Guest Post: The Story of the Carolina Wren

     This was written by my Mum, Jeanne Wold. The bird's lessons should replace many a firm's 'mission statement'. Enjoy.
     "When Spring arrived in Tellico Village, TN my husband, Just, moved his stained glass workshop out of the sun porch and into the garage. A few days later he noticed a small, brown bird flying around the space, then leaving. A short time later the bird came back with a twig in her mouth and landed on a plastic magazine shelf above the worktable. She made several trips despite Just's attempts to shoo her outside. She was making a nest.
     Before he left the garage, Just tore out the nest and put it in the rubbish barrel. Back the little bird came the next time the garage doors were open. Again, Just destroyed the nest. This went on for several days. Every time the doors were left open the little bird was hard at work building another nest. It was evident that the persistent little Carolina Wren was building this nest where she wanted to, come hell or high water!
     By this time Just was won over. Whenever he closed the doors he left one garage door open up high enough for the little wren to walk under and then fly to her nest. Although her mate was a frequent visitor, he never came into the garage unless he could fly in or out through a wide open doorway. Instead he stood guard outside while the mom did all the work.
     One day I was surprised to see the mom-to-be land on my desk in the office upstairs, with a twig sticking out on both sides of her beak. She sat there for a moment and then retraced her flight path through the master bedroom and out of the terrace on the second floor. At the time I surmised that she must have mistakenly flown in the wrong door. However, maybe we had forgotten our agreement and had closed the garage doors tight. Could that have been? Was she reminding me? Yes, indeed. There was no opening for her to enter the garage.
     As little and cute as this bird is she has a piercing call; one day last week she let out several screeches as she sat beside her nest. We knew that she had finished laying her eggs and the next phase had begun.
     Both Just and I enjoyed this experience immensely. Our little messenger has taught us the following: She knows exactly what she wants and how to go about getting it. She shares her enthusiasm with others and invites them to participate. She makes each of us an intricate part of the plan by keeping us up to date on the progress and alerts us whenever we are forgetful. She never for a minute puts aside her goal and - happily - we make her goal our goal."