Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Joy AND Sadness


As you know, I've been very distracted for the past month --dealing with my left knee problem. Anyhow--during that time, our Bluebirds must have decided to nest in the new Bluebird Nestbox in our backyard. After the Chickadees and Bluebirds fought over the nest a couple of months ago, neither took it. SO--it had been empty for quite awhile.

This morning George walked by the nestbox (for another reason) and a Bluebird flew out.... He came and told me---and of course, I got VERY excited... I made him open the nest to see what was going on.. Surprise!!! There are about 4 baby birds in that nest.. SO--I'm gonna be a Grammy again this Summer!!!! YEAH!!!

I sat on the deck for awhile this afternoon trying to get some pictures... Mom and Dad were taking turns going back and forth feeding the little ones.. I managed to get a few pictures ---but hopefully I will get LOTS more before and when they fledge.

Above is Mama Bluebird coming out of the nest... (They are so quick that it's hard to catch them in a photo.) Below are a few more pictures!!!!




Daddy Bluebird comes to the nest to check out his babies. Mom and Dad take turns going back and forth taking care of them.




I just had to include this picture even though it's sorta blurry.... One of Dad's jobs is to carry the 'fecal sac' away from the nest (far away). See it in his mouth? Bluebirds are VERY clean birds --and when all of them leave the nest, we will find it almost as clean as when they first got there. Daddy keeps those babies' diapers changed regularly!!!! ha




Here's a cute picture of Daddy Bluebird at the nestbox. I'm sure he and his lady are proud of their babies!!!! I'll keep you posted on this JOY.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On a very sad note, a very good blog friend of mine, Eileen Brown, from British Columbia. lost her husband, Daryl, this week. Eileen and I have been blog friends since November of 2008 ---even BEFORE I joined Blogger. She is one of my very first blog friends--and she means so much to me.

Eileen and her hubby had only been married five years (would have been six in August) ---so we had something special in common, since George and I have only been married almost nine years. We both felt as if we had found a very special love-of-our-life in our 'golden' years. We always enjoyed talking about our Sweethearts with one another. The one difference was that this was the first marriage for both Eileen and Daryl. They had no children---but have an adorable dog named Mingus.

Eileen had gone to visit an ill sister when her husband died. He was only 60 and had been in very good health. He worked six months out of the year doing fire weather forecasting. No one knows yet what happened to Daryl, but apparently, he died very suddenly (maybe from a massive heart attack).

When I read Eileen's post, I just burst into tears. Life is so precious --and none of us know how long we are going to be on this earth. This has just devasted me. I wish I could meet Eileen and give her a big hug. We haven't met ---but she is one special lady. Don't let anyone ever tell you that blog friends are not that important. They ARE--and I have some GREAT friends for life I'm sure.

If you have a few minutes, please go to Eileen's blog and leave her a comment. I'm sure she'll appreciate knowing that so many of us in Blog World are thinking about her and praying for her. Click HERE to visit Eileen's blog (Cicero Sings).

Hugs,

49 comments:

diane b said...

Mr Bluebird is a handy hubby to have. Can't wait to see the chicks. So sorry to hear about your friend. I visited her blog and left my sympathy. How horrible for her. So sudden and while she was away.

Jane said...

HI Betsy - Glad that your recovery is going well, but am so very sorry to hear of Eileen's loss. I will keep her in my prayers,

Jane

Arkansas Patti said...

How dreadful for your friend. That happened to my best friend who found her love late in life and they only had 5 years together. As painful as it was, she was just so grateful for those 5 years with him. Many never have even a moment of such happiness.
We do have to treasure each moment. Tomorrow is not promised.

Connie said...

I am so sorry to hear of your friend's loss, Betsy.

I am glad to hear your bluebirds have returned. I know how much joy they bring to you.

MadSnapper said...

You are so right, blog friends do count, even though we never meet. i feel like i have freinds all over the world and the states and have never met them. we live their daily lives with them.
the blue bird is for happiness for sure. never new birds changed diapers. ha ha
i like the blur photo, it tells the story. we don't have baby birds but we do have baby butterflies, they are every where, we are estatic with joy watching them.

