HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING

I didn't hear any crowing when I woke up early this morning but a rooster must have welcomed the first day of spring somewhere. I photographed this image from my 19th century Royal Book of Crests.

I started doing a little bit of spring cleaning yesterday doing the inside windows in my kitchen and two in the living room. It's still too chilly to start on the outsides. Enjoy this promise of finer days to come. xo

My Little Wren + More Planted Baskets

My little wrens are back putting new twigs in this tin birdhouse on my balcony. They have been busy throwing out the top layer and replacing with new twigs. I love hearing them sing their hearts out on my balcony railing. 

I follow this account on Instagram @gncgarden and thought you would like to see more planted baskets in an amazing garden in Denmark. I can appreciate all the work involved in the perfection of Gina's garden but no longer feel compelled to attempt coming anywhere close at my cottage. I know my limitations and am happy with what I achieve with no outside help. 

Happy Friday. xo

Bluebirds in February

I could not be more excited having seen lots of bluebirds circling in my backyard this morning while brewing my coffee. This is an old photo and I recently replaced this house with a larger one from the Audubon Society. Last year the house wrens claimed it and I have high hopes the bluebirds will win out this year. I worked in the yard before the ground froze and installed a new metal post that is much sturdier than the copper pipe on the house above. Bluebirds are very picky about where they live and they were always happy here before the wrens took over. Fingers crossed. Spring is definitely in the air today and the sky is blue with no clouds. So nice after several days of rain. Enjoy your weekend. xo

OCD Wrens at My Cottage

This new Wren family in the penthouse apartment on my balcony have a bad case of OCD. Every morning the pile of nest debris under their house is in a different spot and it gets smaller every day too. This is not because of the wind, it's definitely the birds. See original pile of nest building supplies here. They are a very odd couple, not at all like the earlier inhabitants. She won't let him inside very often and he sits on the railing and sings his little heart out.

Singing and waiting.

I am thinking of changing my name to Wren Cottage. This one lives in a bird bottle under the eaves of my front bedroom/dressing room. I have 4 nesting wren families in total.

This is my Friday morning barn/garage, field, and sky view with thunderstorms in the weather forecast. Enjoy your long July 4th weekend. xo

Baby Bird Feeding Time

via

“I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

Duplex Bird House

I guess the black-capped chickadee likes privacy and the mother robin doesn't. Robins build messy nests like this one on a ledge below my balcony and I do believe this chickadee is judging it. Can you see a look of disgust on her little face too? via