Nature Happenin’

Our work-weekend at the new house was cut short by the inclement weather. The humidity reached 91%, which made painting impossible. We decided not to spent another night there and to come “home” (“to our old home,” is how Amie appropriately puts it) to start packing.

While we were there we took stock of our woodpile. Our neighbor had chopped most of the wood and thrown the logs into the yard. It was such a pleasure stacking it and seeing the pile grow… such a pleasure in fact that we couldn’t stop and piled it too high. Now it feels a bit wobbly, so we’ll move some of the top layers to a second pile.

Woodpile 7 June 2008 (c) Katrien Vander Straeten

The robin’s eggs hatched. The four chicks were probably a day or two old: eyes still closed, and not a chirp, just wide-open mouths on long necks. The robins made a poor real estate choice when they built their nest under our car port roof, because each time we drive up or approach the car, the Mama Robin flees (and sits in the tree, calling out in alarm). So we parked the car further off to give them some peace. Both parents did nothing but hunt for food and feed the babies. Amie would have been at the window and watched them all day long, if it hadn’t been for the fact that we had to hold her up for her to see them.

Robin’s nest in carport, 7 June 2008 (c) Katrien Vander Straeten

Right next door to the Robin’s nest, wasps were busy building a nest. It’s very small (about 3 inches in diameter), as yet. We’ll have to take care of it soon: it’s too close to slamming car doors and loud toddler sounds. Any recommendations?

wasp’s nest, 7 June 2008 (vc) Katrien Vander Straeten

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6 Comments

  1. O yes. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, like Amie sits down in an ants’ nest, or we all happen to have severe allergies to most of the trees in our our backyard, or we lose an entire first vegetable crop to the bunnies… It’s a precarious balance between hope and fear! ;)

    I’m writing this as Amie tries out the watercolors for the first time. She’s used to the thick acrylic, so it takes some getting used to.

  2. Thanks for your sweet comment on my post on weaning. It really is a tough thing. I love nursing, so does Anika, but I feel as though I could go on forever if I didn’t stop. Part of me feels like she will be more independent if she stops. Another part of me feels like I don’t want her to grow away from me. I tried weaning her while I was on my trip in India and I lasted one whole day but then it just felt wrong to say no when she asked me, it made me cry.I just have to take it slow is all and be consistent, the inconsistency confuses both our emotions…ya know?

    I can understand what you mean about the other shoe dropping..the balance between hope and fear..It will be liek everything else, hard to adjust to initially and then you’ll wonder how you ever lived any other way. Good luck and best wishes for the move.

  3. I love chopping and stacking wood. Too bad I live in a hot, hot desert.

    Do you get black widows in your wood pile? If so, you might want to wear gloves…

  4. Woops, after doing some research the black widow does frequent Massachusetts, but not frequently. The other venomous spider we might come across is the Brown Recluse, but he or she is also rare.
    Good to know, thanks Chile!

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