I hadn’t been on this path through the woods since the winter.
Fate and Red ran ahead of me and I saw the movement in the trees out of the corner of my eye. Hawks, I thoughts as I saw the big, gently flapping, grayish wings. But then they landed, as quiet as they flew, and I saw the two heart-shaped faces looking at me.
Two Barn Owls sat high up on the dead branches of a tree, one above the other. It would have been a cliché if I took a picture. I watched their faces rotate on their bodies, as if their heads weren’t moving at all.
After a while I silently said a goodbye and continued walking.
They must be mating, I said to Jon when I came home. It’s so usual to see two owls together like that.
Those heart-shaped faces, the way they flew together in the woods, and the wonder of getting to witness them made me think of me and Jon.
We were married 8 years ago today. Sighting the owls seems a symbol of our relationship.
I knew I’d want to draw them. Seeing them was too important not to mark somehow. As I started stitching them with my sewing machine on a piece of linen this morning, I found myself making two Owls. Looking at and leaning in toward each other.
I’ll give them to Jon as a gift. Their heart-shaped faces and bodies, say it all.
Those owls are beautiful! And a perfect handmade gift for Jon today. He’ll love them.