Summer
morning in Vermont
The
sky changed from a soft pink to a dull yellow as the sun rose above the
mountains. I sat on a moss-covered rock just a few feet from the bank of the
creek, a single bush granting me some camouflage. Crickets and tree frogs were
chirping loudly as if to welcome the morning. Birds were singing but none had
left the comfort of their nests yet. The creek gently lapped at its banks as it
was flowing gently toward the waterfall downstream.
All of a sudden there was a splash as a
beaver plunged into the water. He swam around in a wide circle then with a slap
of his tail, he dove under the surface. I scanned the surface of the river
looking to see where he would come up. My diligence was rewarded as I spotted
him as he resurfaced a short distance from where he had submerged. The beaver
started to swim in a circle again, stopping this routine after a while and
headed for the shore opposite the one he entered from. He climbed onto the bank
and chewed on the dead grass along the shore. He took a clump of golden-brown
grass stocks into his mouth and slid back into the water. This time rather than
swimming in circles, he headed straight for the opposite side of the creek.
When he reached the other bank he disappeared into his lodge with the grass.
After a short while he emerged from his lodge and started his circle routine
again.
At this point I turned my attention
elsewhere. Looking up I saw that the sun had risen above the mountains and was
already beginning to warm the early morning air. The birds had long since
started to fly around, getting about the business of finding food. I spotted a
robin at the water's edge. Watching it I realized it had managed to find a
worm, and was pulling with all its might to free the worm from its earthly
safety. For a bit I thought the worm was going to win, but with a cheep of
triumph the robin pulled the worm free and gobbled it down quickly. Two
sparrows swooped at something that had disturbed their nest. Once they were
satisfied that they had thoroughly spooked the intruder, they settled back into
their nest.
A spotted fawn drank from the river, its
mother standing very close while looking around to make sure that it was safe
for her to drink as well. When she was sure of her safety, she gingerly bent
down to drink. When she decided that they had both had enough to drink she
gently licked her fawn. At this prodding the fawn stopped drinking and turned
to follow its mother as she make her way into the safety of the tall trees and
thick underbrush.
A butterfly fluttered here and there, going
from daisy to Queen Anne's lace, to a flowering bush. As the butterfly settled
onto the flowering bush I was able to better see its markings. The wings were
white with blue spots and rimmed with a dark blue band. Even though it was not
large, it struck me as being tremendously beautiful.
By now the sun had warmed the day to an
almost intolerable heat. Convinced by
the heat, and my grumbling stomach, I broke from my hiding place to find seek
out food, and a cooler past time for the rest of the day.
by Mindy Hawk, All Rights Reserved
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