Primavera

Last year I had the priveledge of watching a cardinal family grow. I wasn't sure at first what kind of birds had built this nest but I soon found out. My old house was out in the country where I had a bush right by my front door. Each morning as I left, the female cardinal would fly away. I felt a little bad for her because she had built her nest while I was on vacation. So I'm sure that she thought her spot was safe and far from strange people coming and going. It wasn't long before there was one egg in the nest, then there were two and the next day three. Wow! I was in for a real treat, watching all this take place. I noticed the faithfulness of both the female and male cardinals at keeping those eggs warm, and when the day came that they hatched, those parents were super busy. They were continuously flying to get food, and they were both involved. The lessons I learned will never be forgotten. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to watch the little birds leave the nest because I left for Madagascar. However, about the time I left they were definitely filling up that nest. When I returned I peered into the nest...empty. It was a lonely feeling. They had really filled my spring with action. Maybe this year there will be new life around my house again. I don't have any big bushes for nests and I haven't even noticed any cardinals flying around, but I know that I am already watching all my tulips pop out of the ground. It's exciting to feel warmer temperatures and know that spring is coming. Actually the official date is not far away and even if we still get some more snow, I know spring will still come.