Nesting @ MindSay

I am apparently nesting.

Except for that bit where the current nest is driving me crazy, and I want to fly off somewhere else and build anew.

I want to paint something blue. A bedroom, I think. Possibly an office, but I doubt it. No! Bathroom! Soft blue bathroom! Yes!!

I've been mildly internally obsessed with the notion of having my own cat. I like the idea of having me, and my own space, and sharing it with my cat. I'm big on adopting from shelters, if no one's picked that up. I'm well-aware that I can't have a cat in my dorm at Mountain School, so lately I'm just going a little plant-happy. I need something to care for and occasionally fuss over, and I can't count on my future roommate being willing to fill the position.

For the record, no, I will probably never date someone who dislikes animals. Animals, kids, my sisters - gotta get along with all three. But I'm also a little antsy lately about being caught at all. Having my own space has a strong appeal.

There's actually a kind of pleasure derived from taking care of one's own space - just the basics of keeping it clean and happy. Admittedly, my knowledge of plumbing goes about as far as, "What not to flush," and the basics of unclogging a toilet. Construction is not much better. I can hang pictures, I should probably be supervised for a shelf. I have a list of skills to learn.

Sometime, before I'm married, I want to have a time when I'm totally living alone. With my cat**. I'm okay with the notion of being engaged at this time, I'm okay with the notion of being totally single. But I want to have some time, at least a year, of making a home on my own before I start making a home with someone else.

Besides, I occasionally have goofy tastes, and I don't care to inflict them on anyone who'd be suffering through them.


<sub>*Jeremy is not going to cut it. Jeremy's the cactus I've had since I was fifteen. He'd very likely do just fine if I only watered him once a month - I think he takes moisture out of the air. He needs occasional watering, and about every year and a half, a new pot. This makes me think he's getting too much water. Something this low-maintenance does not calm the sensation of, "MUST CARE MUST CARE!!"

**It is not that I do not care for dogs. I do, very much so. But I tend to prefer medium-to-large dogs (particularly working breeds), and I feel that the sort of apartment I'm thinking of will not be ideal for said pup's needs. I have big issues with people who get animals and think of them as accessories - if you're going to keep something alive, be aware that it will not always be convenient and cute. You are responsible for caring for what you've claimed and tamed.</sub>

So, there's nothing like signing a new lease at your apartments to set a girl to nesting...

As the 5 million (exageration of course) telemarkers calling me this morning refused to let me sleep in, I found myself in the mood to do some re-arranging around the house. 

I had been letting a few things slide while I made up my mind about moving.  Awww...

It looks like people live here.  Isn't that special?  No more dining room that just looks like a cluttered mess I am forced to pass thru. Yeah!

6

The spirit of emptiness is immortal.
It is called the Great Mother
because it gives birth to Heaven and Earth.

It is like a vapor,
barely seen but always present.
Use it effortlessly.

 

My alarm clock just had babies.

Once more, as is often on Wednesday nights, I’m zonked. But still wanted to post these cute pics of our Carolina Wrens’ family home construction. I took these a couple of weeks ago one morning when I SHOULD have been getting ready to go to work. I was so intent on getting some shots of the mother, that I completely missed what was probably the BEST photo opportunity…the male, who was supervising the female’s building activities and who was clearly disturbed about my photography. He sat on the back of the porch rocker and dressed me down rather forcefully while she worked intently on arranging her mouthful of building materials. When that didn’t get rid of me, he actually hopped up into the windowsill and pressed his breast up against the glass, as he continued to threaten me, eye to eye.

I think the hen is sitting her eggs now, as we have not seen her for a while, though we do occasionally spot the male either leaving the nest or headed toward it with a spider cricket or some other similar insect in his mouth – most likely food for mama, as we have not heard any chicks yet. It should go without saying that photos of the babies will be forthcoming when we begin to hear baby peeps.

I fear my bird passion is approaching fanatic proportions. I bought a rather in-depth field guide to birding and species identification. I’m even planning on putting together an e-book in the nature of a sort of scrapbook, with pictures of all our backyard birds, identifications and summaries about the species (habits, nesting, migrations, feeding, etc.) and maybe some stories about them. I’m even beginning to envision how I might construct an area that would make great photo settings while attracting a wider variety of bird species and other wildlife.

One might be inclined to think I don’t have enough activities already, to fill my time with…