One last gift

I have been soooo sentimental about leaving my home of nine years but, I cannot help myself. It was such a great home. So, in the famous words of Brittany Spears "Opps.... I did it again!" (and will probably do it one more time. ;)

It was our last day at the Gold Medal home (Yes! We have named them now). Cassidy and I were almost done packing her room. All that was left was her mattresses and bed frame. I stood up to stretch, excited we were almost done.

Looking out the window, I see the rose bush I planted; a white Iceberg. Its branches covered in simple white blooms droop gracefully away from her window. But my attention becomes distracted by a House Sparrow sitting a few feet away. Seeing me look at it, the House Sparrow flies away, directing me to another bird sitting on a naked branch in the Willow tree. The leaves stripped away by the kids as they swung in its branches. Recognizing what it was, I ran up the stairs to the kitchen window and my optics. Excited at the distraction from packing and the thought of a new yard bird for our Gold medal home.

I hurriedly got my equipment in place, knowing that the ID of this bird will be difficult. Cassidy and Tanner slowly follow also excited that Mom is distracted. We watch the bird while it performs typical flycatcher behavior. Sitting on the open branch and watching for insects to dive after. Then, the flycatcher would launch off the branch to catch an insect, returning back to its perch in the willow tree. Cassidy, Tanner and I took turns looking through the spotting scope as the flycatcher repeated these movements. After a few minutes, I stopped looking at the bird and noticed my kids. Cassidy stood casually looking out the kitchen window. Tanner at the spotting scope. Both watching and commenting with delight.

Here is a photo of the Willow flycatcher we watched!