Tiny Miracle

There are only two ways to live your life. One--as though nothing is a miracle. The other--as if everything is a miracle. (Albert Einstein)

Upset Robin

When I took my quick walk around the yard and garden this morning, I came across this very upset robin, chattering away on a fence post. 

It took me a minute to realize that the reason for his dismay was that a starling was in the tip top of the spruce tree that the robin's nest and babies are in. 

I think everything worked out okay in the end though, because later in the day, the robin was busy back at work finding grubs and flying back up to the nest with them. 

Linked to wild bird bird wednesday. 

Scent of Lilacs

Every morning, they are sitting there--holding hands--on the garden bench, near the fragrant lilac bush. She is wrapped up in a thick brown sweater, despite the already warm, sun drenched air.

I wave and they wave back. He helps her up, guiding her up the steps on to the back porch as she awkwardly maneuvers her walker. I follow them inside and fill a basin with warm water then gently unwrap her bandaged hand while he hovers behind me.

"Is it looking better?" he asks anxiously peering at the wound on the back of her hand.

"Yes," I have to say this as loud as I can, for he has lost most of his hearing. "It is looking better. It is healing well.  It is a beautiful wound."

He smiles, relieved, and goes back outside.

She looks at me and frowns. "It looks ugly," she says looking at the back of her hand.

"You know," I tell her, "It looked ugly when I first started seeing you." That was only 14 days ago. The wound had covered the entire back of her swollen and discolored  hand and was filled with  with yellow slough, and purulent gray drainage. Now it is beefy red and filled with healthy granulation tissue and is healing rapidly. Her fingers are no longer swollen and their color is normal. "Now it is a healthy wound. It is healing well. Nurses think the oddest things are beautiful--and to a nurse, a healthy healing wound is truly a thing of beauty."

She laughs every time I say that. I clean and dress the wound.

He comes back in, with fresh lilacs he has cut for the kitchen table and gently pats her freshly bandaged hand.

The tiny kitchen is filled with the scent of lilacs and of tender love.

They have been married for 57 years. She is standing on the brink of that immense chasm of dementia. He is losing his strength, and can barely hear. Yet, there is a breathtaking beauty  in their togetherness.

In a few short days the wound will be healed, and I will be seeing a different patient at 9:00 in the morning.  I am blessed that I have the privilege to have had a tiny part in their lives.

Shades of Pink

Trillium Grandiflorum in her many shades of pink. 

Evening Tulips

Tulips in the evening light. 

Tree Swallows

I got to watch this pair of tree swallows build their nest this afternoon. Or rather, I should say, I watched the female build the nest. She was busy all day flying back and and forth, carrying bits of straw, moss, and pine needles for the nest, while her partner sat on the fence and preened and sang all day long. I just hope that he'll be bringing her breakfast, lunch, and dinner while she is sitting on those eggs later on!

Edited to add--I some how labled these birds as barn swallows. They are tree swallows. Barn swallows have orange throats and buiild their nests in rafters and under the eves of buildings. Tree swallows are cavity nesters. 

Homemaking

It has been pretty busy around here in the homemaking department. 

House Wren

Bluebirds

Tree Swallow

Bluebird in Maple Tree