Friday Foto Friends~Time for Bluebirds and More...

Ahhhh! Spring is in the air!  (and so is the pollen, but that's another subject!)  It's been a while since we've seen the Bluebirds in our yard...but here's Mr. Bluebird, checking out the birdhouse to see if it's clean and ready for the spring nesting time! 

Normally we may get two different couples come and take advantage of the free rent houses that we've provided for them. They may not come at the same time, but sometimes alternate, and oftentimes they will nest more than once each year.  Last year wasn't such a great year for them. They came and checked out the birdhouses and acted like they were building a nest, but then nothing ever happened and no new baby birds ever appeared.  I do hope this year will be better. It's been such a disappointment already because of the lack of water in the pond and no winter ducks or geese visiting us as usual. I'm not even sure yet if the Sand Hill Cranes have built a nest because I can't see their usual nesting spot from here without walking around the pond on our neighbor's property.  So I am just waiting to see if any new baby Colts (baby Sand Hill Cranes are called Colts) ever appear.  

Eastern Bluebird (Male)

So, anyway, back to the Bluebirds...this male bluebird spent some time checking out the birdhouse. The famale was nearby, and she did go inside a couple of times, but I wasn't able to get a picture of her.

Anybody in there?

Hello? Anyone home?

Nope, no one here...looks pretty clean and tidy!

I need to go call the Missus!

Now, where did she go, anyway???

I hope she shows up soon. I don't want to let anyone else get this house before we do!!

Well, after I shared all the pictures above, which were from a few days ago, just as I was sitting here writing this I looked out my window in my "Room With A View", and guess what? The Bluebirds were back, and this time I was able to get some pictures of the female as well:

Eastern Bluebird (Female)

Claiming their territory...the female bluebird is "pole-sitting", while her mate claims the house...

This American Robin flew in to say hello and probably good bye, as he will be heading back up north pretty soon...

American Robin

And the Carolina Chickadee was checking out the Bottlebrush bush to look for seeds or something...

Carolina Chickadee

But Mrs.Bluebird was staking her claim on the other birdhouse...  "Hey, Honey! Come over here and look a this house! It's pretty nice too, and it also has a nice view of the pond, even if it IS dry as a bone!"

Female Eastern Bluebird

Her mate wasn't far away...he's probably saying, "Well hurry up and make up your mind before someone else gets it!"

I'm not sure if this is the same couple as before...it's so hard to tell.  I just hope they will decide to take up residence in one or the other house and start building their nest!!

Meanwhile, this Pine Warbler flew in to get some bird seeds from the bird feeder...I don't think he's any threat to the Bluebirds...he's probably just passing through on his way to somewhere else.

Pine Warbler

Well, that's all the bird activity for now. 

The skies are starting to darken a bit...there's rain in the forecast for this afternoon, starting around 3:00, and supposedly lasting all night long! 

I just checked the weather app on my phone, and it says we are going to get 2 inches of rain today/tonight! Wow!! We haven't had that kind of rain in almost a year! I sure hope they are right, because we sure do need it! I will let you know what happens!

Also, I want to thank everyone who left such kind and thoughtful comments on my last post HERE, on our son Matthew's "heavenly birthday".  Those birthdays and anniversaries of other significant days are always kind of difficult to get through, but having friends come alongside and share in our grief  truly helps. It also helps me to have this place where I can talk about our son freely and remember him for the wonderful person he was. I just wish you all could've known him personally. He was a very special young man...like I said before, he lived up to his name Matthew, "Gift of God".  

The Secret/Memorial Garden today

Carolina Jessamine is growing along the fences...so pretty.

Our "Still Very Still Waters Pond" today before the rains come. I hope it looks different tomorrow!

While I was outside looking at the clouds and the dry pond, I discovered that my favorite little "fairy flowers" are starting to bloom all over the yard! So I picked my first little "Fairy Bouquet" of the season today! Hooray! Spring is really coming!

Here's Another link to when I picked another Fairy Bouquet and listened to the "fairies sing" in "God's Garden".

And here's some more whimsical fun...I met a lady, whose name just happens to also be "Pamela", and she makes all kinds of cute and fun "stuffies" from chenille yarn.  So last year I asked her to make a yellow kitty for me. This was before our "yellow" (orange) kitty Sunshine crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Well, she made it for me but then we never could get together so I could get it from her. She lives about 20 miles away. Meanwhile, sweet Sunshine passed away, and our Blackie kitty has become more and more a part of our family, so I asked Pamela if she could also make a black kitty for me to go with Sunshine. And so she did, and finally one day this week we were able to meet and I brought these two sweet kitties home with me:

Aren't they sweet? And maybe a bit funny too? Perhaps even a bit goofy...but I love them.

Well, I wondered what our real life Blackie would think of them, so I asked him while he was sitting comfortably in Daddy's lap early this morning:

He wasn't too sure what to think...

So of course he had to give him the "sniff test"...

I think he loved him, but his little paw was about to get snagged in the yarn, so I had to take him away before he got destroyed...

And then I brought out the "Sunshine Kitty", and immediately he wanted to touch him and snag him with his sharp claws, so I decided it was best to keep them apart, even though I think Blackie would love to play with him.  I may have to have "Pamela" make one just for Blackie that doesn't have so many glued on details that I'm afraid he could choke on.

Well, I think it's time to wrap this post up for today...Blackie would love to send you a message of his love from Daddy's Laptop:

Well, maybe he just wants to be crazy...

But anyway...I thank you all for being there! And I'm trying hard to get around to reading your posts...I just can't seem to stay caught up...you are all very excellent and prolific writers! And that's a good thing, but I just can't always keep up! LOL.

Have a blessed weekend.  We will be meeting my cousin Becky and her hubby Pat tomorrow (from Ohio!), who have been traveling and are passing through the area on their way back home. We are meeting them for lunch at my favorite place, Corky Bells!  So hopefully I will have some good pictures to share from that!

Joel 2: 23-25

23 "Be glad then, you children of Zion,

And rejoice in the Lord your God;

For He has given you the former rain faithfully,

And He will cause the rain to come down for you—

The former rain,

And the latter rain in the first month.

24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,

And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.

25 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten..."

Praise God!