Golden Slippers

The Snowy Egret or Golden Slippers has yellow feet and a black bill.

The yellow feet turn black in the low tide mud
Exploring
No obstacles when one is on the way
Stirring the mud for a goodie
Tme to leave the mud and step into flight
View of San Francisco from Sausalito yesterday

Marsh Birds

I watch egrets and herons stand still, maybe take a step and then, another, until, and then … a fish!

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack – feeding depends on the tides.

I’m with these words of T.S. Eliot, from “Ash Wednesday, Part 6”;

Teach us to sit still.

I learn stillness and response watching my feathered friends. They are exquisitely feathered right now. It’s breeding as well as feeding time, and it’s cold. They also spend time grooming.

Oddly, each time I go to type houseboat, I type lifeboat. I think both are true.

Three egrets and two herons
Beauty unfolds its wings
Great Blue Heron excites and soothes heart and mind
Out for a stroll
I’m in Love!
Beauty and Grace
Duck Grooming
Heron Grooming
Three ways to be
Rare snow on Mt. Tam

No need for Tahoe today

Egrets, Herons, and Ducks

Yesterday was a field day for me as I immersed in the life of birds. I took about 200 photos. This is a taste.

Gathering at Low Tide

Strolling by my deck

Flight
Landing

Feasting
Reflecting
What a face!
Feathers
Egret and Heron
At one point three egrets and two herons – here are two and one
A grooming Heron and Egret in a cozy spot
Friend Heron

Gifts

We are showered with gifts, but they are not meant for us to keep. Their life is in their movement, the inhale and the exhale of our shared breath. Our work and our joy is to pass along the gift and to trust that what we put out into the universe will always come back.

– Robin Wall Kimmerer

And so it does

Turtles

Yesterday I was at Larkspur Landing and coming up to the fountain saw two turtles. They weren’t moving and didn’t look real so I thought they were decoratively placed to allow the mallards to step over to enter their abode. Then, they moved, not much, just a blink and a shot of tongue. Yes, the turtles are real, and judging from the cobweb the mallards aren’t impressed with their house.

The exciting life of a turtle

Two turtles, big and small
Four turtles hanging out
Log Leisure
Life is good!

Such a Day!

Morning Meditation
Reflecting, Reflected
An Afternoon Stroll
Peace
Willet
When the tide goes down, the tires wait, then, drop with a plop
Creativity strolls along the pier
A bowl of Gratitude

Impermanence

This morning, high tide, birds were swimming all around my floating home, and the boat was bobbing up and down.  I felt like I was on a trampoline, and of course, like life, that changed.

What invites delight in the marsh?
Ah, a Flying Snail, of course.
Sunset as the tide comes in to fill in the mudflats
As Grandfather in the story of Heidi said – beauty and color to hold us through the night
Dreams begin to weave around Mt. Tam
Layers reflect the blending of night and day, light and dark. Sleep is honored and on approach.

Low Tide on the Houseboat

It’s low tide.  An egret flies by the window.  A Great Blue Heron lands right outside the window and then slowly strolls and explores around the boat.

Jimmy Carter, at 98, enters Hospice.  An inspiration, he’s lived a spiritual life. I think of him with these words of The Dalai Lama:

“Every day, think as you wake up,

Today I am fortunate to be alive.

I have a precious human life,

I am not going to waste it.

I am going to use all my energies to develop myself,

To expand my heart out to others,

To achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

I am going to have kind thoughts towards others.

I am not going to get angry or think badly about others.

I am going to benefit others as much as I can.

My religion is very simple, my religion is kindness.”

Such beauty and grace
A fashion model walking down the runway
Peeking through the back fence

Seaplane taxis through the mud to turn and take off – birds fuel their way