Spring is showing its face at the newly remodeled Stonehouse Buffet and Condos. Potential new tenants are stopping by daily to check out the facilities. The Bluebirds of Happiness are considering moving in…
Mr. Happiness takes a look around…
“This looks promising – I bet we can find something move in ready.”
Mrs. Happiness is skeptical…
“I’m not moving into that tin roofed shack. Better find something soon – I’ve already started nesting.”
Mr. Happiness reassures his mate…
“No dear, not that place. I don’t want our children raised in an old oil can. I’m talking about the cedar condo down the block.”
Mr. Happiness checks things out…
“Nice front porch…”
Mr. Happiness inspects the roof…
“A brand new roof…”
Mr. Happiness beckons the Mrs.
“I think you should come check this one out…”
Mrs. Happiness takes a look inside…
“Wow – this place is turn-key – move in ready!”
Mr. Happiness moves in the furniture…
“Where do you want me to put the couch?”
Mrs. Happiness rearranges the furniture…
“Move it over on the other side of the fireplace – no, not in front of the TV! A little more to the left, no the right – can’t you get anything right? The cable guy is going to be here any minute.”
Mr. Happiness takes a break…
“Next time we’re hiring a mover…”
Mrs. Happiness is finally happy with the living room…
“I think we are going to be very happy here…”
Mr. Happiness has one concern…
“I think we will be too – as long as we don’t have to deal with that nosy landlord!”
the eff stop 
I don’t know how I came to miss this post before, Lorri – it’s great! I’m sure Mr and Mrs Happiness have chosen very wisely on the new home. And they don’t even have to do any repairs on it! 🙂
Thanks Val. I put these up in June of last year and got no takes, I was 3 months too late. I actually have 2 pairs in separate houses and the males stare each other down from opposing trees.
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Rare to see bluebirds where I live……
I guess these guys stay east of the Rockies. I never thought In Nevada we had mountain bluebirds – smaller and more vivid.
Great shots and editorial, love it all!
Thanks!
Great captures… love ’em
Thanks Bulldog!
I love these little guys. The color doesn’t even look real…..which is what makes them even more amazing! Great shots!!!
Thanks – I love that pop of color. We had mountain bluebirds in Nevada that were the loveliest shade of blue – so vivid in the desert.
I “thought” I saw a bluebird here today…..but off he went before I was 100 %. Next time….
If he was blue and he was in OK at this time I bet he was a bluebird 🙂
Then we’ll say he was a bluebird!!!
🙂
I usually see bluebirds every year….but not yet.
I saw the first one if the year out on the lane a couple of weeks ago – these were a surprise yesterday.
Those bluebirds are lovely and I love the captions you wrote. Will look forward to seeing some little bluebirds through your camera lens soon.
(it’s blowing a gale here today – more like Winter than Autumn).
The first day of Spring and it’s looking like snow in the morning – go figure. I am pretty excited about seeing babies – so far 2 houses are occupied by bluebird pairs. There’s something mesmerizing about a vividly colored bird in the woods.
HAHAHA! Love it! Your photos and tag lines are terrific.
Russ
Thanks Russ – I just write down what they say…
Good fun. I wonder if there are ever any squabbles about who gets the posh house?
No one’s been willing to move into the oil can or the trailer house – so it seems there is some type of hierarchy.
Wonderful pictures, as always Lorri. And perhaps you should add scriptwriting to your resume as well!
Thanks Elyse – I just write down what they say…
Accurate transcription is a lost art …
It really is – I should have been a court reporter
I had to learn shorthand when my parents forced me to go to secretarial school. What a waste of time. I don’t remember a thing!
My Nana knew shorthand. It was like secret code. I thought it was cool.
Great pictures! I love your comments. I hope your tenents stay and keep your camera busy! Will be waiting for pics of the babies next! 🙂
Thanks Jackie – I hope I get the place filled up – I put up about 6 boxes last year that saw no action – two are filled so far.
My understanding is that the boxes have to weather a season before they will nest. My dad always had boxes for them and that’s what he told me. I figured it must be true since when ever he put new boxes out they wouldn’t have tenants till the next year. Wisconsin has a bluebird program to help the birds thrive.
That makes sense – no wonder wants to move into the new ones I hung last month – I was so hoping for a shot in the hanging oil can 😦
metal may be different then wood. I know wood has to weather, hmm not sure about metal. It will be interesting to find out.
I also have a nifty airstream trailer – mostly wood though – maybe next year.
Aren’t they just beautiful! and your captions are hilarious. We watched a pair courting a few weeks ago – our neighbor has put up a couple of new houses – and they take up in the old martin houses too. Are you ready for our spring weather? We are expecting 3-5 inches of snow! K
Thanks Kathleen – I was so thrilled to see them – never had bluebirds here before but the houses must be attractive to them. I put them up last year too late in the season so it was exciting to see them being occupied. I can’t believe we’re getting more snow – tomorrow and Saturday too – yikes!
Wow! Lorri, you have a gift!
Well I don’t know about that, I put up these houses last year and they saw no action so it’s cool to see them in use. I have been wondering about your chickies in the jug – how are they doing?
You do. Creating an habitat for all of the beautiful creatures, capturing their images AND their conversations. THAT is a gift! You are the Bird Whisperer.
The mama here is hunkered down. Her brown body barely visible inside the jar. I’ll try to catch a shot without disturbing her. She’s kinda mouthy when we get too close. It shouldn’t be long now before the hungry squawking begins.
Maybe not so much of a whisperer as an eavesdropper. I am wondering if some chickies have moved into some of mine without me noticing – I actually hung the boxes for them. The labels said bluebird houses so I guess the bluebirds know the difference.
The lady at our wild birdseed place said its the size of the hole they seals the deal for them.
Hmmm – I have just hung houses pell mell in the trees. So far the tall cedar ones are the only ones occupied.
Yeah, those bluebird mamas are predator conscious.
I found a hole size chart and a site with birdhouse info this afternoon – it looks like mine might be a bit closer together than suggested but the two long boxes are occupied. I can see how the tall box and small hole gives them more protection. I also read that the smaller hole keeps out starlings.
Beats any soap opera any day! Good choice on housing, Mr. and Mrs. Happiness and future littles will do very well there.
I think so too – I can’t wait to meet the younguns.
What exquisite captures ( and captions!)
Thanks Jules – just being silly 🙂