"Come In," She Said

"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

We had a very long day of storm-after-storm hitting the mid-south yesterday. Just south of us, in Alabama, they had over 100 tornadoes touch down. I hope everyone is safe and has only minimal clean up. We were very lucky, again. My heart goes out to those who were not so fortunate.

Update: Seems the little fellers were waiting for the storms to pass because today, they were fluttering about testing out their new gear! It was precious to watch as mom and pop squawked commands (I guess). Bella got outside in the middle of the flying lessons, and I had to quickly catch her before momma pecked her to bits. Bless her little heart (momma, not Bella--Bella had evil things on her mind).

Summa Time!

. . . when the living's easy! Yay! The kid finished his freshman year in high school today. Yippee.

After dropping him off, I went to get my oil changed for the pending road trip tomorrow. That took longer than expected because I also had the tires rotated, again. Then it was about time to pick him up. He only went until 11 today!

We decided to head into town to pick up cupcakes for the weekly treat for the nurses and aides at mom's place. Since I won't be going tomorrow, my normal treat day, we decided to get a special treat of cupcakes from a new place in Germantown. Yum. We saw this delightful mini with a mini trailer hitched to the back on the highway. I love it! (This is the car the kid wants! He better start saving up NOW!)

Oh, these new cupcakes are too good! Is there such a thing as a bad cupcake? Hmmm. I don't think so. The new place is The Cupcake Collection, and they only use the best ingredients--no lard in the icing here! I've had two today. And I have to say, they are delish! Say it ain't so RO!! I'll only eat apples tomorrow, promise. tehe.

The ladies and gents were very happy to get goodies on a Thursday. And mom was happy to see us arrive in time for lunch. Once she was finished, we rolled on out to the veranda. The day was absolutely lovely. It's a little warmer today but under the awning the breeze just about put us all to sleep. Awwww, summatime--pre heat!

We spied the robin back in the nest but I thought the baby birds would have already flown the coop by now! Hmmm. So, once daddy had left to get worms, I had the kid stand up and take a pic and see what's going on down in there.

He came down and said "they're all dead, it's all a bloody goop in there." EW! When I looked back at the shot, I had to giggle. I had to explain this is what new hatchlings look like! Awww, new babies! I can't wait to come back and watch them grow. The last time I took pictures of the older babies, I made photos for the some of the ladies who told me about the nest in the first place. They were so excited to see the babies as they couldn't see them from their wheel chairs. I told the nurse I would make more photos for them when I returned.

Yep. Heading to Riverside in the morning. Let the summer begin! Cheers!

xo
ro

Mommy. Mommy?

Poor little boo.

The teenager and I met in the driveway when he came home from school. It just so happened that we arrived home at the same time. He called me over to the car with a face that tells you something is wrong. I didn't know if I wanted to see what he was looking down at. I had found feathers in the front yard just a couple of days ago.

Poor little boo. This little robin was sitting there all alone. I looked around for a nest but didn't see one. Then the teenager told me to look a little closer. It looked like his little left leg was broken as it was just hanging behind him. Aw, poor little boo.

Remember my Earth Day post? Remember the little shelter that could? Walden's Puddle was one of my favorite booths in that day as it is a shelter for orphaned or injured wild animals. Well, you know, there is always a reason for everything. I think I was sent there that day if for no other reason than to hear about this shelter. I would not have had any idea what to do with the little feller' if we hadn't gone that day.

Of course I called and told them about him, Robby, I named him. They told me to bring him on out. Well, I had one of mom's old, and I do mean old, flannel nightgown's in the laundry room, so I used that as Robby's warm nest. The teenager picked him up and placed him in the box and he seemed so relieved to be out of the hot sun. As soon as he was snuggled in the flannel, he opened his mouth to be fed. I have no idea how long the poor guy had been out there wobbling around so I looked online to see if I could give him a couple of bites of something or some water, anything. I found a site that said do NOT give them water. Rather, take a morsel of dry cat food (had it) and moisten it with water. Then take a tooth pick, and get a little blob and when the bird opens his beak, you put it down his throat. I was so worried that he had been out all day with no food and I wanted to make sure he made it to Walden's puddle and not die on us in the car. Phew! He seemed ready to take it in.

As soon as the kid arrived home, we jumped in the car and headed northeast about 30 miles from here. Another adventure. I think Robby slept the entire way. It was a beautiful drive, again. We have such beautiful country here. You would have never known we were barely 15 miles outside the city. We even had to cross a little creek to get over to Walden's neck of the woods. It was so pretty.

