Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for bird nest

Paths, Flowers, Birds, Bees

May 23, 2017 at 9:28 am by Claudia

This is a bit of what I was doing on Sunday – mulching a path to that crabapple tree that I discovered behind the house. This area is just off the back of the house and some of the kitchen windows look out on it. It’s at the bottom of a hill (coming down from the back forty) and is often waterlogged after a rain. Slowly – and I mean slowly – I’m trying to do  something with it, so it’s not just grass and wildflowers and weeds, and poison ivy – which is everywhere around here. I cleared this path a month or so ago and now I’m adding the mulch. I ran out of it, so I’ll buy some more today.

At the wooded edge of the back forty, there is a wild honeysuckle that is pink. I meant to take a picture of it a week ago and forgot, but here is a hint of that pink color. It’s so pretty.

This climbing hydrangea climbs up the left side of the shed. I planted it years ago and was aware that it might take years for blossoms to appear. Indeed, it took about 6 years. Then I started to see one or two each year. This year, there are more than I’ve ever seen, which makes me happy.

There’s more to this story. Right behind that hydrangea, robins have built a nest, I believe it’s sitting on the window sill/window box. Every time I walk near the hydrangea, which I must do if I take the trash out or go into the shed for any reason, i.e., retrieving the lawn mower, a robin barrels out from behind the hydrangea, screeching at me all the while and then proceeds to fly into the trees with a steady chirp chirp chirp of warning that doesn’t stop until I move away.

It’s becoming a bit tiresome. There is also a bumblebee that has some sort of nest there as well, and he dive-bombs me when I get too close. Between the two of them, I’m under attack! My apologies to my sweet honeybees who I originally thought were the source of the buzzing in my ear. It wasn’t you. I should have know better.

I took that photo very quickly as the robin was not happy with me and I had to get out of there.

After taking so long that I thought maybe it was no more, the clematis is steadily climbing the trellis. Can’t wait to see those gorgeous purple flowers!

And every day, I eagerly visit the poppies to see if they’ve bloomed. I haven’t checked yet today, but rest assured, you’ll be the first to know – either here or on Instagram.

I’m determined to find a hollyhock to plant and I have to buy more mulch, run to the bank, and stop at the grocery store. And do more work outside.

A busy day ahead.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: bees, bird nest, birds, flowers, garden 30 Comments

A Discovery in the Boxwood

April 30, 2017 at 9:53 am by Claudia

On Friday, I was doing something or other near one of the boxwoods and I heard a frantic flapping of wings. I thought that there must have been a bird on the bush, startled by my sudden presence.

Yesterday, I was weeding and, at one point, ended up in the same area. Again, the frantic movement of a bird. Curious, I walked over to the boxwood, looked down, and saw this:

I gasped. Luckily, I had my iPhone in my back pocket, so I quickly took some pictures.

If that isn’t one of the most beautiful sights one can see, I don’t know what is. A miracle, tucked down inside a boxwood.

I was filled with wonder at this beauty, this perfectly made nest with five blue eggs.

After I tended to some other things, I carefully and quietly walked toward the boxwood (but stayed far away enough that I figured all would be well) and again, Mama flew off. Since I had been planning to mow the front yard, I decided I should get on it right away, starting with the area of grass right in front of the boxwoods that are at the front of the house. I had scared Mama enough and I wanted to mow while she was still watching from the neighboring maple tree so that she could relax for the rest of the day.

Since this is right in front of the porch, I will have to be very careful. Later in the day, I was sitting on the glider, not making a sound, when Mama started screeching at me. Oh boy. I got the message and went inside.

I don’t want to get too involved with watching the eggs hatch. I did that years ago while working on a job in Wisconsin (the nest was right outside my door) and I was stressed the whole time. I worry too much.

I also put together one of the Adirondack chairs.

It took me a long time and it wasn’t easy. It’s really a two person job, and since there’s just me, myself, and I, many curse words were uttered. Interestingly this didn’t seem to bother the nesting robin (I put it together on the porch). By the time I finished, my hands were sore! Still are.

I imagine the second one will be less problematic.

I’m thinking I’ll paint them as the natural wood is very light in color and I don’t really want to go the stain route.

And I’m thinking that this color (used on the mini adirondacks in Don’s studio) would be perfect. (Note that there just happen to be mini boxwoods in this photo.)

I asked Don whether we should go with white or this green and he enthusiastically went for the green. There you go.

A splash of color in the midst of all the weathered teak will be perfect.

Today, a trip to the store for some supplies. Tomorrow, I’ll buy mulch and potting soil and I’ll soak my morning glory seeds and get ready to plant them this week.

Happy Sunday.

 

Filed Under: bird nest, birds, porch 42 Comments

Nests

March 9, 2014 at 9:53 am by Claudia

nest1

A bird nest is a work of art, don’t you think?

When I find one on the ground, it is immediately scooped up and brought into our house. A house within a house. This one is rather small, just big enough to fit on top of one of my favorite egg cups.

How do they do it, this weaving of twigs and other bits? How do they fashion it into the perfect little place to lay their eggs? Such a wonder.

robinsegg

Inside is a robin’s egg I found on the ground.

Soon they will be building their nests once again. Though, when I look outside and see well over two feet of snow still on the ground, that seems a long way off.

I’ve heard our mourning doves the last few days. I hadn’t heard them all winter, so I take that as a sign. I love the sound of a mourning dove. It’s truly one of my favorite bird calls, haunting and beautiful.

The sun is out today and for that I am thankful. My mom is holding her own. She had a fever on Friday, but by Saturday it had gone down. She sleeps a lot, but sits up to eat and when she does that she seems fairly alert, though she doesn’t speak. I talk to one of the nurses every day. They are still waiting for blood culture work to come back and some more tests will be run today. In the meantime, my dad got a letter from the nursing home saying they would only hold her bed for eight days. Really? So now we have to deal with that on Monday.

My poor dad just gets overwhelmed by this stuff. Heck, I get overwhelmed by it. Mom was lethargic and out of it all last weekend; thinking she might have a UTI, we had to alert the staff and ask for a test on Monday, by Tuesday afternoon, her condition was ‘deteriorating,’ though no one informed us of that fact, and not until Tuesday night was she sent to the hospital. No one on staff picked up on it until we brought it to their attention. So she has to magically recover in eight days? I think not. Though apparently this is standard practice, part and parcel of Medicaid, regulations, etc.

Don’t get me started.

Deep breath. It can’t be dealt with until tomorrow. I’m going to ask the nurse today if there are discharge plans in place.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: bird nest, birds, egg cups, mom 53 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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