posted
This afternoon I came in to do some internet stuff and a bit of carving, and as dusk falls the tree frog peepers are singing in the wetlands back behind the shop.
I have been hear for twelve years now, and the peepers are one of the most welcome reminders of spring. This year they are especially welcome. Winter was hard and cold this year - not just with the weather, but in terms of pain and death all around; the Columbia disaster, the Rhode Island nightclub fire, and the stunning loss of Rick Glawson were big examples. There were other, more personal tragedies this winter, my dog had to be put down after thirteen years, several good friends, including my own employee, saw what seemed like strong relationships come undone; then there were just the crummy stuff - an accident with my car, the short circuit that cooked my computer two weeks ago, and all in a context of cold, grey, bitter weather that didn't want to ever end. And then of course there's this damned horrid little war, justifiable or not, that has us all cringing and snapping and questioning one another's motives and ideals.
But these things are passing now. We've had a couple of gorgeous days this weekend and last; my computer system is back on-line, I've started bicycling to work and getting out on the motorcycle, all good things. So tonight when I heard the peepers, I had to acknowledge them. They are the most inconsequential of beings, simple and innocent, and their songs are sung for the most elemental of purposes, to find mates and reproduce. I like to think of it that they are singing for love. Singing for love, for rebirth, for spring's promise to the world. I hear them sing tonight, and realize how much I needed them, how much we all need to take a moment to listen to the world around us, the quiet, essential, indefatigeable sound of the peepers, out there in the dark, singing for love. Listen...
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks for the reminder of positive things Cam!
We don't have peepers near us but I did go outside today in the sunshine... and it was glorious! I did a little dance and celebrated a new beginning in my own way.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Dang, Cam, makes us wish we could have been there. We just get the buzzing bugs in the spring but they have yet to make an appearance. They will almost be a welcome sound...
Have a great one!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
We have these little green tree frogs that sound like they're much bigger than they are. One starts chirping and a minute later another joins in and then another and in another minute there are a thousand. Then in an iunstant they all stop. I've never figured it out.
Last night we were at some friends that have this flat pastureland. They were saying that the land is so abundant with earthworms that when the rain stops they can hear the water sucking into the worm holes.
I like springtime too.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Cam.. Last year when the tree frogs started doing their thing, I had my 2 granddaughters with me one night, and we were standing on the front porch listening to them. When they stopped, I showed them how to whistle a certain way, and then all the tree frogs would start singing as if they were answering. The girls caught on to that real quick, and now its a great game for them. Kids are funny...sometimes the simplest little things seem to give them more enjoyment than more expensive ways of entertaining them. It didn't take them long to learn how to sneak up on one of those peepers and catch them either....
Grandpa had a good time too......
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
cam really neat.....i lived in south fl. for 19 years. almost city life. and bein a counrty boy i missed those nite sounds. we moved up to pensacola in july 98. the 1st nite i was here i spent listening to the crickets, frogs and it was so nice.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
i love the owls...i live up in the sticks surrounded by national forest so the owls get pretty noisy just as it turns dark...you can even hoot back n forth with them. can't wait til my garage doors can stay open for the day and early evening while i work out there...then i can be surrounded by all the furry and feathered critters, and to be honest..that's what i prefer these days...
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
The frogs down here are a little bigger than what you have described. I've been hearing them on my weekend trips home. Spring will bring out the snakes and alligators. Sometimes at night the gators will sit at the roadside sucking up the heat coming off the highway.
posted
Thanks to last week's rains...here in Southern california... the poppies have turned whole hillsides into a bright fluorecent orange. Hate to admit it, but I forgot my camera at home...didn't get any pics
[ March 24, 2003, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: Si Allen ]
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic