Friday, July 20, 2007

what a bird brain

Today is #1's last day of art class. (sideline: She has really enjoyed this teacher. The first day she came home she said, "He is such a good artist and he is hilarious!" ) On the way to the studio there was a bird's nest in the middle of my lane of traffic. I straddled it at first because I had no idea what that blob was. Once I figured it out I told #1, "Boy, if I am lucky, no one will run over that thing and I will go back and get it." After dropping her off, I doubled back and sure enough, not only was it still there, but everyone seemed to be straddling it as well. I pulled into the nearest driveway, jumped out of the car with a plastic bag and as soon as the coast was clear, I stepped into the road and picked the nest up very gently with the plastic bag and wrapped it carefully. Then I laid it in the front passenger seat.
When I got home, I carefully took it out and inspected it. This bird used mud, pinestraw, strands of wire as well as wire mesh to make this thing. The outer core seems to be made with a mishmash of loosely woven stuff that is a bit dark and dirty, but the inner core is not only tightly woven with some lighter colored strands of some sort but it is also as clean as a whistle.

As a wife and mother I try to pull off the same stunt as this craftful bird. Despite the grunge from the world outside of our nest, I try to have an inner sanctum that is clean, bright, and secure. Yes it is a difficult task. But I happily do it for my little brood. Besides, my little fledglings will be flying on their own soon enough.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What wonderful word pictures you've drawn! I can see a 3D bird's nest in my mind's eye.

Leah said...

Well, this post reminded me of a time when I saw some girls on the side of the road, looking into the road.
I was distracted with them and didn't see the huge tortoise in my lane.
Needless to say, I ran over the big ole thing. Poor tortoise. I looked in my rearview mirror to see that I'd run over his middle. Every limb, head and tail were now protruding from his shell.
I looked over at the girls who just slumped their shoulders and returned to their cars.
Though it was very sad for them, and for the tortoise, I couldn't help but laugh. Not out of malice, but out of sheer, "OOPS!"
I'm glad your story has a cleaner ending!