After I wrote Saturday’s post, we went grocery shopping. When we came back, I checked on the baby birds.

They had fledged.

I never expected to see them fledge, of course. But after we got home, I watched one of the parents flying around carrying food, clearly searching for the birds. Calling, chirping, flying from the porch railing to a branch on one of the maples, looking in all directions. That eventually stopped, so the birdies had been found. Later in the day, I peered into the bush and both babies were perched on branches above the nest. One of the parents was there and somewhat angrily shooed me away. Message received.

Since then, nothing. They’re around, I’m sure, because the parents have to feed them and teach them to how to be independent, but I haven’t seen them in the vicinity of the porch.

I miss them. As Don said to me, “You have literal empty nest syndrome.”

But weren’t we lucky to have a ringside seat to this little miracle?

An eastern swallowtail that’s been hanging around here for a couple of days. They’re so beautiful.

Part of the big garden bed, now filled with coneflowers, phlox, and milkweed. There is more phlox this year than ever. It’s rather wild looking, partly because the dangerously hot weather kept me from weeding, but also because it has evolved into an almost meadow-like country garden. Sometimes I run across a older photo of a more groomed version of this garden, but this suits me fine and as I age, it is probably the best solution.

The weather has been lovely. The humidity has disappeared and it’s nicely warm. What a relief!

Edited to add: BUT, we have an air quality alert because of the fires in Canada. So maybe I won’t be weed whacking today.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Yesterday’s weather was lovely. I did a lot of baby bird watching. At one point, I saw the two babies get up and change places in the nest. It was so sweet. Mom was nearby in the bush.

I managed to snag a good photo of them.

It’s amazing how quickly they’ve grown. I haven’t checked on them yet this morning. Are they still there? Have they fledged?

Later in the day, a hummingbird was dining on the zinnias. I didn’t have my camera with me at the time, but I so enjoyed watching her visit each and every bloom.

She came back later. This time I had the camera. She was dining on the rose of sharon blossoms.

Okay! I’m off to check on the babies.

Update: They fledged while we were away at the grocery store!

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

What a day it was yesterday! It rained a lot – all day long. At times, the rain was very heavy. I kept going out on the porch to check on the catbird babies. Let’s stop right here and give Mama a round of applause. She protected those babies. She was vigilant! And the rain went on through the night, as well. This morning, mom and dad are feeding the babies – I got a warning from one of them, short, sharp, and to the point – Get out of here!

The babies are really big now. I’m not sure how many there are but I can’t help but think they’ll fledge soon.

I’m hoping I can get out and do some garden cleanup.

I have some good news. Darko contacted me about two weeks ago concerning a play he began writing during lockdown. It’s an adaptation of an Agatha Christie story. It’s being done at a theater in Red Bank, NJ. He sent me the script, which I loved, and asked if I would coach the French and British dialects in the show. I’m just about to officially sign on – I’m just waiting for the contract. I’ll work on it during the first week of rehearsal and then I’ll be back for a run-through and notes and then again for a dress rehearsal and first preview. It starts rehearsal on August 20.

Bless Darko. As you know, I thought I was ‘retired’ and I didn’t want to be. We also need the income. What I earn is very modest – very – but it will help with the cost of heating oil and add a bit to our modest savings account. Who knows what the future holds after this show, but I love that it’s with Darko.

And no zoom sessions, thank goodness. I actually get to work with the actors in person. Very grateful.

For a brief moment yesterday, the sun emerged and hit these coneflowers.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.