The nature of time

In this unusally mild and rainy winter, dotted by the seldom spots of sun, I went for a leisurely check in the orchards. Winter is usually nature's time-off and does give us the time for a recap of the passed year, to draw plans for the next, and to enjoy the fruits of last year's work. I say usually as this year we have not tasted winter yet, and the orchards do require some attention when the gods of the seasons play tricks on us.

One is never really alone on such walks - all the inhabitants, if quieted by the sudden appearance of humans, swiftly reappear as if they knew it's not a hunter wandering around, but rather the keeper of their land. The odd rabbit jumping around, the buzzard looking down from the tallest tree of the nearby wood, and all the range of small birds singing from their hidings.

This time a small, uncommon difference followed me through my walk in the younger yards - the singing was much closer, coming from within the orchard, very close. I started paying attention and noticed the sparrows were hiding in the foliage of the young trees, and there it struck me. Our plants, little more than a dozen or two of leaves two years ago, are now big enough for birds to deem them a safe haven! An emotional moment, I confess. And another reminder of time passing, not just as something lost, but of new opportunities found.

Wish you all a year full of discoveries!

A sparrow, out of the safe comfort of our olives