Little Wonders Everywhere

Odds and ends that have caught my eye -- I bathed all six dogs today ( that's close to 300 pounds of dog, none of which was particularly cooperative) and have hardly an idea left in my head beyond going to bed.




I love the Dr. Seuss-like look of these clematis seed pods -- particularly their shadows. Or maybe they're space aliens.

One morning after a rain this exquisite pale yellow mushroom appeared as if by magic in my jade plant's pot .

So beautiful, its cap tilted at a jaunty angle on the sulphur-colored stem -- but by evening it had shriveled away almost to nothing.

And this solemn fellow below was in our orchard, eating windfall apples -- some of which, I suspect were fermented because he took a long time to notice me and when at last he did, rather than flying, he waddled away with a drunken roll.

I really like crows -- such big, handsome birds. And so very smart. I got to know one slightly some years ago. He had had been hit by a car and had a broken wing and a broken leg and was floundering about on the roadside. I picked him up, put him in a dark box and immediately took him to a vet.

The vet declined to treat him but told me to try splinting his leg and to cut the foot off a sock and slip the tube that was left over the bird's body to immobilize his wing in hopes of letting it heal. I did this and for six weeks the crow lived in a big dog crate on a table in our kitchen, growing fat on hard-boiled eggs and dog food. I didn't attempt to tame him -- just gave him food and water, kept his cage clean, and went about my business. He watched everything and was supremely calm in what must have been a very confusing situation. My respect for him grew daily.

After some time I removed the splint and the sock and the crow began to flap his wings, as if he were exercising. After a few days of watching him rehabilitate himself, I took the cage outside and opened the door. He stepped out, looked around to get his bearings, and took off for the woods, flying with slow, steady wing beats, never looking back.