Barn Swallows and Outdoor Living

I found this cute outdoor set yesterday at Home Depot. I have been wanting a light, small outdoor table and chairs for some time and this one fits the bill. However, it is sitting

here, instead of

here, because of

this barn swallows nest, which leaves

this, i.e., babies on board.

Barn swallows are the most sociable of birds. They love to show off their flight and diving skills to us every evening. They keep the insects population down, but as you can see, they can be a tad messy. Barn swallows breed like rabbits; we had four sets of babies in this nest last year! The babies are so precious and look like little bandits when they peer over their nest at you.

The swallows come back to the same place year after year and we have had a nest in the same location for 25 years. When they try to spread out by placing nests on other parts of the house, I find them before there is not much more than a few dabs of mud and knock it down. Unfortunately, I missed one this year and there is another nest under the front porch. I messed up. I'll try to be more alert next year and not allow that second nest to be built. I could care less when a nest appears in the barn, but I'm not fond of more than one nest on my house.

I thank God every day for allowing me to live here.

Until next time, God bless.