My name is Jo.  My kids call me MoJo.  There’s a reason for that.  Jo just can’t exist without mothering.  My mom said it started when I was three and my younger brother was born.  I expanded my mothering operation over the years to include neighborhood kids, multiple dogs, an entire flock of co-workers, and my actual children.  We’ll leave out the outdoor pond and the goldfish (which my kids were sure I was going to make sweaters for when winter came).

One day … it happened.  The nest was empty.  The kids all grew up, our beloved English Springer Spaniels went to hang out at the rainbow bridge, and I retired.  The kids reminded me regularly that their toddler photos were, essentially, antiques.  I hated that.

I bought a retirement home on six acres.  In awe of the beauty of God’s creation, I put up a bird feeder to draw the intricacies closer.

I watched in amazement as the Goldfinches started appearing … I added a second feeder.  I noticed Cardinals joining the Goldfinches … and then this amazing blue-colored bird (which I later found out was a male Indigo Bunting). I wonder what other birds I could attract.

I learned there were ground feeding birds in addition to those who perched on hanging feeders … add stone paths to toss seed onto.

I learned there were also “suet-eating” birds in addition to “seed-eating” birds … add suet and a suet cage.  One day the suet AND the cage disappeared.  Interesting.  I got more suet, another cage, and a wildlife camera.  I learned about raccoons.  I also learned that this particular raccoon was a nursing mother.  I certainly couldn’t deny food to a nursing mother – no way! — but I didn’t want to feed her a block of suet and a suet cage every day (duh!) … so I expanded the feeding operation to a wooded area outside the fence where I provide whole peanuts and toss black oil seed, mixed with corn, on the ground.  Naturally, I had to figure out how to see what went on in that wooded area at night.

It began with a motion-detecting wildlife cam … that’s when I found out the deer were showing up … and THEY had babies.  Oh my goodness … the joy … my flock was growing!  Soon the fox showed up … and the possums … and the rabbits.

Winter turned to spring and birdfeeders led to birdhouses.   I found tiny cameras to go in the birdhouses and I watched:  nests being built bit-by-bit, eggs being laid, hatchlings unfurling from those eggs, and finally the maiden flight as each nestling became a fledgling.  Amazing!

The toddlers’ pictures gather dust.  It’s okay.  I am an empty-nester no more!