More than once, one of our younger children has told me, “There’s a pigeon in the yard!” Each time, I’ve checked and had to break the news to them that the pigeon is actually a dove. So when Silas told me there was a pigeon in the backyard, I told him that it was just a dove without even looking. He tried to argue, but I dismissed it. Later, looking out the window I noticed a pigeon in the backyard.
“Guys, there is a pigeon in the back yard!”
“Told you!”
We discussed how odd it was to see a pigeon here and went on with our day. Later, Larkspur noticed the pigeon hanging around her flock of chickens. It wasn’t as afraid of her as a wild bird typically is and she noticed that it had leg bands on. She finished up her chicken chores and came inside to tell me that she thought it must be someone’s pet pigeon. I did a web search for pigeons with leg bands and discovered the world of racing pigeons. Lark then spent the next couple of hours trying to catch the pigeon so that we could read the identifying information on its leg bands. Eventually, she managed to get it into a crate and we were able to read the letters and numbers on its bands. With that information, I contacted the company that issued the bands and they gave me the name, city, state, and phone number of the person who bought that band. I was very surprised that he lived in Michigan! It took a little bit of effort to get in touch with the owner and he informed me that the bird actually belonged to a man in New York. New York! Still so far away! I couldn’t believe that this pigeon had flown so far from home and ended up at our house.
I called the man in New York and got an answering machine. I started leaving a long, rambling message (I’m terrible at answering machines) when a woman picked up and then gave the phone to her husband. I explained that I had his pigeon and gave him the leg band number. He told me that she belonged to a man in Virginia. I was given yet another name and number and was relieved that this owner might live close enough to us that we could get the pigeon home soon. Before our conversation ended, Ambrose started crying and the man asked me how many kids I had. When I told him “nine,” he replied with the always delightful question, “Do you know what causes that?” “Yes!” I told him brightly, “Catholicism!”
Anyway, back to the pigeon.
I called the third pigeon owner and was thrilled when he told me that she was indeed his bird. She had recently flown in her first race and evidently got a little lost on the way home. He was in the midst of a family emergency and couldn’t come and get her right away. I told him that was fine, that we could pigeon sit until he was able. A few days later he got in touch, naming a nearby area and suggesting that I might drive her there and let her go. Now that she had been given time to rest and recuperate she should be able to make it home on her own. I asked for his address and offered to drive her all the way just to be safe. It turned out that it was only a half-hour drive. I’m guessing that she would have eventually made it home after stopping at our house for a break had we not intervened, but I’m glad we did. We are always up for an animal adventure.
I finished reading Brideshead Revisited last week. I wouldn’t say it was one of my favorite books, but it has stuck with me. I keep thinking about it. Maybe it will eventually become a favorite. I had an immediate urge to read it again (because I know I missed a lot), though I think I’ll watch it instead.
I’m reading Charlotte’s Web to Mabel. I could read that story again and again. (I have over the years.) And I started and finished a knitting project which is a small miracle. I knit Seth a hat and only missed giving it to him on his 21st birthday by a week or so. He is now the age that Jonny was when he and I got married. We all find that hard to believe. The years have truly flown.
The pansies and violas that I grew from seeds are blooming! I’ve always loved dainty little violas but found pansies a little obnoxious. Something about raising them from seeds changed my mind. I love them now! (These are Frizzle Sizzle lemonberry and raspberry.)
It’s 10 p.m. as I write this (I’ve actually been working on this post off and on for more than a week.) I’m exhausted and Ambrose is asleep right now, so I ought to be sleeping too. Instead, I’m looking at this photo and wanting to scoop him up out of his crib and kiss his cheeks. At times, I feel nearly consumed by the care of this baby, but he is precious, irreplaceable, and absolutely (obviously) worth it. Our life is perhaps the messiest it’s ever been and I’d be lying if I told you that I haven’t been feeling completely overwhelmed lately, but I sure wouldn’t change it.
p.s. He’ll be up at 2 a.m. if not before. I’ll be kissing him soon enough.
p.p.s. OH! And I keep forgetting that I need to mention that there is lots of soap in my shop!
Ashley says
I started ready your blog when job was born and I’ve been offline for a while I can’t believe how much the kids have grown..I’m also a homeschooling mom of not quite as many as you ..lol but the time has just flown by so much glad to see everyone is well God bless!
Rachell says
Great photos as usual Ginny.
Your view of pansies being obnoxious is hilarious!
GretchenJoanna says
Oops – I mean, the oldest and youngest pictures plural.
GretchenJoanna says
I love the found animal adventure story. How fun! The oldest-youngest picture is very sweet, too <3 Glory to God for His wonderful gifts. I commend your receptivity and thankfulness; it is a joy to see the glimpses that you share and a beautiful testimony. Happy Fall!!
