I've got empty-nest syndrome again..........

For at least two weeks we've been watching the adult Carolina wrens fly to the porch steps, jump up to the rail, and turn their heads to all four compass points before landing on the window screen and jumping into the geranium box with an inchworm or a winged insect in their mouths. If one of us happened to open the kitchen door and a wren was sitting on the rail, we got scolded. The parents have been very busy jumping in and out of the container gardens foraging for bugs, searching diligently under the shed and the porch from early morning to dusk to feed their five hungry chirping babies.  Peeking into the nest from the kitchen window a few days ago,  we saw the babies with feathers.  It appeared the babies were out-growing their nest and the parents were probably exhausted trying to keep them fed.  I told Cliff the parents' behavior and routine had changed.  They spent more time sitting on porch posts on reconnaissance watching our routine and waiting for us to leave.  Friday morning I went for a hair cut and Cliff went on light duty for the fire department.  In the afternoon I noticed the quiet and the absence of scolding parents.  This is the second time this season that the wrens fledged their young without us being home.  Both nests are in our view from the dining room and kitchen but we've yet to watch them encourage the young to take flight.  

As I write, it's raining again!  The porch and yoga deck are wet every morning.

 

Frilly orange mushrooms grow everywhere.  Chanterelles are edible but these are not chanterelles so I'll just enjoy their beauty popping up all over the woods.

I found one zucchini under the gigantic leaves.  We've had lovely open blossoms but not enough butterflies or bees to pollinate.  

This week has been rough for Cliff.  Usually by Saturday he feels less fatigued, is only dizzy in the morning when he gets up and feels better as the day goes.  This morning he was still very dizzy, very tired, and distraught.  We woke to heavy clouds again, no sign of sunshine.......very depressing.  We both took a short nap after breakfast then decided to get off the mountain in search of sunshine.