FEED THE BIRDS

“These blueberries aren’t any good.” My son Alex called from the kitchen.

“Are you kidding me!” I cried as I went into the kitchen to see what he was talking about. “I just bought them yesterday!”

As I walked in Alex shrugged his shoulders and handed me the container. “They’re a little shriveled.”

I looked at the berries and sighed. “How could they turn so fast?”

I opened the refrigerator to see if the raspberries, I’d gotten yesterday, were having the same fate.

“Wait.” I moved a few things around on the shelf. “Here’s the blueberries I bought yesterday!” I held the container out to Alex.

“Oh, great!” Alex took the blueberries and put them on the counter top. “I can make my smoothie after all.” He went to get the mixer. “Do you want one?” He asked over his shoulder.

“No, I’m good.” I was holding the container of old blueberries over the trash when I looked out the kitchen window and saw all the birds clinging to our bird feeders. Each trying to get to the seeds that were in the snow covered feeders. “I think I’m going to give the birds a nice winter treat!” I said as I closed the trash drawer with my knee and headed for the back door.

“Do birds eat blueberries?” Alex asked as he poured some of his berries into the mixer.

“Of course they do!” I said with confidence but then paused and looked over at Alex. “Well, at least I thought they did.” I took my phone out of my pocket to double check with Google. After a quick search I put the phone down and picked up the blueberries again. “Yup, they love them!”

I went to the back door and was taken by surprise with the blast of cold air that hit me when I opened the door. “Wow! I’m definitely making this quick!” I crunched through the snow on the back deck and did a quick underhanded toss, releasing the berries into the air and watching as they dotted the snow with little blue specks.

The birds on the feeders scattered with the incoming berries and headed for the safety of the trees. “No worries!” I called to them. “When you come back you’ll see I’ve left you a delicious sweet treat!” I went back into the house and closed the door as fast as I could. As I stomped the snow off my shoes and looked over at Alex and smiled. “I don’t know why, but that made me feel really good!”

Alex was tossing some spinach into the blender. “You love feeding the birds.” He looked over at me and laughed. “And the chipmunks.”

“Well, my chipmunks are tucked in their warm little burrows right now. So no peanuts for them.” I headed for the couch, kicked off my shoes, and climbed under a nice warm blanket. “I know exactly how they feel.” I was still chilled from being outside.

Alex brought a glass of his smoothie into the living room. “Are you sure you don’t want some?” He tipped his head towards the kitchen. “There’s another glass still in the blender.”

“I’m not in the mood for anything cold right now.” I pulled the blanket up under my chin. “Maybe I’ll make something hot.” I got up and headed back to the kitchen.

There was a container of strawberries that Alex had left on the counter top. “Do you want me to put the strawberries away for you?” I called to him.

“I don’t think so.” He called back. “They’re almost ready to be thrown out, too.”

I pulled a knife out of the drawer and looked out the kitchen window, watching as the birds discovered the blueberries. “Hang on my friends!” I called to them as I began slicing the strawberries into smaller pieces. “More treats are on the way!”