CAROLINA WREN NEST AND LANDING PAD

SHED WITH BUSHEL-BASKET HANGING

This spring I went to take my work bushel-basket off my shed porch wall and as I lifted it down I noticed some extra weight to it plus some odd twigs peeking by the edge. Oh --- maybe I have a new tenant? I looked into the basket and there was a beautiful Carolina Wren’s nest.

The nest was empty but freshly made as the lichens used in its construction were as fresh as a dinner salad. The lichens were mixed mainly with pieces of weeds, old leaf litter, and tiny twigs making a great nest for a new beginning.

LANDING PAD LEADING UP TO NEST

One thing was a bit odd about the nest. It had a landing pad leading up to the nest -- one obviously built by the wrens. The pad was made of the same materials as the nest. I had read someplace that sometimes Carolina Wren nests have landing pads. I don’t really have an answer as to why this is so.

CAROLINA WREN NEST IN BUSHEL-BASKET

Yet, the nest did not have any eggs nor young birds. Apparently the nest was just short of completion. My guess was that the mother wren was in the process of lining the depression in the inside of the domed shaped nest. Although the male and female both construct the nest, it is the female that puts the finishing touch on the lining.

I decided, after I hung the basket back on its hook, to leave it there until I was completely sure the wrens had raised their family and were fledged.

At this point I had two concerns: one, I had scheduled a workman to work on the shed (saws, hammers, noise) and two, the neighbor cats that are constantly checking my field for rodents. I solved both problems by canceling the workman until all was clear and leaving my dogs outside for a good part of the day (cats are scared of Lil and Sal).

CAROLINA WREN

PHOTO BY KEN THOMAS -- WIKI

While in the yard working or relaxing, I occasionally observed the comings and goings of the wrens to their nest. Basically there seemed three phases. The first was a time of low activity. I figured this was the time of finishing off of the nest. The second period was fairly active. My thoughts were that the female was nesting on the eggs and the male was bringing her food. The last and third phase was a very active time when I figured there were many mouths to feed.

During all these three stages I had such glorious Carolina wren songs performed near my house, from sun-up to sundown. The repertoire was multiple. The male is the songster and he would sit on my porch railing and really belt them out with his head raised up like a dog howling to the moon.

Now the young wrens have left to other places. I miss the male "operettas" on my porch railings. I hear the wrens farther back in my woods and occasionally near the house. I never did see the fledglings – but my daughter Elizabeth did when she was visiting. She counted four.

Carolina Wrens are found in the eastern part of the United States -- mate and stay in the same territory for life.

For a great ID guide on bird nests I recommend the book titled Eastern Birds' Nests.

MADISON COUNTY, KENTUCKY -- QUILT SQUARE PROJECT

QUILT SQUARE --GRANDMOTHER'S FAN

Community quilt squares are a grass root movement in several states mostly in the Midwest. It began in about 2001 in Ohio and has moved swiftly through several states. Kentucky's Arts Council Program has adopted this movement and assists folks that want to become participants in the Quilt Square Project. Right now there are over 59 counties in Kentucky participating. There is a wonderful book published on Kentucky's quilt squares and following trails set up for people to view them -- titled Kentucky Quilt Trails: Views and Voices.

GRANDMOTHER'S FAN MOUNTED ON THE HONEYSUCKLE SHOP

The squares are mostly seen on the large barns in the rural parts of Kentucky. Also, you can find them on some of the smaller farm outbuildings. In addition to the farm buildings some local commercial places are mounting squares. This post covers the squares found on a few of the local Berea merchants.

PIRATE STAR

The Kentucky project is basically run by volunteers which helps tighten community ties. Participants include people from the area in designing each individual and different square -- from painters to extension agents, senior citizens and school children -- even the local electric company lends a bucket truck to hoist the squares into place on the building. The final result is not only a piece of folk art but a piece of communtiy building.

PIRATE STAR MOUNTED ON THE LOCAL ARTS COUNCIL'S BUILDING

The Kentucky Foundation For Women supports the project as they feel that it becomes a lasting legacy of binding women across place and time. And that the Quilt Trail honors the power of women's art to strengthen families and communities.

SWEET STARS

SWEET STARS MOUNTED ON THE FUDGE SHOP

DUTCH WINDMILL

DUTCH WINDMILL IS MOUNTED ON THE BACKSIDE OF THIS HISTORIC BEREA BUILDING -- THE OLD BEREA HOTEL BUILT AROUND 1915

The Madison County Quilt Square project receives grants and donations to make their project viable. For more information on Madison county's squares you can contact Madison County Extension or Kentucky Arts Council.

