Secret Pleasures

Beautiful things happen when it's 95 degrees outside and you choose to have nothing to do but lay on a lounge chair shaded by a big blue umbrella and eat a bowl of cherries while indulging in your secret guilty pleasure. Reading celebrity cookbooks. Don't worry, your secret dorky pleasure is safe with me. And Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Seinfeld.

Camouflage

Today I saw two camouflage pickup trucks drive down the road. If they were trying to disguise themselves as a tree, they failed. I saw them. Clear as day. Playing loud rap music also blows the whole blending into your surroundings thing which I thought was the whole purpose of camouflage. They would make terrible spies. I should let them borrow this twiggy leaf hat I made. You can barely see me, right? I'm blending right in.

Bananas

You buy bananas every week. They look healthy and adorable hanging from your banana tree fruit rack. You like frozen bananas in your smoothies. Banana bread. Banana and nut muffins. Little cut up banana pieces in your oatmeal. It delights you that it comes in a natural travel case. But to sit there and eat a banana and say "Wow, I love bananas!" It never happens. It's your fall back fruit. You're safe with the banana.
I do like picking at the pieces that get too squishy and end up in the compost pile but I don't want you to buy any this week. Buy some cherries. Stop playing it safe with the banana. Get wild.

Crazy as a Loon

A Strawberry Moon

in June

doesn't make me sing a different tune

I'm a tiny bit offended by "crazy as a loon"

I haven't been made mad by the power of the moon

I'm not digging through the garbage like a hoodlum raccoon

or staring at you like an ass scratching baboon

The one I love, my heart, that goon

He sings to me sweetly, my handsome common loon 

On the evening before the Strawberry Moon

Between Two Loons

Our calls have been called

Mournful

Haunting

Before the day ends

Longing for you

I cry out

Where are you?

You answer

I'm over here

Waiting to kiss you good night

My Family

When they fly away, 

I miss them.

Graduation Day

Thirteen years just went by really really fast. 

It’s all so cliche.

I blinked and this happened. 

Also, I might be a little hungover.

Did someone pour wine in the birdbath yesterday?

Party success.

Ten Minutes

Today, finding 10 minutes to crank out a bird

seemed absurd

With all there has been to do

it's finally quiet for a minute or two

Firing up the grill

Beer is on ice to chill

All the preparation is done

You're ready for some fun

Family is here

The Graduate, so beautiful, so dear

Dear God, a tiny request

from me and my guests

Make the rain stop

So party is not a flop

Cheers

What are those loud, witchy, cackling noises?

Is it coming from inside the house?

Oh geeze. 

You AND your sister are in there?

I hope the roof doesn't blow off. 

You should have passed out earplugs to your neighbors. 

Let the party weekend commence. 

Clink. Clink. Cheers to sister love.  

Summer Solstice

Did you hear?

It's the longest day of the year

Fireflies

Blueberry pies

Zucchini blossoms

Backyard Possums

The key

for me to stay awake until 9:30?

Sip tea

In this tree

Then it's pink pajamas

For this Mamma

Marshmallow Escalators

Standing here in the middle of your driveway, I'm outside of my comfort zone. I feel like I am prey to that nasty crow who always makes me feel like I did him wrong and he is waiting to catch me and scratch my eyes out. But I'm willing to feel uncomfortable so that I can be closer to you and amuse you by twitching my head from side to side. I know how that makes you giggle.
Remember the reoccurring nightmares you used to have when Lily was little? Like the one where you left her on top of the car in her car seat and drove down the highway? Or being separated in a department store with escalators that where made of marshmallows and you would sink into them and never be able to go fast enough to search for her? The horror of it all would jolt you awake only to find her warm little body next to yours. If she was lost, no one would every know that the only way she falls asleep is if she put her pointer finger in your mouth. Or that no amount of baby whispering tricks would get her to sleep in her own bed. The not knowing, I imagine that is every parents nightmare.
So, maybe step out of your comfort zone and scream a little bit about the horrible situation that is happening with migrant children. I know, screaming is not your thing. But do something. You laying there on the lounge chair staring at an empty bird feeder is doing no one any good. Especially me.
Those kids must be so scared to not be at home.
They must be so scared to not be with someone who loves them before they fall asleep.

Summer Magic

The most magical part of summer just happened...

I saw my first firefly.

Tree Living

One of the best things about living in this tree?

There is no television. I can tell by the look on your face that you watched the news and saw another scared child without her Mom.

You're humans. You can do better than this. 

#keepfamiliestogether

Dave

I've noticed your eyes are the same shape. The same color. He's 73. You're 49. Wow. You've known each other a long time.
He's a Master tool and die maker.
He likes car racing.
His dog.
The Erie Canal.
Fishing on the lake.
His kids.
Trains going by and things with loud motors make him happy.
For such a dude, he never seems to mind that he never had a son. He learned a lot about nail polish and girl drama. You learned how to double clutch a five speed when you could reach the pedals. Seems like a fair trade.
That is your Dad?
I can tell. You have the same smile.

