…favorite things friday – birdcages

So, for the last few months I’ve been obsessing about doves. Real. Live. Lovebird. Doves. Not just lovebirds, but lovebirds in a French-inspired, enormous, chicken-wire cage to be placed on my foyer table.

(Above is NOT an actual image of the French shop cage)

Over the Spring I went to the Luckett’s Spring Market with two of my kindred-spirited friends and spent some time walking through the quaint streets of Middleburg. We wandered into a lovely shop that sold imported European items that cost more than my house. The tapestries, furniture, statues and rugs were heavenly.

An older woman with a very fresh face greeted us and with an ever-so soft voice asked if we would like to see the new eggs that were hatched just this morning. Eggs? Hatched? In here? Why, yes!

She lead us into the back of the shop where I laid my eyes on the most amazing bird cage I’ve even seen. The bottom was scattered with beautiful, golden hay and sitting atop a natural branch affixed on either side of the chicken wire frame were a family of ringneck doves. Coo coo.

They were white and soft. Before I realized what she was doing, her hand was through the front door of the cage and she was petting the lady-dove. Then she was picking up lady-dove! Underneath Lady was four, speckled eggs. It was the most gorgeous accessory in any shop I had ever seen. I was almost breathless and my friends turned to me and responded with, “Christen, you need this.”

While I was taking it all in, the woman with stretched skin told us that they had started selling the cages with a dove couple placed inside. I’m sorry, I could OWN this gorgous scene for my very own? Where do I sign up? She put my name on a list to be called when more cages had been handmade. I drove home and with the words along the lines of “This is a life need, DH,” told him about the cage, lovebirds and cost. The package was about $2,000. It was all about paid for in my mind when DH asked me if I had taken any pictures. Well, of course, DH. He studied the cage and within three minutes told me he could make one for me. Oh, Lord, did I choose the right man to marry. It would be the cost of a welder and material, but it could be done.

To make a very long story short, we have had a series of shake-ups here at our nest. Kane went to doggie heaven, Shelly-the-cat walked out on us, and we’ve been renovating. It has not been the time to weld cages or welcome birds. But, there remains a place on my foyer worktable for my birds. I am a September baby and for my 38th, I think lovebirds would be even more spectacular than diamonds!

I’d love to be able to show you an image of the birdcage, but I do not have one. Yet. I do, however, LOVE decorating with birdcages. They add interest to a space even if they don’t have live birds living in them. You can place books or a nest or a small moss ball. The more rustic the better.

In fact, there are so many beautiful accessories that are birdcage inspired. I heart them all.

I promised on September 29th to show you my birthday present. Don’t worry, DH will have a brand new welder’s mask for the project. He loves a project involving a torch.