L. says
While walking into a harbor freight store looking for a few things for my husband, five children at the time in tow. A man thought it would be so kind to comment “wow! someone’s been busy”!! I have to admit that one caught me off guard.
Teresa says
Oh my word! “No, I don’t. You know, my husband and I have been trying to figure that out for so long! Just one day a baby arrives and we are so pleased but so confused. Could you help me out? We have noticed that this happens to our dogs, cats chickens, goats. So amazing! How exactly does it work?” 🤣 you just have to mess with idiots like this. Sheesh!
I always got the, “Well, your hands are full. “. Less obnoxious but still rude. I responded, “Better than empty.” Which was a real possibility since we had fertility issues. We adopted our first two and then had three more and three miscarriages.
After our first bio child was born, a woman had the nerve to say, “.You have three kids now, that is a big family! Don’t have anymore. Three is more than enough.” I told her that three is a small family, 4-6 is medium, 7-10 is large and over 10 is extra blessed.
Molly says
I raised pigeons as a teenager (one of the amazing benefits of homeschooling- I got to pursue a hobby in which I was interested). I had homing pigeons like the one you found, as well as a couple show varieties: Indian Fantails and Old German Owls. It wasn’t always easy, but it was definitely fun and interesting. I’m impressed Larkspur caught that one – not an easy task!
Sophie says
Hi Ginny,
I had to look twice at the picture of your 2 children on the sofa. I thought at first it was Mabel and her dad!
Also, I think you would enjoy
https://www.instagram.com/jaala_makes/
Jaala describes herself as “gardening and crafting mom of 9”. She home schools too. Everything she creates is beautiful, like you.
Sophie
Marilyn says
We have Marigolds flowering from seed.
Marilyn
Emanuela Scuccato says
So nice!!!
Marion says
We had pansies during the summer. Always try to have Pansies blooming all summer.
Marion
Joan says
Pansies were my mom’s favorite flower because it was her father’s favorite.
Joan
kim says
I would scoop him up and kiss his cheeks, too! yummy, squishy, delightful babies!!!
sonrie says
there is a photo of a stack of books, knit baby sweaters and dried flowers in a stoneware vase. What are those flowers (grasses?) called? They are so lovely!
Kelli Ramey says
I second the respecting people’s choices!
Kate says
They’re seed heads, Sonrie. Their common name is ‘honesty’ – I think because their seeds are visible through their transparent casing. (I’m English, though, so they may have a different common name in the USA!) The Latin name is Lunaria annua. They seed themselves very easily but the leaves are not attractive. The flowers – which appear in late spring – can be purple or white, and the seed heads appear after the flowers have faded.
sonrie says
Kate, thank you! I have seen them in pictures but never in person and I have never heard the name. You gave a good description.
Penelope says
‘Do you know what causes that?’ —— gah. Why am I still shocked at peoples’ rudeness!?? Heh. Love your answer, made me laugh.
Sweet baby! My baby is nineteen — don’t ask me how old my oldest is: he is so.many. decades old it hurts my heart to think about it!
Love the pigeon story, that’s fabulous.
Bee says
Ahh, I LOVE pigeons (all birds, actually) so this made me very happy! An animal adventure, indeed…loved reading about your wild goose chase (wild pigeon chase…?) and knowing that he got home safely :).
By the way, I really can’t stand it when strangers comment on another person’s life choices, like that man on the phone did. Whether someone has many children, few children, or no children – I wish everyone would keep their commentary to themselves. You never know which choices people have made, and why…or if they were able to make a choice at all (childlessness is not always a choice, after all).
Whew. Had to get that off my chest :).
Those pansies and violas you grew are SO beautiful. Such vibrant colors.
And the pictures of the kids are great, as always! Love Ambrose’s expressive little face!
Have a good weekend, Ginny :).
Emily D. says
Best answer EVER, Ginny! Yay! 🙂
I haven’t read Brideshead in a long, long time. I think I need to re-read it. One of my favorite parts of having so many littles in my life right now is reading books to them and passing on my favorite stories.
Vicki Gensini says
What a great story. Thanks for sharing. Love your African violets. Mine are very sad looking.
Susanna says
We just this summer discovered the world of racing pigeons after reading the Swallows and Amazons book Pigeon Post. We even got our own breeding pair and had a few hatch and begin homing flights around the neighborhood before the neighbor’s dog tunneled under the fence and killed them all 😭 It’s such a fascinating hobby and I hope to try again after the winter. I loved watching the pair alternate shifts sitting on eggs and caring for young – definitely an egalitarian species, not like our chickens at all.
Kelli Ramey says
I have always loved the pansies and violas that look whiskered. And the ones with a glow to the edge. Yours are lovely.
Cherish your days. We don’t get them back. Just be.