I am feeling a little sentimental today as my short-lived term as a grandma has come to a close. Don’t get too excited. It’s not my daughter who blessed my life with young ones. Nope, it was a pair of chickadees. I had mamma bird build a nest in the flowerpot right outside my kitchen window. It was kind of surprising as I am often around my patio taking care of the garden, watering the pots, deadheading flowers and generally keeping the yard tidy. Gardening is one of my great pleasures. I can spend hours outside moving from one small project to another.

I thought I had scared her off as I was checking every few hours to see the progress. It’s fascinating to watch a bird carry sticks and grass twice their body size and then to watch those bits of debris turn into a round 4-inch deep nest built among my geraniums.

There might be a lesson or two I can learn from this little bird. I admire her tenacity to get the job done, her ability to make something special out of something discarded. Over the course of two weeks she sat on those eggs keeping them warm. The hours of boredom she must have endured. What patience she showed. I have trouble sitting still for 10 minutes. Side note: my first yoga class was torture, as I had to lay still and silent on my mat.

The birds have already flown the nest. They have been well fed, protected and are ready to be on their own. I think my last peek was the final push they needed. Mamma rousted them all up and, in a flurry as my shadow darkened her home,  out mamma and her 3 offspring came, flying into the surrounding trees. I raced into the house to announce our birdies were flying. Honey and I watched as they clacked loudly and flew from lawn chair to branch, to fence. They haven’t been back. In the course of 3 weeks a house was built, used to raise a family and abandoned for a life larger.

Though it may take a lifetime, what kind of home will you build with the resources you have? And, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There is always someone in your life that probably can’t wait to lend you a hand. Just ask Honey: he spent time each day making sure our little outdoor family had fresh worms within easy reach.

PS: if you happen to be in our backyard over the next few weeks look out for the student drivers. They are a little shaky on their new wings.