Bottle It

Those of us living in the upper Plains are accustomed to the vagaries of weather. One moment we are bundled up in sweaters to combat a chill in the air. Later in the day, we are digging in our closets for a T-shirt as the weather turns warm and balmy. The next day we are checking the rain gauge as precipitation accumulates. The winds can be ferocious or gentle. We are prepared for wild swings between below freezing weather and toasty warmth. And, once in a while, we are treated with a Goldilocks Day, a day that is just right.

As I write this post, it is just such a day. My windows are wide open in an attempt to capture the goodness. The humidity is low so the breeze is not bringing wilting air into the house. The temperature is in a comfortably cool range so the air conditioner does not have to run and the furnace is not needed. The sun is shining which gives an energizing boost to plants and people alike. We've had a few spring rains so our trees are now in full foliage and the lawns are plush, no sprinklers required.

Open windows give access to full sound. The birds are oh so active in the spring, flirting with each other and singing their intricate songs. The black-capped chickadees call and respond with their distinctive fee-bee, fee-bee vocalization. Their repertoire also includes the chickadee-dee-dee sound that lets me know they are munching at one of my bird feeders. The ping, ping sound on my pan feeder signals the arrival of a larger bird with a sturdy beak pecking away, such as a blackbird or cowbird. The delicate chip-chip of the little chipping sparrow always makes me smile as they bounce along on my deck, pecking at stray seeds. The scritchy scratchy sounds on the bark of my front yard tree usually means a couple of squirrels are playing tag up and down and all around. The most entertaining song of all is that of the handsome cardinal. Scientists believe cardinals have about sixteen different calls but the most recognizable is their robust birdie-birdie-birdie song. They can also belt loose with beautiful warbles that would be difficult to put down as notes on a piece of sheet music. They are a choir director's dream with their strong projection and perfect pitch.

Open windows also mean full fragrance. The blossoming trees and bushes release their perfume in ways that can be pleasant or pungent. Lilac blooms have a sickly sweet smell to me, albeit their colors are stunning. Flowering crab trees display their pink flowers with a more delicate fragrance. Freshly cut grass lends a herbaceous note to the mix. And as the day wanes, the smoky smell of the neighbor's fire pit signals the start of an evening worthy of sitting outdoors (for my neighbors, not me. I'm more indoorsy). The relative absence of pesky bugs makes it a perfect night.

I wish I could say the upcoming forecast is just as glamorous as this day but it looks like we are in for some summer heat, not my cup of tea. This is also the time of year for turbulent weather patterns which can result in violent storms, also not my cup of tea. It would be nice to bottle up the good days and release their contents as needed. Lacking that option, it is best to drink deeply when you can and savor the moment.