Member-only story
How Cleaning the Birdhouse Restored My Creativity
Drag yourself away from your screens and do something constructive. You’ll be amazed what happens.
Last Sunday was a gloriously sunny early spring day and yet here I was, sitting in front of the computer, manically checking any fluctuations in the minuscule bell curve of my stats.
I knew I had to break free from the madness. For me physical work, crafting an object with my own hands or altering my environment by moving furniture, painting walls and rearranging things is the only cure for internet addiction.
Rather randomly, I decided to do a makeover of my handicapped pigeons’ aviary, Truth be told, this is a rather run-down, ramshackle affair made in a hurry when I unexpectedly found myself the caretaker of a hooded crow with a brain the size of a small country. I had created the aviary by following the rectangular shape of an old vine pergola, filling in the gaps with chicken wire, partially covered with wooden planks. The wire-and-wood gate I found in a hedge and relocated. It had once led into the field, but now had no purpose, so I gave it one again. I find upcycling in this way supremely satisfying. The roof is part corrugated plastic and part wire, so they can see the sky, which I feel is important for birds. It is not the strongest…