Without A Care

I have flown

Alone

To destinations unknown

Once there

Without a care

I would just sit and stare

You should try this sometime

While you're still in your prime

You could sit in this chair and continue to rhyme

I Like Pie

please tell me why

it's so hard to fly

with a belly all full of strawberry pie

J.C.

Jesus Christ.
These are two more words that are frequently flying out of this beak. Like yesterday, when someone flew right in front of me and cut me off, I chirp screeched, "Jesus Christ, did you see that guy?" It's more like we are having an ongoing conversation rather than i'm constantly being disrespectful. You're one guy I really like. I'm pretty sure you never would have stolen my pink hat and played frisbee with it with one of your Apostles.
I don't know what heaven is like but if you ever get annoyed in the spirit world, it would be okay with me if you muttered Blue Bird under your breath. You probably don't get too annoyed though do you? Because, like, you're Jesus.
But if you need to, I'd be honored.
Peace out J.C.

A Swearer

God, since I have your ear about the jumping spider, I have another question. Do you get mad at me when I swear and use your name? For the record, I’m legitimately trying to quit swearing but it's not going so great.
That time when I flew into the window really hard and almost broke my beak off, I yelled God damn it after I regained consciousness and shook it off. I didn’t mean to dishonor you. With the upmost respect, I really truly did want you to damn that window.
You're not too mad?
I'm just a bird so my overall level of sinning feels pretty small.
Ok, ok, I'll try harder to stop swearing.

Jumping Spider

I'm not very picky about my insect snacks. I do however draw the line with that jumping spider. This is exactly why you're on your own with that giant one on the hose spigot. You, staring wide eyed, back and forth between me and the spider is in no way luring me to eat him so you can turn the hose off.
This is your big plan?
Someone has to eat the spider?
One of us has to make a move. I'm betting it's going to be you. I can sit here all night. You will eventually whine for your pajamas and need to turn the hose off before the basement floods.
Funny, where is that idiot Blue Jay when we need him? He'd probably eat it.
Why God?
Why does he need to have the ability to lunge himself at me from a mile away with those gigantic beady eyes?
Why the jumping spider?
I have so many questions.

Wise Friends

Oh sweet Blue Bird. Trust your wise old friend on this one. Jerks have been making messes and screeching since the beginning of time. They kind of have to get sprinkled into the mix. It helps the good ones to really sparkle. 

Oh. This bikini top? It was just hanging from a tree branch. I love me in pink. 

Later at the Bird Bath....

Did you see what he did?

The Blue Jay!

That loud mouth know it all show off.

He took my pink hat.

Him and that crow played frisbee with it. 

He splashed all around.

Made a mess. 

Ate my snack. 

Then flew away screeching like a madman. 

Wait.

Do you think he has a crush on me?

Is being a jerk a new mating ritual?

I'm hanging my suit out to dry. 

This is all too confusing and scary. 

Toast Crumbs

I do not accept bread to be the antichrist. So please, keep throwing your toast crumbs by the bird feeder. I've wiggled into this bikini and my squishy bits and I will be at the bird bath soaking up the sun and thanking God for putting wheat on the menu.
P.S. A little speck of blueberry jam would also be ok.

Light

When I hear creepy noises, I have to
remind myself not to be afraid in the dark.

For all my days on this earth so far,
the sun has never failed to show up. 

I can always find a little light. 

I'm one of the lucky ones. 

Under the Stars

I got the best ideas for figuring out my sticky

situations while laying here under the stars.

I didn’t need my therapist.

I just needed the day to end.

Dripping

the rain

is dripping on my head

drip 

drip

drip

it's making me sleepy

my eyes are closing

you're in the house

listening

it's peaceful, the dripping

we both feel the same way

grateful for a place 

to call home

when it's raining

More on Vulnerability...

In addition to showing up with no pants on, singing in public also makes me feel vulnerable. It's too bad. It crushes my rock star fantasy. I'm fine when it's just us in our own yard. Get me in front of a flock, i'll just about faint if you ask me to sing. Just put a bag over my head so I can't see anyone looking at me. Then i'll carry on like a canary. All this is baby stuff compared to being in love. Nothing feels more vulnerable than that.

Vulnerable

Thanks for the Carhartts.

I watched one episode of Naked and Afraid and feel so vulnerable.
Damn that man for bending over to build a camp fire. 

Parade Day

How sweet it is to sit in your front yard with the people you love the most in the whole world and watch a parade march by. The only thing I would change, if I could, would be throwing sunflower seeds instead of candy. I'm pretty much always thinking about my next snack.

Afternoon Snacks

Nom nom nom...

There is now one less cricket for you to chit chat with. 

Kooky

I know you have concerns about becoming a kooky not so young person that lives alone with a flock of freeloading stray animals. Just a little tip? Maybe you wouldn't look so kooky if you if you stopped puttering around the yard talking to your vegetable plants and random insects. Pretty sure your neighbors were watching you today. I don't know. It's just a suggestion.