A Hummingbird with Brainfreeze

     We went up to Vermont last weekend and spent a relaxing few days with my family in the heart of the mountains. I love the safe feeling I get as I sit on their back deck, looking at the vivid green mountains that surround their home. In fact, the picture I have on my home page is the view from their deck. They have a variety of wildlife in the many fields along their dirt roads, and many colorful birds that come to feed in the area. One of my favorites is the active hummingbird, who does not hesitate to come up to you if you are wearing a brightly colored shirt, or will arc back and forth over your head if he is trying to keep another hummer from coming to eat at his feeder. They are so tiny and fragile looking, but are very entertaining to the onlookers just a few feet away.

     My mom told a funny story that keeps putting a smile on my face and I thought it would be a cute story to share with you. I had asked her about starting my own hummingbird feeder and was asking her about the right measurements of sugar to water. After she told me, she gave me some good advice:  never put it out while it is still hot from boiling the water and sugar, and never give it to the birds right from the refrigerator. She proceeded to tell me her story of giving it to the hummingbird while it was still cold:  "I put the feeder out and sat down on the deck. Shortly after the hummingbird came and settled down on the feeder. He stuck his beak into the sugar water and began drinking. Usually hummingbirds are constantly in motion, but I watched as he stopped drinking and sat with his head down for a minute, looking a bit dazed. I think he got brain freeze because I have never seen a hummer stop moving before."

     Well, if people can get brain freeze from eating cold things, why can't a little hummingbird, no bigger than my finger, get brain freeze from refrigerated sugar water?

     Speaking of birds, all is quiet on the home front. The baby hawks have succeeded in learning how to catch their own food and have since moved away. Seeing that there is no need to stay in the hawk nursery, the mother and father have also moved on and my birds have settled into a calm, pleasant way of life once again in our backyard. I have not heard the shrill cry of the hawk since we returned home from our trip, nor have I heard the birds angrily squawking to try to scare the meanies away. I will have to mentally record that in my mind so I will know that when they return next spring, (which most likely they will seeing that this is the second year of raising their young in the same nest) that they will be out of the neighborhood by mid July.

     We officially have five weeks left of summer before school starts, though I have four weeks until I need to go set up the classroom. I have been enjoying every minute of my summer, getting caught up on things I needed to do, going to the beach, not having a strict time schedule to follow...yes, it has been really nice and I have never appreciated it more. I do need to make more time to write though, but I am at a point where I do not know what the Lord would have me write next. I thought I knew, but I am not getting anywhere with the idea. I kind of feel like that hummingbird with brain freeze and I am hoping my brain will warm up and I can be off and writing again. I am currently working on a creative writing program for children (and adults if they cared to take it too) to help others get started on their journey of writing. I will have more information about that in a couple of weeks if you are interested.

     I pray you are enjoying your summer as much as I am, and I look forward to seeing you again soon! God bless!