Ruby Red Robin
Ruby loved birds, she collected bird ornaments, enjoyed and encouraged birds to her garden and loved watching their antics. She read about birds and came to know their movements as they years rolled by.
As her life slowed down so too did her ability to walk around her property, so her days were spent on her verandah garden, watching the birds come and visit. She became attached to them and they loved visiting her.
In her cupboards were ornaments of birds in all shapes, colours and styles. Hundreds of them.
My mother-in-law, Ruby, passed away in early December last year. whenever I think of ‘red’ I always associate Ruby with it so I have to mention this story.
My daughter in England was out walking with her baby daughter and her dog, when a Red Robin came along and stopped nearby. It followed her along sweeping and chattering as it accompanied her on her walk.
She started thinking of her Granma Ruby, the bird seemed to turn her thoughts towards her memories and by the time she got home she was quite teary with emotion. She mentioned the Robin to her husband and he said, ‘you know what they say about Red Robins, don’t you’? To which she answered ‘no’.
Many people believe that a visit from a Robin is a sign that a lost relative is visiting them, in the spiritual world Robins are viewed as a symbol of visits from our deceased loved ones. The Robin also symbolises new beginnings and life, and is also looked upon by many as a sign of fortune and good luck.
Isn’t that a lovely way of looking at things? The Red Robin has been around again and now my daughter acknowledges it and smiles to herself, saying hello to Granma 🙂
Once we get around to looking at Ruby’s collections, you know where the Red Robin is going don’t you?
At Ruby’s funeral I was asked to read a poem about King Parrots and days later at home, blow me down and some parrots came for a visit – something we’ve not seen here before.
The meaning of red
Did you know that I love colour – the brighter the better. Red is up there on my list, alongside my love of orange and yellow.
On one hand you have red as a colour of passion and life but on the other side it can be the colour denoting danger – red STOP signs, red danger signs – chosen because it’s the colour most visible from a distance and in all weathers. It’s an international colour for warnings. Think red fire engine trucks and emergency vehicles.
But then you also have red with a range of symbolic meanings, including life, health, vigour, war, courage, anger, love and religious fervour. The common thread is that all these require passion, and the “life force” that drives passion blood is red. Source
Some of my favourite red things:
Red flowers, berried, red gums shedding their flowers on the pavement, red shoes, and red strawberries – just a little collection of red.
Valentine’s Day 2021
Today is Valentine’s Day, something we don’t usually acknowledge to be honest. This morning we went for a bike ride and enjoyed a relaxing cup of tea at the half way point, before starting the ride home.
Much of the ride is downhill and easy, some is flat and makes you pump your legs to keep moving, the rest is undulating, with a bit of a sharp uphill. On today of all days, it is a great analogy about relationships. They go through their ups and downs and despite having been married for 41 years, we don’t have all the answers, we are still muddling our way through, but I must say we are happy most of the time. Things are looking rosy!
This photo was taken at our morning tea stop and I’m wearing a red t-shirt, by pure coincidence! It’s a nice photo of us both I think, so I thought I’d share it with you. My husband is the usually the Mathematician, but today he was the Cycologist!
Last year we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary (which just happens to be Ruby) in London and visited the Tate, where we saw this great Love Sculpture – it ‘s red and seems very appropriate to share with you today.
You can check out Terri’s post and many others who have left links to their rosy red posts in the comments – it’s always worth checking out how others have interpreted the theme.
Thanks Terri for another great prompt for #SundayStills – remember Sunday can be any day.
Next week’s prompt for Sunday Stills is Feed the Birds.
Thanks for joining me again this week!
Red is the colour of bold!
Deb x
All my Sunday Stills posts can be found here
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Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here
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Beautiful post to treasure. Such a lovely story about Ruby, Red Robins and Connecting via nature. I do not dismiss any of that any more. I am not sure where it came from but following Mum’s death 14 years ago next month, I remember someone telling me when a white cockatoo flies over, it’s a message from Mum. OK..and then some short time after that when I stopped at the edge of Narrabeen lakes, it happened. And I managed a photo. We don’t do the valentine’s thing either and so much gratitude has already been expressed thanks to our Golden Wedding Anniversary that we are comfortable with moving on. I am a red girl more often than I am a blue girl and I always wore something red when having a potential tricky meeting way back when I was working!
Denyse
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Thanks for your lovely words Denyse, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I love the idea of cockatoos reminding you of your mum and that you got a photo of them!
I also chuckled at you wearing red if you knew you had a tricky meeting at work! Have a great week.
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I still do it for added confidence
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Wow Deb – lots here and interesting that red/ruby plays such a large role in your world. Lovely that Ruby is still in your thoughts and also that you found so much to share with this particular prompt. Happy Valentine’s Day x
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Thanks Leanne, my brain went into overdrive for a while there! Yes Ruby is often our thoughts 🙂 and this reminded me of her once again.
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Lovely post, Debbie. I love red too, especially in the garden. We have visiting robins all the time so it would be nice if the belief were true. Have a lovely day 🙂
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Thanks Cathy, red in the garden is such a happy and bright look. Lucky you with all the red robins visiting 🙂
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I enjoyed your post, Debbie. So sorry for the loss of your MIL Ruby. How cool was that to love red and have a MIL named Ruby. That’s a beautiful story about the robin. One of my favourite Christmas stories as a child was The Christmas Robin. A few years ago I was delighted to find a copy in a bookstore and bought it. We have king parrots visit our garden from time to time. They are beautiful birds. It’s a good thing you got to the Tate last year for your 40th. It wouldn’t be happening this year.
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There were lots of advantages to travelling late in November 2019 and being home in Aus by the end of January 2020 Norah, we couldn’t have timed it better. I’m glad you enjoyed my post and how lovely that you found a copy of your favourite book.Thanks too for your condolences on losing Ruby, it was a hard time.
