meet the family

Say hello to Henry. You won’t see him much. So trust me when I say: Jump at these chances. They are rare.

Again – we rarely see Henry. He’s a flighty little thing – no pun intended. Unlike Penelope, he is v.e.r.y skittish. For instance, the other day I was measuring the window right by their nest – I sort of slipped off the chair and nearly flew through the windowpane … but Penelope didn’t even so much as flinch. As far as Henry is concerned, though – all one has to do is walk past the window and he gets all nervous and flies off … leaving the nest alone.

I have to admit … I’ve been a little hard on Henry and his gender throughout this experience. Brian has tried to defend little Henry – unsuccessfully. I have watched little Penelope lose herself in her calling. I watched yesterday as she sat on her nest all day in the pouring rain – being hammered continually by the downpours and wind. I’ve watched her go days at a time without leaving the nest for food. And then … there’s Henry. He who does his five minutes of servitude and then flees. But. I’ve had a change of heart. Because I have not only watched Penelope today – but also Henry – as they care for their sweetest babies. Yes. We have baby birds.

Can you see them? We've decided that this is a family of cardinals. After much internet research we've deduced that - even though Henry and Penelope are on the small side - that this is them. Of course, now, it is obvious. And we wonder in vain at what the confusion was before.

Henry and Penelope certainly chose a prime place to call home. Their nest is snuggled up high in this camellia bush … carefully protected from every hazard – to include my camera. We can hardly see them, but we know that they are there. We have loved observing this happening of nature. This miracle of life. True – we’re glad these two chose our home to be theirs, too.