UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL MASCOT

Easter Pigeon

Happy Easter, Happy Passover, Happy Spring!

This is a drawing of Crooked Stick Cottage's most recent

house guest. 

 

He arrived at dusk on April 2nd.   I had just released

a little Hummingbird (see blog below).   

Up on the balcony sat the most beautiful white pigeon.

He has two I.D. bracelets on each leg.  

And two small black spots on his back.   

He looks very official with his bracelets, royal white feathers and perfect posture.   

His eyes pierce your gaze....almost James Bondish.

We quickly put out some water and bird seed.

He found a perch on our Nova Scotia whale weathervane

tucked in the corner under the balcony between the kitchen and the 

dining room and across from the aviary.

He has stayed nearly seven days.   However, for the past two days he disappears and

then arrives in the early evening.   Today he left mid morning and has not returned.

Every morning he puts on the most beautiful aerial show that would make the Blue

Angels weep.   He weaves and flutters, tossing and turning, tumbling and rolling.

It's like white lightening.

In the afternoon he would perch on the balcony rail or whale in the sun watching

the hummingbirds and finches bath in the fountain.   He would stroll in the grass 

and graze on the broccoli and seed we left for him.

He is a perfect visitor/ house guest. 

   

They say that racing pigeons travel up to 600-800 miles stopping sometimes for a 

few days to rest.   I don't know much about pigeon racing.   I know that homing

pigeons were used to carry messages across enemy lines between the English

and the French during World War II.   

It's nearly midnight.   Our house guest has not returned.

Last Saturday night he did not return.   But Sunday morning when

I looked out the window and he put on a magnificent aerial show.

Wherever my new friend is....may God Bless him and keep him safe.

May all of you have a safe holiday.

PM

AN APRIL HUMMINGBIRD IN MY HAND

Chirp, chirp, buzz, buzz, chirp......

Greetings,

Yesterday, in the garden we found a shivering fledging

ruby throated hummingbird.   He was about an inch tall.

Tiny feet, a long beak and the most beautiful red glistening

feathers around his throat. 

I brought him inside and made a cave like tent out of a dish towel.   

I put the dish towel in a heating pad on my lap.   

He could see me and I could see him.

I kept the heating pad on my lap so I could regulate the temperature.

He stood hunkered down with his eyes closed.   He was so frail and 

beautiful.  I prayed he would be okay.   

After a couple of hours and lowering the temperature of the heating pad his feathers dried out.

I had some nectar and offered it to him. 

I took him outside twice cupped

in the dish towel.   But the little tike was going no where.   Finally,

I fixed up a cage for him.   

But once inside he thrashed against the 

wire walls.   I felt his little chest and it seemed plump and

his wings looked fine.  His poop was also good looking.

So I took him outside one more time.  It was forty

minutes before sunset.    I knew he needed to leave

before dusk.   He would be lost in the darkness of night.

I sat with him for a few minutes.  I told him about the great life he was going to have.

The adventures ahead, the garden characters he would meet and the

family he would have.   He took a long long look at me with his 

big black eyes.   My eyes filled with tears.   I held my hands up above my head.

He lifted his tiny wings and whizzed off above the roof towards the front garden.   

He swooped down once to look back but then he disappeared over the house top.

Today we set up two hummingbird feeders.  One next to my desk.  

Perhaps, he will come and visit me.  I would like that.  But if he 

doesn't I will understand.   I enjoyed the pleasure of his company if

only briefly. 

  

One of my favorite books is 

a "Hummingbird In My Hand."   It's a great read!

Take a moment to share yourself with another.

Shortly after our little visitor left, a new guest arrived.

More tomorrow.

PM

 

CUPCAKES FOR SPRING

Greetings,
Happy April Fool's Day Everyone!
Today was my Grandfather's Birthday.
The one I am suppose to take after.
"Big Granddaddy," as I called him.
As a young girl, my grandfather would sit
with me in front of a large canvas surrounded by
oil paints and brushes. He would point to the window
and tell me to "imagine, dream and create!"
I hope my grandfather would be proud of my work.
Love to all of you.
And to Big Granddaddy who is painting rainbows in the sky.
Kiss.
PM