Pink *Bloomers* and Feathering My Nest

Greetings and Holykisses,

Happy May day!
Oh for the memories of filling baskets with candy or flowers and leaving them on doorsteps.
I may have to have a little *fun* today... for old times sake! ;)

Another soggy day here. O to be a cheerful puddle-duck! They are gleefully happy! I can honestly say, I now know the sounds of happy quacking! Tis true!

The pink peonies are in full bloom! I'm hoping they dry out a little so I can bring a big bouquet inside and stick them in an antique blue fruit jar.

The blooms are so big and healthy this year!
Our irises are still blooming, the Sweet William is in full bloom as well as the snowball bush from Merry Bema!

Seeds are popping up now that I'd planted and I'm noticing many from last years flowers have self seeded. Lots of Angel Trumpets are sprouting everywhere, zinnias, and even the pumpkin I "laid to rest" in the garden after Autumn, is self seeding. ~It's always so exciting to witness new growth!
If you get a chance, look for this book in your public library, or maybe Ebay would have it. I found it a few years ago at the thrift shop and it is positively charming! I've been seeing alot of snakes this week. I think I have snake on the brain. And in this story.....
Mrs. Crow has a problem with this big, snake eating all her eggs she'd lay in her nest. She becomes completely disheartened. She wanted her husband Mr. Crow to go after the snake but of course he didn't think that was a good idea at all. (abit of a coward) He's a cantankerous olde crow and my heart toadily goes out to Mrs. Crow. ;) He does finally go to Mr. Owl who "thinks" up a good solution to their problem. They "make" a couple eggs that are hard as rocks, and paint them to look like Mrs. Crows eggs. They put them in her nest, and the snake comes to get his daily breakfast and is delighted to find two eggs. After eating them he gets a horrible belly ache and begins to writhe in pain. He accidentally ties himself in a knot in the tree branches and dies. (yay*.. forgive me but I toadily love dead snake stories) Then Mrs. Crow "uses" him for a clothesline to hang diapers for her baby crows. The pictures are adorable. If you're a Mum or Grand Mum... or a goofball like me and happen to just love a cute story... check it out!


Guess this is why I'm thinking of Mrs. Crows nest. I finally made one. Can you tell which one is human made and which one is real? Pretty sure you can! Mine's the one on the right with the PUDDLE-duck feather sticking out of it. Had to share a picture of it so Barb could see I really got one done! (Barb makes incredible nests and sells them! Check it out!)

My nest is probably a little too big; I figured out my materials were alot bigger than most. On the other hand, I've been searching and I've found 7 nest in our yard! The Red Tip Photinia bushes have several, as well as the red honeysuckle! The ones in the honeysuckle are actually pretty close in size to the one I made! I'm wondering if they aren't mocking bird nests? Whatever they are, I can't "see" into their nests? I could not find their entrance? Not wanting to disturb them tho, I didn't get too close.

I used goldenrod (forsythia) branches, and honeysuckle to make "my" nest. But the next one, I'll search for lighter grasses. The real nest on the left I found last year, hanging out of our goldenrod bush with eggs on the ground. I put them back but whatever messed it all up must have scared off the Momma bird. Other eggs were broken. The 1 egg in the nest I made is one I found near our martin house on the ground. The backside is all broken out but you can't tell it inside the nest. ~Anyways it was alot of fun! I'm appreciating and on the lookout for more nests now.

You know the indigo bunting visitor we had? Well, we now have more!!! They're so blue I cannot believe it. I've set out two more feeders. The birds are so thick at the garden; I'm appreciating them more than ever. I hope they start getting more used to me because they fly away when I'm anywhere near and then talk and sing up a storm in the trees and power line above.

We put a green tin roof on our porch last year, and never put the end pieces on it. Birds have stopped up both corners now and are nesting in there as well. ~Home Sweet Home!~

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life; what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of thee air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Matthew 6: 25-30