da capo

We're standing beneath the rafters of our new (inexplicably ceiling-less) front porch.  A pile of sharp-scented pine beadboard behind us, finish nailer in hand, we're determined to close up this space before our doing so would break up bird families.  We don't have much time.  Now, in January, the birds are already chasing each other idiotically between the beams, secure in the knowledge that when their flirting comes to an end, their nests are already made.  

And this all feels so very familiar. 

After a difficult year, very little of which even bears mention, we are here:

This is the view from the back porch.  The coyotes have a rowdy block party out in this canyon at dusk every night. 

The house:

Oh, no, wait, that's the doghouse.  I did try to take a picture of the house for you, but it would have required standing IN the avocado trees across the road, and although I was game, by the time I was in there my camera saw only leaves.  

The place where our garden will be: 

What will become the chicken coop:

The creek that chuckles along below the back windows, accompanying the frogs in the night symphony:

The avocado tree that sends Father Bird into transports of joy:

...and the trails that lead into the mysterious woods where our children are relearning how to love the outdoors. 

I did try to steer us toward a home where there was less work to be done, a place where we could put our feet up for a while, but in the end, we came to a place where there are things to be built, things to be planted, things that need fixing, painting, tending...

In short, a place where we will be comfortable doing what we do.  A new nest.  And so we line up our yellow-and-black boxes of power tools on the workbench, order seeds for the garden, and take a deep, deep breath.  

Time to take it from the top. 

~MB~

Comments

[nichole]

Why, there you are! And with an avocado tree! The very thought of having avocados in my yard makes me swoon.

[e.]

I have powers that I can't even comprehend. I'm going to start blasting off emails to people with ridiculous requests just to test my new-found strength! I kid. But I do love this post! And I'm going back to take a second gander at your view. Good gracious, it looks like paradise!

[Amy]

Been missing your posts! I'm sure you've been cuh-rAzy busy but I figured it's always nice to hear when you are missed. Looking forward to being an avid Mother Bird reader again!

[Cindy]

Hooray you're back! And I am so jealous of the avocado tree too...

[Amber]

Yea new post! Yea new nest! Yea babies and porches and woodsey bits and all things Howe!