Mr and Mrs Downy

I don't like to use a photo with a feeder in it, but it is all I have. The downy woodpeckers visit us quite regularly this time of year. They are beautiful.

We had a wonderful visit with our young friend......she was a foster child in our home many years ago.....she is now 41 years old, married with 3 children. She is a sweet girl who just moved back to Oregon after living all over the world with her Army husband. She has been close to us since she was 4 years old..........first in foster care and then through a time with her Mom.....even a time when she and her Mom lived with us....then we were there for her when her mother suddenly died..... we were there as family members and friends fought over where she would go live......then supported her through the adoption and her life growing up with her new family......not all was perfect......but she could always call me for support......and even stayed with us for a few weeks during her high school years when she was struggling and her adoptive parents & her needed a break from each other. Last night we talked about her life and the way things worked out for the best. It was a good conversation we had into the wee hours of the morning after the teenage girls went to bed. She realized that I was the one person who probably knows all the "players" in her life and she can talk about memories of her Mom and her during her early school years. We are close.....very close. Nice to spend time with her again and reconnect in person.