While in Southport, NC, I visited the farmer’s market and so enjoyed the varied artists and items for sale. One of my favorites was a vendor who sold repurposed glass designed into a picture or scene inside a repurposed frame. She shared that she goes to yard sales and estate sales to gather items and then creates her masterpiece. So many caught my eye as I walked around her display. Then, I found it! I could sense that I would find a treasure.

My mother, her mother, and all her siblings loved nature, especially bird watching. As my mom has aged and has more time to sit and watch the birds from her window, she has cultivated ways to attract birds to her garden. Living in Virginia, we often see the red cardinal with his mate. As our state bird, you grow up learning about the cardinal. My mom will often share with me her appreciation of her apartment and her ability to walk in her garden and witness nature.

There it was, two beautiful cardinals in a bird bath. One flying away and the other lingering in the bath. It was just the right size and reminded me of my mom’s garden with her birdbath. Many days we would see a cardinal taking a bath and playing in her garden.

I asked Parish to film the story and the presentation of the gift to my mom. The best part of this video is the ending and my mom’s discussion on “flying away.”

To add to the beautiful expression of love, we discovered while we were away on vacation that a cardinal visited my mom. We finally got on video what she has been trying to tell us for years. “Anna, I just know a bird is ringing my doorbell.”