Sometimes when I have settled down to start work on a new musical composition, I get the musical equivalent of “writer’s block”.  When this happens I sometimes just stare out the window of my studio and let my mind wonder and wait for a clear direction for my music. On this particular day when I needed inspiration, this beautiful cardinal landed in the orange tree in our yard. He looked right at me and was not at all fazed by my presence.That one moment of communication with the cardinal abled me to continue on with my musical work of that day.