The Cedar Waxwings were here today. It was a joyous morning when I looked out the upstairs window and spotted the Cedar Waxwings. I always look for them this time of the year as they are passing thru and stop by for a bite from the Prairie Fire Crabapple trees in the front garden.

When Tess was just a squirt, she started her pre-school years at the ISU Lab School three mornings a week. Her teacher Angie would post large cards around the room to remind the 3-4 year-olds of things to watch for throughout the seasons. Tess loved the puzzles, so she always headed over to that table after I dropped her off in the morning. Angie hung the Cedar Waxwings poster there.

We were home one morning in February of that first year at the Lab. Ev had just left for school, so Tess was leaning on the windowsill watching him walk with the older kids down the street. She casually remarked to me, "Oh, look the Cedar Waxwings are here." I asked her what she was talking about. She pointed to the trees outside our living room window. Sure enough, the Cedar Waxwings were here, gobbling down the shriveled fruit. An hour later, our trees were bare and the flock had moved over to the neighbor's crabapple tree. Tess had taken Angie's lesson to heart and watched for them. : }