Looking through my morning window while I have my coffee, the season’s change is bringing other changes with it. Gone are the birds of summer and in are the birds of fall and winter. The most common visitors to the feeder outside my window these days are the finches – mostly the new crop of Purple Finch, I believe. They are at the feeder, on the ground, in the bird tree. The males are just beginning to get touches of their color, growing handsome to attract a mate next spring.
The females are less colorful, but no less attractive with their strong striping.
I love watching the birds, but would I want to trade places with them? I think not. I like my walls around me and my roof over my head. I like to be protected from the weather, be it heat or cold, wet or dry. I want to be protected from predators, away from the possibility of being swooped up in the sharp talons of a hawk.
Sitting by my window, watching the birds, I’m free to let my mind wander, to muse as it wishes. To think thoughts serious or frivolous. Or not to think at all, simply to be. Quiet. Pensive. Surrounded by furry girls inside and feathery friends outside.
A precious gift, that freedom. No chains to shackle our bodies or our minds, unless we choose to impose those chains on ourselves, to restrict ourselves from being all that we can be, to introduce internal conflict.
Just let it go. Just be.
Wanderings of an Elusive Mind 
Amen siSTAR!
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The last two photos are wonderful! I hope they listened to you and just let it go. These are really pretty birds.
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Beautiful birds and beautiful thoughts. I, too, am glad for a roof over my head and just watching birds through the window.
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great pictures..
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Beautiful photos of beautiful birds to go with your beautiful thoughts. đŸ™‚
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I guess I have to let summer go, much as I don’t want to. I know. I say that every year. Fall is beautiful. But it leads to the dreaded. …. well…. I’m not going to say it. But you know. Maybe it won’t be that bad this year since I don’t have to drive in it. I will try to look at it all optimistically.
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It makes it better when you can stay home on bad-weather days, but still, cabin fever always gets me before it’s over.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Carol. Once in a while a day will go by and I will realize that I never stepped out of the house, except maybe to harvest a few raspberries or get the mail. From inside my cozy nest I took care of business, wrote, cooked, maybe tidied, but always listened to the birds, watched the kids across the street playing, and when it got dark, turned on the twinkle lights for a warm glow. We do be lucky ducks! And when cabin fever sets it, it might be time to give The Artistic One a call and plan a trip. Better yet, plan the trip now, even before cabin fever sets in, so you can have the pleasure of anticipation. Thinking of you!
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Love your photos and I to prefer walls and a roof over my head..seasons we don’t really get well only two, wet or dry but always warm day or night. Which has the added bonus in that I only need a summer wardrobe đŸ™‚ but love hearing and seeing the pictures of spring, autumn and winter đŸ™‚
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I love these photos. Like you, I like to sit and watch the birds in the garden. I take a few photos, but I think they have a sixth sense and they fly away the minute I pick up my camera!
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I think I know where my muse is hanging out these days! We still have a few hummers but I suppose they are traveling now. The cardinals are still calling to each other…or their offspring. I haven’t seen our winter birds yet; which reminds me I better start stocking up on seed for the feeders soon.
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Pretty finches! We see a lot of House Finches, but rarely a Purple Finch will come through.
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