Visitors
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Apparently, the Rain Brought Company
After spending so much of the last week watching the puddle get smaller, the rain finally did what I had been hoping it would do. Over the last two days, we collected a little more than an inch, and apparently that was enough to make the puddle look interesting again. Today, Stanley came wandering through… Continue reading
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Some Visitors Need Their Space
We have welcomed quite a few visitors to the Puddle this year. Some I watch for every morning. Some I photograph far too many times. Some have been given names despite having absolutely no idea that they are now part of an ongoing neighborhood story. And then there are visitors like this one. I believe… Continue reading
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We Thought There Was One
One Green Heron who had discovered the Puddle and decided it was worth returning to. I had learned where to look for it, down along the water or tucked into the branches where a small bird can disappear surprisingly well. Then tonight I looked again. There was one standing near the water. And another sitting… Continue reading
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I Thought You Were Mud
I almost missed today’s newest visitor because, quite honestly, I thought it was a little piece of mud sitting on the patio. There was nothing about it that immediately announced itself as alive. It was tiny, still, and almost perfectly matched to the gray pavers beneath it. Then I looked again. That little piece of… Continue reading
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While I Wasn’t Looking
Late last night, that web was not there. We had left the awning out because I wasn’t sleeping well and thought I might want to come back outside for a while. By morning, apparently someone else had decided the patio might be useful too. I am by no means a fan of spiders. I can… Continue reading
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The Same Puddle, Different Needs
This morning the Green Heron stood toward the back of the puddle where a little more water remains, while our new Solitary Sandpiper walked through the exposed shallows closer to shore. They were occupying the same puddle at the same time, but they were not looking for the same thing. One needed enough water and… Continue reading
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Solitary Sandpiper | September Migrant Visitor
At first, I thought the little bird standing in the puddle was simply another reminder of how shallow the water has become. It was so small compared to the geese, herons, and mallards I am used to watching that it almost disappeared into the algae-covered shallows. Then it moved, and I realized I was looking… Continue reading
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A Place Worth Returning To
There is something about finding this little toad tucked among the rocks beside the fountain that makes me ridiculously happy. He is not doing anything remarkable. He is simply sitting there, perfectly still, as if this is exactly where he belongs. Maybe that is what I love about him. We created this little corner for… Continue reading
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Apparently He Lives Here Now
This morning we discovered a little toad perched beside the fountain, apparently enjoying his Sunday morning right along with the rest of us. Hadley was delighted, the dogs eventually noticed him but didn’t seem particularly concerned, and he appeared perfectly content with the accommodations. Eventually Brian relocated him to a nice shady patch of grass… Continue reading
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Apparently the Fountain Has Seating
This morning we were sitting on the patio, looking out over the puddle and doing what has somehow become part of our normal morning routine. At some point, we looked over at the fountain to see if it needed more water. Apparently, we should have been checking whether all the seats were occupied. There, tucked… Continue reading
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