Music In The Canebrake

  With all of the recent rainstorms passing through the area, the plants are living the dream life!  The entire place is as green and lush as I have ever seen it.  This makes for some interesting yard work as I am forever trimming new growth from every plant, bush, vine, tree in the yard.  This thick overgrowth has also been a boon to the birds and other wildlife as they now have plenty of places to hide a nest.  One smart bird made her nest in the middle of the canebrake.  There she sets on 6 pale blue eggs that are sprinkled with a few rust colored specks.  It is also there...or nearby...that the male bird keeps watch.  His constant singing is a warning to others that he is ready and willing to protect his ladylove and their future brood.  The singing is a territorial behavior that most people mistake as a happy bird song.  

  The birds that have nested in the canebrake are brown thrashers.  I watched as they built the nest and then was extra vigilant not to disturb that nest while removing some of the dead canes.  Working near the canebrake allows me to enjoy the male thrasher's song and the almost "whispered" female's return song.  Hers is ever so soft that if you do not really listen, you may miss it altogether.

  Many folks miss identify the brown thrasher's song as that of a mockingbird but, while similar, there is one major telltale difference.  Both birds have a wide variety of sounds, phrases and notes in their songs but while the mockingbird may repeat each "phrase" three to five times, a brown thrasher only repeats twice...no more.  This helped me to identify the thrasher doing all of this singing without me ever seeing the bird.  I knew who I was listening to far before I found the bird.

 

Music of the Wind

  The winds shifted from the north to coming from the east, today.  I was in hopes that that north breeze would hang around for a while since with it came some cooler weather.  Perhaps this east wind will bring us much needed rain so all is well.  With this east wind (or with south, for that matter) comes a delightful music.  Since the windows open to welcome the crisp fall air, I can hear a tinkling of wind chimes as the gentle breeze wafts under the rose arbor.  The music makes me happy as both wind chimes were gifts from family members years ago.

  Wind chimes are some of those things that we all seem to recognize but rarely does anyone know the history behind them.  They have been around for thousands of years.  In ancient times, especially in South East Asia, the wind chime was used to ward off evil spirits and welcome benevolent spirits.  These chimes were usually strung bells whose tinkling could be heard in most gardens.  Ancient Romans used them as a symbol of good fortune and would hang them from porticoes   Later, the chimes/bells had a more purposeful use.  Farmers would hang the devices in their fields to scare birds and animals that would come to devour the crops.  Fruit trees soon had the chimes dangling from limbs to do the same. Now, wind chimes are more for aesthetic purpose.  Their melodic tinkling can be soothing and meditative.  

  Wind chimes come in assorted styles and tones.  Depending on the material used to make the chimes, the music can be a simple clattering of wood to gorgeous notes produced by finer metals. The more exquisite chimes have an actual formulas for tube size and hole placement to produce a myriad of musical tones.  These have recognizable notes and can be classified as actual chance-based musical instruments.  

  I enjoy the chimes in the garden...not only for their tinkling wind-produced music but of the love that came with the gift of chimes.  It is highly relaxing to hear the music that is made purely by chance.  Music of the Wind...happy thoughts.

Singing on High!

Last night was warm..very warm!  I raised all of the windows and let the southerly wind gently cool the house. With the windows open, I could hear all of the critters creeping about the hillside.  The Bayou is home to many animals that are nocturnal so the yard is a busy place at night.  Just about midnight, beautiful music filled the air!  Mr. Mockingbird started his nightly serenade.  Obviously, he was hunting for a mate and wanted to fill the air with his most lovely song!  Mockingbirds are territorial and this singing warns other males to steer clear of the area.  This range was for him and his future Mrs. Mockingbird only..no others allowed!

The bird sang on and on throughout the night.  While a lot of folks complain about the "racket", I love it.  To me, it is calming to hear the mockingbird trill through his seemingly endless repertoire of  songs.  Each time I woke, the bird was still singing.  On about sunrise, I slipped outside to see if I could spy just where the bird had roosted for the night.  Sure enough, he was sitting in the tiptop of the Black Gum Tree.  I could clearly seem him against the ever-brightening sky.  "Aha, my little friend! You are in need of a companion, no?"  The bird looked down at me as if to agree with my question.  "Well, I hope you find your ladylove soon and she will nest nearby so I can continue to enjoy your lovely song!"

I wondered aloud if this could possibly be one of the orphaned baby birds that I raised a couple of years ago.  I am sure that by now, they have forgotten all about the human intervention that literally saved their lives.  The once-named birds, Knox and Shelby, have not come around for a good many months.  I can only hope that this is one of them and that they are well and happy.  Sing on, Little Bird, sing on.  You bring a lot of beauty into this old world and those who would complain should just thank the Good Lord that they have been blessed with ears to hear your song!  I, for one, will be waiting to be entertained again tonight!

Filling the Little Bayou House with Music!

The country artist, Alan Jackson, sings a Christmas song called "Let it be Christmas" which is one of my current favorites.  My son put a good bit of my Christmas music on my computer so now I have eleven straight hours of music playing.  It makes me happy to have the house filled with the sounds of Christmas!  In Mr. Jackson's song, he sings...

"Let it be Christmas everywhere.

Let heavenly music fill the air

Let every heart sing, let every bell ring

The story of hope and joy and peace!"

I am trying to do just what his songs says..."Let heavenly music fill the air!".  My Christmas music fills the house and my heart with hope, joy and peace.

Today as I was dusting, I came across a small booklet.  The booklet took me back to a time eons ago..back when I was a child.  Mom used to play both the piano and organ beautifully and she tried to teach each of her five kids this art.  Sadly, none of us play.  We just do not have the talent that she did.  I can remember back in the day listening to her play carol after carol on the old upright piano that sat in our living room.  We would all sing along with her and have the best time imaginable.   The little booklet was one of the "beginner" tutorial book that we were supposed to learn.  It was just one of many.  Along with this little booklet, I found all of the paper carol books that we used when caroling.  This brought up a query.  Why do folks not go caroling any longer?  Is this some tradition that has fallen to the wayside because folks are just too busy nowadays?  I can remember that it mattered not if we were just at my grandparents' home, we would have a sing-along of all the familiar carols..most of which we knew by heart.  It, also, mattered not that we sang off-key..we just sang from the heart..a joyous heart.  I miss those days. "Let heavenly music fill the air.  Let every heart sing, let every bell ring..the story of hope and joy and peace!"  Sing on, Alan Jackson, sing on..your music fills my home and lets it be Christmas.