quickly stilled within my cupped hands, and I murmured reassuringly, It’s okay. Why, you’re a sweet little white throated sparrow, aren’t you? You’re such a tiny one! Let’s get you out of here now.
Keeping up my inane crooning, I stepped outside the building and slowly opened my hands. The bird, after the slightest of hesitations, flew directly to the birch tree to perch. My spirits lifted with its flight. It really was okay! A red-bellied woodpecker sang out jubilantly from a nearby tree, calling again and again. I watched my breath cloud in the chilly air, tuned in to bright day around me, to the gradual greening, the myriad bird calls. I watched the small sparrow rub its beak against the birch bark.
Then there was a sudden crash and clamor from the brush in the side yard, and I looked over to see a flurry of movement. Deer! My pleasure at seeing them wasn’t enitrely unadultered, as I’d already taken note of some decimated tulips under the apple tree. Still, I couldn’t fail to mostly delight in their presence. They stopped just over the ridge toward the neighbor’s yard, and I counted. One. Two. Three. Four. One looked steadily through the branches at me for long minutes. Then another. Then, in a sudden silent coordinated moment, they took off, loping away–all elegant limbs and tawny pelts, flashing white tail flags as they left.
I turned to walk back inside and return to my coffee. A white throated sparrow called over and over again. The clouds still dotted brilliant blue skies.
Ah, what a lovely way to start the morning.
Nix the comfort zone 
What a gift you had this morning! Thanks for sharing all you saw and I suspect, it was because you are on break, you have time to take it all in! Enjoy!
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I was so thankful, but I also had to wonder what else I’ve been missing when I’m at work.
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What an incredibly blessed morning absorbing nature all around! I can’t believe you were actually able to catch the little bird to help it outdoors.
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It was amazingly calm and quite easy to pick up. I’m not sure why! I was just thankful to hold it and then release it, and watch it fly away.
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I am still amazed you were able to pick up the bird-it must have been exhausted trying to escape.
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You painted so many beautiful images, from the clouds, to the feeling of the bird in your hands, to your breath in the air.
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We’re having a beautiful stretch of weather for spring break. It’s a real treat, but also odd. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to actually garden at this time of year!
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There has been a lot of odd weather…
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What a gift! They knew you were safe.
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It was definitely a gift!
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wow! How can you make yourself go to work?! I love how the clouds catch your eye and what leads in from there, beautiful descriptive writing, especially of the bird cupped in your hand.
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Oh, my goodness. What a start to spring break! This is such beautiful writing, Molly. You have captured so much beauty, mostly with your words, and that one photo of the cotton ball clouds is soaring. I loved that the bird settled down in your hands, and that you kept talking to it.
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These mornings are ones I crave. By the time we get out for summer, it will be hot. I’m trying to soak in all the spring I can. Your descriptions always lead me to you.
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I had this kind of experience last fall walking in the woods and suddenly deer appeared and sprinted one after another across the meadow. SO Beautiful!
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