Out of necessity, Sophie and I went outside yesterday during the high winds. Apparently I didn't pull the front door all the way closed. It had blown partially open when we returned. And we had a visitor.
The first clue I had was a terrible racket that sounded like marbles in the dryer. It was in fact Sophie's toenails as she tried frantically to gain purchase on the hardwood floor of the foyer. Around and around she went, while a little dark blur went before her. At first, because they were on the floor, I thought it was a mouse, so I screamed, "Eeeeek!" Isn't that what you're supposed to do when you have a mouse?
In the kitchen, Sophie tried to climb the wall to get the blur, so I thought maybe it was a flying blur. But I still couldn't tell if it was a big old flying bug or what. I finally got hold of Sophie and locked her in the bedroom. When I came back, I didn't see the blur anywhere. If I get real still and quiet, I reasoned, it will come out and I can catch it--or squash it if it happens to be a big old bug. Or run across the street and get Paul to come and squash it. But first I had to find it.
After being still and waiting for several minutes, and listening to Sophie scratch frantically on the bedroom door, I decided to quietly walk around the house and see if I could find the thing. A quick search of the first floor revealed nothing untoward, so I went upstairs where every door was standing open. Oh no, thought I, if it gets up here and hides, I'll never find it until one night it shows up in bed with me. Oh dear.
A thorough-as-possible search of the upstairs revealed no living critter of any shape nor size. I closed all the doors behind me, hoping I wasn't closing the thing in, and went back downstairs. As I came to the bottom of the stairs, there sat a sweet little brown sparrow on the back of the love seat. She looked rather rattled and confused.
"Come to me, little birdie, and I'll put you back outside," I told her in a soft friendly voice. The birdie was not soothed however, and she took off flying all around the first floor with me in close pursuit. I almost caught her once when she got behind the wooden blinds but she got away and flew behind the front door, which was still standing open. As I was trying to retrieve her from behind the door, she found a crack under the door hinge, just big enough for her to squeeze through. And away she flew into the windy neighborhood.
I was terribly relieved that the bird was out of my house unharmed--not to mention the fact that there was no big old bug taking up residence in The Yellow House. I let Sophie out of the bedroom and she spent the next 30 minutes sniffing the entire first floor and every piece of furniture in it before she settled down.
No harm, no foul, thought I. Then I saw my lampshade. The little house sparrow had left me a housewarming gift.
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On 12/03/2009, Barbara Anne said ...
I can see it all now! Sophie ready to befriend the intruder if only she can get the sparrow to slow down - or to be the huntress, of course. So glad you were able to let the sparrow outdoors again. What a story she had to tell the other sparrows last night!
A couple of decades ago when we were still in Memphis, a raven got into our attic, then down into the house by way of the attic fan vents - we think. When we arrived home, our dog was stretched out on the couch and the raven was perched nearby on a floor lamp. Night had fallen so we turned on the porch light, put the dog in the bedroom, and opened the front door and screen. The raven flew out the door to the light and away. The next day, we were amazed to find the raven outside a raised window and our dog inside almost nose to beak with the bird and only the window screen between them. Friends?
Hope the lampshade could be cleaned!
Hugs!
On 12/03/2009, Thelma said ...
Looks like Sophie scared the you know what out of that bird!
What a tale, it's always something at your house!
On 12/03/2009, Gayle said ...
"I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free.
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know He watches me." :-)
On 12/03/2009, Nancy said ...
What a wonderful fun story to read Susan. I sure it wasn't as much fun for you trying to catch the poor little thing as it was for those of us reading about it. I know that corraling my dogs would have been the hardest part and with my luck, they would have been locked in the room with the little sparrow. I certainly glad that this story had a happy if somewhat soiled ending. I hope your lampshade cleans up easily. I have to say though, you are a woman after my own heart. I know lots of folks who wouldn't have worried for the birds safe release. Their only objective would have been to just get rid of it by any means necessary. But I always think of the gospel song and scripture about God knowing 'every sparrow' (sorry, I can't quote it just now).
On 12/03/2009, CarlaH said ...
We had a similar experience many years ago when we were living in a high rise in Montreal. My husband's office had a very small sliding window that could be opened if one did not want to turn on the air conditioning, the screen must have been loose as somehow a small bird (I think it was a song sparrow) got in. As much as we tried we could not capture it and it spent the night high up on top of a filing cabinet (yes it did leave a goodly number of souvenirs). In the morning managed to capture it in a big sieve (it had tired itself out) and released it from the balcony.
On 12/03/2009, Lavender Dreamer said ...
Oh my! Life is exciting at times! I just posted and hope you'll come by to visit! Have a good day, sweet friend!
On 12/03/2009, Nicole said ...
Yikes! I can imagine the scene all too well! All's well that ends well, right?
My sister Andrea has a cat that catches all sorts of critters and brings them into the house. Alive. They have had bats flying around, snakes slithering, frogs hopping, you name it. At least the livestock my Sophie brings in are no longer moving.
On 12/03/2009, Debra Spincic said ...
Oh, yea! After a few of those kinds of escapades with birds flying in, I am very careful to keep the door closed. Although a bird is better than the possum that came in one morning!
On 12/03/2009, Susan Ramey Cleveland said ...
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father... So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29 & 31)
On 12/03/2009, kayellen said ...
Oh my goodness! That is so funny! Sorry about the treasures left behind...
A new friend that loves you:) and Miss Sophie too!!!
xoxo
Kay:)
On 12/04/2009, Bo said ...
I guess it is getting cold and she came to for a little warm up and visit Susan! Alison and I had a baby squirrel visitation last night. I had a broom and dustpan and got the cute lil critter hurded out the back door after some exciting chase scenes around the house!
On 12/04/2009, magikquilter said ...
what a great retelling of an interesting visit. Am so pleased that the bird went outside by itself!
On 12/04/2009, Beverly said ...
Yes, I would have been doing the exact same thing. I don't want extra critters in the house with me - even if they are nice.
And, about that present ...
On 12/04/2009, Kai said ...
Well, you TOPPED yourself this time! I thought you'd never make me laugh as much as I did over your cake-in-the-hot-car escapade over the summer. But this one - errr - takes the cake. (Sorry!) Thank you for a BUNCH of giggling and I'm glad, glad, glad the blur was a birdy and nothing mean or scary! And - uh - I KNOW in the South we leave calling cards but the sparrow took that genteel custom to a new level! Bwahahaha ...!
On 12/04/2009, Donna said ...
This too funny! I am actually laughing :) You have the best stories.
Blessings
On 12/04/2009, Jan said ...
LOL! You handled that little visitor much better than I would have!!! I love to look at birds, but for some reason they scare me ... guess it's cuz they move soooooo fast! Glad your little friend is back in the wild :)
On 12/04/2009, Pat said ...
I had a bird visitor in the house once, but it didn't leave me a gift! The stay wasn't long enough, I guess... You encourage me to make donations to shelters - many people will be blessed with your generosity and just the will of letting go. Bless you.
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