Wednesday, March 26, 2008

A Carolina Wren Came for Dinner, and more



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Right after dinner, “Bird in the house! There’s a bird in the house!”, Michael exclaimed, while Bella raced from room to room in pursuit. Yesterday, I was sitting right here at the computer talking on the phone and the little Carolina Wren flew into my blogging territory to visit me. Perhaps she wanted to be featured on my blog post.

It’s a good thing there are double doors leading into this room. Quietly and slowly, I closed them while little Wren fluttered from window blinds to rest on top of pictures on the wall…so stressed with its bill gaping open.

On the outside, Michael bellowed, “Do you need help?” I put my lips to the crack in the door and ordered in a low, husky voice, “Shhhhhh. You’re startling her. Be QUIET.” And so he remained quiet.

In slow motion, making hardly a sound, I raised the blinds and the windows and stood in the corner of the room. She made a few attempts to escape but only hung onto the blinds. I could have taken an opportunity for a lengthy photo shoot but I wanted to let her out of her misery, more. I whispered, “Go, little wren!”



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And she did. In one minute she was free.



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Remembering when doors had been open, she could have been in the house for an hour, or for twenty minutes. Carolina Wrens have tried to nest in my garage and have flown into the sunroom occasionally but I’ve never had a bird come for dinner!

So the week has been hell but I won’t dwell…I’ll make my budget deadlines, but until then, I’m pretty crabby and tired. I convinced myself to stop at the grocery store pond on the way home tonight. Driving by it, I didn’t see anything of interest and sulked but I’m glad I forced my tired self to get out of the damned car for a few minutes and look around. In only fifteen minutes I enjoyed




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On the way to the pond I sang along with the radio, I Could Not Ask For More by Edwin McCain. Holding my camera, I stood at the fence overlooking the pond while these lyrics sounded in my head,

These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life


43 comments:

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

I'm glad you forced your tired self out of the car too! That's alot of cool stuff for 15 minutes. I promise to look for 15 minutes tomorrow too. Glad you got the sweet little wren out back where she belongs.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary,

Some birds will do anything to get featured in your Blog.
Roy

Anonymous said...

I bet that little wren was looking to see if you had stashed some zick dough inside...LOL...

Angie

Anonymous said...

Just a little longer and he would have had a nest already for inspection. :)

Q said...

Dear Mary,
Little Carolina Wren loves you!
You are a good Mum!
Fifteen minutes? Wow! Great way to spend 15 minutes.
I love all your pictures. Flying Great Blue is really a great shot.
Wow!
Sherry

Ruth said...

So many beautiful pictures and so much adventure for a day.

Peg Silloway said...

Lucky wren to have found such a caring hostess! And those 15 minutes were well spent for us who get to enjoy your glorious photos. Budgets make the best of us grumpy - thanks for pushing past the gray clouds to bring us such brilliant blues of sky and fluffy birds.

Beth said...

Mary - those are AMAZING photos! Beautiful! Spring is here, and it showed up at your place!

You make my day, most every day.

beckie said...

I think you should give up budgets for photography! Great pics!! I love the turtles. The wren knew you needed a break.

Alyssa said...

Mary - You surely found a lot of worthwhile things to be thankful for in that very short time. I'm glad you were able to rescue that little wren - I think it was a fairy in disguise sent to cheer you up! Hang in there - the weekend is near ...

Kerri Farley said...

OH Mary! This is a beautiful post! I am so glad the Wren was able to get out of the house unharmed! And so glad you stopped by the pond! Those shots are Absolutely AMAZING! I hope you are able to relax and de-stress soon!

Larry said...

That was a nice visitor that you had.-Too bad the wren didn't enjoy it as much as you did.-Really nice photos-especially the hawk.

Jayne said...

Oh my! So glad the little one found her way out, though it was nice that she came for dinner. ;c) Love your pond photos... indeed each moment is one to be grateful for.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Golly, Mary!
Now you've even got them perching on picture frames!!

And rows of sunny turtles?--we're getting there, but I so love seeing it at your place first!!

Hummers??

Mary said...

Nina, hummers - not yet...it's been very cold lately. :o(

The Quacks of Life said...

nice to see you went for your camera

Anonymous said...

Your photos are absolutely stunning! I agree with Julie Z a few days ago when she remarked that your bird photos are worthy of publication! Despite the fact you and I have the same camera, more often than not my bird shots are rarely more than blurry dots! (thank goodness for that old delete button!!) So glad your little wren made it safely back outside, and I love those turtles, too!! Yet another inspiring post! Thanks SO much for sharing! hugs, gretchen

Richard said...

I sure does pay to take some time for yourself. You got such a reward.

Owlman said...

I love the little wrens. I've had one at my feeder all winter and I'm hoping he'll nest in one of the boxes. Hang in there, the week is nearly over!

Annie in Austin said...

That wren was probably pretty annoyed with you, Mary - she was planning on moving in and making a nest. You spoilsport - just think how exciting that could have been for Bella and Chloe ;-]

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Appalachian Lady said...

