The male redstart on the railing...These redstarts are Old World birds. The American bird called a redstart is actually in a different family entirely. And these Old World redstarts do not like it when we sit out on the terrace. With us out there, they are afraid to fly up to their nest. They and the chicks are lucky that we've been having chilly, damp weather, because we humans have been forced to stay inside most recent afternoons and evenings. (That was my way of saying that this weather we're having is for the birds!)
... and three chicks in the nestYesterday I managed to get a photo the the male redstart as he perched on the railing around the terrace. Unfortunately, he had nothing in his beak to feed to the chicks at that particular moment. He's really handsome when he flies up bringing one of the neighbors' redcurrants for his babies.
The nest is perched on top of the columnthat supports the roof overhang.
Fact is, though, it's the new floor upstairs that is still getting most of our attention. That and the routine tasks of everyday life — cooking, laundry, watering plants, washing dishes, and so on. Speaking of laundry, it's been so rainy and gray lately that I've hung clothes out to dry on the line only a couple of times this year. Most days I have to hang them on the indoor clothesline.
Here's a section of the floor with two —count'em, two — coats of polyurethane on it.
It looks like we are going to meet the work deadline that we imposed on ourselves. That is, we need to be able to move our big bed and some clothes to the new room upstairs before Sunday, when friends from California arrive for a four-day visit. That's why we're doing the floor first and the walls later.
The larger of the two bedrooms downstairs will then suddenly become the new guest room. It's going to be nice.
Isn't it great to feel the possibility that the job might soon be finished ?!
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely photo of the redstart. I think I have seen them from a distance and mistaken them for robins.
You have a king bed don't you?
ReplyDeleteShould be an interesting endeavor.
The floors look beautiful.
Yes, the attic looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIs a redstart a "rouge gorge"?
The floor does look beautiful... oh là là!
ReplyDeleteJudy
Hi Nadège, the redstart is called le rougequeue in French. It's not the same as a rouge gorge (Old World robin). I think the bird we have nesting on the porch is the rougequeue à front blanc.
ReplyDeleteSheila, yes, getting the king size mattress up there will be interesting. We're shooting for Thursday or Friday.
Jean, we still have to paint all the walls, from the front door all the way up to the back windows.
Those baby redstarts have completely transformed from the earlier picture...and in such a short time.
ReplyDeleteYour floors look beautiful! I can't wait to see the walls painted.
ReplyDeleteLove the birds, love the floor!
ReplyDeleteDon't you think those birds have looked you up in Roger Tory Peterson and identified you as New World Upstarts?
ReplyDeleteYour floor looks great.
Hi Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteI think we are pretty Old World now. It's hard to imagine being really New World again. But anything can happen.
How great that you're almost finished and will have all that extra room to share with visitors. (Hint, hint)
ReplyDeleteStarman took the words right out of my mouse!
ReplyDeleteBettyAnn