03.22.2020 Hatchlings!
Sunday, March 22nd marked 17 days gestation for the first egg in Frances’ nest.
3/22/2020 also marked the day I’d been scheduled to head out to the Sou’wester Historic Lodge with my friend Eriko for a few days of wreath supply foraging and creative juice flow. Daughter was supposed to be in Hawaii for Spring Break, and the Boys were headed to Arizona the next day to visit the grandparents.
I had just gotten off the phone with Eri to cancel our plans, as everyone’s plans in my house (and everyone’s houses, all over the globe) fell apart. It was not safe to leave home. We were to stay home in our nest. Safe and sound, together. I texted her saying that maybe I was supposed to be stuck here so I wouldn’t miss watching the chicks hatch, and then headed out to the porch to check on Frances’ progress.
And…
10:30 am on 3/22/2020
These magical little eyes were glowing in the sunlight. The timing and beauty and brightness of this situation couldn’t have been more Divine. Mama’s new life was bursting out of it’s shell as Human life seemed to be grinding to a halt.
The birds were all chirping. The sun was shining. A light breeze was clearing the air around us. And Marjorie, the first of two chicks to hatch that day, was not phased by the chaos swirling on Earth.
Margie had the nest to herself for a few hours before her sister busted out of her tiny egg to join her. Frances mostly sat on the nest, but I was able to catch an early feeding. It’s fascinating to watch Margie’s tiny head pop up and eat - natural instincts are amazing!
Shortly before 7pm, I discovered that the second egg had hatched. Now Margie and her sister Marlene were two little bugs, snug in a rug. I named the chicks Mork & Mindy last year. This year’s namesakes are my grandmother and her sister.