VIEW MY OTHER POSTS ON QUILTS SQUARES AND QUILTS BELOW:

KENTUCKY QUILT 1885 WITH PROVENANCE

QUILT SQUARES ON BARNS

HOME GROWN GARDENS -- 2009

GARDEN#1
SCARECROW GARDEN
This scarecrow garden is the first of three home gardens ( all photos taken in June 09) mentioned in this post -- the gardens are the scarecrow garden, the beans and tomatoes garden and lastly the vegetable variety garden. They are being grown in Berea, KY, Madison County. They represent just a few of hundreds of home gardens around the Berea area.

The above scarecrow was homemade by the owner of the garden. Looks like it works on keeping the birds out as the veggies are doing terrific.

Get a load of these beautiful cabbages! They grow under the watchful eye of the scarecrow.

Weeds piled high to be used in the compost pile in the scarecrow garden.

This is the backyard garden where the scarecrow at the top lives. An older couple grows this garden.

GARDEN #2
BEANS AND TOMATO GARDEN
Here is a garden that has grown exponentially with all the rain that we have had in the area. Here the gardener is out tying up climbing beans. The garden vegetables are primarily beans and tomatoes which are canned for winter use.

GARDEN #3
VEGETABLE VARIETY GARDEN

For 15 years this garden has produced all types of vegetables. It is started in March. It is grown by a single man that works full time.

Recycling an old way to grow gardens --many gardeners are now using heirloom seeds and also growing home vegetable gardens organically.

SEASONAL CHANGES FROM MY FRONT PORCH

JUNE 2009

Lush summer's growth acts as a barrier to my view of the barn across the way. The lane is hidden behind the green flush of shrubs and trees. My field is a maze of wildness providing homes and food to the natural life.

MAY 2009
Leaves on trees and shrubs are filling in my view. Where once I could see the dirt lane I now see a sea of green and only the very top of the barn roof across the way.

APRIL 2009
An approaching storm highlights the emerging greens and rose colored rudbuds. The dirt lane divides the land.

MARCH 2009
Restless growth begins to appear in small green patches,. My field beyond the center steel fence line post, seen in this photo, stands waiting for the dormant field to spring up -- he is the divider between my yard and the wild field. A barn can be seen in the distance.

APPALACHIAN IRONING BOARD WITH A MESSAGE

Tis the time to be frugal! Our economy is riding through tough times. Recently my daughter found this ironing board that belonged to a rural woman long since passed away. It is a tribute to this original owner's frugality. It has a language of its own -- to be read by the observer.

The language is symbolized by an ironing board worn over many years use. She had fourteen children. The marks of her hot iron, one you would heat up on the stove, no electric cords, are seen on the end of the top of the ironing board -- right where you would set a hot iron when you were ironing clothes. But her true frugality is symbolized by the 1919 KY license plate that she had affixed over the end of the board -- that had become thin and black from constant wear and iron heat -- thus making it usable for many more years.

Waste not -- want not. An old adage portrayed by this early 1900s ironing board -- a hint from our past of how we can slide through this economic storm.

AMERICAN TOADS IN MY GARDEN PATCH

MORTIMER EXHIBITING HIS BACK STRIPE AND PUFFY POISONOUS GLANDS LOCATED ON HIS BACK BEHIND HIS EYE AREA -- ONE ON EACH SIDE

Yesterday, I was out early in my small garden to weed before the heat gathered its energy to swelter the day. I had put boards down on the pathways to help the freshly tilled soil from compressing.

As I stepped on my first board something jumped out from underneath it. There sitting in the soil was a large American toad. It jumped on one of the boards and turned its whole body and looked my way. "Well hello," I said to the beautiful toad. I then walked to another board and another American toad jumped on one of the path boards. "Well, do we have a team here?" or maybe a male-female relationship?" I thought if you are a pair, I definitely have to to give you names to keep you straight in my mind. With that thought in mind I gave them the names of Mildred and Mortimer. M and M -- since they both had a basic skin color that was milk chocolate brown.

The toads showed all the markings of an American toad (Bufo americanus). Dark warty bumps in groups of one and two "warts" were prominent across the their backs. A light stripe sometimes evident on their backs was seen. Overall their thick dry skin had earthy color variations that blended with their environment which helped me identify who they were. I understand that American toads can change their color according to various conditions. Although they have poisonous glands near their eyes -- they are not poisonous to humans. But its a good idea to wash your hands if you handle them. Marvelous In Nature has some terrific shots of the American toads

MORTIMER QUICKLY TAKING OVER THE CROCK HOUSE I HAD PUT DOWN FOR HIM

I lifted the board that Mildred first popped out from under and discovered a small cave-type pile of soil. I could not find the home of Mortimer's. I had an idea. I had heard that toad's use homemade or manufactured toad houses. I quickly found an empty clay-crock and split it lengthwise and viola -- I had two houses for my garden friends.

