Robin's Nest

It's Saturday morning, and I'm joyful.  I'm loving my new job, my co-workers, my boss.  We had lovely weather this week and my tulips are huge and bright.  

I was looking out my kitchen window this morning, surveying the flower garden, when I noticed a robin bopping about.  He was methodically picking up stray roots and twigs from the floor of the flower bed.  

Suddenly he took flight, and lit upon the branch of the red oak that sits in the center of our garden.  He was obviously building a nest in our tree.  

It's not unusual for us to see nests there.  The tree is near the house and protected from predators.  Although we have a dog, he pretty much sticks to himself and doesn't go chasing birds across the yard.  

Throughout the summer we hear the soft rustling, coming from within the tree; whenever we exit the back door to enjoy the sun on our deck.  This is the first year I was able to watch the inhabitants in the process of building their home.  

There are two of them.  While watching, I noticed movement further out on the branch; his mate... who clearly was overseeing the proceedings.  I grabbed my camera a little too late, as they had just laid the finishing touches on their recent findings, and had lit off in search of more before I could capture the moment.  

As I lay waiting for them to come back, perched quietly in my kitchen window, sitting on the counter, one leg in the sink, my elbow steadying my hand atop the faucet's spicket-head...the female returned.  I realized they were nesting because she would soon lay her eggs.  Wow.  

Courtesy of:  Wikipedia

I remember as a child the thrill of discovering the treasure-of-all-natural-treasures... a perfectly formed, un-broken, robin's egg.  You new it belonged to a robin because of its tell-tale, blue color.  That perfect "robin's egg" blue.  That pigment of a color we all seek when searching for apparel or home, decorative wall paint.  Here I was today... witness to the perfection of life, which produces such a simply joys... the building of a robin's nest.    

I will tread cautiously underneath my oak this summer, as I prune my perennial garden... sneaking a peek or two over my shoulder to check on the Robins - es. Maybe, I'll lay a bit of yarn and cotton out under the tree for them to find... to give them a cozier home for their pending family.  

Enjoy your weekend all... seek to find joy in it, seek it in the simplest of things.