I’ve got an old birdhouse in the garden. I’ve had it for years… it was one of those things I picked up second hand. I sometimes nose around garage sales and thrift stores and buy questionable goods and call them garden art. When we moved into our current home, my birdhouse sat forlornly on the back stairs. For years. Last fall, during my autumn yard clean-up, I decided it was time to let it go…but. I couldn’t. so. I didn’t. I hung it in the wisteria vine and promised to deal with it come spring. Well, spring blossomed, and with it came a lovely pair of chickadees. And yes! They chose that old and tired birdhouse to be their honeymoon cottage. I was surprised, delighted, and thoroughly conflicted about the fact that my little bird hotel (they don’t stay long) was smack dab in the middle of cat country. I have two cats. Two cats that go outside with moderate supervision. We have a fenced in garden, and my cats are, for the most part, disinclined to jump over, crawl through, or otherwise attempt to explore beyond their confines. And why would they? Especially given the fact that their provider of all things earthly has now generously provided front row, interactive, live entertainment. Sigh. I assigned myself to guard duty…lounging on a nearby chaise…with a book…and a bevy…I know, I know, it was a tough gig, but someone had to do it. I also set up a little perimeter fence underneath the birdhouse in an effort to give the young parents at least a little privacy. I imagine it would be disconcerting having a keen eyed cat sitting directly below one’s doorstep 24/7. Not that my cats are out there 24/7…but I do like to dramatize my boring stories at least a little. And this story really has no drama. Which is actually very good. Because cats and birds and drama in the same story has a sinister sound to it. Mama and Papa bird nested, and then proceeded to feed and nurture those chattering baby chickadees incessantly for a couple of weeks. Then…BAM…they literally flew the coop. The nest, once a very busy hub, was suddenly very still. The very next morning the young birds were spotted sitting in our bamboo patch, fluffier versions of their parents. It was as if they wanted us to know they had their … Continue reading BIRDS OF A FEATHER DRESS | SIMPLICITY 2444