Category Archives: nature

Update on Those Babies

How long does it take for little Eastern Pheobes to fledge?  I have no idea, but I’d assume a month?  More?  So, imagine my shock when I crept near the nest this morning to check on them (cozied up and way too big for their home) and ALL FIVE flew off in a frenzy around my face!  The last one out was pretty shaky.  I cannot believe I gave them the push out of that nest.  Flanneryis going to be mad. at. me.  Because I didn’t have my camera.

five's-a-crowd

Here they are 2 days ago. Yes, look at them. I shouldn't have been surprised.

Memorable Dinner

We love our summer nights on the porch.  This Memorial Day we brought out the paper lanterns and enjoyed perfectly grilled steak with all the fixins. We had a very nice evening. Flannery did NOT.

She and Mr. Flannery had put up with me showing them off, shooting pictures. I showed their babies to my kids.  They seemed fine with it all.  But I’d crossed the line with this racket. To say nothing of the smoke. So (and I’m still mad at her for this) she abandoned her babies!  She never came back that night for them! It was my fault for assuming she’d be ok with us. But she left her little hungry babies!? What is wrong with her?! I felt terrible.

Happily, in the early hours of the morning, I finally saw them flitting around the dogwood again.  They were back to feeding the tiny, gaping beaks.  I didn’t speak to her for at least a day — other than to tell her coldly that I was sorry about the dinner party.

We’re friends again and I don’t think I’ll light up the porch again until the babies fledge!

warm-table

grill-master

root-beer-cheers

Flannery

This is my new neighbor, Flannery.  She’s an Eastern Phoebe, according to some guy on Flickr, and has built her little nest above the light on my porch.  I’ve never loved a bird so much!

flannery

These are her hungry babies.

beak

A Breath of Fresh Air

sky

Spring Evening in Town

Timing is everything.  I never seem to catch this beautiful street at the right time when the blossoms are bursting.  This year, I finally caught it in full Spring glory.  Evening glory anyway, which has it’s own appeal!

blossoms

window