Fathers and Children and Feathers

[PetoftheDay]

I have posted about the wild birds that are my friends - being in a no pets building, I spoil the wild ones just beyond my sliding glass doors. I throw down seed for them, they leave me feathers, which I gather up in good weather.

I arranged some of them for the Christmas card I sent out this year, the first card I have sent out since being unexpectedly widowed in 2015, and included a feather or two in each card.

I can post a picture of the card is you are interested. I am also working on a bird0related start-up, so have feathers from that, but those I treasure, as they are from a beloved friend and bird expert.

Anyway, I thought of this community last week - I was the "meet your neighbor" guest of the Sunday school children at my church for 15 minutes of them "interviewing me" - asking me questions about life, and church and choir (I was wearing my robe), and at the end, I brought out my shoebox of feathers I have collected and let them each choose one.

Only one of the children, Nyles, who is I think ten, said, "are they clean?" before choosing one, and I assured him they were.

But all in all, they were all excited to have real feathers from real wild(ish) birds, and some has a very hard time choosing which to take! Who knows, maybe some of them will grow to be bird friends some day!

 

[SailBoat]

What a truly delightful and wonderful idea of providing a feather or two within a Christmas card! So many wonderful meanings held within that card. Creative and warming all in one place.

The children must have been wide-eyed with the opportunity of choose a feather. A rare gift of comfort and joy.

Feathered friends always have time, stay around and enjoy whenever you have time or are in need of a joyful moment.

Warm feathered Hugs good friend and prays for your sweet departed.

 

[PetoftheDay]

Thanks so much!

 

[Terry57]

I'd love to see a picture of the card!
I love that you gave out feathers, you may have fostered what will become a life long love of birds in some of those kids

 

[Kentuckienne]

I collect feathers, too, and I'm sure they are clean enough for me. But I heard that if a bird has mites, or beak and feather disease, this can be transmitted to a live bird in the house so I'm afraid to bring them around Gus.

 

[PetoftheDay]

I'd love to see a picture of the card!
I love that you gave out feathers, you may have fostered what will become a life long love of birds in some of those kids

Turket feather on the bottom, other feathers are mourning dove, Canada goose, chickadee, bluejay, and the golden "bow" feathers are from a glorious Rooster named Midas I met and held in Vermont at a client's place.