Good morning, Happy - and everyone.

I'm not really "up," yet, but I am awake. I'll probably have a power nap if Sam and Wes will sleep in.

My world is in barely contained chaos mode. The minimum of gardening has not been done. I did get the larger beds mostly weeded, and I planted the huge pot, "The Gatekeeper Garden," at the top of the driveway and added a large pot of mixed petunias in the partially filled garden in front.

If I can find someone physically capable to help do the heavy work, I think I'll downsize the large front double garden. It's just not coming together and instead of being charming and interesting it looks like a hot mess of weeds.

I did enjoy a glorious peony display from my Sarah Bernhardt peony and a monster sized bright yellow iris. The Jackmanii clematis is making an effort for its second season. And has about 12 buds and three blossoms.

Its obelisk is too close to the tree, but I think I can swing it around to the sunny area without having to dig up the clematis. That will keep "the roots in the shade and the vine in the sun."

I've not been able to check the Purple Martins daily like I normally do, but I knew the eggs had hatched; I've been watching the adults in their feeding frenzy.

I forced myself out there last night, lowered the rack and checked each of the 15 gourds. Twelve of them have nests; there were 65 eggs, and 56 have hatched and 5 are still being incubated! From the age/sizes of the chicks they started hatching not long after I did the egg count. 56 - so far - beautiful, fat, healthy chicks in clean, dry, mite-free nests!

I will do their nest changes this week, my neighbor's 10-year-old grand daughter is an amazing helper. She is not squimish if there are mites; she handles the chicks quickly and properly, and doesn't stop until the job is finished.

I had to edit the numbers. I had written down the 5 eggs on Gourd 17 as hatched; they are still being incubated.

I didn't want to mess with it, but I think one egg, at the top in this photo below, was piping while I was checking them again today. I'll check them again tomorrow.

My corrected numbers, as of today are...

14 gourds offered

12 nests

65 eggs laid

56 eggs hatched

5 eggs still being incubated

4 non-viable eggs removed that had small, dead embryos

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I'm not sure about these eggs. They are all "heavy," but rather darker and dirtier than normal live eggs. They are too developed to "see" if they're alive by candling. I'm waiting to see if the upper egg hatches by tomorrow. Either way, I'll wait several days before removing them.

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This is the smallest clutch, in Gourd 11. There were 5 eggs laid, but two of the embryos died in the shell. I removed the last egg today. The pinky is my youngest chick in the colonty, but he's feisty and well fed.

The chicks in one nest hatch 1-3 days apart; the parents feed them according to their size. Little chicks, little bugs and/or bug mush from the adults' craws. Big chicks, big bugs. Sometimes really BIG bugs that makes me wonder how on Earth they manage to choke them down. But, like 6-year-old boys, they manage to gobble it all.

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Here's an older group in Gourd 16. See the difference in the pin feathers on their wings and tails in the two groups?

There were 5 eggs laid in this gourd, one did not develop. This is their most awkward looking phase; but I think they are beautiful. In a week you won't recognize them.

Cool!

WOW I had no idea you could change their nests with the little ones in them. Love your way with these birds and your records . Very interesting.

LOL Sleepy tonight. Been up way too early two days in a row. Forgot this was the Tea thread.

ImHappy so glad to hear you are about to get the swamp drained. I know the rock chucks are determined critters to news under your house and barns.

I can never totally get a days rest but I gave yesterday my best. Today I was back into moving a few pieces of furniture around. I sold a piece and even though it was small it opened up lots more room than would seem possible. I am pleased with the outcome. Happy the piece is gone and home to sell one more piece. If not then no big deal. Eventually I will have a little more space in here. Already it is feeling much better.

i'm surprised mom and dad birds let you get that close to the babies!

Jury duty is over for me. The defense attorney said it was a he said/she said. She beat herself up? And the pictures are fake and emergency room people are not 100% truthful. I seriously thought about fibbing and saying I could give him a fair trial. And I guess it would be fair to say he's guilty before I heard any witnesses or saw the fake pictures. In my mind he is guilty.

Do you sometimes know just by looking at someone that they are a creep? I disliked the defense attorney as much as I disliked the defendant. They both were slick, oily, shysters. But the defense got their dream jury; 9 men, 3 women. I'm going to watch for the results. I wonder how many of those men will stick together.

:'( ImHappy