Wanderers in Wonder

Riding our bikes from the Headwaters of the Mighty Missouri into the town of Three Forks from camp and we are treated to a whimsical world of art and birdhouses. It was early so I did not stop and ring the bell. On the way back I knocked on the door to the farmhouse behind the line of birdhouses. There was no bell.

Daryl, a retired long-haul trucker, and his wife Ann, a creative stay at home Mom, began building birdhouses when Daryl retired several years ago. Ann wanted something they could do together as they entered twilight years. They would brainstorm designs together. Daryl will build the birdhouses and together they would decorate.

At first they just put them on trees and fence posts in the yard close to their house. When they ran out of space they started to put the birdhouses on the fenceposts on their land next to the Three Forks hike/bike trail.

They now have everyone of the 47 fenceposts decorated with a birdhouse…all different, all creative all colorful. They often get birds nesting. Although as more and more hikers and bikers have stopped to admire their creations the numbers of nesting birds have dwindled.

Daryl and Ann added a bench for people to rest and enjoy. Then flower beds, flower bikes and who knows.

When I asked if more birdhouses were on the horizon, Ann replied, “we are out of fence posts”. Daryl responded, “I am thinking of buying adjacent properties to continue down the trail”.

A really nice couple.

Peace…Wanderers in Wonder.