Preparing to Leave Home

My brother mentioned, as we were enjoying our Memorial Day picnic, that there were no baby mockingbirds visible in the nest anymore.

No sooner were the words spoken than one mockingbird parent swooped down into some tall grass awaiting weed whacking surrounding one of Mom's life-size ceramic rabbits out back and began feeding the fledgling hidden there. The other one dove under Neighbor Mike's orange tree where a second young mockingbird was waiting. The parents each made several passes bringing insects and whatnot to the kids. The little ones were hard to see due to still being dun colored and had neither the very long tail feathers nor their black and white coloration distinctive to the species.

Eventually, the one by the bunny statue moved up under the nest tree. Shortly thereafter, the one under the orange tree flew the thirty feet back home. So all was well and they were just out exploring the big world.

Au Revoir, Pingouin Qui Attend

The giant "penguin" waiter is no longer standing by the Christmas tree. It's been returned to my brother's room until next year.

I put "penguin" in quotes because I believe that's what it is supposed to be although the bill resembles a duck's and it's "crest" (or whatever that is) is swept back down its neck so it looks more like a 50s greaser wood duck except for the lack of cigarettes and attitude.

It is over three feet tall and made of wood, mostly. Its body colors are penguiny black and white under a red waistcoat type of jacket (except with tails) trimmed in black around the pocket, and it wears a black bow tie. Its right flipper (definitely not a wing) presents a metal tray on which, during the holidays, are placed candy, cookies and other treats for the taking. The rest of the year, in my brother's room, it tends to hold spare change and random pocket findings.

What exactly this creature has to do with Christmas escapes me. Nevertheless, I will miss it.

Art Imitates Life

The rabbit was in the backyard again sitting perfectly still. It was toward the far back of the yard and I knew Mom couldn't see it from the couch and, normally, I wouldn't ask her to get up just for a rabbit but she stood up on her own to go get a drink so I called her over to the lanai door/window.

"See that?" I asked.

"Oh, it's the bunny! Hello, Mr. Rabbit. Look how still he's sitting, not moving at all." Which was all accurate and true and pretty perceptive for someone as blind as she's getting to be. Except . . ..

She was facing the wrong direction. She was looking about 30 degrees to the right of where the rabbit actually was. So I stood behind her and looked over her head along her line of sight.

She was staring at a life-size white ceramic garden statue rabbit. Which she had made years and years ago.

When I pointed that out to her and showed her where the real (chocolate brown) rabbit was, she laughed and said it was a good thing I was there. In her defense, while she was looking the live rabbit didn't move any more than the sculpted one. (Although about ten minutes later I did see it nibbling at the lowest leaves of the lemon tree.)