Cicadas, birds, and shadows

The sights and sounds of summer

Summer Sunflower © Kathryn LeRoy

Hello friends,

I planned a quiet bike ride through the neighborhood, but silence eluded the morning. Instead, I heard the shrill piercing call of the cicadas and the yelp of a dog greeting the rising sun.

Focused on the road, the wind whistled in my ears. The bicycle tires whirred against the hot asphalt and crunched through the gravel littered along the way.

The songs of myriad birds surrounded me, chirping, tweeting, and cawing. Even the dragonflies sought my attention bumping into me as I raced down the hill.

Bluebirds © Kathryn LeRoy

I lost count of the sounds following me, lawnmowers burring, hammers pounding, and the voice of a runner’s breathless “good morning.” The sounds of life never stop.

How much do I miss when I become  absorbed in my daily busyness and thoughts? Listening well is an art.

Whether the sounds come from one another or nature, listening requires attention. Your reward may come as a cacophony of delight as you sit under a tree or swish along the open road.

The earth has its music for those who will listen;
Its bright variations forever abound.
—Reginald Holmes, “The Magic of Sound”

So what are you waiting for? Go outside and hear the magic, gaze at a sunset, or marvel at the bursting blooms.

Life is too short to ignore the sights and sounds of summer.

Butterfly Shadows © Kathryn LeRoy

I like to stalk shadows because they’re only here a slender moment of time, then gone forever.

Speaking of shadows, my writer “bestie” who lives on the other side of my Texas world has a debut poetry book releasing on July 15, 2023. Selma Martin’s poetry speaks lovingly to the heart, open, straightforward, and sometimes, in the shadow of rainbows. The Kindle edition is now available for Pre-Order (https://buff.ly/3reTpIp).

Cover Photograph © Kathryn LeRoy

Shadow songs come in all genre. Be adventerous! “Shadows” by Lindsey Sterling, “Shadows and Tall Trees” by U2, or “Shadows” by Amy Grant.

It was a drowsy summer afternoon, and the Forest was full of gentle sounds, which all seemed to be saying to Pooh, “Don’t listen to Rabbit, listen to me.”
—A. A. Milne

The sun elongates my shadow
and the butterflies raise their guard
and flit off until my shadow and I pass.
—Selma Martin, “I Block the Sun”

Suspension Bridge (Waco, Texas) © Kathryn LeRoy

Find a little wonder this week, and listen. You don’t want to miss a thing!

With gratitude,

Kathryn

---

I always welcome your thoughts, so, please leave me a message or click the little heart at the bottom of the page.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to forward this weekly note to someone who would enjoy a few words of inspiration.

Or if you received this from a friend and want to receive my weekly post,