Ricky, I apologize for the lateness in posting but I also have been battling my own illness in the hospital for the past three weeks and was just released today. Even in the hospital I knew something was not right. I was extremely restless and edgy and catching up on mail today I now know why. I will always remember the way Karen made me feel welcome and a part of your home. I can still hear her laughter and see the love that shone in her eyes whenever she looked at you. You are most correct when you state that Karen was a most unique person. I just wish I had had the opportunity to get to know both of you better but my life will be forever blessed and enriched by the brief time we spent together. I agree that there will be tears and believe me many of them. There will be times when the smallest event triggers memories that shake you to your core, but there will always be those special moments when you feel her near you, smell her scent in a room and hear her whisper quietly into your ear. Your life will be enriched by dreams and special moments when she will be with you in spirit and though we should always celebrate the life a person lived there are times when we as humans find it almost impossible to carry on. I have been facing my own mortality over the past week and it is difficult to realize that life is passing me by and what do I have to show for it. I have not traveled a lot, I do not have family that consider me close and I have a handful of friends, but I know that somehow somewhere I have touched someone�s life and that gives me comfort. I am thankful that you had so many years together and that you promised Karen to continue living and enjoying life. She would most definitely desire that of you. I would love to read whatever stories you wish to share about Karen and laugh along with you. My heart goes out to you along with my prayers for strength to find solice over the weeks to come. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful and wonderful trobute to a most wonderful lady. Can you please pass the tissues now. Hugs, Linda

Same thing here in WI, we had accumulating snow on Saturday and the winds and the cold have been wicked! Haven't seen the TRES since Thursday and we had at least five to six pairs, no nestbuilding yet though. Still haven't seen a Bluebird since March 19th. It didn't even get to 40 degrees today for a high! I remember last year when we got the cold rainy weather in the middle of May, we had three eggs in two different TRES boxes. All the TRES left except for four of them who all roosted in one of the boxes that had the three eggs, I know this because I saw them all go in the box one after the other, it was weird. Once the weather got nicer the TRES in that box didn't lay any more eggs but those three eggs did hatch. In the other box that had the three eggs those eggs got pushed into the nest and the TRES added some more nesting material and laid new eggs. Donna

Well the good news is that the nest is only slightly damp around the edges. The wood inside the box is damp too. I think the Duck feathers shed the rain right to the sides of the nest. Smart Mom. The even better news is that it has only made it up to 68. Tomorrows forcast has been revised to inclued strong thundershowers but now only 84 as a high. Rain will end Sat with a high of 83. I am leaving the vents taped, 68 is a little cool but Mom is on the babies now and I am sure all will be fine. Karen, it should have stopped raining there by now...so I don't think we are going to have to try flinging crickets! LOL Donna, I think your babies will be fine ( I forgot are these TRES or Blues)? I thought I warned you earlier that just when you thought you made it through all your worries a whole new set would pop up! Lots of posts in April on "how do I keep my babies warm" now we are moving on to "how do I keep my babies cool" LOL There have been some very inovative things done from putting a big smiley umbrella over the box to covering the box in styrafoam. I take an ice pack and put ON TOP of the box (not in) and cover it with a towel during the hotest part of the day. Don't really know if it helps the birds but it helps *ME* Right now your Mom is taking care of temp controll. Go back and look at pages from last summer, I am sure you will get a kick out of some of the things we have done to our boxes!

Donna, glad to hear your remaing TRES are doing well. Also glad your Sisters are back. The Dragon Flys are finally out so I know "my" babies will be fine. It's so nice to see the parent just have to make a 30 second loop around the house and come back with a bug. Poor thing had been making 30-40 minutes trips there for a few days. I will get one last peek at them tomorrow then have to just listen to them till fledge day. My Dees are a few days behind yours and my Blues are nearly done with the new nest for round 2. Life is good. ;D