Its late spring and the syrup cooking is over. He walks out along the trails again. He has discovered that he has a maple tree different from the rest. After checking his books he learns he has a rare tree called a chalk maple. How did it get here in this grove? Was it planted? Or maybe a bird of some kind brought the seed. Whatever way it got here he is thrilled at the discovery.

Now with no more syrup to cook he looks around to see what he needs to do next. Should he put up the gourds for the return of the purple martins or should he start on the walkway he had been planning? The walk way! That is good physical labor, he will work on that for a few days. So with shovel in hand he starts digging. After a few days he has it dug, his form laid out and the depth pegged in. Now all it needs is cement.

He decides to wait on that a couple of days so he sets up his martin gourds and clears out all the underbrush nearby. Finally its ready, but the starlings move in. He sets traps and closes the gourds. After a few days he captures about a hundred starlings and re-locates them. The rest of them move away so he opens his gourds again and some swallows come. They begin to build nests and the starlings return and chase them away. The battle is on again. So he closes the holes in the gourds again.

He mixes his cement and works on his walkway. He doesn't have time to battle starlings. Just keep the gourds closed and they will move away. Maybe! He will watch for the return of the martins then open the gourds again. Maybe by that time the starlings won't be interested anymore.

Next day he checks the trails again. The beaver haven't disturbed the trees. Its very pleasant walking along and listening to the birds sing and the sound of the winds whispering through the trees. Suddenly he sees a deer! A big one! He's the biggest deer he has seen here, as big as an elk. Maybe he will show up where he feeds the other animals. Its very interesting watching to see which animals show up. Several kinds of squirrels, and birds. He has checked his bird book and identified several he has seen.

This sunday is a big day! He has looked forward to it for a while now. Its his grandaughters first birthday. She is such a joy! He leaves early and joins the family in celebration. When she sees her cake she is only curious at first but when mom takes it away she gets both hands full and pops cake in her mouth but she misses. Now its all over her face, and mom gets a cute picture. Its late when he gets home it was such a great day. That night he sits and smiles in remembrance.