"Well, hello, Mrs. Robin.../ Jesus loves you..."

We are delighted to announce that we have a new resident at our home. Mrs. Nesting Robin has made a home for herself above our front porch light-fixture.

Some days ago we noticed a mess of grass on our porch and hanging weeds from the light. We left it alone wondering if we might be taking on some boarders. Indeed, we are. A nice rounded nest sits in the middle of this otherwise hairy-looking abode.

According to Robin custom she has laid her traditional four stunningly blue eggs. We watch her sitting on them. Julie read that robins have a place on their chests that have no feathers, just warm skin that the mother uses to warm and hatch her eggs. I caused her to fly away as I was photographing her and her babies. Thankfully she didn't come and peck my eyes as I photographed her eggs. (She came back a little while later. I didn't touch the nest in any way.)

She is an intelligent bird in choosing the front light fixture. We have noticed in the back yard a number of robins which, having built their nests in the evergreens, must chase off pesky squirrels intent on getting to the eggs. Julie and I were on the deck early this morning sipping coffee and helping the robins by shooting at the squirrels with a pellet gun.

We have a mezuzah on our front doorpost with the Jesus-expanded Shema (the Jesus Creed) in it. We like to think the robin feels like the sparrow and swallow in Psalm 84.

Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
-- Psalm 84:3