Sandra Heska King

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when a kestrel invades my view

May 24, 2013 By Sandra Heska King

view

 

I’m standing on tiptoe at the kitchen counter. Steamy tendrils rise from my blue mug, the one with the yellow interior and yellow chicken on the side. I cup my hands around the warmth, sip hot Nantucket Blend. I’m listening to the news about a collapsed bridge in Washington state, and I sigh and lift a prayer.

The sun splashes lemon across green, washes the peafowl house/chicken house/storage shed, spills over yard and field, shines at the door of the bluebird house. I wonder if the babies’ eyes have slitted enough to see the light.

Yesterday I filled the feeder with dried and live mealworms and watched Mama and Papa busy themselves for the longest time flying back and forth. I’m worried. I put out food a couple times a day, and check the babies once a day. I’ll be gone for a couple days, and nobody else here is as enamoured as I am.

Will they be okay?

mama and papa

papa feeding

I take one last swig of coffee. I need to go out and feed now. But first I grab the binoculars and survey the view one more time. There’s Papa. And that’s not a mealworm dangling.

I think they’ll be okay.

papa and a worm

 

P.S. As I was writing this at the kitchen table, I glanced out the window. And then looked again. I’m not so sure now about the future fate of my grandbaby blues. Sparrows have taken over the house on the side yard. And this (I’ve never seen one before) would like to have them for lunch. I have a love-hate relationship with this view.

kestrel

American kestrel
(click to enlarge)

 

Still heart thumping,

Sandy

Joining Lisa Jo and the Five Minute Friday community

on the prompt VIEW

 

Five Minute Friday

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Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. Rachael @ Inking the Heart says

    May 24, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    Praying for safety for your little ones! The circle of life can be brutal sometimes…Thanks so much for sharing your words, your heart and your photos. All are beautiful! Linking up after you at 5 minute Friday

    • Sandra says

      May 25, 2013 at 9:15 am

      Thank you for stopping by, Rachael. Yes, that circle of life… We’ve put guards at the entrances now. 🙂

  2. denise says

    May 24, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    Really nice post.

    • Sandra says

      May 25, 2013 at 9:16 am

      Thank you, friend. Happy weekend to you.

  3. Cheryl Smith says

    May 24, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Life always has its risks, doesn’t it?

    And yet, we know that he cares even for the flowers of the field and the birds of the air.

    • Sandra says

      May 25, 2013 at 9:16 am

      True that. (Nice to see you here!)

  4. Karin Deaver says

    May 24, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    I love this post. The pictures took me away for a moment. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

    • Sandra says

      May 25, 2013 at 9:17 am

      As good as Calgon? 😉

      Thank you, Karin.

  5. Lori says

    May 24, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    Sandy…..you place just looks so doggone peaceful I want to be sitting in a nice sunny spot with a book!! So inviting. I love the pictures. I would be bird-watching all weekend….SIGH Lori

    • Sandra says

      May 25, 2013 at 9:18 am

      I don’t get much reading done when I’m out in the yard. Or near a window. 🙂

  6. Mia says

    May 24, 2013 at 3:43 pm

    Dear Sandra
    What a beautiful view! Just outside my bedroom window grows a palm tree. It is full of finch nests; at times nearly 20-30! You can just think the beautiful noise they make in the mornings when they wake up! Your birdies will be okay for they have a Father who feeds them.
    Much love from FMF
    Mia

    • Sandra says

      May 25, 2013 at 9:33 am

      Twenty or thirty nests in one tree?!

      Wow. Yes, our Father feeds them. But he also feeds the kestrel. I’d prefer he’d feed it something I didn’t know. 😉

      Much love to you, too, Mia.

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