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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