Sunday Morning at the Cottage

It's been just beautiful up at the cottage the past couple of weeks.  The good weather has brought our neighbors into the 'hood, and this morning was definitely a hive of activity.  I woke up at 6am to the sounds of:

• The great big labrador at the bottom of the hill barking nonstop
• The meditation group playing their Buddhist music at full volume, just up from the dog
• The little girl below us and her mother having rather loud dialog between the inside and outside of the house
• The gentle hum of locusts
• The occasional tweet and chirp from the resident birds

I decided to go and see exactly what the dog was barking about, and get a bit of exercise at the same time.  A TV crew had set up at the restaurant at the bottom of our hill.  They must be going to shoot a few scenes down by the river.  The dog did not like their constant movement, and barked everytime somebody spoke or walked.  After saying hi to the dog, I set off on a little walk along the road.  There were a few groups of hikers out enjoying the sun, too.  There were a few rustlings in the grass by the road, and I assume they were little snakes or lizards slipping away from all the noise.  I got a couple of kilometers down the road, decided I was hungry, and came back again.  Everyone was still asleep, so I had a chance to enjoy a "quiet" coffee before the day really began.  It's now almost 9am, and I think it is too hot for everyone, as there is no dog, no Buddhist music, no chirping birds, and no little girl calling out to her mother.  We are left with the gentle hum of locusts and a view of dragonflies darting by as they look for their mates.  Bliss.... oh wait, here is Hannah, cuddling me and declaring, "I love you, squashy mummy!"