dwellings, dwellers, dwell

I have been dwelling--as we all do--habitating, residing, staying a while.

The chickadees have returned to dwell in the bird house outside our kitchen window while they incubate and brood their young. A female killdeer is dwelling in the Project Grow garden plot across from ours. She is sitting on four black and white speckled eggs. In about two weeks, her babies will emerge from their shells running. Running! And following mama in search of food. After a while, though, they will move on, no longer dwelling.

Dwell. Such a funny-looking word. Or maybe I've been staring at it too long. Dwelling on it. Lingering, pondering, staying perhaps a little too long. That kind of dwelling. It is spring and I have the uncontrollable urge to run like the baby killdeer. A dwelling is a nice place to stay for a while, all safe and warm for the winter. And now it is time to move on and see what lies ahead.