Friday, May 17, 2013

Hope

Hello All--

I haven't posted more news about the baby cardinals because their story became a sad one.  That unseasonable cold snap with all the rain last week wasn't good for baby cardinals as it turned out, and they didn't make it.  When I checked the nest after the rain, I saw the two lifeless babies left there.  Initially, I was a little perturbed with Momma Cardinal for abandoning her babies.  But throughout the day, I saw her visiting the nest, and when I checked the nest later, the babies were gone.  I asked her to forgive me for thinking she had deserted them, and I told her that I felt her loss.

A friend told me (and I confirmed it on Google) that cardinals (who, incidentally mate for life :) ) typically have two 'clutches' per year.  So I hoped that perhaps Momma and Daddy Cardinal wouldn't be frightened to try again to raise a family somewhere close to my house.  I had been noticing that some sprigs were appearing above an outdoor speaker on my patio...up near the eave.  Sure enough, I was able to confirm yesterday that there's a new nest!  I  And it is, in fact, a cardinal nest!!  When I figure out how to load pictures from my phone onto my computer, I'll post the VERY CUTE picture of Momma Cardinal's tail sticking out of the nest!  Sometimes you can just barely see her beak, too, but I haven't been able to get close enough to get that picture without scaring her.

Annie-Laurie asked me how I could be sure that it's the same Momma and Daddy Cardinal that built the first nest, and I told her I just know!  Because we've both experienced the loss of children, Momma Cardinal and I have become kindred spirits, so I know she would trust me enough to build another nest in my yard!!! 

Just last year, as soon as Annie-Laurie and I had gotten home from Connecticut, some wrens had built a nest in a flower pot on our patio table.  And this year, just a few feet away from that table, is the cardinal nest.  While I realize that this is the time of year when birds build nests, I have to believe that these two nests so near to my 'happy place' on the patio, and during this very pertinant time in our lives, are much more than a mere coincidence!  God and Chad are working together to remind me that the world is a good place....a place worthy of new life, and of hope.



Again, I'll keep you posted!!

Love,
Julie

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Baby Cardinals!!!!

A couple days ago, I was in my family room and I noticed two cardinals, a male and a female, and they seemed to be.....canoodling in my azalea bush right outside one of my windows.  So, of course, I stopped to watch!  Afterall, they couldn't see me!  As it turned out, he was feeding her!  She was sitting in a nest!!!  YES!  I have a cardinal nest less than a foot from one of the windows in my family room!!  I'm thinking that the Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal's timing and location of their new family is definitely not a coincidence!  I'm watching closely and will keep you posted!!!  :)