Empty Nest

Sigh.  It was bound to happen sooner or later. I’m just now getting around to actually writing about it. As you know, Day 2 of my Nature Challenge [here], I posted pictures of a little bird who was nesting in an alcove on our back porch. I must admit, it was such fun watching the parents care for the babies (I assume as much since I can’t tell one from the other) and watching the babies grow.

Shortly after the babies hatched, we had an onslaught of carpenter bees. These are all new experiences for us. We knew (had been told) that the carpenter bees would drill/bore holes into the home and lay eggs. Well, we couldn’t allow that to happen in our new home so the exterminators were called. We told the guy that he would just have to work around the nest. He explained to us that there was no way he could do that and it would kill the baby birds. What a quandary. Do we try to save the babies and risk mama bird never returning or do we just condemn them to a toxic death? And so, against mama bird’s wishes, Tom gently brought the nest into our home. This was April 29. I just could not resist:

Sorry about the camera shakes. I was trying to get a bit closer with my iPhone5. Their little squeeks were barely audible. The exterminator told us not to let any of our animals out for at least an hour. So, after a couple hours of waiting, Tom replaced the nest in the exact same spot. We just held our breath that all was well and mama would return. And she did. Without a zoom lens, I was never able to catch her feeding the babies. Every time I tried to sneak outside, she would fly a short distance away. So I stopped trying. I didn’t want to upset her. Then on May 8, after she left from feeding them, I took the step-stool and my iPhone and did my best to get a photo without getting too close.

A few days later on May 11, I took this one shortly after their feeding.

The next time I took any pictures was on May 16. The babies are all grown up here and exercising their wings. It won’t be long now.

Well, it wasn’t very long, indeed. Not too long after I took the previous picture, one by one they spread their wings and we ended up as empty nesters. And this is how it has remained. Now it’s time for us to clean up the mess left behind by the little ones. Gosh, just like kids….. 😉

Seven Day Nature Challenge – 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the Seven Day Nature Photo Challenge. I was nominated by my fellow blogger, Joanne at Coffee Fuels My Photography! to participate in this challenge.  Please check out her blog.

As you know, I’m supposed to post at least one photo per day for seven days, focusing on anything from the natural world and each day I’m to nominate a new member.  There is absolutely no obligation to participate.  For this post, I would like to nominate my blogging friend at A Day In The Life.

And, if anyone who follows me would like to be nominated to participate in this challenge, please leave a message in the comments …  I would be more than happy to nominate you. I know so many of you have already participated!

I hope you enjoy my nature choices! Here is DAY 2:

Imagine our surprise when one day as we were exiting the house, we looked up and, under the eaves on the back porch, we saw birdy condominiums in three sizes. At the time there were no occupants so we were wondering if they would even be used.

Imagine how great our surprise was discovering that the largest nest is definitely occupied. Mama is there almost all of the time now. We have no idea how long it takes for any eggs to hatch. We try to be so quiet when we enter or exit but if we make a bit too much noise, she flies a short distance away. But, not to worry, she has always come back. This picture was also taken with my iPhone5 and, as you may know, it does not have an actual zoom lens. The picture was also taken through glass and between blinds. Seems any time I tried to stand out there with my camera, it was more than she would sit still for.

 

Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Groups of Birds

This week on Sunday Stills, it’s pictures of four or more birds in the same picture. I must admit that using the “zoom” function on my iPhone5 is next to useless. To me, it just causes the picture to be too grainy. But, alas, to get close enough to a group of birds with an iPhone, just makes them scatter!

 

Backyard Memories

It’s a beautiful mornin’ ahhh
I think I’ll go outside a while
An jus’ smile
Just take in some clean fresh air boy
Ain’t no sense in stayin’ inside
If the weather’s fine an’ you got the time
It’s your chance to wake up and plan another brand new day
Either way
It’s a beautiful mornin’

The Rascals

It truly is a beautiful morning. The sun is streaming through my window, the air is crisp with a very slight breeze and the temperature is 63 degrees F. I’m just kicking back listening to the chirping of the birds in the neighborhood. It sounds so sweet. It smells so clean. It’s the perfect combination that’s making childhood feelings and memories spring to life. I’m transported to another place and time. Has it really been so long since I noticed? Just listen to those birds. And the squirrels chattering. It’s not just chirping, it’s music. Ah, early morning. Time to get up and go out to play!

Here I am with Happy, my best friend and faithful companion of ten years in the backyard of my childhood home. Great memories of that backyard. That’s where my mother would sunbathe on her quilt while teaching me the alphabet and to count to 100. My mother kept a beautiful flower and rose garden. She had every color rose and I can still smell that beautiful strong rose scent. I don’t know all the different kinds of flowers she had. But I remember the beauty. I’m just sad that I have no pictures of her garden.

Dad had a big strawberry patch. I remember he built a frame with chicken wire to set over the patch. He said it was it was to keep the birds from eating the strawberries and to keep a little girls hands out of the patch. Hmmm. I suppose he meant me but it didn’t work! It’s amazing what tiny little fingers can reach through. I can remember a time I was in the kitchen with my Mom. She was standing at the sink cleaning and preparing fresh-picked strawberries for dinner. She had me seated on the kitchen counter next to her. As she cleaned each strawberry and I ate it, I told her, “Mom, you’re the best cook!” I guess she liked that because I can still hear her laughter after all these years.

I’m sure my Dad and my brother would have different memories of the back yard. Since it backed up to the wall of the Upper Arlington High School football stadium, they were always having to clean up the back yard and the garage roof following every activity held in the stadium!

The only picture I have of my childhood home was taken in the winter. I’m posting it here even though it doesn’t fit with my spring theme! What an influence this house has had on me and my taste. I adore English Tudor. If I could have this house in a warm climate, I’d jump in a heartbeat!!