wild things

we have a "pet" canary. it's lime green with black, and it lives in our birch tree. i assume that it was someone else's pet, it got away, and now it likes us well enough to stick around our yard. two days ago, it flew right up next to me on the sidewalk, and when i whistled at it, it whistled back. yesterday, it flew next to me and bear on the front porch and landed on the back of the chair, within 2 feet, staying for just a moment. i went inside for my camera, but it did not return.

mr. woodchuck has also been returning to munch on our lousy excuse for a lawn just about every morning. we have given up watering, so it must like crunchy grass.

and last, but not least, hubby got his new battery for his motorcycle and is out for a morning ride. he washed his baby last night. i'm tempted to jump on the back for a ride when he returns. if i can fit.

nesting

our mama bird is back. these photos were taken about 10 days apart. hubby had removed the old nest after the hatchlings flew away, but about 2 weeks ago i noticed one of the bird couples (wren) hanging around. the mama bird built the nest, the papa bird sat perched on the nearby windchimes as he supervised or protected, i'm not sure which.

since then, i think mama is working on laying her eggs. it's too high up to see if they are there yet, but she is acting like that's what she's doing... laying them or keeping them warm.

you didn't really think this would be a post about pregnancy nesting, did you?

well, in case you did...

i have the space next to my bed cleared and clorox-wiped the baseboards and night stand. the nook is ready for the mini pack n play which will serve as a bassinet for little guy. (which is sill packed away. the sheets are in a closet. not sure which one- bear's or the linen closet.)

i swept and swiffered the kitchen floor.

not what i call a nesting frenzy, but when have i ever had one of those? still, my medication seems to be helping significantly, so perhaps there is hope for the domestically challenged....

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Anybody know what breeds of lizards are native to middle TN?

About a month ago, a leathery lizard, about 2 or 3 inches long, slipped out from under the gutter/rain protector at the end of our front porch. It moved quickly, but looked black with a silver or white stripe down its back.

This morning, as Baby Bear and I returned from our Starbucks Stroll around 9 a.m. (while it was still only 81 degrees outside), I saw a smaller lizard which looked like the same type zoom across the porch and into the shrubs.

Too bad they are so fast, because I really want to get a picture.

Hubby wants to move to Anchorage. The summer temps are tempting, and apparently he thinks that Anchorage is not much colder than Chicago in the winter. Something must be wrong with me, because I'm almost willing to move with him, and I have turned down the A/C two days in a row now.