A Little Too Much Nature

Okay, so I like being outside. I even like camping. However, what I do not like is snakes. Closely followed by nurturing wild animals. I don't even like nuturing my domesticated ones! So, yesterday afternoon, I had about had it with nature! We were out front when a friend stopped by with her daughter and baby girl twins. She, unlike me, is quite taken with reptiles. She told me that they had found a dead snake across the street and wanted to see if the boys wanted to take a look. Of course, they were so very excited! Pricillia took them across the street and then, she picked up the dead snake (not more than 8 inches long- a baby) and brought it back to our yard. Kate was so excited! All the children, minus the babies, were in awe of the snake. We ended up placing it in a tree so Ron could see it when he got home. We later decided to go on a bike ride when the boys stopped up near the sidewalk (in our yard) where they spotted a bird sitting on the grass right by them. It did not move. So, here I thought I was going to have to figure out what to do with and injured or dead bird when Ben yells, 'Mom, there is a baby bird, too!' I mean seriously- now I have to take care of a baby bird that is out of its nest?!?! I decided that we should wait and see what the mommy did. You know, give her a chance to get her baby back in the nest. Like that would really happen. So, while I am trying to figure out what to do, Will yells 'Mom, there is another baby thats gotten dead (his words) and the ants are eating it'. Okay, REALLY!! So, after some asking around, someone suggests calling the Raptor Center. The doctor on staff tells me what I need to do in order to SAVE the baby. He totally guilted me into recreating the nest, climbing up in the darn tree and replacing the nest so the mom could go back up. So, here I am with all three kids, rebuilding a nest ( I am not so good), picking up the baby bird- they do have claws and on a side note- the mom birds do not smell human on them and neglect them that is a total wives tale!-, climbing a ladder and trying to place a nest in a spot where it will not fall out. Good news, the mom, or some mom for that matter, came back and the little bird seems to be just fine. I, however, have had it with nature!!

My nest- I said I wasn't very good a nest building!!