Wind Chimes

One of the nicest things about The DaM Farm is that it is home to a large array of winds. Springing up from all points of the compass they make their way to our place. Some rest lazily amoung the trees, making the leaves rustle and rub together encouraging friendliness. Others whip around the old buildings making the old scarecrows shiver in their ragged clothes.

In the summer there is nothing better than to sit under century old trees that have perfected giving the best shade. Amongst their branches the winds dance and flirt with each other and so the islands' best breezes are born. These tiny newborn gusts chase and tumble each other over new-mown grass and between rock gardens keeping the heat, humidity and skeeters away. So I sit a while, may-be watch a five pound former feral cat imagine she’s a 500 pound lion as she stalks her prey of butterflies or enjoy a good natured tug of war between a pretty evenly matched mastiff and pit bull despite the size difference.

I’ve always liked hearing wind chimes on my walks; it gives a sense of mystery. A full moon, a starry sky, a faithful old dog by my side on an old country road; then the faint musical swirl of wind chimes. Their gentle sound combines with the soft rustling of tall grass making the frogs’ croaking not so mournful and brightening the cricket’s cheerful chirps. So I started collecting whimsical looking and musical sounding wind chimes to put around our place. I hang them off the veranda’s eves and in the trees around my butterfly garden. Lo and behold, I have been given a delightful gift; because at times, it seems the chimes predict the weather. Sometimes the chimes tinkle merrily – ah, good weather is coming! Other times ominous clanking sounds fall to the ground – oooh, thunderstorm brewing. Imagination tells me my wind chimes can translate the winds’ moods; sometimes loud and boisterous, other times soft and lazy. And every now and then, the chimes’ strings hum and there’s the occasional sweet twang. That’s when I think the winds are remembering distant lands and seas they’ve been, of weather they have created and they adventures they’ve had. Wind storytellers…they have a charm all their own.