Ghetto Kitty

Well, well, well. Yesterday my hubby came in from outside with the news that the cardinal babies are no longer in the nest - most likely victims of feline famine. He pointed out however that her endeavor was most likely aided by the strategic placement of a ladder right near the nest. It went something like this:
Mom - "You left the ladder out?"
Jman - "Well, you didn't say I should put it away."
Mom - "Ok. Well let's cover some other things too. You shouldn't put knives up your nose, you shouldn't lay down in the middle of the street with a blankie and a book, and you shouldn't leave a ladder next to a nest full of baby birds."
Jman - "ok"
My husband remarked that Charlie is probably telling all her neighborhood kitty friends what great owners she has. "See, I broke my leg last year but my owners love me so much they left a ladder out so I could still get my cardinal treats!"
It's a possibility that the discovery of the nest prompted them to move the babies but I highly doubt it. I am worried that they won't come back. It's so nice to look out the kitchen window and watch them while I do the dishes.

Nature Study in the Ghetto: Cardinals

We found them! Yes we did! We found our Cardinal babies. This spring we were ecstatic when our Cardinal pair came back to us. Last year they had a rather disagreeable incident with our Charlie and left. Watching them in the backyard we have been saying for weeks that they must have a nest around here. Every once in a while we wondered if there might be eggs. And through our keen observational skills, our vast knowledge of nature and animal behavior we found it. It went something like this:
Mom "Geez. Those Cardinals are really going nuts." (long pause) "Hey! Charlie's over there in the bushes by that corner!"
JMan "The nest!"
And the hunt began. Once JMan spied the nest we grabbed the ladder and started climbing. It was perilous but worth it.
Those three little heads in there are older and bigger than the ones from last year. We are hoping Charlie will behave herself this year. That little accident she had (involving a car driven by two angry cardinals?) might have been just the experience she needed to leave those poor birdies alone. Well, we'll see.

Tonight we also found this little beauty sitting right on our patio. As if it was dropped there. According to my incredibly reliable sources (google searches) this does not appear to be a Cardinal egg. So does it look like evidence of hatching or homicide? We'll let you be the jury.

Further incriminating evidence (as if it was needed):









We also found this little treasure chucked over our back fence. Just proof that we do, in fact, live in the ghetto.

And another reason I don't blog as often as I think about it is because it takes FOREVER to load these photos!

Bird Food

So I always think of good things to write about when I am away from the computer. Then when I get in front of the computer it's like I have temporary amnesia. I cannot think of a darn thing to write. But it has been a little while since I wrote and I need to keep up with it. I have been working on some projects and I plan to post them on here. So be patient.
Our grapes this year are bigger and tastier than last year. They are still small by grape standards but we are pleased that they have increased in size. They are also much sweeter. Last year they were just a wee bit tart (insert pucker lips here). We still have to buy our grapes at the store but I am happy to say that the birds have found our grapes and are eating them up! Cheapest bird food ever. Also my son made a really cool bird house at church camp and we found the perfect place to put it up. It is partially hidden by some bushes which are right outside of a bedroom window. Hopefully the birds will feel it's a good place for a home and we will be able to watch them from the window. Our cat is no longer an issue since she decided to get hit by a car and break her leg. She is now a gimpy kitty and we don't let her out. The birds, lizards and snakes in our yard all breathed a sigh of relief. Actually we think the birds were the ones driving the car! Anyway,I plan to make some bird feeders out of old coke bottles and a bird bath out of some terracotta pots. I am going to have to figure out how to have a nice landscape for the birds without giving them a free for all in our garden. That will require some research.......