Like I Have Time For This?

This little (nonmigratory) darling has been busy scoping out the locust tree in my front yard as a possible good hiding place for winter food storage.

Here, she’s clinging to a post of my front porch. I like to sit out there with coffee and camera and keep an eye out for her.

The first geese are starting to fly, and a few choice leaves are starting to turn red and gold. I walk through the late summer trees and startle the deer and feel a good satisfying anticipation of seeing a real autumn for the first time in twelve years. Autumn out west isn’t really autumn. Not like here. And yes, I’m a little sad to see summer go, even as tired of the heat as I’ve become.

But the nuthatch makes it more bearable.

Because it’s nice to know that not everyone will be leaving. To know that the nuthatch will stay and keep us company in the coming cold.

Soon there will be warm tea and wool socks. Afghans and hot cocoa. Stories read aloud to giggly, pent-up children. And the chance, however slim, to say to them, oh look! there’s the nuthatch! and watch them run for the window.