April, I forgive you for being too cold this year. I’m sure you didn’t mean it. Mostly, I have forgotten all about you because May came along, lifted up the curtain and lighted up the world again with the immaculate Show of Shows.
The barn swallows returned and began their yearly negotiations (via swift swoops and mid-air scuttles) to decide which lucky pair would win the right to build their nest on the upper eaves of our house. Prime real estate with a view. The frogs united in symphonies of longing. Barred owls spoke in the middle of the night, lamenting in ancient tongues. Peonies exploded in candy colors. All the maples (whether vine or Japanese or Chinese) released impossibly green leaves that always astonish upon first glance. Maidenhair, wood, and sword ferns unfolded. Tiny pink blossoms turned into fruit on the salmonberry, and the robins immediately began gorging themselves. The Black-headed grosbeaks delivered operatic performances every afternoon from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Northern alligator lizards crept slowly out from their secret cool spaces and sunned themselves on the deck. Stealth bats appeared at dusk and put Maverick to shame.
The above is not a complete inventory.
Even the pantry could not help itself.
And on the Champagne Trail, the next generation took their first steps, clumsily and cautiously - in other words: perfectly.
Introducing Sundance and Cassidy, followed by Robert Redford
The first fawn ever spotted at Gladehill
Thank you for reading the May report from the Champagne Trail here at Gladehill. I wish everyone a wonderous June.