Yesterday, I mowed the lawn.  There’s nothing special about that.  It happens regularly.  Something special happened this time, and that’s what this post is about.

We have a crab apple tree that has never thrived.  We’ve planned to remove that tree, but the last few years a dove has made her nest in the tree.  Neither Sylvia nor I have the heart to evict the dove while she is on her nest.  For that reason, the tree still stands.

When I mow around this tree, the tractor catches on a branch.  Yesterday as I mowed, I was easing past the tree, the tractor was rubbing, the tree was shaking and I looked at the nest.  I wanted to see an empty nest.  What I saw was this:

Momma dove sits bravely on her nest.

Yes, there within arm’s reach sat the fearless mother.  She refused to move, and my tree-removal plans are still on hold.