Today I continue my quest in creating and posting one block a day of the fabulous That Town And Country Quilt by the lovely Susan-Claire Mayfield. This is day two hundred and nineteen of that project.

This quilt block shows a birdhouse with a bird against a blue salmon-patterned background. The birdhouse is near the center of the block and stands on a black pole. The house itself is a light blue with a black hole in the middle. The roof is angled like a triangle and is black. There is a patch of grass underneath indicated by a jagged cut piece of green fabric. Coming out of the grass are red flowers with long stems. Each flower is a red circle with a black middle. To the left of the birdhouse in the air is a bluebird. The bluebird is drawn in with pen and is in mid flight. — Click To Enlarge

Billy the Mountain bluebird is really pleased with how things are shaping up at his nesting box. Billy scouted this nest spot out and chose it in mid-February.

The color is not the preferred color of nesting boxes for birds, as they are safer in earth-toned houses. But Bianca, his mate, was wild for the color and location.

The house faces south which, she pointed out, was perfect. She told Billy there would be beautiful red flowers later, and she was right.

She’s in the house now, sitting with six little light blue eggs. They stay very close during the 16-21 day incubation period to ensure the eggs are not chilled. This is the second clutch of the season.

Billy and Bianca have been mated for four years. They will be together as long as both live. If one is widowed, the survivor will re-mate.

Bluebirds are a small thrush and can be seen hovering hawk-like about a yard off the ground, looking for insects. If you want to feed a bluebird at a feeder, they eat mealworms, suet dough, fruit, and sunflower bits.

In the spring and early summer, the females consume eggshell bits to help with egg production.

The bright blue of our mountain bluebirds always lifts my heart when I see them.