Out in the garden, clearing out the last of the pepper plants and darkened tomato stems; removing stakes and doing battle with determined wild nettle that stings and burns right through garden gloves and dirt and fortitude. I intend to uproot the summers wild vines and wayward weeds, attempting to avoid just-planted bulbs and next year's lilys all the while.

A familiar doe returned on saturday morning with her rambunctious fawn in tow..she was a frequent and bold guest in early spring. I remember her as limping noticeably at the edge of the wood and worrying for her survival. Surely, she couldn't outrun or out jump any pursuer. How would she keep place with the herd?

And now she returns with baby in tow, moving with awkward grace on three legs; tripod in swift motion as agile as she need be. It comes to me that she is unaware of her limitations as she sees herself as having none. Her mothering instincts clearly in place, she steers her fawn and keeps him within safe range. She is Darwin's unlikely twist in my own backyard. She is her best self without limit or apology...and I watch her, duly humbled.