Something's Coming.....

Stay tuned for new Halloween creations.....Coming Soon!

Feathering the Nest

Back in the Spring, just after I'd planted the herb garden, peppers and tomatoes, I watched as two Eastern Blue Birds embarked on a search for the perfect nest. Unfortunately, the "perfect" spot for them was not the perfect spot as far as I was concerned. Of all the real estate available to them, the only thing that would do was my topsy turvy tomato planter. As I watched from my window they poked around in the hole at the top of planter and undoubtedly discussed the best options for their impending arrivals - anywhere from 3 to 7 eggs. Would there be enough room? Is it safe?

And while I knew I could not allow them to build their nest in my planter, lest my roma tomatoes be lost, or worse, the rain poured in on the poor little eggs until they floated right to the top, the irony of the situation was not lost on me. At the time I was about 4 months into my own pregnancy and I knew the importance of the perfect nest. In fact, I was anxious to begin feathering my own.

But, in what I thought was in the best interest of the birds, I decided to deter them from building their nest in my tomato planter with one of my child's fake snakes. I placed the snake in the top of the planter letting him stick out enough for the birds to see. I reasoned this would scare them away and they'd find a new, even better, location. Really, I should know better than to question an animal's intelligence.



Not only were they NOT afraid but they were completely undeterred. Mr. Bird repeatedly pecked at the "snake" until he'd moved him out of the hole and immediately hopped back in. Not satisfied, Mr. Bird would occasionally hop back out of the hole and begin to peck at the snake some more. Eventually, the snake dropped to the ground in total defeat and Mr. Bird was happy.



Mrs. Bird was always nearby looking on in approval and occasionally hopping down to take a closer look. She too was completely unafraid. Somehow I imagine these two birds had a conversation about MY intelligence....or lack thereof.

'Did she really think we wouldn't know it was rubber??'




We played this game for months. Me picking the snake back up and placing it in the hole only to find it laying on the ground the next time I looked. Finally, in a last ditch effort to save my tomatoes, and these birds from themselves, I placed a cup in the hole so they could not get in. Because our little game had taken up so much time, they hadn't had a chance to begin building their nest and once I placed that cup in the hole I didn't see my little friends anymore and that made me sad. I missed seeing them each day and I wondered where they'd gone and if their new place made them as happy. One day a storm came and blew the cup out of the planter hole. I didn't realize it until the next day when I discovered the happy couple was back trying to build their little nest in my tomatoes again. It broke my heart. I could not imagine how they'd managed to hold off for months and wait for that perfect place to be available again but I certainly understood why it was so important. (And yes I'm certain it was the same two birds. Don't ask me how I know, I just do!)

I immediately called my husband and told him he had to go by the store and pick up a birdhouse on the way home. As soon as he got home we switched the planter to a new location and put the new little home in its place. I anxiously waited to see if they'd like their new option. I didn't have to wait long. That day, and every day since, I see these two feathering their nest. Lately it's just Mr. Bird I see. Flying back and forth with groceries for the Mrs. I know that some day soon we'll be rewarded with the sight of new baby birds. And while the search for the perfect nest may not have gone the way they had planned, I know that they are happy.



It has been amazing to watch this little scenario play out in my backyard while something very similar was going on inside. Just last week we learned that our new arrival would be coming much sooner than expected (Sept 20th). The same complication, low amniotic fluid, that I endured during my first pregnancy, was inexplicably happening again and once it's too low the baby will need to be born. I had already been in nesting mode and now I was in overdrive, in a near panic that things would not be perfect in time for his arrival. And one of the first things I thought of were those two birds who patiently waited for the right time, for the perfect nest. And so I began to feather the perfect nest for baby Paxton.

Dear Paxton,

Inside we've painted you the perfect chest of drawers. A treasure we found that someone else was throwing away. Something we'd looked and looked for and then one day it was just there. Perfect.



Daddy built you a bookshelf, just like big brother's. And big brother has shared some of his books with you. Perfect.



All of your clothes are washed and waiting for you to wear. There's a spot for everything. Perfect.



Mommy insisted on getting you an organic mattress and when it was on order and hadn't come when we thought you were going to, Mommy panicked, just a little. It came the next day. Perfect.



These are treasures from family that you'll never get to meet: a great aunt, a great-great aunt and your grandma, but they'll be here to love you just the same.



And when Mommy went back to the doctor and found out you got to stay in a little while longer she found comfort in knowing she could complete some last minute "feathering". Perfect.



And tonight, as Mommy sits here knowing that tomorrow might the last day you'll be in the one nest that truly is perfect, the one that God made, she rejoices in knowing that while the search for the perfect nest didn't go exactly according to plan, she knows you'll be happy. And that's what makes it truly perfect.




** A note about Eastern Blue Birds:
This shy, unobtrusive visitor has become a rare sight in most gardens around the country. Bright blue outer feathers will catch your eye and then your will notice a red breast. Take a long look at this Blue Bird because you may not see another during the entire season. Go figure!

