My childhood home sits on just under an acre of property in front of a small canal. One of my favorite parts of growing up there was the dragonflies, tree frogs, lightning bugs, and so many other creatures who also called that place home. In June, we discovered a thimble-sized hummingbird nest outside our dining room. For the next several weeks, we enjoyed watching the momma sit on her eggs, her tiny beak just visible over the edge of the nest. Her perch was near our bird feeder, where she charged at any birds whose presence annoyed her.
Sometimes these glimpses of nature
are exactly what we need-
sometimes, they remind us to slow down.
sometimes, they remind us to slow down.
In July, I opened my curtains to discover an orb
weaver suspended in the middle of my window. By the time I finished
breakfast, she had begun to weave a web. It was captivating to watch the
spider spin her thread, sticking it together piece by meticulous piece.
By evening the web was complete, and she celebrated by enjoying her
first meal. Moments like these fill my memories; from seeing Robins'
eggs hatch in the spring and catching fireflies on the Fourth of July,
to watching bats frolic at dusk and listening as owls serenaded the
night.
Breonna Loxley is an animal care technician at an animal shelter. She is an avid artist, writer, and animal-lover. She lives with her parents, a younger brother, two cats, and one dog.