Hello,
My name is Jacqueline.
Thank you for choosing my story to listen to.
I hope you enjoy it.
Settle back and I will begin.
My Arizona Friends I make the same trip to Arizona every winter,
And it's as if they remember me.
It's my first morning here,
And just as the sun is rising,
I leave my cosy warm bed,
I put on my dressing gown and slippers,
And head for the kitchen.
As I wait for the kettle to boil,
I roll up the blinds on the windows and welcome in the morning sunshine.
It is glorious in Arizona and the mornings are the best.
The birds are waking up and their songs are music to my ears.
I stand at the kitchen window and watch a group of gambles quail search for their breakfast amongst the beautiful yellow flowers of the brittle bush shrubs.
Then two little bunnies catch my eye,
Carefully hopping around the barrel cactus as they seem to play hide and seek with each other.
It is beautiful in the desert any time of day,
But first thing in the morning,
When most people are still sleeping,
Is the perfect time for me.
I hear the kettle switch itself off,
And I drag myself away from this magical sight.
I place a tea bag into my mug,
Pour in the freshly boiled water and allow the tea to brew.
Grabbing a blanket from the bedroom,
I carry the mug of tea outside and sit in the garden chair.
It's a little chilly in the desert this early in the morning,
But I want to enjoy the peace and quiet of this time of day.
I wrap the blanket around me and hold the mug to warm my hands as I enjoy the smells and sights of the desert before me.
The silence is bliss.
I place my mug on the table next to me and rest my head on the back of the chair as I close my eyes and allow the birdsong to wash over me.
I take a deep breath and can feel myself relax.
This place really is heaven on earth,
Very different from the freezing cold weather and fast pace of life in Minnesota where I've come from.
My breathing becomes steady and my whole being feels calm and content.
What a perfect way to start the day.
And I fall into a gentle slumber.
All of a sudden I am woken by the humming sound of the hummingbird as his wings frantically beat as he hovers near me.
Then the sound changes to a zingin's noise as he flies so fast around me.
I've waited eight months for this moment and a smile lights up my face.
Eventually the hummingbird lands on his special feeder which is hanging close by me and made specifically for hummingbirds.
The feeder is filled with a sugar nectar he so loves.
I arrived here late last night but I made the nectar before I crawled into bed,
Hoping that my friend would be around this morning.
Hello,
I say to my little guest.
Thanks for the welcome back to Arizona.
I've missed you.
I sit and drink my tea as I watch the hummingbird suck the nectar from the feeder.
Using his long thin beak he places it carefully into one of the tiny holes which are around the lower part of the feeder.
The hummingbird is tiny,
Probably only three inches long,
And truly magnificent that I can't take my eyes off him.
When he hovers by me I can hardly see his wings because they flap so fast,
But when he lands on the perch ring at the bottom of the feeder I can study him closely and marvel at how perfect each little part of him is as his tiny feathers seem to shimmer and shine in the sunlight.
The hummingbird has been drinking for a while when all of a sudden the tranquil scene is shattered and he flies away,
Scared off by the sound of a high-pitched squeaking noise.
My other friend has appeared and he's landed on the hummingbird feeder.
It's the woodpecker.
He sounds like a dog toy as he clings on to the feeder and squeaks as loud as he can.
Although the feeder is not designed for him or other birds,
He has devised a special way of getting the nectar out.
He holds on to the feeder with his claws and then curves his body around the base of the feeder and appears to grip with his tail.
As he swings on the feeder he tilts it enough so the nectar runs out of the holes nearest to him and then he drinks.
It really is a sight to see as he is quite the acrobat and has mastered this routine extremely well.
The woodpecker makes me smile.
I should shoo him away but he is so cheeky that I can't bring myself to be cross.
I simply can't help but smile and laugh at him.
Just then the hummingbird flies back,
Seemingly upset with the woodpecker taking his nectar.
Flying really fast he looks as if he is going to fly straight into the woodpecker but at the last second he dive-bombs him instead.
The woodpecker squawks as he continues to hang on to the feeder.
The hummingbird flies back again and again,
Swooping so close to the intruder on his feeder.
Eventually the woodpecker takes a hint and with a final squawk he flies away.
The hummingbird flies around the feeder a few times and then settles on the perch.
He looks over at me.
I'm sure he winked and then he takes a long and well deserved drink.
My heart is full as I smile,
Reflecting over all I have seen this morning with my wonderful Arizona friends.
The hummingbird flies away and I notice I have finished my tea.
Time to get this day moving and,
Picking up my mug and blanket,
I go indoors to take a shower.
I make the same trip to Arizona every winter and yes,
They remember me.
