After a lengthy absence, "my" birds are back!  They are not mine, of course--they belong to themselves and the air--but they give such color and joy to my back yard.  Finches, cardinals and doves mostly.  

Today I will fill two hummingbird feeders.  Joy gave me her recipe, said she keeps her filled year-round.  Their feeders need to be carefully cleaned every two or three days. "Hummers are delicate and fierce," she wrote.  

I've spent this week helping Elena pack up her room.  They will be moving tomorrow!  

I'm pausing here because I can't yet quite give words to my range of feelings on that subject--except to say I am thrilled for them and I will miss their closeness so much, geographical and otherwise.