I’m sitting here in our living room, looking at the waterfalls, stream and fishpond in our “backyard”. The roses are beginning to bloom and the cattails and pussy-willow tree are greening up, trying to match the rich colors of the junipers and cedars. Suddenly, a robin swoops down and perches on a piece of reed lodged near the lower waterfall. He looks around and (at least in my imagination) realizes there are no predators around. (He’s oblivious to the gawking, though harmless, voyeur - me - watching his every move in awe.) He begins to preen (Picture 1), deciding that water slowly moving in a cool-looking stream is terribly inviting. He begins to splash the water all over his golden-orange breast and body (Pictures 2-3), until he’s again the ambassador bird (Picture 4), ready to roam, spreading charm throughout. I’m reminded that one should take the time to “smell the roses” and enjoy the wondrous thrill of a miraculous creature taking a solitary bath – another of the many splendors of our beautiful Placitas!
Eva Marie Renninger, Transaction Coordinator
Eva Marie Renninger, Transaction Coordinator
