The Little Bird's Nest - New Life

Late Spring: Early November 2009
It's been a few days since I last checked on the little nest. So this morning, I took a peek into the little orange tree, expecting to see the two little turquoise eggs still untouched, resting at the bottom of the nest....and there! Placing a very cautious eye on me and keeping absolutely stone-still, was a little brown bird sitting in the nest! Slowly, I felt a surge of happiness wash over my initial surprise...she's back! She did not abandon her eggs! She's back!! I was so excited that I ran into the house to inform Frank of the good news, ranting at a lightning speed of 299 792 458 m/s, and flailing my arms around wildly. Then I grabbed my handy little Canon Ixus, and rushed out to the little nest to grab a shot of her. The camera startled her, and with a flap of her wings, she was off again! Oh no! I have scared her off! Thank goodness, she came back after half an hour, and Frank got this shot of her........still keeping her cautious eye on us! Ok M'dm, we will leave you to roost and be comfortable in your little secret orange garden! :)


And guess what? There are now 4 little turquoise eggs in the little nest!!! I was squealing with joy! 2 more in additions to the previous 2 eggs! Whoopee! This is going to be a busy spring for the parents! Other than the nesting brown bird, I also noticed another smaller brown bird popping in and out of the orange tree, which I assume is the partner. And I could hear them chirping madly at me from the neighbour's apple tree when I was snooping around the orange tree: "Stay away from our home, you with the black metal eye!!" So back off I did, before they come swooping down on my head like magpies! But this little episode certainly made my day! :)
Hm.....I think it's time to buy gold lotto! Hahaha....


Late Spring: Mid November 2009
I took a peep on Monday morning while Mama Bird was away. For a moment I was confused. I counted only 2 turquoise eggs. Where are the rest of the...eggs? Then I noticed the faintest movement at the bottom of the nest....., the gentle rise and fall of the ribs on 2 tiny pinkish bodies.....and realised the eggs have hatched! They don't look like the cute, fluffy little birdies from memory. Bald, pink and wrinkled, they looked frail, almost....old. Haha....but when they started trembling, struggling to "sit up", they looked so fragile, my heart just went out to them. Aw.....i tried to take a picture but Mama Bird was getting increasingly annoyed with me, flew straight into her nest and sat right down....ok, ok, I shall take my leave Mdm! As expected, the other 2 eggs did not hatch, probably not fertilised at all. Felt a bit sorry, but then, this is nature, surivival of the fittest.
I only managed to get this shot on Tuesday morning after making sure Mama was not around. They looked more active today, and have little scraggly feathers sticking out here and there, quite comical actually! Haha....and while I was trying to focus with the weird-eyed monster, both parents came back (Yup! Even Papa Bird rushed back!!) terrified of the intruder! And the little one just stretched up, oblivious to all the commotions going on, it's little beak wide open, crying: "Feed me Mama!"
This made my day again! :)



And here's Tommy Lee, the odd-eye white cat! Top alleyway scavenger in Yarraville, and terror of roof-tops! I can hear him most mornings scampering across our roof, trying to spring out at those plump pigeons! You leave the little nest alone now odd-eyed Tom, or I will come sweeping after you with my trusty broom!

The Little Bird's Nest

Late Spring: late October 2009

While Frank's parents were visiting, Mum told us she's found a bird's nest in our orange tree! So I checked it out....and there it was, built snugly among the branches, enveloped by the sweet smell of orange blossoms...the little bird's nest! What a nice surprise!

I took a closer look with my camera, and found 2 little turquoise coloured eggs! Nice! I was starting to imagine 2 cute little nestling with their hungry beaks wide open, ready for any grubs and such that their doting mother would bring....it was then that I realised, the mother bird did not seem to be anywhere near the nest.

Every other day I would do a quick check on the nest. The little turquoise eggs remained in the exact same position, untouched, and the mother bird nowhere to be found. After 2 weeks, we came to the conclusion that the nest had been abandoned....maybe the mother bird had flown away, "eloped with another lover bird", or more simply...met with an accident, and never made it back to the nest....maybe odd-eyed Tom got her on one of his morning rampages across our roof! Horror!!! Whatever the reason, I certainly hope that next spring, the nest will be occupied by a new pair of matings, and we will be able to hear the hungry chirping of baby nestlings in that same nest....and by summer, when the fledgelings take their first flight into their new lives, the nest will be empty again, ready for the next spring and it's new occupants..... :)

Bring on the Weber & Light the Lanterns!

It was just a week after the mid-autumn festival and Frank's parents were here for a short visit. Being the foodies we are, we decided to throw them a Weber feast!

We also lit up the garden with the leftover lanterns from the Mooncake party, transforming our backyard into a romantic little fairyland....I think our backyard looks better at night then during the day! Hahaha....

Here's the chef for the night, Mr. Franko! He's got the swordfish steaks going on in the Weber at the moment! Yummy!

We had fresh coffin bay oysters to start off, then got on to the quails! Herbed butter was stuffed under the skin, and these beauties were roasted in the weber until a golden brown, and succulent to the bone! Delicious!

Dad looked really busy here, he can't decide where to start! Too much food! "Should I go for the fish, or the stuffed capsicum? hmmm...the fenel and roasted tomato salad don't look too shabby either! Ooo...decisions, decisions, decisions..." :D

Mmmmm....that was finger-licking good! Burp!!! What's for dessert guys?

Foods that Taste as Good as they Look!

Late Spring: Late October 2009

Woke up this morning, did my usual routine checks around the garden....these cheery, bright orange flowers caught my eye...our nasturtiums are finally flowering! And the best thing is, they are edible! The flowers, although slightly peppery in taste, are often used in salads or stir-fry. So they are really perfect for growing in gardens with kids running loose!

We are still waiting for the lettuce and rockets to grow. It seemed odd that they are already flowering? The flowers look quite pretty though, with a web of fine red veins running through the cream white petals...so delicate.

The rainbow chards are growing fast! Judging from the hole-ridden leaves, I think we better harvest them soon before the snails get to them again!

Do you like my bouquet of rainbow chards!? Full of snail bitten holes but still edible!!! Yum Yum!

Peas in Training...1, 2, 3, 4, Up that Wall!

Late Spring: Late October 2009

The peas seemed to have gained a new surge of energy from the fresh spring air! They are starting to creep up, reaching, stretching across the the black rubber fence we set up for them.....

Some still need training though....c'mon little one....

Most of the snowpeas are doing quite well, but the sugarsnaps paled in performance.....maybe it's the soil, maybe its the weather...maybe it's those bloody snails!!!...or those birds!!!! %^$#&$*@

A nice snowpea all ready for harvest! :)


They come in all different sizes! Some no bigger than my pinkie! Hahaha.....

....and, that's a dorky shot of me pointing gleefully at the winning peashoot, climbing ever so slowly up the fence...

A Perfect Pea Pod

Late Spring: Early October 2009
Our first baby sugar-snap pea pod!!! It looked so pretty, so plump, so perfect.....then slowly, my eyes were drawn to the slob of grossly disturbing black and white slimy substance, set against the fresh green pea skin....birds!!! @%^$%(*!! SHIT... :S

Happy Suns!

I love sunflowers! They exude so much happiness! Frank got me these from the florists, bringing me much needed cheer to my long day. Needless to say, I was delighted! Though, cut flowers usually do not last long, so next year, I will definitely be growing these happy sunshines in our garden!