madame_urushiol | Housekeeping

An American Robin pair has been nesting out front in one of the decorative pine trees next to my office since before we moved in. This year, heavy April storms knocked the nest right out of the tree, and I felt so sad for them. And then the male of the pair spent almost three weeks banging against his reflection on two back windows, to the point where it drove us mental and I thought he might be brain-damaged. But no, they've been busy. This weekend Mick mentioned seeing a nest built under the deck, and this morning I went out to look at it. It's a marvelously sturdy thing, built of grasses, mud and strips of birch bark. Of course, my favorite part is the little sprig of greenery at the front:

I'm sure they'll be very happy to have us (and the dogs) away for a few days this week.

Here it is from the outside: