I am so very pleased to report on the improving health of Chiripa after her accident just over a week ago. Both of her hips were injured when she was hit by the truck, making it difficult for her to move, let alone get up and walk. We spent many hours of those first few days together, her and I, many tears from me as I willed her to get better. Those days, I worried I would find her lifeless body when I got up in the morning – I told her I was not ready to face this prospect, she must stay with me as we had many more miles to run together. It really is incredible to me she survived. I imagine she lost her babies though.
With my tuning forks, witch hazel and the touch of my hands, the great spirit of love feeding us both, we worked together to get her back on her feet. Mali checked on her many times throughout the days and preferred to sleep outside some nights, I think to be close to her. I find this beautiful to watch, this side of Mali showing compassion for her new found family. Proof in my mind that animals care and have emotion.
Last Tuesday, I travelled to Cotacachi, as told in a previous post from last week. While waiting for the bus to return home, there are vendors hoping to interest you in a last minute purchase before you board the bus. There are a couple of men who I see each time, but the items they sell are not something which interest me. However on this day, I decided to purchase the squeaky duck for Sophia, her first dog toy, something unheard of here. I thought it would be perfect for her, and if she didn’t like Mali most certainly would – she always loved her squeaky toys!
Well, as you can see, she thought it was a wonderful idea also. Something soft for those baby teeth, something other than my socks or shoes :).
The other night we had our first rain in many months, something I believe I described in another post. This is where little Sophia hid that night. I am so sad to say that she has left, although Nathaly will not tell me what happened to her. This happened with her sister Willow about a month ago now, disappearing in the night. They pretend they don’t know what happened, but that only makes me suspicious. Sophia was and I hope still is a beautiful and intelligent, gentle girl, very much like her papa Scrappy. I hope she has gone to a good home, because she would make someone a wonderful pet, but I am not sure she is still alive. I did not see her again, after leaving for the meeting in Pucara Friday morning. She did not come to greet me when I got home, which is very unusual for her. I do miss her bright happy personality.
Since last Wednesday, I have been blessed with the company of black vultures, who have taken up residency in my back yard. Since arriving here in January, they have kept me company in their way but always at a distance, flying high in the mountains. As I have said in previous posts Sapphire has graced me his presence in near proximity several times over the last month, but never in all this time have they been perched on the rocks and trees by the river where I normally sit. There have been as many as 16 at a time, consistently everyday this past week.
Yes of course, this was a sign, an amazing gift for me to sit by the river watching them move about from tree to tree, rock to tree. Unfortunately I now have to be careful when having my time with the birds because Scott has also noticed them and does his best to show his bravado, often causing them to take flight. If Mali and I are alone, everything remains calm, they just seem to know we will not harass them.
I have wondered at this sudden change in behaviour, while their company has been seen as a gift, I looked for an ulterior motive on Sunday afternoon. And there it was behind one of the rocks, difficult to see from where I normally sit, the body carefully hidden in the water, trapped. At first I thought it was just more rocks, but when I saw it from a different angle, I saw it was either a dog or a calf. A bit disappointed at realizing it was not my company the birds came to share, it was still a gift of sorts. The poor animal’s misadventure brought it to my backyard, which in turn brought the birds. I began to wonder at the odds of the poor animal finding it’s way here, and from how far away did it travel, as the dogs markings were not familiar to me. Walking and running as I do in this area, i have come to know the dogs, and from what I can tell this one was white with large brown spots, something I have not seen in my travels.
In any case, I have enjoyed this opportunity, especially before I saw the carcass, to watch the birds in this way. Their calmness filters into my being as well, a beautiful peace comes over me as I sit there. Some mornings as I come around the corner of the building, I find them resting on the rocks this side of the river, the same rocks I sit on. Whatever the reason for their being here, I understand the gift given, for how often do we find ourselves in a situation allowing us to view these amazing birds?
I managed to get a close-up of this flower, noticing it on one such occasion when. I was enjoying my time by the river. It was on the trunk of the tree, quite close to the ground, so this allowed me to see inside the flower, quite amazing really. The other day I found a blossom on the road when I was on my run and picked it up. It reminded me of corn hair, the same texture exactly. Isn’t nature amazing…..
I took this picture of the last duck and chicken before they departed. It has been quite some time now since they left, and I really miss seeing them around the property. I wondered at the serendipity of me taking a photo on the very afternoon someone came to take them away. Intuition? I just admired them as they foraged together, finding company in their aloneness. I had no idea this would be the last time I would see them. There was so much life here when Maria and Javier ran the place, the emptiness surprises me. There is an egret visiting the fish ponds these days, but it is very camera shy, very sensitive to movement, so I have not managed to get a photo yet!
This little guy allowed me to take his portrait though. I was afraid if I tried to get closer, I would spook him, so we have to be content with my lack of a good zoom lens. He is brilliant though isn’t he, the red flashes through the trees is amazing to see.
This Katydid spent the night in my room, I suppose, surprising me as I woke up. They are very cool, I really think they are beautiful. I took him outside after snapping his photo, and as I stepped outside I found 2 more just at my door. I feel quite blessed to have so many wonderful visitors of late.
And last but not least, we had a nice surprise as we climbed on the big rock to watch the birds. As I was about to step up onto my rock, I noticed a very small lizard on the smaller rock in front of me. He scurried for cover when Scott appeared, a smart move on it’s part. But he did not go far, as you can see. Had I not known he was there, I would not have noticed him that’s for sure. But I was kind of looking for him anyway because he was here the other day. Had I not seen the branches move, again I would never have noticed him. That day I could see the yellow cooking on his chest, which made it much easier to see him. Today that was not visible. When I bent closer to take his picture, I noticed this other one. His colouring is so amazing. So twice blessed with the spirit of the lizard.
I had come out because of the thunder, the beginnings of a storm. I wanted to be out enjoying it before the rain started, feel the energy. It made me kind of restless, while at the same time, I found the energy of the lizards calming. Sort of a weird mixture, the emotions fighting each other. I found it difficult to sit for too long. The dogs were all content curled up in different places around me, waiting for the next move.
Tomorrow is a new page…… well actually today is a new page – the power went out before I could post this so it is a bit late. Still it is a beautiful day, so fresh after the nights rainfall and I’m going outside….
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