Ordinarily I turn on the radio and the coffee pot nearly simultaneously in the morning, so I can catch up on the news while I’m waiting for my eyes to start working. But on Friday, the local radio station saw fit to unceremoniously dismiss the morning radio host I’ve been sharing my morning coffee with for the past three years, so I had to rethink my morning routine. I’ve decided to go sans radio entirely, and go for a morning walk instead.
Turns out, walking in the morning is nice, if a little cold, in pajamas. Being my first (experimental) morning walk day, I thought it best not to stray too far from the…services. I set up a nice little breakfast bar for myself on a big rock in a sunny spot just outside the door, and all in all, I think I will come to appreciate this unexpected turn, of morning events.
I inspected all the rose bushes and the Magnolia trees for winter burn and emerging buds; all negative. I managed to pick up enough kindling from the side garden for a good fire, saw a Pileated Woodpecker (dryocopus pileatus) working on the soffit of the barn, enjoyed the smell of pine trees, mud, and manure, and saw quite a few unusual birds-some heading north, and others south, who stopped off in the horse pasture for a quick bite of leftover horse grain. Soon the birds will set up camp in the horse pasture, knowing there is a steady supply of seed and grain, not too far from the many bird houses I’ve set out for them. It is such a delight, to see the many tiny and busy birds huddled around the horse’s feet; it amazes me how they nonchalantly coexist without incident, moving and grazing as a big mismatched group, in a well choreographed and beautifully harmonious respect for each other. You can’t help but suppose that they must genuinely enjoy each other’s companionship.
Cleaning up the breakfast buffet, I nearly stepped on the most excellent discovery of the day, which turned out to be much more exhilarating than the coffee talk of mornings past-the Tulips are coming. Birds, Tuilps, Horses and mud- Nice day. 
