Bird Watching

After visiting my dad today, Abbie and I went to my mom's house. She was just finishing up a Butterscotch Pie. We sat and talked while Abbie and I ate a late lunch. Eventually, we ate a piece of pie (Mom couldn't wait for it to completely cool). It was delicious! I have the recipe and might make one this week.

At her house, we always hang out in the kitchen. She has her rocking chair facing the backyard where she does a lot of bird watching. She kept telling us about all the bird happenings - which birds were building nests, which birds she has seen lately, etc. She also has full view of her bird bath which is quite a popular hangout. Birds were in and out of it, splashing and drinking, the whole time we were there.
After scraping the pie plate clean, we went outside so Abbie could swing. Mom has a wooden, bench-style (porch) swing mounted on big square beams (with ivy growing and climbing all around - it is idyllic). On either end, she has regular, child-size swings. She and I sat together in the porch swing while Abbie ran around nearby. The bird play-by-play continued. She knows all the regulars - the bluebirds, the wrens, finches, chickadees, mockingbirds, starlings, house martins, etc.
Basically, my mom's backyard is a nice habitat for birds and butterflies. She also has a fish pond, and we saw a frog in it today. There is nothing formal about her gardens - she plants what she wants, where she wants without any any true planning for curb appeal. She grows many plants that the butterflies like, and she has the birdbath, numerous bird houses and gourds and lots of places for a bird to perch. She also has a grape arbor (not sure if arbor is the right word, but she has one, whatever it is). The birds love perching there and building nests.

I love sitting with her, shooting the breeze. We don't discuss politics or gossip about family or talk about anything "heavy." Bird watching is fine with me!