Damp Feathers and a Little Shopping

A weekend of rain rushes new life.

A shopping spree with Gina was in order today. It’s been a long time since we headed out with mall coupons. She and Billy will settle on their house in less than a month and she’s full of chatter about paint colors, furniture, window blinds, garden hoses, fencing, shrubs, etc. The list is long for first-time homeowners and I remember it so well.

Mr. Biggins says, “I’m here! I’m here! Open the gate, Chloe! Let’s play Bell Bell! Where’s my grandma? Oh, Joy! Oh, Boy!”

Before we turned into the mall, we stopped by her future house and she showed me the boundaries of the fence they will build. I could hear her talking but I didn’t see her, as my eyes were overhead, watching the bright, white belly of a Tree Swallow.

“Mom!” She knew I was bird watching again.

“Sorry, Gina, but you have Tree Swallows here!”



I followed her lead at the mall and I was very surprised she only glanced at handbags and shoes instead of drooling and lingering over the latest wedge and Dooneys. We didn’t even enter the Coach store! She wanted to show me some prints she and Billy found to decorate their walls. While I browsed through Ron Burns’ abstract, colorful prints of dogs and cats that she loves so much, I thought about priorities. Sure, they need buckets and brooms and garden hoses, but more than that, they need some color and pizzazz to surround them in their new home already decorated with dull, off-white walls. So that is what I set out to do - to buy them something eye-pleasing. I bought “Toby” and “Landy” – framed in black, to compliment their contemporary taste in decorating.

She, in turn, gave me a compliment without knowing how much it made my head swell. When she said, “I want to frame one of your sunrises or sunsets for our house…”. I couldn’t even speak.

I could use a few new things to wear but I prefer giving to the children. That’s what a Mother does.

It was my pleasure to treat her today. For me, she’s sunshine on a rainy day.

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It rained continually from Friday through Saturday night and I could not believe the birds I saw. Indigo Buntings flew overhead and landed nearby. Brown-headed Nuthatches visited my feeders but I fumbled the camera in a desperate attempt to catch them. Not a chance. I just could not keep my eyes off the back yard. Most of the following photos were taken during the rain but some were taken today – sunny, chilly, and “hold on to your hat” windy. I hope to get much better photos this week. A few of these birds have their back facing me. Perhaps it's a message for me to scram?

“Please don’t tire of me. I love it here.”

“I’ll let you take my picture for some suet...”

“I don’t see you; therefore, you don’t see me.” This song sparrow has a nest nearby but I haven’t found it yet.

“Will…you…please…put that camera away, woman?”

“It’s her again. That nosy lady with bright hair…”

“Uh Oh. I think she caught me.” There are two Brown Thrashers here now. They’re peaceful and quiet birds.

“Wanna take my picture, lady?”

“May I please have a little privacy to wet my whistle and rinse my armpits?”

“I don’t think she sees me. Just one extra sip." The hummers have grown into a small army of mini-aircraft. I love it!