We've been watching a precious little bluebird couple carefully build their nest underneath our mailbox, one piece of pinestraw at a time, over the last week. Travis found an egg in there this morning and ran in to grab the camera (he's my young apprentice : ). He captured such a great shot of the mama intently guarding her baby. After days of flying away as soon as they would hear our front door open, this mama wasn't about to leave her nest now that she has a baby to grow in there.

Nature study at its best joy....