The life of a single parent Robin

It all started a year ago, when a young robin came to visit my small garden on a daily basis.

Of course (s)he was rewarded for the visits by me providing little treats

Even during the winter snow, it would find a safe place to shelter in my willow tree and in the shrubs along the wall. I remember just before the worst winter weather to hit Ireland a few months ago, that (s)he would hop around my garden as if hugely agitated and nervous about the pending weather.

It is kind of sweet to build a 'relationship' with this little bird.

When I saw it checking out the nest box hanging on my studio, and bringing in moss, I was delighted. The box had been there for a few years, but there was also a cat... Obviously this had not been a great place to bring up the kids...

As far as I know it is a mammy who builds the nest, so let call it she.

Daddy came to inspect the nest. The mating ritual started, which includes the male giving food to the female. She flutters like a fledgling. Funny.

Home approved, the female sat on the nest for a few weeks, the male bringing her food.

I could see all this happening, with the best view from my bedroom and kitchen window and when lying on my settle in the greenhouse.

Teamwork!

While weeding the garden, the robin would be by my side - less than a meter away and avail of any worms who saw the light of day.

Mid May, I watched both robins taking the broken eggshells out of the nest box. They flew quiet a distance with these, presumably to not alert any predator of the site of the next.

For the past two weeks (almost) I have been watching the goings on.

Unfortunately there is only one parent now. No idea what happened to the other.

A busy job, being a single parent of 4 baby robins.

(s)he is feeding the 4 nestlings from at least 5.30 am till 9.30 pm. 

Some dedication!

When there is a cat in the garden the robin calls out a panic call and I go out to make sure the cat is out of sight. 

(s)he flies from the tree to the washing line.

Looks around to see if the coast is clear and flies the short distance to the nest.

Yesterday was the first time I saw their little heads stick out over the box- looking out for food.

The robin is soo busy with her offspring that (s)he did have time for a quick bath, but no time for a bit of grooming. she looked rough!

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A short adventure to Owennashad River in Lismore

Beautiful dying dandelion

I had friends over from Holland last week, I wanted to show them Lismore strand (Owennashad River). Of course stopping off at the bridge over the Blackwater to take photos of them and Lismore castle. 

My mobility scooter just about fits on the bridge's sidewalk, although it requires some nerve wrecking manoeuvring to not tumble of the sidewalk onto the road.

Getting to the Strand, my objective, was even more challenging. But fun. 

As staying on the road seemed a bit dangerous, I managed to get up on the sidewalk over the second bridge, but halfway down, it proved to be just a little too narrow to pass the lamppost. I could not reverse, too narrow to take that change, so I got off my scooter. Annemieke handed me my sticks, Marga and Hanna manually manoeuvred the scooter carefully around the lamppost. Must have been an interesting sight!

Anyway, we did make it to the Owennashad river, which runs alongside the Blackwater. In the summer time part of the river is dug out to make it into a pool. A beautiful spot. But unfortunately rather inaccessibly by wheelchair/scooter due to the beautiful roots of the ancient trees. My friends did walk down, and I had some glorious time sitting by the 'peddling pool' part of the river.

while my friends walked further to
Lismore Strand...

I looked at the flowers and grasses around me, like the dying dandelions. And Truly, I am mesmerized how beautiful they are.

Dandelion seed head. Just beautiful

Dandelion

Dandelion

Grey Wagtail on the river

I spotted a grey wagtail over the river too, and watched the water move over the rocks. 

The dance of nature.

Grey Wagtail on the river

Towards Lismore strand

bridge over Owennashad River 

autumn starting already

Yes, I would have liked to walk the pathway, but I was ever to pleased to be at the water's edge. Surrounded by nature.
And having the company of friends!

Snail's pace

Nature is so incredibly beautiful

I spotted this snail in the raised bird bath
while dealing with the little bird 
 a few days ago.

It takes my breath away.

Snail in the bird bath

Back Garden Bliss

In yesterday's post I wrote about the clearing of my garden, with the help of Anne.
Here a few pictures of the lovely cleared, and again tranquil garden.
My deepest gratitude for this amazing kindness of time and friendship.

Anne who so kindly helped me to clear my back garden of weeds.
I can now See the garden again,
and have clear paths.

Foxglove standing proud

The wonders called Poppies.
Never tired of looking at them.