Lisa said...

I thank you for your post on the bluebirds, I learned some amazing facts.

I am with Eileen. I will visit her now.

Harriet said...

I enjoyed the Bluebird pictures. How nice that you can enjoy watching them. I'll keep Eileen in my prayers.

Tabor said...

Blog friends become real friends and it so sad to see someone far away face such a sad challenge.

Beth said...

I'm so glad you have a new bluebird family for neighbors, Betsy! Great neighbors to have...

I'm so sorry for your friend's loss. What a shock that must have been for her---may God bring her comfort and peace.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

So sorry for your friend's loss of her husband, what a tragic thing to happen.
Love the Bluebirds in their nest, we have babies also, I just noticed then last night, they were kept under wraps :)
Hope the knee is feeling somewhat better !
Hugs,
Jo

Jen said...

So sorry to hear of your friends loss-how devastating.
I was so impressed with how both mamma and daddy bluebird took care of the babies when we had our first nest. What great teamwork and commitment!

Susie said...

So sorry to hear about Eileen's husband. Blog friends really are special.

Love the blue bird pics Betsy. My mom/dad have been busy feeding their babies as well. I figure by Sunday or Monday ours will be gone.

Catherine said...

What a wonderful treat to be able to watch that little bluebird family all summer while you are resting up your knee. Who knew they were so clean? I am looking forward to many more lovely photos Betsy!

I am so sorry about your friend's husband. Warm thoughts to her.

xo Catherine

Busy Bee Suz said...

I had no idea that the bluebirds were such clean freaks...I love them even more now.
I will go visit Eileen...so heartbreaking. I don't know what I would do.
Hugs, Suz

Mary said...

I'm so glad you have bluebird babies and hope you get to see them and get photos eventually! I was devestated about Eileen's loss, too. So sad. She seems like such a nice person and they seemed so happy. It breaks your heart.

Small City Scenes said...

Oh Betsy, what an awful thing to happen to your friend. Not to even be there and have a tragedy happen. It is so shocking.
I lost my husband and it was a shocker even though I knew it was going to happen---but poor Eileen. I will send up good vibes for her.

The Bluebird's are so uplifting right now. Yes? MB

Jo said...

Betsy;) what gorgeous blue those birds are. And how clean. Our barbets (similar to a woodpecker) do the same. Nappy changing and keeping the nest clean. I am sorry for your dear friend. What a shock. I'll pop over to her blog now. Bless you and hope you're feeling better all the time. (((Hugs))) Jo

Roses and Lilacs said...

Good morning Betsy. Congratulations on your bluebird family!!!

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend's husband. Life is very uncertain, we all forget that fact as we go about our everyday lives.
Marnie

DayPhoto said...

My Daddy died like that, very sudden and unexpected. They were traveling and Momma ( true southern girl) had a very hard time. I lost her just months later. What comforts me is he was doing exactly what he wanted to do, not trapped in a hospital bed, or a nursing home, or a wheel chair. Death is hard, very hard on those left behind.

Linda

http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

Leedra said...

You know I don't get to blog like I used to, so I didn't even know about your knee. Hope it is getting better each day. I am thankful every day that I don't have pain in my knee.

Was going to water the new fruit trees this morning, but it has started raining now. Yeah, got out of hauling that bucket across 300 ft.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

I am happy to hear that your Bluebirds are back in the nest box.I do hope you will get tons of pictures.
So sorry to hear of your friends lose.This must be a devastating time,for her.
Blessings,Ruth

Betty said...

I have been a little lax in my posting,I know how special blog friends are so sorry about our friend. I am her friend too.
Your blue birds are so cute.
I too am a little distracted my dear friend Dot that I have posted about before hsa just been told that she has cancer and has to have radiation and kemo. She is 82 and very active and she is the one that makes 90-100 lap and baby size quilts a year for charity.
Plesae send prayers and Good thoughts this way too.
Love Hugs and Good Thoughts to you too.