That is really something to have a wren come into the house. Beautiful pictures from the pond--glad you stopped by. Joan

KGMom said...

Now why I am not surprised that you have birds who come to visit you?
After all, who feeds them? Who chases them everywhere? Who photographs them at every opportunity? Who hits the brakes and turns around mid-street? Who rescues bluebirds from the office?
I suspect somewhere there's a bird who writes a people blog--with Mary as the star!

KGMom said...

Oh--and I forgot who cleans out nests, drops them so they break and then REBUILDS them?

Anonymous said...

Oh Mary, your life is always full of adventure ;-) I loved that shot of the turtles all on that bit of log.

Anonymous said...

Wrens make good neighbors (and occasional houseguests), don't they? Such curious little charmers! And well done taking a few minutes out of the car. Thanks for sharing your fantastic photos of that moment. I feel like we all got to take a breather from the week's dramas.

Cheryl said...

You are an angel Mary, an absolute angel...little wren sent back to where he belongs.

15 minutes out of the car, now that was worth doing, absolutely beautiful.

I hope to take my parents and ma in law to the woods tomorrow to see the woodland anemone's. Hope its not raining, they are too old for rain, bless them.

Julie Zickefoose said...

Perhaps my ultimate favoritissimo of all your posts. Brought me to tears. Nature heals.

Carolina wrens are so damn smart that they don't stay in houses for more than a few minutes after you open a window for them. I helped my friend Margaret calm down and let one out just last week. I reminded her that they come in ON PURPOSE because they're curious, and they know very well what windows are, being intelligent little scraps.

Hang in there, Mary. At least you know where to turn when the going gets rough. What do nature-free people do to stay sane? I wonder.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What fun having a wren come to dinner. The poor little thing. I bet it thinks twice next time.

All of your photos are so good Mary. Ilove the RS Hawk. We reareely see one let alone so close.

Cathy said...

Oh thank you Mary! It's sleeting and raining here and those sunlit scenes of the heron and turtles and the sweet little wren . . . . well - they sure do help,

I've not seen a wren in months. I think our hard winter drove them south. Is he singing for you?

Anonymous said...

Amazing photos Mary! I am glad you took the time to go out for a little while! It always helps me when I have days like that! Love hearing about the Carolina Wren coming for dinner! I bet you make the best mealworm dinner ever!

NCmountainwoman said...

Lovely post. Great pictures and wonderful commentary. What a piece of work for someone who had a helluva week.

Thanks for bringing this one. It's great.

The hummers are east of us, west of us, and barely south of us. Hope to see them any day now.

RuthieJ said...

If the Carolina Wren has to fly into someone's house, I'm glad it was yours Mary, because you knew just what to do to help it escape unharmed.
I'm sending positive thoughts for you getting through the rest of this hellish month...one day at a time, girlfriend!

Mary said...

You are all great. Thanks for stopping by... I would comment right back atcha and visit your blogs if I thought anything I say would make sense. LOL!

I'll be back!

Mary

dmmgmfm said...

Aww honey, ya made me cry (in a good way). Thanks for this beautiful post.

Chrissy said...

Beautiful post.

Mel said...

Nice that you got out, you found some pretty cool guys there!
Lovely dinner guest! Good luck these last days of budgets and numbers, you CAN do it!
Kisses,
Mel

Sherry at the Zoo said...

Ah...the little wren knew exactly which home it wanted to visit. Smart birdie.

I'm glad you took that 15 minutes. Such beautiful pictures. You have an amazing outlook. And just think. Today is Friday. You'll be able to breath after today, right?

Hugs

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

Wow!! Your pictures are beautiful. I love the color of that hawk. So rich and beautiful. I'm glad you stopped. You really scored!!
The wren is so cute. I had one fly into my house the day before I moved from Charleston. I had to race around the house quickly to shut off all the ceiling fans. He stayed for a little while and then flew out the kitchen window.

Donna said...

Isn't nature great. In just 15 minutes I can't believe what all you saw. How beautiful.
I had a bird in the house once, came into our study, I about flipped out and so did the dogs!
Have a great day!
Hugs,
Donna

Zoë said...

Your photographs are wonderful, and I have very much enjoyed seeing how much wildlife varies from your garden to mine! We call them the same thing, wren , robin, blackbird, etc, but yours seem so exotic!

Beautiful blog.

Seabrooke said...

What a fabulous encounter (the wren). Glad she got out safely.

Marvin said...

It's getting to be the time of year when I must remember to keep my basement shop door closed when I not in there working. Otherwise, I may return to find a wren's nest under construction.

I wish I could pack as much into 15 minutes as you accomplished. Great photos!

Anonymous said...

Poor little wren -- how lucky that it got into YOUR house! Glad you got those moments of peace -- I am so like you -- I cherish those moments and yet forcing myself to seek them out is difficult! Hang in there!