Hello little friend

My wife has become fascinated with a little bird friend that keeps visiting our backyard. The bird comes every morning and evening, perching itself on the far edge of the deck. The little guy peaks into our kitchen window and sings my wife a song. We’re by no means bird people, but my wife thinks it’s a wren.

Wrens are small, active birds, brown in color, that perch with their tails straight up in the air. They forage in thick brush and marshes on insects and spiders. The Carolina Wren and the House Wren are common in our area and they make a variety of chatters, rattles, and scolds, often in response to large animals that might be predators.

When my wife and I bought our house years ago, we liked that it backed up to a township building and a small woods, but we were starting a family and had bigger needs. The woods were a plus, but the third bedroom, where we created a nursery, was our bigger concern.

Okay, let me restate that, our biggest concern was survival and just getting through those first days of bringing our baby home from the hospital. I’m still surprised they let us leave the hospital. They had to be crazy.

Anyway, our house has served us well over the years, but, as we’ve aged, I’ve found that the woods and quiet have taken on greater importance. It wasn’t quiet like this, but one summer I said to my wife, “Hey look honey, did you know we have a backyard. It’s actually pretty nice.” Oh sure, I knew it because I had to mow the “damn hill” that takes up much of the yard, but it was still a revelation when I noticed the peace and calm.

I’m grateful that we have a place that’s green and helps us close off the rest of the world. I’m even grateful for our little wren friend and the squirrels and rabbits and the occasional deer who eat my plants.

Hello my little friends.