Sey said...

Congratulations for the new baby birds. I am glad they're back in the nest.

I feel so sorry about Eileen's lost. I know that blog friends are very important because I myself true friends here who makes me feel complete and shares a lot with me!

Sey said...

I'll drop by Eileen's blog!

Diane said...

First of all, I'm so sorry about your friend, Betsy. I went over to her blog and left a comment. Thanks for telling us so we can help her through this awful time in her life.

Second, your bluebird pictures are so sweet. I didn't know they were that clean as to carry away the nasty stuff. I was fortunate to get some pictures of the mountain bluebirds the other day. They flit around so fast and are so wild but beautiful. Blessings today, Betsy. Whew! Life! Diane

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear that your friend's husband passed away. The joy of new life, the sadness of death .. I will visit Eileen's blog and leave a comment.

Diane AZ said...

How wonderful that a bluebird family is in your nestingbox. I hope your knee is improving. So very sorry to hear about the sudden loss of Eileen's husband.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Betsy, sounds like you are recovering nicely! I've put out a few bird feeders in the and am hoping to attract some pretty birds like you. So far, we get the everday variety but that's ok too.

Sorry to read about the tragic loss of your friend's husband. Life is so precious.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Glad for the bluebirds, but what a horrible thing to happen, with no warning. It literally makes me sick to think about, I feel so bad for her!! I have gone to her blog and left a comment.

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Good morning!
It is very sad somebody lost his life!
Beautiful bird!

Rose said...

I am so sorry to hear about your friend...and yes, blog buddies do mean a lot to some of us. I will try to visit her blog later...I sure feel saddened for her.

I am glad your bluebirds decided to build again! My wrens came back this year, too. I don't think I have mentioned that on my blog...they are house wrens and not Carolina wrens. But I will take what I can get. The pair of them are so shy--not at all like the Carolina wrens I have dealt with....I cannot capture a decent picture of either one of them.

Becky said...

Hope you are feeling better soon. Your birds are cuties.
Sorry for you friends loss. You are such a good friend,in person or over the internet, to all who know you!

Live life to the fullest no matter your age, no one is guaranteed tomorrow. ((HUGS))

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hi Betsy,

I'm so happy you will be a granny again this year. I love coming over to see the beautiful pictures that you capture...just so much fun to look at.

We are pretty sure we have a Wren's nest in our church birdhouse on the back porch. They went back and forth between two houses for a few weeks before making up their minds.

Apparently those golf course squirrels haven't had to learn the art of creative climbing..LOL My gray squirrels jump in from the trees around the house and climb up the 2 levels to front porch.

The flying squirrel are nocturnal so you'll never know if you have them unless you put out a hanging feeder in the evening....I'll bet they are there..You could try hanging a feeder on a low tree branch and watch with a light to see if they show up.

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend Eileen losing her husband. I will certainly go visit her. Thomas and I fit into that "perfect love" found later in life...we celebrated our 4th anniversary in April.

I do know exactly how upset you are over this...blogging friends are so wonderful and it seems to me that we bond deeper in ways that we don't do in the physical world at times...

I don't know if you even knew Gypsy LuLu...she was one of my creative lady friends..just a wonderful art quilter and anything she touched turned into something beautiful. Anyhow, she was going along just fine and out of the blue a problem with her stomach reoccurred and then lung cancer was detected. She had surgery less than two months ago...

She passed away last weekend! She was 83 years old but so so very active and independent. Always at some sort of art class or gathering with ladies to make something.

I questioned at the time they told her to have surgery "how much time she had" without going through with it....so many times electing for these serious surgeries {especially at this older age} only ends your life sooner than it would have otherwise. I've seen this happen many times and that makes it more upsetting.

Anyhow, I'm rattling on and on...I'm still unsettled over losing her...please drop by her blog if you don't mind. Her daughter has left the last post.

http://gypsyluludelights.blogspot.com/2010/06/gypsy-will-always-be-with-us.html

Life is so precious....we really must "Live Life Like We Mean It!"...no matter what anyone says. :0)

Love and Hugs,
Stephanie ♥

carolina nana said...