They had several animals in the shelter itself, including the opossum we had met on Earth Day and this little guy, a beautiful fox squirrel. His tail looked just like a fox. The vet took a look at Robby and said his leg wasn't broken at all, it was dislocated. Seems the mothers shoo them out from some high places sometimes. If they don't fly, then they normally get injured in the fall. Poor little Robby. She said he would be fine. Yay! Isn't that just wonderful!

We felt good driving home. It's a small miracle I hadn't let the cats out today. Dave would have surely done Robby in. Here's our Nashville skyline.

Life is good. Indeed, it is.

Pretty Momma

Mrs. M Dove allowed me to open the door and take a snap of her this morning. Isn't she pretty? No more eggs today, still only two. She always looks so content, except here where she looks quite frightened. Poor thing.

We all chipped in and got the rec room and the garage cleaned out today. Even got started on the infamous office (at least the hub did his part--the rest is up to me and my junk!). You'll remember that I moved my computer from there last winter when I got tired of looking at all the mess. Now how pathetic is that? And, the rec room? It hasn't looked this good since Raphi and Regis came last summer! The teenager said today he has dibs on the old furniture when he goes to college next summer. Good riddance (furniture, I mean. Well, hmmmm. . . ) hehe.

The garage doesn't take long to get completely blown up, so it was probably last fall that we last cleaned it. I was tired of mom having to step over things to get to my car (not me, mind you--I'm used to it!). I was worried that she was going to stumble on some of the teenager's junk that he's had lying around all winter. So, we just bit the bullet and did it. Just have to sweep up the kitty litter from the oil drips (teenager's car) and it will be done.


Doesn't it feel good when you get things done? Oh oh oh! And, guess what else I did today? I took my Alabama boating license test and passed at 93%! Wooohoo! Now, I am really ready to hit the river! The hub passed his last weekend and the kid will take his this week before we leave. Last will be the teenager. Getting him to do anything is like pulling teeth. I always wait until I have the energy to fight with him before I ask him to do anything. Sigh.

But Two Are Better!

Yes, and then there were two! Yea! Mrs. M Dove has laid another egg! Woohooo! You go momma!

Finally!

If you'll remember last year, we had at least three bird nests going at any particular time, from February until August. And, of course, along with the nests we had Miss Bev, the huntress, watching each step along the way and sometimes going in for the kill. This year, we had no Miss Bev and no nests, pout. Boom or bust, always the way.

Today, I went out the side door to water my window box and just before opening the door, I saw Mr. and Mrs. M. Dove nesting in my geranium basket! Awwww. (Sorry, pictures are taken through the back window AND screen door!) Momma looked as though she were laying her eggs already! A little while later, I peeked out and the love birds were gone; so I spied on the nest and it looks as if they are only in the first stages. Guess it's time to start worrying over my new family. Time to keep the babies (cats) indoors. The nest is awfully close to the porch railing. Eeeeek.

It's beginning to feel like spring again. All the old dead growth from the first spring that died from the late deep freeze is beginning to come back. It's refreshing to see the pretty green rather than all that dead dark brown. I was afraid a lot of it really was dead, but now I see most is ok. Even my azaleas are blooming! Squeeeel!

Two Days Later

I simply cannot believe how fast birds grow! Can you? Looks like they're just about ready to fly away. Wow!! So cute--Betty, Bippy and Blue.

Baby Watch No. 1

The purple finch nest seems to be A-Ok. All that movement during the cleaning of the house didn't seem to bother them. Worried for nothing! (I'm sure all your prayers didn't hurt!) There are three babies, indeed. They seem to be growing normally and look quite content in this heat. I tell you, they must be the only ones, cause I'm dying! It is absolutely horrible. Not the norm for here in Middle Tennessee.

I'll have to check in on Watch No. 2 and see what's happening with the Carolina Wrens. After Bev played with the eggs, I'm just not quite sure they survived. They are tucked so deep in the window box, I am now afraid to water in fear of drowning something. Geesh. Is nothing ever easy? hehe. I'll keep you posted if I spot anything in No. 2.

Time for Bed

The day was full, but I believe I achieved almost everything I needed to before leaving in the morning for DC. I still have my cargo on hold at the airport. It will be absolutely amazing if I ever get that crate! A few other things are dangling until I return, but such is life.

Above is Miss Bev after playing with the wren eggs. All is well in both nurseries. Mammas are back and taking care of eggs and young. The hub and I managed to get the window boxes back in with some bit of coaxing. How I got them out by myself is a wonder to both of us! Like I said, it was probably all adrenaline. (I do feel it in my arms today though! hehe)

Not sure how much I'll be able to blog while I'm gone. Probably not much after the hub returns home on Monday. We do have a lovely room booked in Georgetown (where we lived when we were first married--awww) and I really look forward to that. We will be dead tired though after working at the "house" in the heat. There are only a few window air conditioners there, one on each floor, which is barely sufficient. I am ready to conquer though, so bring it on! I hope we have enough energy to hit a couple of our favorite old haunts. I'll take some pics of our "old" place that we rented there. Can't wait to see it!