Aunt Tee in My Garden

It was just three years ago when my mom passed away unexpectedly. I was 30 and losing my mom made me feel like I was 12. I felt too young to possibly go on without her. Just before my mom passed, my aunt, her sister, finally succumbed to her 3rd battle with cancer. She was both physically and mentally handicapped and chose, when she found out she had cancer for the 3rd time, not to treat it. I always worried she didn't fully understand the decision she was making but I knew she was tired of fighting. She'd been fighting since was 13. She was 49 when she died.

My mom took this loss hard. Her little sister had been more like her little baby doll and she had always taken care of her. Just 7 months later, my mom was gone.

Shortly after my mom passed away, my Great Aunt Tee was diagnosed with Leukemia. I've often wondered whether she was "diagnosed" then or whether she just couldn't hide it anymore. She and my Great Uncle Corny had been like my mother's second set of parents and very much like my second set of grandparents. Losing my mom was hard on the both of them. My Aunt Tee was spunky, even in her 80's. I remember going to K-Mart with her as a child and barely being able to keep up with her. She always walked so fast and could do most anything. She might've weighed 100 lbs.

Aunt Tee and Uncle Corny never had children. I have never known why and truly, until recently, I've never even wondered why. We were all their children and they took care of us as though we'd been their own. The had 50 acres in the country in Southeast Georgia. And I figure the term green thumb must've been coined after my Aunt Tee. I believe, as did everyone who knew her, she could grow plants in the air. My Uncle Corny used to tell her, "Tee, Plants don't grow in the air!". Referring to her constantly planting new ones or moving the ones she already had to another spot. But I think he might've been wrong. I truly believe plants can grow in the air. At least for her.

Just four months after losing my mom, my Great Uncle Corny was gone. He'd had heart troubles for years and one night he passed peacefully in his sleep. I knew my Aunt Tee wouldn't be long for this world after that. They'd been married about 65 years. They really only knew life with each other. Just 3 months after losing Uncle Corny and just 7 months after losing my mom, my Aunt Tee was gone. Passing on her sister's (my grandma's) 87th birthday and buried on my 31st. That was a tough year for me.

Just after my Great Uncle Corny and Great Aunt Tee were gone the family went in to claim precious possessions of their own as we prepared to sell "The Farm". Those luscious 50 acres with ponds, a vineyard and more trees, flowers, rose bushes and fruit than you could imagine. I got a kitchen table. The one we'd eaten Thanksgiving dinners at for more years than I can remember. But the most wonderful things I got were comprised of roots and dirt. My 4 year old and I spent an entire day digging up everything we could. I couldn't bare to leave any of it behind but I couldn't have possibly taken it all. No human could've. There was just too much of it. But I dug up daffodils, daylilies, gladiolas, irises, amaryllis, rose bushes, pecan trees, dogwoods, camellia bushes and a few other things I don't even know the name of. I lost the pecan trees and the camellia bushes, too. I can't keep camellia bushes alive fresh from the store much less in the air.

This was April of the following year. Maybe the worst time for transplanting some of that stuff, maybe the best. I don't really know. The truth is, at the time, I didn't really know anything about plants and flowers. I kept them out of the ground for too long, I probably didn't transplant them when I should have and I let them sit right where they were until they had grown leaves and began to bud again toward the end of spring. When the bulbs finally did get planted, we probably didn't plant them deep enough. Back then I didn't even know that could be an issue. I thought you just had to put them in the dirt. (See my original post from 2008: My Inheritance)

Now, two years later, I have more daffodils, gladiolas and amaryllis than I can count. The irises and daylilies need separating. And I hate to say it, Uncle Corny, but I think a few of them will have to be moved somewhere else by next year! The rose bushes have never been lovelier and the dogwood is about to bloom. And even though I've had to replace the camellias with 3 news ones (and only one of those finicky gals didn't make it) and we've put in new pecan trees this year, all of whom appear to be fine, my yard reminds me of "The Farm". It isn't quite 50 acres of lusciousness just yet, but it's a start!

And while you might think that all of this is evidence than I can, like my Great Aunt Tee, grow plants in the air. I assure you it isn't me. It's Aunt Tee in my garden.

IT'S A.....

Snakes, snails and puppy dog tails. These are the things little boys are made of. That, and a whole lotta cuteness...

I was excited, and not at all surprised, to find out that we are expecting our second boy in September. My own Boys Club with me smack dab in the middle. I love my boys!

Isn't it amazing the little baby you see in the picture is only about 4" long and has only been in my tummy for 3 short months! Truly a little miracle. I am anxious to know what he will look like. We knew from a profile pic of our first, when he was a little further along, that he was going to look like me. Same long forehead, nose and pouty lips. I was NOT prepared for my child, who has a Korean grandmother, to have blond hair, blue eyes and light skin like me, however. I wonder if this little boy will look more like daddy. Chiseled nose, jawline, dark skin and black hair? Daddy says if this one doesn't look like him, he gives up! LOL