Sorry this is late...

...but it's been a busy weekend.

In birdie news, we've had a tragedy. You know the Dark-eyed Junco that was nesting in my beautiful purple fuchsia...well on Friday morning I thought she was out of her nest, so I took down the fuchsia to see the two babies...mistake #1. Mom wasn't out the nest and she flew up and was squawking at me...then the one baby in nest (where was the other one?) jumped out of the nest!!! So I quickly scooped it up and put it back and then hung up the fuchsia so mom would calm down. I went downstairs on the computer to see if I shouldn't have touched the baby, but I learned that it is an old wives tale and the mom will be okay with it. So, I go back upstairs to see how things are in the nest and the little baby has left the nest and is sitting on a branch...oh, my heart!! I don't want to touch him again, so I went back to the computer and found out that, by his appearance, he was at the fledgling stage...and they do sometimes leave the nest. I was so worried about him. I kept checking on him the rest of the day and he would move from the branch to the nest and back to a branch. I think he was trying to get up the nerve to jump. Which he eventually did!!! He ran to the edge of deck...so I ran into the yard to get him before he could fall...it was about a 3 foot drop...but I didn't make it and he jumped onto the ground and started running. I was following him...then mom appeared and he ran straight for her and they disappeared in the shrubbery. I thought I was helping...mistake #2...but I realized I was probably scaring them both to death...a crazed old lady with a wild top knot running after them!  I found out that it's not uncommon for this to happen and the mom will stay with the fledgling until it is able to fly. Whew!!

Then I was poop-scooping, as one does when you have dogs, I found the other baby bird! He was laying on the steps of the deck away from the nest. I knew it was the missing one because the other one had just made it's escape with mom on the other side of the yard. So sad. He didn't look like he had been bitten or anything, so he must have just died when he left the nest. I took a photo...so don't look if your squeamish! I wrapped him up and buried him. Poor baby.

I'm not sure I can take this much longer...my heart breaks when this stuff happens.

This is what my beautiful purple fuchsia looked like after all the tragedy.  See the one lone bloom and the bird nest?  I read that Dark-eyed Juncos do not reuse their nests...but I'm leaving it in there in case another bird wants to use some of the twigs and moss.

I cut it back...gave it a good watering and some food and hopefully it will bloom again.

In other news...I got a new toy.  A Worx Hedge Trimmer so I can keep our Boxwood under control.  It's been growing wild since I planted it many years ago.  I have a few Worx garden tools and I love them because they are battery powered and light weight...just perfect for a great-grandma!!

I also hosted our Saturday with Kimberly here this month but I forgot to take any photos.  Since Sharon passed Kim has been coming over on the first Saturday of every month because her aunties are her moms now.  We craft and have good food...it's a fun time.

Just wanted to let you know, if you've been wondering, the Smith family in Texas are all fine.  I talked to Laura and Hannah today and the flooding is about four hours south of them.  Tho, they have been experiencing torrential rains, there has been no flooding.  

Well, that's all the news...I hope you are all doing well and have a wonderful week!!!