Here's a few more pics for your viewing enjoyment by the kid.

This one is for ms*robyn:


And this is for Raphi: (Mauuuugh)


Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend and a joyous week! See ya when I get back!!

More Eggs!!!!!

What is this place, a nursery? Lord have mercy (Lord have mercy). These guys know who the softy is on the block!

I had a heck of a time getting the window boxes out of the frame that holds them to the house. Grrrr. By myself, as usual. The guys didn't seem to be in any hurry to move them and the soap was falling in the boxes, so I just took it upon myself to try and remove them. They only weigh about 60 pounds, if not more. (OF course, I watered them yesterday--duh.) The first one came out with quite a fight but I did manage to pull it through the laundry room window and place it on the floor. Oh hell, who cares if bugs come in at this point! I just don't want my window box plantings to die.

Now the second one was kind of comical. Here I am, hanging out the guest room window pulling, tugging, sweating.....trying to get this monster out. I pick one end up, then the other and woooops! Down through the grate with a THUNK to the ground! Oh well. It needed a little extra dirt added anyway. I had to crawl (literally) into the bushes to pull it away from the house. (I've been itching ever since, either bugs or allergies, ew.) Half the plants fell out. I don't even care at this point. It's just sitting in the yard all disheveled--as is everything else at this point.

So, I'm upstairs trying to get some appointments in before I leave for DC and I hear this "MOM, MOM!! Eggs!!!" What the......? I go running downstairs to find the kid and Nanna (my mom) staring at Miss Bev (TROUBLE) in the laundry room playing with these tiny little eggs that she has apparently pulled out of the window box that is now sitting on the floor! Lord have mercy (Lord have mercy). We shoo her out and place the eggs back in this really deep hole. I don't know if my coercing the planter out has made this hole or not, so I neatly try to pretend to be a bird making a nest and re-wire all the grasses back into a circular motion--the only ones I know how to make. I ask the "guys" if it's ok to put this box back, they say yes. Well, guess what. It won't go back. I don't know if adrenaline got it out or not, but it ain't going back in. Did it swell while it was out? I have no idea. So, it is just sitting there, cockeyed, until the hub gets home.

The good news is, after I put it back eschewed, the momma did come back and buried herself way down in the thing. Ooops. I guess it was supposed to be a hole. Shows you how much this momma bird knows (me). Seems to be a wren, perhaps a Carolina wren. Cute little thing. I've seen her around but didn't know there was a nest.

And with all this action going on, the new folks (sniff sniff, Dianne) are moving in across the street. Who even has time to see what type of furniture they have!!! GRRRRRR!! (hehe)

Six Wings and a Prayer

Everyone, please say a quick prayer for my babies (baby birds, that is). Of course, they JUST hatched--tiny little things. And, of course, as promised, the house cleaners are here--power washing!!

I've asked the gentleman to let me know when we need to move the hanging basket. He has assured me he will wash one side, move the basket to the other and finish up. Oh I do hope momma doesn't mind. They are at such a fragile moment in their new lives.

So, if you have a moment, if you can say a short and quick prayer that the babies and momma will all be ok! Thanks!! (Silly me, I know.....)

Is It a Bird, Is It a Plane . . . No It's . . .

. . . just eggs. Yep. More eggs. Do these finches ever stop? Oh my GAWD! The house is getting power washed next Thursday -- I THOUGHT it was safe! I really can't believe it. Is this the third or fourth nest that I've had to take under my wing and watch over?

Of course, Miss Bev is feeling better (thank goodness) and on to it. This one is on the top deck (again), which I like to let the cats onto so they don't get into much mischief. But now, I can't even do that--AGAIN! I'm going to have to sit these birds down and give them a little talking to about the "birds and the bees." I think they're all just "sleeping" together for the fun of it! My Lord.

Anyone out there know if I can safely move the fern to another spot while the house is getting cleaned? Will the momma come back after I move it and then put it back. Geesh. Little buggers.

P.S. The kid did capture the last babies leaving the nest on film. It was the day before we left for the beach. (I'll have to look and see how long it takes from hatching to flying.) Unfortunately, it's downloaded on the old laptop which doesn't want to turn on at the moment. I think it's rebelling because the hub isn't here. (You know these "male" machines, they don't like a lot of fluff on them--probably waiting until the hub gets home so he can delete all the girl stuff and put some numbers in there--bark bark.) (Hey, I'm about to rebel myself if he doesn't get his butt home soon--I'm growing weary!)

