Before the temperature soared, in the early morning of this, another hotter day, as I stayed inside working on my blogging comments and replies, a faint breeze entered through the French windows allowing admission to the occasional buzzing bluebottle while I listened to the gentle scraping of Jackie’s garden tools; the glinting tinkling of the wind chimes adjusted yesterday; the rattling clanking of the magpies which have wiped out our smaller songbirds whose eggs and chicks they have stolen; and the amorous cooing of mated wood pigeons whose size has protected them from the predators, despite their numbers being reduced by egg theft.
This afternoon I posted
This evening we dined on tender roast duck in orange sauce; firm carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and very flavoursome Brussels sprouts, with which I drank more of the Tempranillo.
It’s terrible that the Magpies destroy the eggs of other birds! 😢
What a lovely description apart from the magpies. Horrid birds which used to scare the living daylights out of us kids when visiting Nana. She had a tamed one who used to follow her around her small farm.
Thank you very much, Suzanne
A descriptive post full of rhythm and assonance.
Valuable comment coming from you, Merril. Much appreciated
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Do you have a guilty pleasure of hearing Jackie working outside? Sometimes I have that when my husband is doing something he has not yet requested my participation. Dinner sounds delightful. The heat dies noy.
Thanks very much, Pat. I have felt guilty, but have adjusted to being able to do so little now
Wise man. Have a wonderful (and hopefully) cooler day.
An eloquent description of outdoor activities filtering through the French windows Derrick
Thank you very much, Ivor
The magpies must be a great trial. I would miss our little birds a lot.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal. So would we
Those magpies can be a real pain. We have some in the interior of BC but thankfully not along the coast, at least not to my knowledge! 😀
Thank you very much, Donna
A beautiful post with vivid descriptions of all that you heard. To sit and listen takes as much attention as it does to sit and look. Both are are a form of noticing, a kind of meditation really, and essential for writing.
Sorry about those magpies. They have to make their living, but it would be better if it weren’t at the expense of the birds and your yard.
Hope tomorrow is cooler!
Thank you so much, Laurie
Nothing better than the sounds of nature to begin one’s day 🙂
Thank you very much, Rosaliene
Great job on the description! Those faint breezes are so welcome on hot days. I’m glad you stayed inside.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
What a beautiful detailed description! I could almost feel it too!
Thank you so much Riba
Your descriptive prose is most enjoyable, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Anne
Your prose posting is positively poetic! Your vivid descriptions get my senses involved. 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Carolyn XX
Lovely description of sounds. Very poetic.
Thank you very much, Sherry
Roasted duck? Where was my invitation? Oh my gosh I would have flown to you house 🙂
Thank you so much, Bridget
Your post brought the afternoon to life; I was there with you. 🙂
Thank you so much, Sue
So well described, that I could hear all the lovely sounds just by reading it
Today I hear sparrows, a cardinal, eagles way up above, and the rumble of a ride-on lawn mower.
Thank you very much, Rose
We have a number of magpie families living in the Domaine and we always know when they’re making mischief from the squarks from the other birds.
Thanks very much, Sheree
I love the description of your afternoon and the breezes coming in the window, Derrick. Nothing like the wind playing about an open window and stopping by to tell you when it has been.
The description in this post presents a nice picture of domesticity,
Thank you very much, Geeta
I have read about magpies. Don’t they also like shiny things?
They do, Robbie. Thank you very much
A delightfully poetic description.
Thank you very much, Dolly
I love the description in your first paragraph. Those are moments to savor and cherish.
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.