Messy Nest

We have cliff swallows at school they build nests above the outside doors to our rooms. The one on the left is nice and tidy, with mama bird proudly perched on her babies.... the other one, on the left is above my door. It's messy and lopsided, mama bird is in it, but she is hidden by the candy wrappers, papers, and other stuff that she has dragged into it. Every time she flies off, stuff drifts down, and she is constantly bringing back other things to tuck into her nest. Artistic? maybe. Like me? definitely. I have cravings for order and neatness, especially at the turn of the year (not just new years, but at the start and stop of school years) and want to do nothing more than put things away in boxes with neat little labels. Which sounds wonky and is not accomplished much at home, but I did clean out the store room here at school, sorted and labeled everything for next year. Which makes me growly when *this* years kids drag something out. Is alright, only 8 class days left- not counting today- and one of those I will be off fetching grendel. Then exam days. Then finally summer..... ahhhh..... dreaming.

Back to the birds. The school is nice enough to leave the nests be until the birds are finished with them in the Fall- then they are sprayed down and all is cleaned to be rebuilt next year. The birds return from wherever they go and build the nests each spring, the kids love to watch them and their progress. (This year they are happily teasing me about the messy nest- ) The swallows are pretty tolerant, and just flit about when anyone is outside- it's odd because the brass section of the band practices outside right by my door but that doesn't frighten them off at all.... I suppose they are used to 'Pomp and Circumstance' by now.