I only have about 4 or 5 peony buds this year and this one is about to open.
I’m getting ready to inhale.
I realized yesterday that the baby wrens have fledged. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t hear the song of the wrens, which had been the melody of my days. I kept watching the nest but there was no activity. I cannot tell you how sad I was. It was as if dear neighbors had up and moved in the middle of the night without giving me a chance to say goodbye.
It rained heavily all day Saturday and Sunday, and it was cold, so we didn’t hear any birdsong. But I do remember, on Friday, observing one of the wrens perched on top of one of the chairs on the funky patio, chirping repeatedly, head moving side to side. This happened at least twice during the day and I remember wondering what this behavior meant. Now that I look back on it, perhaps the chirping had to do with cheering on the about-to-fledge babies? Now, of course, I wish I’d paid more attention.
I miss them.
The robins are still feeding their babies. I imagine they’ll be fledging sometime this week.
A ladybug on milkweed.
I’m going to try to paint today. I was missing the birds yesterday and felt too sad to paint.
It’s a beautiful day out there, all the more appreciated after our torrential rains.
Stay safe.
Happy Tuesday.
I’m sorry about your wrens. I think mine chose another spot, for I’ve not seen her near the B&B for a few days. I miss the singing too. Love the ladybug photo. Enchanting!
They have such a lovely song!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Always sad when they move on. Hope painting will bring you joy.
Thank you, Linda.
Stay safe.
I bet that chirping was a call to the babies to fly. I am sad that we seem to have no bluebirds this year. Even the robin who seems insistent on building a nest on top of my front porch wreath is a no show so far.
We do have a scarlet tanager who has made several trips to our birdbath so far. Generally, we are lucky to have 1 sighting.
Less welcome here are the gypsy moth catapillars. This must be a bad year for them. I am noticing them on the side of our house and dropping onto our deck. Yuk! They creep me out. When it’s a bad year you can hear them munching on the oak leaves.
I feel like I need a shower just thinking about them.
Stay safe
I don’t know if we’ve ever had them…maybe?
Stay safe, Marilyn.
When I was seeing a grief therapist she described small griefs, which can exacerbate large griefs.
Feeling sad about your nephew, and his family, along with thinking of your brother and others who have gone before, and now the birds who gave you so much pleasure have gone away.
It’s all grief, and I’m so sorry.
I’m keeping you and Don, and your family, in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you, Jan. That makes sense.
Stay safe!
Yesterday, for the fourth time since I moved here March 10…I saw rain…gentle, mild…the grass is so dry…we are supposed to get some sprinkles in the next few days…hoping for some real rain…this is unusual…I have spent time in Florida, before moving here, almost every month…not usually so so dry. Hope you enjoy your painting. prayers
Yes, my sister was just telling us on Sunday how dry it is in that area of Florida.
Stay safe, Brenda.
We have no wrens this year for the first time since we moved here in 1988. And before that, my in-laws lived here, so it is even longer. I have not even heard one. Very strange, indeed. We have a nest of robins, cardinals & mourning doves in the yard. The song of the wrens is very much missed. That is how our nests of wrens ways fledged. They were there, & then overnight they disappear. I was always sad I didn’t get to say “bye”.
Still coughing & sneezing & feeling awful here. Ready for this to be over!! Hope you found some peace in your painting. Take care.
This is the first time we’ve had wrens, though I remember them trying to build a nest in one of my hanging plants.
I hope you feel better soon, Chris.
Stay safe.
sorry you feel sad, have to miss the wrens and didn’t get to see their fledgling flights. lovely as your landscapes and cloudscapes are, would it help to paint some bird images?
cool photo of the ladybug, by the way.
and, more importantly, i hope you feel better soon.
we could have used your rain! we received a teeny bit over the weekend and i am grateful for it, but could use more rain on a regular basis. there’s none in the near forecast, but hopefully that changes.
i met with another board member today. who knows what the new administrator will do when hired (the board hopes that will be by the end of july, with the new person starting by early august), but the board member today (like the one i met with three weeks ago) made it sound like my job is safe for at least a year. i pray that’s right!
hope you have a good night and stay safe.
kathy in iowa
I’ve thought of that but I don’t think I’m ready for wildlife painting just yet.
Potentially good news about your job, Kathy!
Stay safe.
Wrens usually have a 2cd brood so maybe the parents will be back shortly one more time.
Fingers crossed!
Stay safe, Erika.
Love the ladybug shot. She is the jewel at the center of a riot of green textures, from fuzzy to thickly veined, ruffled edges, bright light, and shadow—just lovely.
Thank you, Shanna!
Stay safe!