This morning, I heard the carolina wren singing and I opened the blinds to see him standing in front of the trailer. After Don and I watched him sing, both of us so happy that he’s back, we noticed that both of them were on site.
I grabbed my big girl camera to take some shots with my telephoto lens. I haven’t used it in so long that the battery quickly died – but I managed to get a couple of shots.
If you look closely, you’ll see he’s got some nest-making material hanging from his beak.
Peeking out from inside his reclaimed home.
We are over-the-moon that they are back again. Spring. Carolina wrens. A nest. Shoulders dropping. Happy.
I also got something special in the mail yesterday. It was a great deal on eBay. As you know, my egg cup collection is pretty big and the figurals that I love so much are harder to find these days. So I rarely buy a new cup and when I do it’s usually a more traditional egg cup. Once in a blue moon, I look at the listings on eBay. I did just that a week or two ago and I saw a lovely little Spode egg cup.
The pattern is Chelsea Bird.
I was taken by the design of the cup; that flower and the wonderful combination of spring green and a deep, rusty red. That’s a pheasant on the inside, which I’ve since discovered is the predominant feature of that Spode pattern.
But my delight quadrupled when I saw that there were two dragonflies and a bug on the inside the cup.
I think that’s a dragonfly…
Beetle? Something else?
And the other side of the exterior:
It’s quite detailed and tiny. Those special touches on the interior make it a treasure.
It was only $12.00 – a steal. Spode made this pattern from the late 1800s until 1927 or 1928. So we know it’s at least almost a hundred years old – probably older.
I really, really love it.
It’s sunny right now, but it will be chillier today. And then we have rain starting tomorrow.
I’m so glad that spring has sprung.
Stay safe.
Happy Tuesday.
Yay! Your wrens are back.
We have several birdhouses waiting for tenants. It looks like the chickadees have claimed one. I am waiting for the bluebirds. I haven’t seen them yet. I recently saw a picture of a hummingbird house and I think I really need a couple. We put feeders for them in the front and back yards and they get alot of action every year.
I don’t think I mentioned that my 12 y/o granddaughter (who had meningitis) was in a play at school. The theater bug has bit her I think. She loved doing it. We saw it last Friday. She did so well…knew her lines and spoke up clearly. Some of the kids were hard to understand. She has recovered very well and is going to run track too.
I love that egg cup! The dragonflies, the little bug, and the colors! I think it was meant for you.
I hope you and Don are feeling better.
Take care
I’m so happy to hear this news concerning your granddaughter. I understand catching that theater bug! I caught it in fifth grade and I never turned back.
Stay safe, Marilyn.
That egg cup is a stunner — what a great deal and so beautiful and unique. What a great find.
And I’m thrilled the Wrens are back at your place. I’m hoping mine return. They built their nest last year, but I don’t think used it after. In any event, it’s always good to see them back!
I hope your back is much improved!
It’s slowly getting there, thank you, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
I’m so happy your wrens are back! Watching the birds at my feeder makes me so happy, I truly understand. Love the new egg cup. I haven’t added one to my collection in ages, but this one is very special and I’m glad you found it. Spring is in the air! Hugs!
I love watching the birds fly back and forth to the nest. Heaven!
Stay safe Linda.
Egg cup is a great find!
Photography By Claudia is WONDERFUL today!
Forgot to say that our blue jay is back. He’s never forgiven me that he no longer has dry cat food to pick out of the cat’s outside feed dish (the elderly mostly-feral cat has no teeth and can only now nosh on wet food); also that I quit putting out seed for all the birds (was making a mess in the dog area of the rear yard, and the doves just pushed out all the little birds; I once counted 50 doves on the telephone wire, so the little ones didn’t have a chance at the seed-feed dish) and that I don’t give him (the jay) bits of day-old bread like Mom always did (attracts rodents and other unwanted wildlife in the yard); however, Mr. Jay keeps returning. I definitely can recognize him from any other jays; I’ve seen him for such a long, long time. He’s a really large male jay with the vibrant blue and demandingly chatty/hollering at me in the yard; just full of himself. I know it sounds uncanny or unlikely, but this bird could easily be 14 years old, twice the age he’s supposed to be if you read the stats on jays in the wild. My husband will say, “How do you know it’s the same jay?” Well, I just do!
We are so frick’in hot today; I had to bring the dog inside about a half hour ago; he’s got that Aussie Shep double coat and even in the shade I feel it’s too warm for him out there (we give him a few hours in the yard during the day; he likes the change of sun and shade; watches and listens and relaxes; before landing in the rescue facility, he was obviously an outside/outdoor dog, so the transition to being indoors more than not has been difficult for him, although we’re making great strides and I’m getting attached to him even though he still tries to challenge us in the wrong ways; this is yet a long road ahead with him and I really didn’t want to work this hard at this age in trying to re-home/rehab a rescue/shelterdog; sigh [I keep saying there’ll be reward in the ‘work’]; as foster parents, we did get the ‘OK’ from the shelter/rescue group to be able to take the dog out of town in the car, specifically the beach as long as we keep him leashed of course, so I am drooling at the prospect of no longer being stuck at home-landlocked as I need the ocean for my wellbeing; soonest; please).
But, yeah, I’m over this ‘weather’, and the heat and Santa Ana wind condition will last until SUNDAY; rats. 95 degrees at 2pm; yuck. March was just about our last chance for any rain; rats again. I noticed that ‘my’ vacant lot up in the hillside neighborhoods (one of the fewest of places which remain in the town, to where you can look at the view and try to see the ocean 15 miles away on a clear day; all the other lots have houses on them now, the view just for them and no one else) has beautiful blue/purple wild lupine already going to seed; faded so fast/too fast, ‘way too early for this; but, again, no rain since December in my part of SoCalif and then too much heat/dry (all my normal ‘earmarks’ for spring can’t be counted on anymore; seems to be climate change and no going back to once was; everybody talks about it; like, with these winds, they’re year ’round now and unpleasant; we’ve had so much wind in 2022 already that it’s unreal; I’ve actually noticed more than a few trees, including my own, which seem now to be permanently in a ‘bent’ shape from being bowed by constant wind, east to west).
I hope your rain at the cottage is lovely and beneficial for spring growth!
We have lots of wind here. That’s why our shed roof had to be replaced. The winds eventually tore off the shingles. It seems to be getting worse.
Stay safe, Vicki.
Thank you! iPhone camera for the egg cup, big girl camera for the birdy.
Stay safe, Vicki.
What an adorable & charming egg cup!
So glad the Wren’s have returned and taken-up residency this Spring at your cottage.
Ahhhh… yes indeed… listening to the song of the Carolina Wren and watching them prepare for another season of new life is relaxing and brings a bit a peace in these uncertain times.
Thank you for sharing these calming & peaceful moments, as well as bringing a little bit of light and hope to us all.
Stay safe & well.
You’re most welcome, Amy. Thank you for your kind words.
Stay safe.
Your egg cup is so cool. Would love to see more photos of your collection.
Jillxo
There are photos all over the blog. I’ve done several egg cup tours. Just search in the sidebar.
Thanks, Jill.
Stay safe.
It does my heart good to see your wrens return.
I love the eggcup. I would have snatched it up, too. Even with the exchange rate!
Hope your back is feeling better.
I’m so happy to see them, Colleen.
Stay safe.