Beauty Saves the Day

Thanks for the beauty, Lily and bug. You nurture tired souls.

I wonder if I am the only one who cringes when the alarm clock wakes me. It’s set for 5:20 a.m. during weekdays and lately I’ve been opening my eyes and sneaking a peek at the clock close to wake-up time. This morning I opened my eyes at 5:19 a.m. Uuuuggggghhhh. Four seconds later I hear BEEP BEEP BEEP – a heartless blast, dammit. Barely awake, I was still capable of this: “&*(&#****^*$%%!!!” I always hope it's 2:00 a.m. when I open my eyes...

I live with a perky morning person. I hate perkiness before sunrise. I’m not decent in the mornings and maintain my ugly mood until I put the key in the ignition and get on my way to work. At sunrise today, I looked through the bathroom window to see a squirrel sitting on a feeder with a fresh orange slice in its mitts and gnawing away like we do with a slice of watermelon. Oh boy, did that send me into an early morning fit. Those slices are for Orioles that I’ll never see! Dammit! With my hair spiked, pillow wrinkles deep on my face; I marched out there and scared the wits out of that thief. He flew off the dish and the early morning sun caught the safflower in flight. It wasn’t my croaky voice – the squirrel saw something strange…me. Yea, yea, I know they need to eat, too. Chipmunks are plentiful, too, and I ushered one out of my garage this morning.

(Click to enlarge photo to see three Mockers on the ground.) Late last week, after a day I’d rather forget at the office and feeling nasty, I came home to see a horrible fight between two Mockingbirds and there was a third on-looker. This was just what I needed. More stress. I stood on my porch and witnessed a knock-down, drag-out fight that continued way too long, from the trees, sidewalk, and street. They rolled, stabbed, and tried to kill each other. They fought so adamantly and quickly that I couldn’t zoom in with the camera. My own feathers got ruffled and I held myself back from running out there to break it up. Instead, I yelled, “Knock it off!”

They took it around to the back of the house.

Then they took it to the front again where I was able to capture one of them catching its breath in 96 degree heat.

The next day, a pair started nest building in one of the Crepe Myrtles where they fought. I’m keeping an eye on it. I am not sure of the dynamics of the fight other than two females were competing for a male or a nesting site?

These Mockingbirds are causing me grief as described in Saturday’s post but I am learning so much.

I haven’t seen many newcomers to the feeders lately as I guess they have all passed through. I do have many local yokels and here are a few of many:

Oh, how nice. Yeah.

Lovely. The barn swallows are renting somewhere else.

BUT, tonight I found more beauty,

The babes were investigating their territory and I couldn’t resist getting very close while admiring their little bobbing heads,

I scooted on my fanny closer and closer, only four feet away…then Mother came and announced, “Let’s go!” Both babes flew in her direction and I felt fine! There was a Cooper’s hawk in the neighborhood this evening and I was glad to know the babes fly very well!

When I was agonizing over the Mockingbird fight, I didn’t realize I had a delivery on the porch until I turned around,

Julie’s Phoebe print arrived. Yes...more beauty that I needed at the end of the day. I won’t show it until I frame and mount it in a special place in my home.

See the extra gift she enclosed? (We adore our dogs and would like to cover the earth with well-bred Bostons - one for everyone.)

Chloe: What is it? Is it for me?

Bella: C-c-can I have some?

I say, "Now, girls, what do you say to Mrs. Zickefoose?"

“Thank you, Mrs. Lickefoose! Mom, can we have more?”

Thank you, Julie. Your beautiful gift made my day.