Birds, birds, birds. There are a surprising amount of birds in my life for having not grown up with a pet bird. I saw a lot of pigeons when I was really little. They lived in our dangerously old porch roof right outside my bedroom window. I just remember being told to stay away from the leaning structure, and stay away from the dirty birds.

Fast forward to today, and I have birds outside my window again. On the weekends, Jude and I will wake up and go outside and water my plants, and sometimes we’ll sit and watch the birds. I get nervous when they come close because Jude has gotten a little TOO interested lately and has gotten a little TOO close to jumping off the balcony. One day while he was temporarily unsupervised, he even caught one and brought it inside for us. So, for now we just watch the birds land on the edge of the railing from inside. It’s funny when two birds land and they talk to each other. Sometimes they have string and twigs in their mouths.

(Here’s a big thank you to my husband and uncle for helping my dad move a whole building that day!)

My parents have always farmed. More animals than I can keep track of. When I was little, they were dairy farmers, and after that outlived it’s time, they went to focusing on vegetable farming. Most of it is just self-sustaining. They grow beans and peas and carrots and eat, can, and share throughout the year. Then, my dad has TONS of corn. He farms that in the late fall and dries it to make corn pellets for corn stoves. I don’t know if that’s a common form of heating anywhere else, but in my hometown it’s been becoming a big source of fuel.

They are always experimenting. Sometimes it’s for discovery or efficiency, but sometimes it’s just for fun. This year, they adopted some little chicks to add to their farming life. These little yellow puffs chirp and chirp and fluff around all day. My old playhouse has been renovated and now houses these little dudes that have quickly become pets to my parents. So, this is one of those fun experiments.

My husband’s parents are also farmers. The last time we visited, I took a stroll out back where the birds live and checked them out. Despite being there numerous times, I’ve never really gotten in close with the birds. I didn’t even realize there were so many out there!

I believe the story for all of his dad’s birds are the same. He got them to eat, but then fell in love with them and just couldn’t. I can see that happening. Although I’ve never been super attached to birds (I’m a cat person), I’ve seen the hold they can take on people. Especially over old softies like Dad G.