Flying the coop~

It's just amazing to me that a tiny chick can emerge from an egg & in five days, fly away!   We're experienced now with how this event unfolds on our front porch.  Sunday morning, when I went out to water, I almost poured water on the tiny fledgling below,  already out of the nest!

The most adventuresome of the chicks~

 Looking closer - another - in the photo below - was sitting on the opposite side of the basket.

Chick #2

The third, was still in the nest & was probably the last to hatch. He was still there this morning when I left home. Butch had seen the male come by with food earlier. By the time I got home this afternoon, the final chick was gone & that was a relief - after what we went through last year - trying to get "little Joe" to take flight!

Daddy in the Walnut~

Last evening, the male spent a lot of time hanging around the porch, trying to convince the last chick to join the rest of the family. He posed for me several times, but when I saw him land on the sign I had to laugh out loud! Yes, Cardinals can read! :-)

What can I say?

Now the weatherman is telling us that the heat is On! We're to reach 100 by Wed. at the latest & it will last for at least a three-day stretch, before cooler air moves in the first of next week. Plenty of time to spend watering & being thankful for Air Conditioning!

Persistance~

A couple weeks ago, as I watered the flower basket hanging off the back deck, I noticed that it looked a little rough.  Reaching in, I found the start of a bird nest!  No way, just off the back door area was not where I wanted another bird nest!

I removed it, watered the basket & called it good.  Well, each day, there would be the start of yet another nest!  I had no idea what kind of bird it was - but I wasn't going to go through the bird thing - outside the back door this time - again!

Between Butch & I, we removed no less than six nest starts in six days.  Finally, on a Saturday morning, Butch looked & found one brown speckled egg, No nest!  Just laying on the dirt in the middle of the flower.  Butch threw it away - saying - that would be the end of it!

Sunday morning, we were sitting out with our latte's when a pair of Cardinals landed on the deck railing, not five-feet from us!  I'm sure they are the same pair that hatched their young in my front artificial plant last year!  They gave us a resounding cussing out!  We couldn't believe that they would understand what was up?  Let alone what we'd done!  I felt horrible...

Hatched chicks!

Monday morning, I was at the kitchen window, when I noticed a lot of activity by what I'm sure - was the same pair of cardinals...  Back & forth they were flying from the front porch.  I went out & sure enough, here was the start of yet another nest in my beautiful front flower basket!

Daddy visits~

When Butch came home for lunch, I showed him. This time, we just had to leave them be... That kind of persistence, all to have their nest here, under cover of course, just had to be rewarded...  So, again... I'm tippy-toeing in & out our own front door,  to keep from disturbing them.

On the first of July, I could just see three speckled eggs in the nest. By Monday the 8th, I got out the ladder & peeked again to find three tiny chicks! I'd not seem them last year until they had feathers, that basket was hung higher.

I was amazed to see that their skin too is red! I stealthily stood inside the storm door with my camera at the ready - to get photos of the male coming in to feed the chicks! He is very brazen & will even hang around sometimes when I'm watering.

Gorgeous!

They are so incredibly beautiful with the flowers, they almost look artificial!  The pair take turns coming in to feed their chicks, but the female is much faster at leaving, if I go out.  We put in a bird feeder & filled it with black sunflower seeds.  I found it empty this morning.  We also had to install a squirrel baffle.  The squirrel's feasted on the first of the seeds we put in!

Feeder by the Timber~

 I'm hopeful that the Cardinals will come by this winter too, since I can see the feeder from the Cabin.  I look forward to getting some beautiful photos against a snow covered landscape.

We both think now - Cardinals can probably read & have read our Backyard Wildlife Habitat sign!

We've got about a week until the chicks will be ready to fly - if the schedule is similar to last year.  Even though - they're a month later than last summer, when all this started in June.  Maybe the wet spring had something to do with it.  My poor flower is taking a bit of a beating, but it's worth it to help this determined couple out!  Next year, I'll try putting up a basket just for them - like that will work!  :-)

"Little Joe" Flies Away Home~

I have been a nervous wreck!   It's been almost a month, since I discovered that a female Cardinal had decided to build her nest just to the left of our front door.  We have been tip-toeing in & out for weeks now.  Each time we would come or go, she left the nest.

