I’m still having problems sleeping, but I can usually take a nap during the day, which helps. And I’m trying to take some time away from the news, though it’s a challenge. We are headed into three days of excessive heat – heat indexes of over 100°. You know I love spring and summer and the gardens are looking extremely beautiful right now, but...I am ready for fall.

Really ready. But we’re not even in August yet!

Don just told me the raccoons got in our trash again – they got in the trash a couple of weeks ago, too.

Mama Catbird is currently standing on a branch right near the nest. I’m sure she heard us talking and is on guard duty. I’m usually pretty quiet when I have to go out on the porch. I’ve seen beaks and even a bit of a body, but those are fleeting glimpses that I get while peering through the leaves of the hydrangea. They chose a great spot for their nest.

We checked in with our neighbors about their son who is in the hospital after a motorcycle accident. Fred says he’s improving. They keep the details about his injuries private except to say it will be a ‘long haul.’ They know we are here if they need anything. So that’s all we can do.

I’m trying to finish a book which is now overdue, and I always return my books on time – except this time. There’s somebody on the list waiting for it and I know I’m being rude, but I’m usually a very respectful borrower, so just this once, I’m going to be a wee bit selfish. Reading it will be my assignment for the day, as well as washing the bedding and watering all the plants.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

I had my big girl camera out yesterday because I was trying to get photos of Mama Catbird, who is truly a mama now because there are babies! Sometime in the past couple of days, the babies emerged. I peered through the leaves of the hydrangea and noticed Mama was standing on the edge of the nest a lot – leaning over and looking down. At one point I saw part of a little beak pop up. That’s when I knew.

The nesting site is smack dab in the middle of the bush, which makes seeing any details almost impossible. Good choice, mom and dad. It is extremely hot here, both yesterday and today, and I worry about them. We have thunderstorms in the forecast and I hope they stay safe. Do mama birds automatically sit on the nest during a storm to protect the baby? Do they shield them from excessive heat? Because we’re hitting 95° today. Just checked: Google says they do. The often stand on the nest and spread their wings to provide shade. And if it rains heavily, they sit on the nest protecting the babies. I remember the single parent robin who had a nest just outside our kitchen window doing exactly that and there was very little leaf shelter on that branch.

You can see Mama perching on the nest looking down on the babies. No baby chirps yet.

There she is with her beak open. I’ve noticed that birds do that a lot when it’s extremely hot.

I peered through the bush one too many times and got a warning from one of the parents, so I retreated inside.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

More bees and coneflowers. Lately, I’ve seen a hummingbirds among the zinnias, a monarch flitting around the wildflowers, and bunnies dining on the clover and grass.

Yesterday was the best, though. It was very hot and humid and Don had a gig. I had already done all my watering and I was walking into the living room from the den, As I walked by the front door, I saw our groundhog stretched out on the welcome mats that are by the stairs that lead up to the door. I startled him, which I regret, and I didn’t have my phone with me, darn it. I was very frustrated by my reaction. It would have been so great to capture that moment. This guy is mischievous, eating the zinnias, trying to dig in one of the front garden beds, hanging out on the porch. He reminds me of one of the babies from a few years back, always getting into trouble, but adorably so.

Mama is patiently sitting on the nest. Yesterday, I was on the porch taking a picture and I guess I overstayed my welcome because Papa started his warning call. I quickly finished and told him I was leaving.

Today is cooler and the humidity has gone, so I’m going to do some chores outside.

This is one of the pictures I took right before Papa Catbird shooed me away.

Ruby playing Princess.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.