The world outside my window.
As I work at my desk I spend a lot of the day staring out my large living room window, observing the ever entertaining activities of bluejays, magpies, rabbits, and squirrels. The odd pigeon shows up and I’m always curious as to what brought him to the neighbourhood. My window is my big screen television, always tuned to the Nature channel. I am joined in this activity by my two dogs - a petite Scottie named Penny and the quirkiest Schnauzer/Scottie (schnottie) cross, named Enzo. Usually the 3 of us sit and watch falling snow flakes, people strolling by, and the ever wondrous phases of the moon. This window has taught me about where I live, with its ever changing scene depending on the season, time of day, and the weather.
My favourite time to sit and observe is early in the morning when the sun isn’t quite up yet and the sky is a deep indigo. Often there is a house with a light on, evoking a fuzzy, warm sense of cozy. I spot the woman who walks…who knows where… carrying two full bags of items. Groceries maybe? She’s petite and I eternally want to open the door and ask where she’s headed and what the heck is she carrying? She wears a dark coat, black hat and a covid mask. The first few times I saw her I was curious as to why the covid mask? Recently my daughter informed me that some people just wear them to keep their faces warm in the winter.
There is the speed walker who rounds the bend at exactly 6:10am, tilted slightly forward as he follows his ingrained route with great intention. He moves at quite the clip and brings to mind the old video character, Pac Man, zigzagging through the maze of our neighbourhood. No destination, just movement.
The orange jeep zooms by at 7:30am on route to Canadian Tire. The driver works there. I was so pleased when I solved that question a number of years ago when I spotted the unique vehicle in the parking lot of Canadian Tire while picking something up. Not quite sure why these discoveries bring me such satisfaction.
The bluejays frequent the mountain ash next door, calling with their screen door imitations. I discovered that they always travel in pairs. I spot one and then joyfully search for the second to show up. They always do. The nuthatches party in my cedar. A flurry of activity when the sun warms the branches. I call it the party bush and then always burst out laughing. The kids don’t find it as funny as I do. The magpies live in the spruce across the street. They swoop between trees and clearly stake out their territory making it clear who owns the street. Sometimes I catch a pair of them harassing a rabbit. That’s when the dogs and I sit riveted to the window curious as to what’s going to go down. It usually ends with the rabbit getting the heck out of their before the rest of the magpie family shows up. The best is when the waxwings swoop in throughout March! Huge groups of them moving from tree to tree, eating the last of the berries as winter is slowly beginning to withdraw. These birds are like an aerial ballet, swooping, diving, and spiralling through the skies. Unfortunately, the odd one will hit my huge window and we all run outside to see if it’s okay.
I am witnessing and observing the rhythms of this itty-bitty, geographical location. A place I call home and have for 13 years. Coincidently the longest I’ve ever spent in one home. I finally feel like I’m understanding this space, this community, and every day something new presents itself to add another question to my list. Getting to know this little piece of the world has brought so many moments of wonder and awe. And this wasn’t able to happen until I decided to simply sit. To sit and watch. To sit and watch every day. That made all the difference.