June 6th~  Female on the nest~

 She was such a devoted mother.  It was very hot the day I managed to get her photo.  I'd snuck around from the backyard & used the zoom from out on the lawn.  We bought black sunflower seeds & put them in a clay drainage dish on the rail right under her nest.  Within a day - those seeds were being enjoyed!

June 10th - baby chicks!

About the time I thought that the eggs wouldn't hatch - they did!  It was about 15-days since I'd first discovered them.  Pretty much on schedule.  Everyone told me that the male helps with the feeding of the chicks & sure enough - he appeared out of nowhere!  We watched over the next few days as the parents would fly out, then return with a bug in their beaks & feed the chicks.  We both figured it would be at least a couple weeks - before the youngsters were big enough to try their wings.

The Male comes by~

 A crew of men had been working along the west side of the abandoned house to our east & cut away all the weed trees & shrubs yesterday.  When we got home, there was no activity at the nest.  I started worrying that maybe the parents had lost their home, been scared off & abandon the chicks.  I don't think I slept a wink last night - peeking out the door to see if the mother had returned.  She hadn't...

This morning, as we went to leave, I looked up to see this tiny little chick sitting on the edge of the nest looking right at me!  I couldn't believe it!  At lunch I was telling our friend Joe about the chicks & suddenly the name Little Joe popped into my mind.  The perfect name!

June 15th - Peeping Joe!

We came home after lunch - I couldn't see him on the nest & thought he might be asleep.  I decided to get a fluffy towel & put it under the nest - just in case one of the fledging's took a tumble.  I had the towel & walked past the living room windows on my way to the door - when I noticed this tiny little guy peeking in!

Little Joe is very friendly~

I grabbed the camera, carefully opened the door & walked out to get a photo.  He didn't seem to mind at all.  Butch checked the nest & it was empty!  We had to leave again & I expected that Little Joe would be long gone by the time we'd return...

Today - 4 p.m. still on the porch~

Wrong again!  He was still here!  He flew from the top of the rocker to the rail, back to the deck, then to the wire.  All the time stretching his wings & chirping.  I stayed in the house & watched out the storm door.  Soon, the female arrived.  She tried everything to convivence him that he needed to fly away with her...  No go...  He looked destressed, but he was Not leaving the safety of the porch.  Soon - a bright flash of red appeared.  The male!  He too, tried & tried - no luck...  He flew up into the lowest branch of the Walnut watching & chirping at Little Joe.  Butch finally walked up & shooed him with the brim of his baseball cap.  Little Joe did not care!  

Finally - there was a flutter of tiny wings!  We both thought he'd hit the ground & went around to check.  I didn't see him?  Then - I looked up & there he was! 

Success!  In the Walnut!

Little Joe had made the longest flight of his life & was in the Walnut!  I couldn't believe how tiny & helpless he looked up there!  Within seconds, he was hopping along the big branch, glanced over his shoulder at me & disappeared into the leaves.

Daddy is So Pleased!

Daddy had been sitting up a little higher, but soon came down & followed Little Joe off into the upper reaches of the tree.  I felt So Proud!  Our first bird grandkids have flown the nest & taken flight off into the big, wide, wonderful world!  What amazing parents these two cardinals were.  I'm sure they'd spent most of the afternoon keeping an eye on him.  Never giving up on their last fledging until he'd made that all important first flight & joined the rest of his family!  We feel blessed to have played a small part in the drama of this little families life~

The Little Things~

When life takes an unexpected turn, it's the little things that seem to either hurt or help.  I've had my share of both this past week.  It was a week ago today - I received the diagnosis of irreparable damage to my retina.