Glad that new nest didn't stay empty this year. I'll say a prayer for your friend Eileen,hopefully she will lean on the Lord at this time.
Blessings to you Marilyn

imac said...

We have had a family of Blue-tits for 2 yrs, but this year they decided not to nest with us, but Blackbirds have nested in one of our bushes with 3 babies.

So sorry to hear the sad news, esp at that age too.
You are right tho, about blog friends.

Glenda said...

So glad you were able to do what you love to do - or one of the things, I should say - and photograph your beautiful bluebirds! We have baby bluebirds, too! Great shots and info!

I'm so sorry about the terrible loss of your friend and will be praying for her.

The Retired One said...

Adorable photos, Betsy! I am so happy for you that your bluebirds came back and nested there after all..they must have felt the love you have for them...
speaking of which, I am sooo sorry about your friend's loss...I stopped by her blog and sent her some love...it must be awful for her. Such a shock. You are right, none of us ever know when someone we love will be lost. How devastating.
I hope you recuperate soon and that you won't get postop pain in your knee.
Sending good wishes for your broken heart and healing body.
P.S. Don't forget to send in a photo of a flower into my June free photo contest!!!!

Janie said...

The bluebird pics are wonderful. Interesting that the dad keeps the nest clean.
I'm so sorry for your friend Eileen's loss. Her husband was so young (younger than Steve), and they had had so little time together.

LV said...

Seems like when it rains it pours. You have been faced with that terrible knee problem and now the loss of a dear friends husband. I trust you will soon be back on your feet climbing again. I will visit your friend Eileen's post. Take care.

Carletta said...

I thought our bluebirds had had their little ones while we were away but I saw one fly out of the box today.
You are right, they are quick. I have no shots. I hope you get some of the babies.
So sorry to hear about your friend's loss. I would be devastated in her shoes. Like you've said we never know.
I'll be sure to pop by.
In the meantime, hugs for you Betsy.

Unknown said...

Those Bluebirds are just gorgeous, I have never seen one but now hope I do one day.

And I am so sorry for your friends loss, that is just tragic, I will be sure to visit her.

Wendy said...

I am so sorry for Eileen's loss. Life sure has a way of hitting us just when we least expect it. So sad and so sudden! I will visit her blog.

Oh, I quite agree - bloggers are wonderful friends. Real friends! Not just words on the screen. Real people - and so precious.

Loved your bluebirds. Keep posting those pics.

Hugs

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: I wish I had Bluebirds in my yard but they seem to like hilly terrain. You got some neat shots with a lot of color.

Joy said...

Betsy, I'm so glad you did this for Eileen. My heart has been so burdened for her the last few days. She is such a beautiful, special lady and its hard to imagine this loss for her.
I'm praying for her along with yo and many others. I know God will pull her thru this.
♥ Joy

Reanaclaire said...

Beautiful bluebirds photos here.. have a nice day Betsy..

Cheryl said...

I am so pleased that the bluebird house is full of "guests". All three of my bluebird boxes are and I am thrilled. I haven't been near mine but now I am intrigued about how they will leave it when they "check-out". I am so very sorry about your friend's loss, and it is so very true that blogger friends are true friends! We all seem to share a very special bond!

SquirrelQueen said...

I am so sorry to hear about your friend Eileen's loss. I visited her blog and left a note. It had to be a devastating experience for her.

The little Bluebird are so cute, I'm glad Mom & Dad finally decided to move into the nestbox.

SquirrelQueen said...

PS, In case you are wondering why I haven't been posting much my internet connection has been on the fritz. The cable company had trucks in our neighborhood today and so far it is working fine. Now if Blogger will just behave!!!

Pedaling said...

just heartbreaking.

i will visit your friends blog.
what a wonderful support, i'm sure it is for her to have connections like this with you and others.

blog friendships are important.

ps- didn't know the history of you and your honey, either.
so fun to learn the little details.