I am watching the wild turkeys fly from the roof of my house up to the high branches of the sycamores along the creek. They are tucking themselves in for the night. Light is fading so no photos of their graceful, yes graceful, gliding in the air with their huge wings spread wide. They are native to North America and now found in Three Rivers, frequently on the meadow below the cottage.
“The turkey is sometimes called the earth eagle. It has a long history of association with spirituality and the honoring of the Earth Mother. It is the symbol of all the blessings that the Earth contains, along with the ability to use them to their greatest advantage. The turkey can live to be twelve years old. Twelve is a significant number in that the earth revolves around the sun in twelve months, reflecting a tie between the turkey and the honoring life cycle of the earth.” from Animal Speaks by Ted Andrews
(Ted Andrews died October 24, 2009 at age 57)










downriver
I have two wonderful walks near home. One is just down the road, at the road’s end, and goes up the hills and mountains on BLM land. It is a famous place for mountain bikers, horse riding and walking with dogs and friends. But lately, I have been drawn to the river, which is down the road. I drive down to the Veteran’s Memorial Building and walk across the highway to the Dinely Bridge, crossing high over the Kaweah River. I turn left at Kaweah River Drive and walk for a mile or so and back. This little “Drive” is a private road that hugs the river in places and goes higher, with river and mountain vistas in other places. It has shade and wildflowers and creatures. Can you see the little quail perched on the fence? It would not stay still long enough for me to get a close-up view.

