森林ーよく

  Last night, around sunset, I practiced a little bit of Shinrin ̄ yoku ~ forest well ~ by sitting on my back patio and listening to the birds.  The [Merlin Bird ID app] has added a new feature that allows you to record bird sounds and then it identifies the birds by song.

   I may be slightly addicted to the app now.  I spent about 45 minutes occasionally recording bird songs and seeing what their identified results were.  It was fascinating.  I also did back and forth bird calls with a cardinal and think I might have accepted a marriage proposal.  The male was somewhere distant, and as I responded to his calls by playing recorded ones in the Merlin system, he flew closer and closer until he was in a tree directly across from me.  I don't think I was what he expected to see.

  Fireflies were out also last night and I tried for a while to record video of them, but there was too much light still, and they flash so briefly that it was impossible to see them in the video.

   Speaking of foresting ... check out [this website] if you are looking for some relaxation during the day and can't see the forest for the trees.

  It will be a quiet 3-day weekend for me to catch up on things around the house.  My landlords will be doing some repairs and hopefully installing ceiling fans in the upstairs rooms.  The 4th of July looks like it will be a big weekend in town with a lot planned.  Neighbors across the street have had their gas grill on the front lawn for a few days now, so there may be a block party in the works during the weekend.  Rain is in the forecast from now until Saturday, but it appears that the 4th will be fireworks friendly.

  Gracie feels that I need to get a second window seat for her because Lucy hogs the one I have.  I may have to do that.  Once there is a ceiling fan in here, I won't need to occasionally open the window (too noisy when I work anyway).