Bees in the hive, bird in the house, a day of anticipation…

After two days of gloomy rain, I was getting worried about my hive.  I put my ear against the warm wood and listened for the buzz.  It was too slight to detect at first, then I heard a low hum.  I knew they were in there because of the weather and probably chowing through all the sugar syrup I had prepared for them.  But to open the hive at this point would be disaster.  It was too cool and I would set them into a frenzy they didn’t need.

While sitting in my office this morning I heard a bird chirp just a little too close.  Sure enough, a Tufted Titmouse had taken a wrong turn on the deck and flew into the house with two cats in hot pursuit.  The poor thing was terrified and disoriented.  I opened a window and coaxed it out before there was carnage.

Last night either a large family of coons or a small bear climbed onto the deck and went after my bird feeders.  I know, all too well that this is the time of year to take them down.  The problem is I have a nesting pair of something, Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers perhaps, feeding regularly.  They are extremely rare here and I love watching them.  So the feeders, even the irresistible suet, will stay up.

Male Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker?

Whatever went for the feeders also bent the gate I use to keep the dogs in the fenced backyard.  I spent an hour reshaping and repairing the gate, much to Alice’s dismay.  She could smell that something had visited and was hot to get out into the woods and investigate.

For the most part, it was a day of anticipation.  Hanni called before her flight to San Francisco, and again, once she was ready to board her flight to Boston.  Being a mother to adults if a whole new world for me.  I relish our calls and our visits are cause for celebration.  Since we were last together in California at Christmas, she has graduated from college and is building the next phase of her life.  She is articulate, healthy and wise.

So for the next seven days I am allowed to slip on the comfortable cloak of motherhood.  What a gift!