Temporary Shelter

Empty Nests

Rocked on many a bending bough

Empty nests are swaying now

In the Autumn wind,

Hanging o'er the cool cascade,

Hidden in the hazel shade,

Nests that loving skill has made

Soon to leave behind.

From the leafy twigs around

Once was borne the joyous sound

Of the wild bird's voice,

Pouring out his little soul

In melodious notes that roll

Merrily from knoll to knoll

Bidding all rejoice.

Long ago the birds have flown

And the little nests alone,

Rocking to and fro,

Time a silent mournful strain

While the wandering winds complain

Whisper faint and low.

And I think of one lone nest

Where a birdling used to rest

In the joyous spring,

Now when Autumn decks the lands

Rocked no more by loving hands

Lo, an empty cradle stands

Where they used to sing.

by: Martha Lavinia Hoffman (1865-1900)

God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest. ~J.G. Holland
 

There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before. ~Robert Lynd, The Blue Lion and Other Essays

If I were a bird

If I were a bird, I'd sing a song

And fly about the whole day long

And when the night comes,go to rest,

Up in my cozy little nest.

by Jackie Silberg

Little Birds

All the little birds are asleep in their nest.

All the little birds are taking a rest.

They do not even twitter,they do not even tweet.

Everything is quiet up and down the street.

Then came the mother bird and tapped them on the head.

They opened up one little eye and this is what she said.

"come little birds,it's time to learn to fly,

come little birds fly away up in the sky"

Fly,  fly,  oh fly away,  fly,  fly,  fly

Fly,  fly,  oh fly away,  fly away so high.

Fly,  fly,  oh fly away, birds can fly the best.

Fly,  fly, oh fly away, now fly back to your nest.

It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.

Aesop (620 BC-560 BC)

House Wren-Poem

To bring house wrens to your yard

is a job that's not too hard.

Hang a bird-house from a tree,

and in April you might see

not just one wren but a pair

setting up house-keeping there.

Then you'll hear all summer long

their bubbly chitter-chattering song.

by Erica Stux

Birds sing after a storm, why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?

Rose Kennedy (1890-1995)

There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before.

Robert Lynd

These lovely homes will be cleaned out and ready to go for next years feathered friends

Hugs,

Ellen

I'm linking to Honey's Potpourri Friday and first giveaway

I am also linking to SJ Homemaker on a dime

clean up from Irene

I just love my little piece of mother earth that I call home. I have the best of both worlds. I live in the woods but only 4 minutes to the highway and 5 minutes to the mall. It was a great place for my children to grow up. A family friendly neighborhood, where everyone knows our name. The one downfall about living here is our road. I live at the bottom of 2 dirt hills, and when it rains the rain washes the road in my driveway and creates craters in the road, which in winter is brutal.  

after the hurricane, my husband shoveled by hand and wheeled a good 10-15 full loads of dirt up the hill using the wheel barrow in the above photo.

This puddle of water is runoff from the pond across the street, which will continue to dribble water for a few days after the torrential rains from the hurricane.

Our neighbor has a friend that let him borrow his machinery to fix the road. I am ever so thankful. If you click on the photo you will see some craters in the road.

This is the dead tree that snapped and fell in the woods. We have been watching this tree for some time now, and with each storm we would pray it didn't land on the house.

Now our road is smooth until the next heavy rain, and all is good once again. I pray that the rest of Irene's victims get back to normal, and my sympathy to those that lost their life in the storm.

Hugs,

Ellen

Heafty price tags

These chickens were made from recycle materials. They were crafted by Sean J Harrington. They are well over 6 feet tall, and quite amazing. They will be on display until September.  And they came with a hefty price tag. When we first entered the property there was 2 bulls in the distance, and at first we thought they were real. Then we realized they were not. I did get some photos of these two chickens and some pigs. I had planned on taking more photos, but after class was over, it was too hot to be out and about.

This guy was priced at $5,900.00

And this one was priced at $6,500.00. He was in such a beautiful area with nice views of the mountain.

I just think the face on this one is very well crafted.

And the three pigs, each with their own price tag.

I hope to go back to see the others.

Hugs,

Ellen

I am linking to SJ Homemaker on a dime