WHERE FOR ART THOU WITH RANDOM RED, WHITE AND BLUE...

How many of you 

have experienced your children

leaving the nest and then

 to only have them 

return once again?

I think this has happened

 to most of us at one time or another.

 We are usually sad 

to see them go,

 but then we adjust to

having them gone,

 getting used to and enjoying, 

I might add, 

the free time 

that it affords us.

But,

 when they do happen to return,

 we still recognize them, 

right? 

 Oh, 

maybe their hair will be a little different,

 or their attitudes may have changed, 

but we would always know 

our own kids, 

right?

  Or, would we?

If our kids were,

 let's say, 

birds!

Would we recognize them 

as being the ones

 that were here before 

or could they be a foreigner 

that is trying to

 invade our midst?

Because, 

you see, 

the other afternoon,

 as we were involved in our 

usual porch sitting,

 we heard what seemed like

 a familiar sound 

in the tree above

 the Secret Garden...

...even Kai 

couldn't believe his own ears! 

 It was the most beautiful tone 

which made me inquire of the Captain, 

"Doesn't that sound like 

the little house wren that was here before?" 

 He shrugged and answered,

 "Oh, I wish it was."  

And, 

lo and behold, 

this tiny vision 

appeared right before our eyes, 

as it made its way back 

to the little pink bird house

 just outside

 the Secret Garden.

It flew in and out of the house 

with bits of something in its beak,

 just like it had never left.

 After about three such trips,

 which we watched with open mouths, 

another tiny one joined in

 and they both continued this journey 

for the rest of the day.

 This has gone on now 

since last week 

and since there already was 

quite a nest built in there

 from the last time, 

I don't know how they,

 and all of their belongings, 

can fit comfortably.

You will remember 

that we thought 

they had left one egg, 

but the Captain poked in the nest 

when we were sure that they were gone

 and found that it was

 just part of a shell,

 which is still in there

 as far as we know.

Now,

 back to recognizing your own children.

  How do you tell 

one bird from another?  

Since not being a bird expert, 

it is hard for me to know 

the answer to that question. 

 All I do know is 

that it has been just about one month

 since the past occupants

 had flown the nest 

and these have come back

 just like they were

 never gone...

...just picked up 

building the nest 

where they left off and now,

 I notice, 

that she has had 

a feather in her beak 

when she returns.

  That,

 as I understand it,

 is her job 

in the process of 

building a family.

  

The only thing different, 

that I have seen,

 is that when they both return to the nest

at the same time, 

he (I am assuming)

 will stay home for a little while, 

then he will pop out 

to the nearby fence 

and sit and sing 

for awhile 

until she comes out.

 It is for this reason 

that we have named them

 Romeo and Juliet.

Like I say,

 all wrens look alike, 

and just because

 they are acting a little differently,

 that doesn't mean 

they are not the two 

that came before.

 Maybe he moved her out

 against her wishes, 

then after finding that

 the grass isn't always greener 

on the other side, 

he brought her back 

and she has made him promise

 that he will never

take her for granted again.

  Who knows 

what goes on in a

 little wren family...

"Find though she be but little

She is fierce."

William Shakespeare

We have had a pair of chairs 

that we picked up at a garage sale 

when we first moved to the Cottage.

 They are probably from the 40's 

and were painted yellow, green and black. 

 We have now transformed them 

to take a permanent place of honor 

in the Secret Garden. 

 One is in place 

while the Captain will continue

to work on

this one.

I will leave you now 

with a video view of 

the Secret Garden 

that has been set

 to the song of Little Romeo 

sharing his heart 

with his Juliet.

  Open to full screen and turn up the volume to get the full effects:

I apologize 

for the background noises in the video

 and the photo-bombing feet. 

 But, 

it is Tuesday morning

 business as usual.

Because of the problems 

we are having with Blogger, 

I will now be leaving my notes to you 

after each of your comments. 

 I know there isn't always time

 to return to my blog 

but just know that I will always 

leave you a thank you 

for your time spent with me

 which I appreciate so much.

  They will be there 

for you to read when 

you have a chance.

...Judy...

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