As soon as I put down the homemade crock house next to Mortimer he hopped into it instantly! Mildred snubbed my new housing attempt. She disappeared back under her adopted board.

MORTIMER'S CROCK HOUSE WHERE HE SEEMS WELL SETTLED

MILDRED'S VACANT CROCK HOUSE NEAR HER GARDEN BOARD SHELTER

Mildred snubbed my new housing attempt. She disappeared back under her adopted board.

MILDRED SNUG IN HER SOIL SANCTUARY LOCATED UNDER THE GARDEN BOARD

Rain has come in buckets almost everyday this spring. Wonderful for the gardens that were planted early in March. But an unexpected bonus for my garden was that the wet soil provided the best conditions for my toad friends. They could snuggle down in the moist soil giving moisture to their skin.

So they are playing a very important symbiotic role with me in my garden. I will assure them water and housing be it board or homemade house and they will eat my insects and grubs at night. A wonderful combination for us.

American toads are very impressive controllers of insects, snails, worms and other invertebrates. They protect themselves against predators by secreting a poison from the glands behind their eyes. Watch your dogs that they don't try to grab one in their mouth or you might be taking an expensive trip to the vet.

Today, I went out to the garden to see if Mildred and Mortimer were still in residency in my garden. Mildred was still under the board with the empty crock house nearby. I lifted the board and there she was all snug in a soil surrounding that she had made for herself. Mortimer was comfortably residing in the crock house across the garden from her.

Two hours after my visit to the garden it started to rain. Instantly with the first rain drops -- from my little garden came the male mating call. Oh I think I get it -- its spring and mating time for the toads? Or was it just a joyous song because it was raining?

COUNTRY MAILBOXES

COUNTRY MAILBOXES NEAR A COW PASTURE, MADISON COUNTY, KENTUCKY

BARBARA'S CHICKEN HOUSE

STUNNING RED LICK CREEK VALLEY BARN

RED LICK CREEK, WILD DAISIES, AND SOME WHITE WATER

Peaceful valley might be a good name for this Red Lick Creek area in Estill County, Kentucky. I have only lived in Kentucky a year and a half and I am still finding stunning places such as this area within about a half hour from my home. As I cruise down the valley road in my black Toyota pickup, I stop at graveled turnouts, let my eyes wander the landscape and ponder the soul of the place. If one is inclined to great country views this area would contribute much to your psyche.

BARBARA COLE

On my latest visit to this area I had some questions about a swinging foot bridge that I spotted off the road leading across Paint Lick Creek. Close by I noticed a brick ranch home with some folks enjoying the afternoon on their side porch and stopped to ask them about the bridge. As always, friendliness is de rigor of the area. Sitting in either a porch swing or wooden chairs was Barbara Cole and her husband Lester, along with her brother and nephew. They proceeded to fill me in on the footbridge. As we talked, I noticed an old chicken house off to the side of the property and asked them about it.

Barbara, a soft spoken woman, knew the history of the chicken house Her parents had once owned the farm. The homestead had been in the family since 1944 when they arrived from Rock Lick Creek in Jackson County, Kentucky loaded down with horses and wagons. They farmed fields of tobacco, corn and vegetables with two mules and a plow until the mid-1960s when they bought a tractor.

Her roots are deep in Kentucky -- going back to her great-great grandparents and perhaps beyond. She volunteered her age as 65 although she looked much younger.

BARBARA LEANING AGAINST HER CHICKEN HOUSE

Barbara has a special history with the old chicken house. When she was about ten her father built the house and pretty much put her in charge of the chicken house operation.

Stocked with White Rock chickens they contracted with a merchant in a town near them, providing eggs for his business. Barbara gathered the eggs, scaled them for size, packed them 30 dozen to a large cardboard carton and had them ready for the local mailman that picked them up every other day and delivered them to a to the merchant in the town of Irvine. A special country service indeed. He even picked up their freshly churned cream along with the eggs to be delivered to the Irvine merchant. Again, an old country service.

Today, Barbara is not a chicken farmer. Her chicken house is used for storage. Its presence is defined by its grayed-- natural wood patina, vertical and horizontal board exterior, two-exterior front doors and a two-room construction interior.

She is a fortunate person to be living her life with family and friends in such a spectacular place.