During those few days, I've been hurt by  the suppositions of others.  One suggesting I don't live a healthy enough lifestyle was disconcerting to say the least.  I've been through the days of my mind tricking me into playing the blame game.  Who among us leads a perfect life?  I don't & what fun would it be if we did?  Probably not as much fun as having that ice cream cone on a hot day, or galloping up a mountain as fast as your horse will take you - as the tears stream from your eyes!

Hanging planter to the left of the door~

But then, there are those unexpected gifts.  Last Friday morning, I walked out onto the porch to find a beautiful female Cardinal sitting on the rail.  She was so close I could actually see her!  Later in the day I was coming in & noticed pieces of sticks on the deck by the door?  Now where did those come from?  I looked up at the little planter that hangs there to find a nest under construction - right on top of the artificial plant!

I pointed it out to Butch that evening & as the days went by - I saw the female fly low under the eves once or twice.  Neither of us could imagine that she would continue her construction with the front screen door opening & closing so often.  I didn't have the heart to remove it though.

Eggs!

Today, I came home to hear a slight clicking noise...  Just on a hunch, I got the little ladder & peeked inside to find three beautiful, perfect eggs!   A true blessing for me - a reason to appreciate the vision I still have - has been placed right by my door.

CRAO - Approximation

The photo above is the closest representation (mine is more clouds) I can find to the current vision in my right eye.  I can still see shapes. I've been considering what changes I need to make to protect the vision I have left. I contacted RidersTack to ask about goggles. I will be wearing them most of the time & wanted something I knew would work. They gave me some great options & two pair are on the way.

After today's visit with my new GP, I was relieved to learn my test results were fine.  No plaque buildups or off-kilter blood test results.  My spirits were raised when I heard the words;  "You must practice a healthy lifestyle." I'm waiting now to see a Cardiologist.  As Dr. Angle said; "We can't outrun our genetics."

Small steps, as I adjust to my new reality.  Taking pictures with my left eye has been interesting too.  I can tell, even if you can't - the angle is different!   Learning to hold my big camera differently & using the left eye to compose the frame will take time.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll like the results better!

The Melt~

The Sun!  The Sun!  After the frozen sleet storm last night - the ice we had - had a new coating of ice.  But the Sun & blue skies brightened my mood substantially.  I texted Butch & told him to pick me up for lunch at the Gathering Place.  Time to see some friendly faces!  Kay's wonderful Chicken & Rice soup hit the spot!  Everyone is missing Linus - who's in Africa on a Missionary trip!

Cardinal~

As Butch dropped me off, I couldn't help but see the bright little burst of red in the tree across the street!  I went in for the zoom & Mr. Cardinal was still there!   I'm so excited to be able to capture photos of some of the beautiful birds here!  We're putting up a feeder soon & looking for the most squirrel proof model we can find.

Toward Tinkle Branch~

It's surprising how the sun will start things melting, even when the temperatures are hovering just above freezing.  Now, those temperatures feel warm - so I know I've acclimatized :-)

Melting snow & frozen sleet~

I have to admit that the freezing sleet fascinates me.  The other evening we had what the weather forecaster called "Thunder Sleet", with lightening.  Mid-west weather is in a class of it's own :-) 

The Timber~

As the Cardinal flew away, it felt so good to be outside - that I took a walk.  Monday, I'd slipped & fallen just a step off our front porch.  A nice hard fall on my left shoulder & hip!  I gave thanks that nothing broke, so I'm now on full alert when it comes to ice so clear you hardly know its there...  It's less risky walking in the woods than it is on the sidewalks - since so many are still sheets of ice.

Creek Trail~

My new trails show up better with the snow covered ground than they do dry.  I won't be hauling wheelbarrow loads of ground cedar bark for these trails.  I learned that all that hauling only gave me a trail surface for a few years in WA, before they composted back to soil.

With another snow storm due tonight - I'm just hopeful that next weeks forecast for a day in the low 50's holds true.  Winter...  I'm ready to be done with you!