Ready to Fly the Coop?

The birds have grown SO much in three days! Look at this new picture of them. Only four days ago, their feathers were just coming in! Now they can barely all fit in the nest. I am lucky this time, the nest is lower than usual. Even me--all 5'3--can see them!

Momma has taught them well. As soon as I peek in, they all duck and hide their faces. When I am not looking, they all peek up at me! So darling.


I expect they will be gone in a matter of days at this rate.

Babies, Babies Everywhere!

Here is the latest pic of my new brood. Are they not the sweetest little things? There are five in total. The feathers are coming in and they are growing very quickly. I haven't even named these little fellows. They'll be gone by the time I do. They sat real still as Raphi and I took pictures of them. At first, it was "Are you my mother?" Mouth open ready to eat until they realized it was those crazy humans again with that bright thing that flashes like lightening. "Mommy! What are they doing?" Mom was not bothered by everyone sitting on the deck last night talking. Not a peep out of her. Awwww.

Breeding Like Bunnies

I tell you, those purple finches are prolific! They have made yet another nest in one of our ferns on the top deck. I've had to keep Miss Bev inside (again) because she found the nest first and was right on it. I don't spend a lot of time out there, so I hadn't paid much attention to this nest at all. I'm just glad I got the wreath down when I did so I didn't have to leave it up another few months! And what a mess they left there--EW. I have to get this house cleaned!! (My famous last words!!)

Today, I've flung as many doors and windows open as possible. It is gorgeous outside. As my mom would say "I wish I could bottle it up and save it for later!" No humidity, probably around 70, light breeze. So, when I opened the top deck door, I thought I would take the camera out and take a look/see and find out what's in that nest. Looks like the babies have just hatched! I wish I would have seen how many eggs were there before they did. Oh well. I can see three beaks, how about you? It looks awfully full in there though. Could be more!

Rootie was a bad doggie yesterday. Can you tell she's shame face? I should never trust that dog. I left her in the front yard while I went in for a little bit--even told her to "stay." (Yea right!) When I came out, of course she was gone. We looked for her for over an hour with no luck. Went to dinner and came home to two phone calls from the neighbors. I let her sleep out back all night. She knows she's in the dog house because she wants to stay downstairs with my mom. And, she's limping. She has arthritis in her hind leg so the running didn't help matters. She finally decided to join me upstairs and now she's gassing me out of the place. Lord knows what she ate on her little adventure! Oy vey.

I think we'll take Frankie out for a nice walk in the park today. It is too lovely to stay indoors. Especially with Roo Dog polluting the fresh air I'm trying to achieve in here.

Oooh, oooh, ooooh, and look at what my friend Dianne (Sammy, the African Grey) sent me from Minnesota! Now, I thought my new heels were comfy. These are like walking on air. Love them! Don't you just love the bead work?? Thank you Dianne! I shall wear them and think of you--sniffle sniffle. P.S. What's happening with Sammy? I miss her!!! Did she finally succeed in eating all your wires to the computer? Is that why it's so quiet on her blog?? That is one crazy bird!

No Sense

I have no sense. A friend was over today commenting on the sweet little chickadees nesting on the side porch. Yes, chickadees. Nina and Norm are chicadees (left) and not nuthatches. Duh, I knew that. I swear sometimes I think the "old" timers is hitting me, at such a young age--so very sad. Now, I've messed up the naming of the little fellows. Should I change it to Christina and Carl? Nawww. They'll just be very special chickadees with nuthatch-kinda names. Geez Louise. No sense, whatsoever--and getting worse! Oy.

Nina & Norm

I finally caught the very private nuthatch couple in action. Yes, I did have to hide behind the screen door, but I did capture them feeding their babies. One will go in the box while the other waits on the tree limb. Then when that one exits, the other swoops in. They take turns feeding the babies. Isn't that sweet? Just like every young family should do, take turns in the feeding routine--hehe.

There's a mocking bird that is harassing the heck out of them. I don't know if he is after the babies or not. They are completely safe in this box though. I can't believe they can get in and out of that tiny hole! But they manage somehow.

Isn't Mother Nature grand? Oooh, what I would do to be able to peek in and see all the babies like F&F's nest. They are so precious! I was so excited to see five little heads peeking up yesterday. Boy, are they scrunched in there, or what? I just want to tap each one on the head! You should hear them when momma comes in to feed them. It gets so loud with their growing voices. I love it! This is another shot from yesterday. Look at the little one in the middle being kept warm by his brothers and sisters. Awwwww. So sweeeeeet! Tweet tweet!