random thoughts – Day 1,155 – (Tuesday) – building boom

New addition - before the big wind.

There has been lots of construction activity at the drainpipe birdhouse the past few days. The little brown birds have been very industrious and this morning it looked like a second story had been added to the base nest that has been there for several years. 

The walls were much higher and fresher looking than even yesterday. Green grass and feathers had been added, along with dried dead grass. The effect was something like modern art or a crazy hat.

It was also windy, and at one point in the day, the newly added top seemed to have disappeared. Later it had been built back higher again. Busy birds. 

Tall and flowery.

In other nature news, there was a wasp buzzing around in the remote office for a few uncomfortable minutes. It kept heading for the windows and crawling on the curtains. When it buzzed in my hair, the surprisingly sane response was to run to the door and open it. It must have gone outside because I didn’t see or hear it again. I was pretty impressed I didn't panic.

The Columbine plant growing in the foundation crack is dramatically taller and more flowery than the ones that are perpetually chomped in the flower bed. It’s doing well, but even so, there are two flower stems that were chomped off. I used to blame the groundhogs, but I haven't seen any of them this year, and none of the grass and weeds at their entry points are disturbed.