The Industrious House Wren

Over the last few springs we’ve had the pleasure of watching house wrens build nests in bird boxes that are nailed to posts at our back deck. This is a ritual I have come to anticipate and enjoy viewing.

During this past week, not only one, but two house wrens have been around. They’ve been squabbling with each other a little, which is also fun to watch. They don’t seem to get nasty, just raise their voices in higher, greater, and longer trills.

The house wren is not much larger than a hummingbird. It moves quickly and works hard. Oftentimes it sits atop a bird box just trilling away – singing out for a mate, I believe. When it’s not trilling, it is busy building nests, stick by stick.

I caught, on camera, this activity – this industrious little bird working so hard.

Wild Irises and Lilacs

Today I discovered this lovely surprise on the hillside of our backyard. Wild irises are popping up everywhere and they are beautiful. We mostly see them near the edge of the woods, but this group is smack-dab in the middle of the grass on the hill.

Our lilac bush is in full bloom now too. A few days ago I clipped a few lilac flowers to bring into the house. Our dining table needed something to spruce it up, and what better way than to gather some gorgeous blooms from right outside our door? They smell wonderful too.

Along with the banana bread muffins that I just baked, the kitchen is overwhelmed with great smells. I’ll take them all! It’s such a joy to have the doors and windows open again – to have the fresh air breeze coming into the house, the scent of lilac every time I walk by the table, and of course, something fresh-baked from the oven.

We're Getting There

Stepping outside, all I hear is a symphony of bird calls. It’s wonderful.

In between rain showers, our sons have managed to get the grass cut (a 4 hour job here), the picnic table is in the process of getting scraped, sanded, and refinished, the garden has been tilled, and the back deck has been cleaned off.

We’re still a long way from having everything ready though. Pots sit empty, waiting to be filled with new herbs. The garden awaits planting with vegetables and flowers. And I can hardly wait to bring out the folding chairs for the back deck. But patience is called for here.

Luckily, we have this hanging fuchsia which is giving us encouragement. It is starting to blossom!

We are getting there… just as this fuchsia has finally begun to blossom. 

Feeding The Lot

This is pretty much what our feeders look like throughout the days now. Lots and lots of birds. In this photo, the evening grosbeaks and several finches are having their turn at feeding.

That is until a squirrel comes along. Whenever a squirrel comes pouncing along the deck rail, all winged creatures take flight like a tornado is coming through. Then the squirrel spends an obscene amount of time hogging – not to mention emptying – the feeder.

Sure, there are a few brave birds that sneak in there to get a seed. Nuthatches and juncos typically. But not our spring visitors. The finches and grosbeaks are very skittish.

Ultimately, all get fed. The feeders are always busy stations. And I’m trying to keep up. It’s amazing how many 50 pound bags of sunflower seeds we purchase each spring.

Thank goodness birds and squirrels are small. Although, we have had raccoons and skunks at our feeders too, but that’s another story…

Cold Spring

Okay. Still waiting.

Where is the warm spring weather?

It is spring alright. Trees and flowers are blooming. Birds are flocking to the feeders. But I’m still wearing sweaters and fleece, and my hands are cold.

I went to a plant sale over the weekend. I didn’t have the heart to buy any vegetable plants yet, because it’s too cold to put them into the garden. Brrrr. Well, maybe not. It’s too cold for me to be out there planting them.

I did purchase a beautiful fuchsia hanging pot, but even those buds don’t want to open because they are cold.

The warm weather has to come sometime. In the meantime, I’ll go make myself some hot tea and watch for the sun.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day!

Today is my 19^th Mother’s Day. I am so privileged to be a mom. There isn’t a greater job or honor in the world.

This is also my first Mother’s Day without my mother. She lives on in our memories, in the characteristics through our genes, and in all that she taught us. A day does not go by without thinking of her.

I have a wonderful husband who brought me these flowers for Mother’s Day. This picture will preserve them for always, and enables me to share them with you.

Goldfinch

It’s May. We are well over a month into spring, yet it’s just now starting to feel like it.

Back in March, I, like everyone else, got my hopes up that spring was on its way in all its glory because – daffodils were blooming!

Not so, revealed Mother Nature. Up until now, our weather has remained cold and rainy. No one has wanted to go outside and start the spring clean-up, do any gardening, or even sweep off the decks.

Thank goodness for birds. They are soooo reliable. As I have mentioned before, the evening grosbeaks, swallows, goldfinches, pine siskins, and housefinches have returned in their great numbers, brightening up our otherwise gray days.

Here is one such goldfinch. A bright spot during our less-than-ideal spring.

And along with that, today is sunny and warmer.