Free path to my studio

... and free path to my herb garden

my beloved greenhouse
and Tranquil setting of Buddha, Maple and water feature

side of studio, with Hypericum shrub,
which will, after flowering be transplanted to Anne's Garden

Jasmin, just outside my studio door

Sally overseeing the cleared garden
on the steps of my studio

view from the studio

• Another follow up from Yesterday's post consists of two podcasts about dealing with M.E. and ongoing research. See HERE

For the Love of Birds

Is is remotely possible that my little Sally Cat actually rescued a fledgelings Sparrow?

two fledgelings sparrows in my garden

Sally came in my bedroom this morning with a tiny bird, which was slightly frothing at the mouth.
Sally had the same 'talk' as she does when she brings me her Teddy.
Unlike any other cat I know when it has a prey, she did not held onto it but 'gave' it to me in a way. Talking to me, and purring.

I picked up the little bird, brought it to the kitchen and put its bill in a small bowl of water. It immediately revived ...And flew off the kitchen counter and under the couch...

Today's exercise taken care of for me so!  I had to crouch on the floor, stretching my arms to reach the little bird, before trying to get up again, bird in hand to walk outside...
I put it in the grasses, in the hope it was ok.
But as Sally still had an interest in it, I thought I should make a 'safe-house' for the bird. Just in case.

Walked into my studio, found a large tub. Filled it with compost, twigs, shelter, moss, water, food... only to not being able to find the little bird again.
Neither did Sally, who watched with interest, and purred all the time...
I hope to goodness that it was able to fly away.

I went back to bed to recover from these early morning exercises. My legs are sore, my arms are hanging like useless objects along my body.

All for the Love of Birds.

fledgelings sparrow few days ago

sparrow

fledgling Great tit

Fragile

Today I aspire to be like the fragile, and yet strong poppy flower

poppy flower

While I try to hang on to those amazing moments of my trip to my country of birth, there are so many thoughts swirling through my painful and tired body. Too many to relate in the one post. 

While I re-arrange them into order in my head, and make sense of them all, the one overriding word for today is: 

FRAGILE: 

(of a person) not strong or sturdy; delicate and vulnerable.

Synonyms: weak, delicate, frail, debilitated, shaky, ill, unwell, ailing, poorly, infirm, feeble...

Origin: late 15th century (in the sense ‘morally weak’): from Latin fragilis, from frangere ‘to break’. The sense ‘liable to break’ dates from the mid 16th century. (and an interesting graft of the use of the word Fragile over time - became popular since the 60's)

Arrived

48 Hours after leaving home I finally made it to my destination. Texel. The biggest island of the Dutch north coast. You'd swear I was traveling to New Zealand, it all took so long.

It was a very eventful, challenging, frustrating, worrying, and upsetting journey. But with some beautiful moment of kindness, love and compassion. However,  I still rather had been on that scheduled flight...

The first few hours after the cancellation of the Aer Lingus flight, on which I and many others had already checked in for (see last post), was spend trying to figure out how the next step of my journey was going to happen. 

The Cork Airport Hotel staff were just absolutely amazing. They allowed me to stay in the room till 2 o'clock so at least I could have a sleep and rest before the next flight was due at 5:20pm.

The Receptionist even tried to contact Aer Lingus as she could see that the disruption of my plans were really are the air line's  problems. She felt that they should help me figure out where to stay next. And assure me I would bit end up having to pay the newly incurred costs.
You see I would not arrive in Amsterdam airport in time to be collected by my brother and brought to the island where I was staying. We would not have been in time for the ferry. And my brother was unable to pick me up that night anyway. 

So that meant that they might have to stay in a hotel at the airport in Amsterdam. That would've been a very costly stay, financially. It also brought me to tears thinking how I was going to manage with severely depleted energy, a wheelchair, and a suitcase full of books. I found it difficult to oversee all these challenges while so exhausted. The Kind receptionist even rang to find me a accessible room nearly Schiphol airport. She was so kind. (And so we're here colleagues.) We agreed that some breakfast might make me feel better and a good rest.

When I returned to the desk, she was trying to get a hold of Aer Lingus again but was unsuccessful. Around that same time I received a message from my friend Marga who offered to pick me up and I could stay with her for the night. The receptionist suggested that maybe it would be good idea to be with a friendly face, a friendly person that night to ease the stress. That was a good point. I took Marga up on her offer and she kindly collect me from the airport later that night. If I was not in a wheelchair, I would have kissed the Dutch ground...

