The House Gives Gifts

The children gathered round. "I have something very special to share. This house gives gifts - nearly every day. You just need to pay attention."

I proceeded to tell them about the fiddler crabs and the petunia. And there were many more...

Sitting on the deck, enjoying a visit with a friend, we both marveled as a turtle appeared. She, or he, walked confidently across the yard, between us and the water. Then as quickly as she had appeared, she disappeared.  We walked down off the deck to search but couldn't find her. A moment's delight - shared.

One evening at the House, I was sitting on the deck. I heard an interesting bird call; one I didn't recognize. A medium sized shore bird landed on "Chaz's land", a spit of land he claimed for an osprey nest platform. Soon after, another bird, like the first, landed. Then they began to 'dance'. It was a courtship dance - elegant, graceful, leaping up and down with fluttering wings, stretching necks toward each other. Lovely.

Another time, giving a tour of the property, we ended on the dock. I was sharing about Diamondback Terrapins, a local endangered turtle. One that I have come to love. Beautiful markings, colorful. Just as I began my story, one surfaced right near us, as if on cue. I couldn't help but smile. It seemed scripted. In silence, we enjoyed the moment until the terrapin sank back below the water.

Each evening, at sunset, four green herons alight on a gnarled tree by the split rail fence, creating stunning silhouettes.

A turtle egg found nestled in the sand.... a bird's nest in the garden...blue crabs, horseshoe crabs, sea nettles and schools of fish.... two stately bucks emerging from the marsh...rainbows...sunsets...fireflies...

I shared all of these and more with the children. They listened intently.

A couple of weeks later, they visited again. The youngest emerged from the van, exuberant! "Memere, I'm looking for gifts!" She found one - immediately. "Look Memere, a seashell in the garden! That's today's gift!"

She listened. She learned. She experienced.

Little gifts - not so little gifts. They're everywhere. We just need to pay attention.