My Morning Wake-up Call

  Early this morning, I was pondering what was on the agenda for the day when I heard a happy sound just outside the living-room window.  The sound was telling me that it was to be a wonderful day!  "Cheer, cheer, cheer, cheer!"  Yep, those early morning greeters were telling me that it was to be a cheery day!  A pair of Northern Cardinals were in the Crepe Myrtle Tree about ten feet from the window.  They were examining the climbing rose bush on the old arbor to see if there was a suitable nesting site available.  The call soon turned to a almost identifiable "Bir-dy, bir-dy, bir-dy" as the male moved off to the second arbor.  The first already is inhabited by a Mockingbird family and an unidentified critter that has moved into the birdhouse.  The hole of the birdhouse was obviously not large enough so the critter took things into its own hands (paws, feet, beak, whatever!).  This arbor had no vacancies so my sweet friends looked elsewhere.

Some critter was not too happy with the doorway of the birdhouse!

  The second arbor proved to be just as disappointing to the Cardinals as the first.  A lovely pair of Mourning Doves made their usual slipshod nest in the upper right corner while a Titmouse was busy trying to coax his ladylove into the birdhouse on the left.  Things are really beginning to fill up fast in the garden!  What was this pair to do?

A pair of Cardinals just outside my window this morning.  

  After a bit, the Cardinals moved to the west side of the garden where, as of yet, no critters have claimed a homestead.  A fence post woven with rose canes seemed to be satisfactory so the birds busied themselves for the rest of the day.  The fence post is only four feet above ground and that worries me a bit with our two cats always on the prowl and with three other cats trying to call the Bayou their home.  (Stray cats seem to love it here!)  By mid-afternoon, the Cardinals were well on their way to creating a fine home.  I suppose that in a few weeks, the entire garden will be filled with the tiny chirps of baby birds!  

  Isn't it grand to wake up to happy sounds such as birds singing?  It sure makes all seem right with the world...or at least all seem right with life on the Bayou.  "Cheer, cheer, cheer!"  Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal...I love your attitude!"