It was so good to see her, also as it was the first time I saw her after the passing of her husband, my dear friend Gert, two months earlier. It was beautiful to be in her company to share memories. To be in the house and feel his presence. The house felt peaceful but it obviously felt strange. Gert was not there.

I am glad though that I had the opportunity to see Marga and at the same time being supported in my personal challenge.

The following morning my brother Hans  picked me up and we drove to the ferry at Den Helder and made it onto the island of Texel. We stopped briefly to look at the location of the family reunion accommodation, before driving to my hotel.

A day late.

   

Arrived in Texel!

Brothers Hans and Kees Duyn

My Brother Kees, who lives in Canada, was going to spend the few nights with me in the hotel I had booked in Texel. I figured a few days of rest before the busy weekend would make sense. And I was glad my brother Akers agreed to join me.

A few days to catch up on our lives, just the two of us before the remainder of the family arrives for the reunion. Kees arrived in Holland a week ago and had been cycling to various friends. He had arrived the day before on his bicycle in Texel. 

It was lovely to have lunch with two brothers, before finally taking ownership of my hotel-bed-and home for the next few days.

After a rest Kees brought me through the small town centre, which is full of tourists shops. We didn't get into any of them, other than a bookshop and the supermarket...

We both prefer nature. And not so many people.

It is lovely to realise how much we have in common, how we both view of the world and experience our lives.

It is very rare occasion that I can spend a few days with Kees, just the two of us. I am so enjoying this. I treasure it.

Lying on the bed, I spotted a big bird on the roof across the road. I thought it was a large crow type bird with a twig in its feet. It actually turned out to be a bird of prey. I wanted to photograph it but I did not have my camera with the telephoto lens... I saw that the birds, there were two, and their minders were walking towards the little square in front of our hotel. I asked Kees if you could please bring me outside in the wheelchair. We did and I got extremely close to this South American Falcon. I was just beautiful. And the Falconer asked if Kees wanted to have the bird land on his arm. 

Oh my goodness what an experience.

 

 

Probably my photo of the day. The accidental one. The Falcon walking away from me, me cuddling with my iPhone to get the position right...

 

So. 

I have arrived.

I am exhausted.

I am happy.

I have rested for most of my time.  And had some lovely chats, and shared comfortable silences.

My brother is out on the bike again, and later on we will take the bus to a nearby smaller village. Where I  see and smell the SEA! Maybe even get my toes into the Dutch waters.

Photography

I love, 

LOVE

taking photos...

My camera is most of the time within reach. On the table, where I spend a lot of the time looking out the window, watching the birds and the world go by.

sparrow feeing its young

I have a good camera, a Canon  EOS 1200D. The camera is heavy, especially when I attach the telephoto lens to it. BUT this lens can bring the world closer - in times when I can't get to the place I like to photograph. They are my 'legs' in a way.

I tried to film with this camera too, but my arms don't stay steady long enough, so after a year of research (and driving everyone demented with my for- and- against arguments) I purchased an iPhone.  And I must say, it does take brilliant photographs and is very easy to use in terms of filming.

Yesterday I was getting my Canon camera ready to bring to the family reunion in Holland.
I saw a sparrow feeding its young, I grabbed my camera, put the telephoto lens on it to capture that very moment of daddy feeding its offspring.
Glorious.

sparrow feeding its young

But I had great difficulty holding my camera. My right arm stayed weak from a very long time afterward. That almost brought me to tears.
If I bring my camera to Holland, I probably need to bring the (lightweight)  tripod too. And that is all too much to bring, so... I probably just bring the iPhone.

This experience brought me to share with you how I made an attachment to my wheelchair which can hold the phone. I can take pictures, or videos without having to hold it. I don't even have to reach up, as I can take pictures using the remote shutter release by connecting the headphones cable and pressing the + or - volume button.

To make my 'devise' I used a selfie-stick, bought at Dealz  (discount store) for €1.50, and a few strips of Velcro.
That is all!

homemade smart phone attachment for wheelchair

three strips of Velcro to secure the stick

hands off smart phone connection for
wheelchair

iphone on selfie stick with the
headphones connected.
the volume button functions as a
remote shutter release.