Heather and Gilbert prepare for the Cold Moon Season

Changing of seasons is such an exciting time...the smell of hot wheat no longer lingers in the air; swimming is not longer a "given' but perhaps a "hmmmm, maybe just ONE MORE TIME..." Auntie Umatilla (the river) cheerfully enlarges her banks in preparation for the cool, gentle autumn rains around the corner; around our "home valley" you can see our dancers the hills shaking out their winter shawls and combing out their leafy hair in a wildly colorful autumn dance...

As I said, it's an exciting time, much like a ritual preparation...long ago women would be digging holes into the hillsides where large caches of roots would be stored for winter stews, men would be hunting and bringing back all kinds of meat...the air would be filled with the aromas of survival and if you pause for a quick moment and close your eyes you can still hear their songs as they pray for a good hunt...

Besides Rocky and Sandy, we've been graced with many other caretakers - Heather and Gilbert are a dignified and graceful pair of Hawks who have not only adopted us but who watch over us diligently, getting after us as good parents should when we're late and if we forget to wave at them as we go off to work.

Who knew that such graceful, luminous and wise ones would have names like Heather and Gilbert? It's only through the friendly discussion with Aristotle and our long gone friends the Pheasant Phamily that we know these things. Heather and Gilbert have neighbors at the farm down the road - their names are Stacey and Clyde. The Hawk family stories are many and long, I won't be able to put them down today.

Along with the Hawk families there are also the busy Magpies. Oh these colorful loud birds don't actually get the respect they deserve. Please, if you get a chance some time soon, take a close look at one as you walk by...tip your hat a little and greet him politely because he is surely doing the same. I love the Magpies, we have a couple outside our office, Mr. Magpie goes by Stan but his full name is Stanisphlinkatilliputim. Many people find that cumbersome so he just kindly goes by Stan. His wife's name is Estrelita. I'm not sure how she came by that name but she wears it gracefully.

Listen closely, you'll hear it - the gentle song of leaves letting go of their trees and wafting gracefully to their next role in the big Dance...

Happy Autumn to all!