Unexpected Neighbors

Unexpected Neighbors - Chapter 1

We got some new neighbors this year.

"This isn't really their hood" I thought as he shooed them away. The first time was out in the east grove, right when you come around the corner. They were tucked in toward the house, so passersby on the road may not have noticed, but we did.

A few days later they were back, it is Springtime after all. Not in the exact location, but a few trees over. Those darn magpies! The next morning they returned to find chaos instead of their finely woven structure, but they were determined that this was the place - only to be foiled once again.

We didn't see them for a few days, but then one morning there they were, out there talking. How could all of their hard work keep tumbling down? They hadn't noticed it to be too windy when they'd left the night before? They hadn't seen any creatures lurking about that would create such havoc!

A few mornings later they arrived for yet another visit. Being very persistent creatures, it was time to talk strategy. Maybe it had to do with the longitude and latitude? They flew over the driveway to the check out the other side of the yard and their newly revised action plan began!

"Which tree would do?" they may have possibly asked one another. Pecking and picking up odds and ends along the way, they decided they were going to give it one more try.

So, Marvin and Mavis Magpie have set up their new abode right in front of mine! Luckily they're not obstructing my mountain view but, as in typical suburbia, their nest can be seen from many different angles and they can observe the goings on from their own front window.

I'll be watching them this spring and summer - I'm certain it will be a fun adventure!

Comments

Re- Purposeful

One of my recent projects has been a new frame for a gorgeous hand painted watercolor I bought when in Yuma for Christmas. My "Mom" (and friend), the fun and adorable Doris and I did a little shopping and had a blast! We were just out and about looking for "stuff"... I've been a closet junk shopper for a few decades now... I guess I first started hunting on my own when I was in my first year at WSU; around that time my friend Jackie introduced me to a gal who lived on her dorm floor. Her friend Jennifer collected vintage dresses and I recall thinking it was an interesting but odd thing to collect. I definitely didn't like the idea of wanting a closet full of musty old dresses... but I also remember the pride she had while showing off her marvelous collection. She told me she found her dresses at thrift stores and Estate sales. Hmmm! I rem...

She's a little bit country. She's a little bit rock 'n' roll

I bought this piece from a guy named Jake. I saw it advertised and loved it, so I called him right away to inquire and we spoke about it for a few minutes. He owns a bike repair shop in Denver and didn't have the space for it anymore - I texted him the next day and what turned out to be the day after to reiterate my intentions. I really wanted it, but wasn't able to get up there till later in the week... would he hold it for me? Turns out I wasn't able to pick it up at all... and a week or two passed. Fortunately for me, when I texted him again, apologizing for my absence..and, was it still available, he said yes. I was really attracted to it's Mid-century modern shape. Jake (a cool, young dude with tattoos, a wild head of hair and a bushy beard) told Russ (who so kindly picked it up for me on his way home from work) that he had "painted it black a few years ago" as they worked together to load it into the truck. The thing is heavy...

In Loving Memory...

I have an "inspiration" binder that I keep on a shelf in my office at home where I’ve collected pictures of things I've found in magazines. There's a few priceless treasures of artwork that my kids made me tucked in there too. I only add super special stuff - things that I know I'll love for the long term. Anyway, we were talking about a project at the house when I suddenly thought of a photo I wanted to share with Russ and brought the binder out. As I was flipping through these pages of images that I'd saved over a good decade of time, I found this little quote Mom had sent to me. I don't know when she sent it, but I had liked it so much. There it was, this two sentence quote that SHE must have cut out of a magazine. The words were highlighted in what was now a faded yellow marker and she’d written four little words above it on a hot pink sticky note in her beautiful cursive writing. A note just for me. Reminding me to believ...

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