Lloyd noticed a jiggling here and there among the flowers by the falls.  Now and then, we saw just the head of the chipmunk rise above the flowers, as though he was standing on tiptoe.  What was he up to?

Ah!  He found The Northwest Passage!  There he was . . . slaking his thirst from a secret passageway in the rocks!

Who should appear in the entryway of Cedar Shake of the Black Pole but the fledgling chickadee?

Now don’t call me a Momma’s boy, he seemed to say.  Can’t a buddy pop back home now and then for a suntan on the balcony?  There’s no place like home!

John came over to help us dig out the purple smoke bush which had winter-killed.  Whenever he sat on the lawn swing, something bugged him.  A winter ice storm had broken a branch on the black walnut tree, and it dangled menacingly above the path that runs behind our fence.  John climbed a ladder into the tree and stood on a big limb.  However, from this sturdy perch in the walnut tree, he was unable to sever the vertical danger with the branch-lopper gizmo.  Not to be beat, he lassoed the offending branch, descended to the ground, and pulled on the rope for all he was worth until it snapped off!

Today was one of the loveliest days this spring!  John took a break from working on our website to join us on the back deck for some lemon-iced tea.  A recently fledged chickadee alighted on top of the shepherd’s crook which holds the hummingbird feeder.  Hanging onto the metal perch for dear life, glancing back and forth, soon his mother brought some fast food on the wing. Gulp! Looking like his feet would slip any moment, he clung on awkwardly while we could scarcely take our eyes off of him, sure he would lose his grip.  Zoom!  Back he flew into his Cedar Shake home!  This big old world was just too much for him.

Had Princess Hummer been watching all of this?

What’s so special about this curved perch anyway?  Better check it out.  I might be missing something, she said.

 Meanwhile, Lady Wren’s curiosity got the best of her.  She just had to check out Swiss Chalet on Black Walnut Lane which John put on the market a few hours earlier.  Standing on the tiny perch, you could almost hear her musing:  Would this offer more privacy than Château de la Gourde?  I’m sure it would be cooler when the leaves come out.

Wanting to let the zephyr breezes in , Lloyd and his 57-day old left knee carefully mounted a sturdy kitchen ladder.   (His old right knee went along, too.)  From this aluminum perch, using a drill, he removed the screws from the frame holding the heavy glass storm door in place, which John lifted down and stored away. 

Walnut perches, both large and tiny, wrought iron perch round and smooth, aluminum four-legged perch . . .  each stayed firmly and dependably in place while trod upon by young and old – human and winged – enabling them to carry out their tasks on this delightful day of blue sky and cotton-batting clouds!    

Sunday afternoon was spent dealing in real estate.  We were holding the mortgages, and offered 0% interest. The market was sizzling!

Our first sale was to Mother Chickadee who bought the Cedar Shake house on Black Pole Lane.

The next purchaser was a petite opera singer, who chose an exclusive property with designer-fashion lines, no less, called Château de la Gourde. 

Mother Wren must have pre-booked the movers, unbeknownst to us.  Before we knew it, she was hauling in a snow-white bassinet!  Oh yes, the interior colour scheme must reflect that of the exterior.  This was one high-class lady, folks!

Another purchaser had signed on the dotted line a few days earlier for a lot in Whispering Cedars.  She was making a chipping sound from within the deep recesses of the home she was constructing.  We forgot to check whether she had a building permit, but I’m sure her husband had taken care of those papers.  He was one handsome dude, and sported a suit jacket of shocking red!

Meanwhile, a fierce rousting-out was going on around the red drive-in restaurant on our property, and it wasn’t even listed with MLS!  I’m hoping the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird wins the competition with its plainer relative.  From our seats on the lawn swing, we kept good and clear of the pointy bills that were definitely exceeding the speed limit as they cruised past.  Yes, Sir, spring sure is the time to sell property!

Horrors!  Mr. Gold Finch alighted on top of Château de la Gourde!  Quick!   Where’s that SOLD sign?   The House Wren has already signed the Offer to Purchase, and we’ve accepted it!!