by
Jean Hughes
May 27, 1996
A bluebird sings the day alive! My dream is coming true. For three days the bluebird and his mate have been building their nest in the box near my bedroom window.

This morning, he brings only a few sprigs of grass, but she brings big mouthfuls. As she works, he spends most of his time chasing other birds away. He also tidies the top of the fence post where the box is hung. I just saw him fling off a stray feather.

In the garden area beyond the nest, two robins search for worms, and a kingbird swoops on and off the fence, chasing bugs. Along the fence row a flicker picks its way. A meadowlark sings from a post, and under the grapevine a white-crowned sparrow scratches. A goldfinch teeters on the grapevine wire for a moment. In the background, is the music of an oriole. Swifts dip and dive to the morning music.

The early horizon clouds are silver lined, until the sun breaks through in full brightness. It is as if joy has been flung upon the earth. I have had more than a day's worth of beauty before breakfast!

I have seen no earthly loveliness that transcends the beauty of dawn on a June morning. There is intense quiet, hill silence, that comes between the warblings of the birds. Every song is sweet and clear. From high to low, beauty seems to hold the earth together.

Spring dawns remind me of a bluebird: A splash of heavenly blue and a flash of orange sun, offset by white and song.

* * *
Last night, the children and I had a picnic. We never tire of a glowing fire, hot dogs and roasted marshmallows.

There is a peace about a fire in the out-of-doors that gets down to one of the basic pleasures of life. There is a fascination in the leaping flames.

Almost every night in spring and summer, Chris asks to build a fire. He is always surprised and delighted when I say, "Yes." It is a treat as special as ice cream. It never grows old or common. It is a gift easily given, and I feel it is one of the necessities for a boy, although I did not learn that until I was past my 50th year.


For variety at wiener roasts, I make this glaze.

Honey Glaze
Simmer together for 10 minutes: 1/4 cup sugar, 1 t. tabasco sauce, 
1/4 t. cloves, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 T. oil.
Cool and keep refrigerated until needed. 
Glaze hot dogs several times while roasting or brush with glaze 
several times while grilling. 
Will glaze 2 dozen hot dogs.

This week, the Carolina wrens have been singing tricky, tricky and teakettle, teakettle, tee. They make the woods sing.

These birds are making a come-back after disappearing during the cold winters we had in the late 1970s. Life is tough, but LIFE is TOUGH.

* * *
Summer has dropped in early this year. At twilight, I stand on a hill top high above the little creek. Last week, I could still look down and see the water winding through the hollow and the far-away hills were still visible, but now, everywhere I look, are leaves, leaves leaves!

I listen to the wind singing through all the new life in the tree tops. There is only a short time each spring when I can hear the music that wind plays on whole leaves. Already, small creatures are being born, each in its most advantageous place, whose lives depend upon leaves for food.

This evening, I hear the whistle of a peewee and then his descending pheeyou. His call is like a soft, shrill whisper floating on the wind.

A cardinal hammers out his song and a dove coos from far away. Three times, a barred owl calls, and rising from near the creek come the stretching runes of the frogs.

Along the path to home, black raspberry blossoms perfume the air. After the rains of May we enter the month of roses and butterflies by day and fireflies and stars by night. Sweet June is ready to rush toward deep summer . . . one beautiful step at a time.

Copyright 1996, Jean Hughes.

Jean's book of ramblings and recipes "A Country Mile of Winter" and her book of poetry "The Earth's My Home" are available for $4.95 each plus $1.30 for postage and handling. Ten of Jean's favorite recipes will be included free with each book ordered. Order from...

Country Mile Publications
616 E. Monroe
Delphi, IN 46923

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