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💖
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I like reading your recollections about Ruby, Deb. I feel the love coming from your words. Interesting about the Parrots. A great deal of wisdom in nature. When I wear something colourful now, I always think of you, Deb. 💕Your vibrant positivity and personality always adds colour to our universe. 💕Great photos! Interesting contrast with the leaf in with the red.I especially love the photo of you and the Mathematician. Happy Valentine’s Day! xx
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Many thanks Erica, lots of love in these words as you have rightfully pointed out. I love that wearing bright clothes reminds you of me 🙂 What a lovely compliment, you’ve paid me, many thanks for that x
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I’m sorry about your mother-in-law, but love the bird stories. Maybe she is saying “hello” 🙂
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Thanks Trent, I like to think she is saying ‘hello’ too. 🙂
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I love the story of the robin visiting your daughter and the parrots arriving to you as well Deb. I do think it is a lovely way to think about it. Very comforting.
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Yes comforting is the right word Sue, I’m glad I was able to share these stories and some of my ‘red’ photos. Thanks 🙂
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Lovely post and fitting for the Sunday Stills theme. Those king parrots are beautiful. Hope you have a wonderful day!
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Many thanks fro stopping by Ingrid! The parrots are so pretty with their colourful feathers.
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What a beautiful post, Deb and the story of the Robin. I have heard this before although I think in Australia it is a different bird but when my brother died, his daughter had the same experience. I love how you could bring Ruby into this week’s Sunday Stills and what a lovely photo of you and Grant on Valentines Day! Here’s my contribution to #SundayStills Looking at Life through Rose Coloured Glasses
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Thanks Sue, you always make me smile with your lovely comments! I really enjoyed bringing Ruby into it as her name fitted in so well. I loved your take on the prompt too, very clever and creative!
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What a lovely post, full of beautiful reds! I’m always touched by stories about creatures heralding messages from loved ones. I heard about the red robin as well as the cardinal as messengers from loved ones, Debbie. And truly amazing to be visited by love birds in your garden! Your MIL Ruby was very special and I enjoyed reading about her and your story! You and your hubby look so cute and we don’t necessarily celebrate Valentines, unless we share a nice bottle of wine!
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Thanks Terri! It was an opportunity to share my daughter’s story about the robin and to include Ruby (great name) into it as well. I couldn’t pass up that opportunity! Yes it was a cute photo of us both 🙂 Thanks again for all you do.
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Ruby sounds a lot like my parents. My dad was a zoologist who oversaw wildlife research and management programs. Both of my parents were bird lovers who went on countless bird counts. Our yard was full of bird feeders.
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I think Ruby would have loved to be into bird research! What an interesting life your parents (and you) must have had in that world. Thanks for joining in the conversation.
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Hi, Deb – I have also heard about birds (and other animals) appearing where they are not normally found following the death of a loved one. Truth is always stranger than fiction, and there is so much we simply don’t yet understand. I love the brilliant reds that you have shared in this post. You are a very talented photographer!
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Hi Donna, It’s interesting isn’t it, how birds and other animals can have this impact and it’s an idea that’s been around for a long time by the sounds of things. Thanks for the kind words about my photography skills, I’m blushing here right now!
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Ruby sounds wonderful. I am sorry for your loss, but love this beautiful post. Happy Valentines Day Debbie 💕 😘 ❣️ 😍 ❤️ 🥰 💘
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Thanks Cindy. Ruby was the inspiration behind this post so I’m glad it’s been well accepted.
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A lovely post Debbie 🙂 🙂
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Thanks very much!
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Hi Debbie, Your words and pictures made me smile. I particularly loved the red children’s shoes. What a lovely tribute to your MIL. Your header picture is so appropriate for this post.
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Thank you Marsha, so pleased I managed to make you smile with my post! Those lovely red shoes belonged to a little friend and I was kind of jealous!
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I would be jealous, too, Deb. I remember I had black patent leather shoes much like those for special occasion when I was young. They made me feel so elegant.
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I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your mother in law. But I love that idea of the robin as a visitor from a deceased relative. Like Ruby my own mother loved seeing the birds in her garden and she especially liked robins, so I will remember this, and her, in the future whenever I see one 🙂
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Thanks for your kind words Sarah on the passing of my MIL. I couldn’t help tell the story of my daughter and the red robin and am thrilled that you will think of your mother whenever you see a robin in the garden now. 🙂
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What a wonderful post Deb. I am sorry about the loss of your mother-in-law, it is so hard to lose anyone but a mom is so hard. I love the story about the robin. Over here, we say the same thing about cardinals. Congrats on years of marriage. That is wonderful and obviously you are still very much in love.
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Thanks Carla, it was lovely to write the stories of the birds. I didn’t know about the cardinals meaning the same things, isn’t it interesting how these things happen? Great to have you join me 🙂
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I never knew those facts about robins and yet I can’t reconcile the damage and mess they make every year as they attack our windows and furniture. Strange thing is they did it at our city house and now we moved to the country and it’s still happening. Maybe I have an ancestor that is mad at me?
Sorry to hear about your MIL – we also just lost ours at the age of 99. Interesting how things make you think of the departed. When our friends 28 year old son died in a plane crash they had a hummingbird at their window for 3 days in a row.
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Your comment made me smile 🙂 a mad ancestor maybe the answer! It’s hard losing a MIL at any age and I’m sorry for your loss too. Oh the hummingbird story is very interesting!! Thanks again for your visits.
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For 3 days the hummingbird showed up at their office door. They’ve had them in the yard before but until the funeral they saw the hummingbird every day by the office.
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