![\"Picture](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/r9f.352.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Nest.jpg\")
<\/a>There are signs of new life in the empty nest. For one thing, Ally has blown back in for the summer from a year teaching abroad in Spain . We don’t see much of her, but we can follow the debris trail\u00a0all around the house to know that she’s alive and well.<\/p>\nThe mess is\u00a0even more apparent on our back deck.\u00a0Dead grass, strands of shredded bark, an overturned container of old clippings. I can’t blame Ally, since this particular untidiness\u00a0preceded her arrival. \u00a0Has it really been so long since I’ve taken a broom to the redwood planks? Perhaps there’s been a localized wind storm. Or the neighbor’s cats, not content to merely pee on the plants and dig in the mulch, are\u00a0upping their antisocial\u00a0game.<\/p>\n
My husband solves the mystery when he tries to spend some time in the hammock with a good book. After just a few minutes, he’s back inside, squawks of distress audible through the sliding glass door.<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to give these poor birds a heart attack,” Jonathan says, pointing up. “Look!”<\/p>\n
There, atop the drainpipe just under the wide eaves, inches from our kitchen door, sits\u00a0a nest. It’s rather free-form and sloppy, but in a charming way–much like Ally’s\u00a0bedroom. If we very quietly peek from the kitchen, we can\u00a0spy the roosting bird’s\u00a0beady eyes.\u00a0If we’re careless, and go\u00a0out\u00a0this door\u00a0to water the plants, cacophony ensues as the parents\u00a0defend their territory. I’m not sure these birds have made the smartest choice, given the cats and their unconscientious\u00a0landlords. But they do\u00a0have a good view of the garden, which\u00a0counts for a lot when contemplating a long\u00a0confinement tending to children.<\/p>\n
The birds may not have assessed\u00a0the cat thing correctly, but I suspect they\u00a0chose to squat on our deck because they are wise to our non-BBQing ways. Perhaps they scoped out the antiquated model of our charcoal grill (Weber circa 1986), the thickness of the cobwebs covering it. They probably even lined the nest with some of the gauzy strands.<\/p>\n
I guess we won’t be barbecuing for awhile. I’m happy for the excuse in the same way that I\u00a0appreciate droughts for making our failure to wash our cars look noble instead of derelict. I’m less happy about not using our deck or opening the door from the kitchen, but my mother-in-law assures me that it’s only for a few weeks. At least it saves me the trouble of putting out new yellow jacket traps.<\/p>\n
The garden we put in last year has survived hard freezes, drought, deer, and my ineptitude as a novice gardener. Now it will have to survive neglect so the nursery can thrive.<\/p>\n
But these things, like Ally’s unwashed dishes, are small nuisances. What a pleasure it is to welcome new occupants to the nest!<\/p>\n
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There are signs of new life in the empty nest. For one thing, Ally has blown back in for the summer from a year teaching abroad in Spain . We don’t see much of her, but we can follow the … Continue reading