Those two little words have become part of the soundtrack of our days.
Last summer a tiny desert wanderer showed up at Karen’s back door—a roadrunner with bright, curious eyes and a heart full of courage. Karen could tell she was a juvenile. Breeding season for these Arizona natives is March-August. Both parents incubate the eggs for approximately 20 days, and about 20 days after hatching, the clutch will fledge and be on their own (with parental care and intermittent feeding continuing for a few weeks after the young venture out on their own). This is when this avian teenager showed up in Karen’s backyard, thin, dehydrated, and very hungry. She wasn’t shy about asking for help, either. One glance through the sliding glass door and you could tell she wanted something to eat.
Karen, of course, obliged. First, she offered Callie Kitty’s low-fat, raw food. The next day, she had little marble-sized balls of higher-fat ground beef ready, just in case. And wouldn’t you know it? The little roadrunner returned.
That’s when she earned her name: Lucy.
At first, Karen kept perfectly still, tossing the meat gently while giving Lucy the space to trust. Over time, Lucy inched closer and closer until one magical day, she took food straight from Karen’s hand.
This isn’t the first time a roadrunner has found our door. Five years ago, one appeared at my sister Sharon’s home. Sharon named her Rosamunda, fed her dried mealworms, and before long, Rosamunda was knocking on her glass door with her beak, politely reminding Sharon when it was mealtime.
Lucy, however, has a special kind of spunk. She’s bold enough to not only peek inside, but step inside to find Karen when the door’s left open for Callie:
Lucy isn’t tame, but she’s clever and endlessly patient. If no one notices her at the back door, she makes her rounds: Karen’s front door, then ours, then back again, until someone finally calls out, “Lucy’s here!”
Lucy, waiting in between our houses, for someone to notice her.
And she always comes back. Even though she must cross a busy boulevard—darting between cars with heart-stopping speed—she finds her way safely to us. Every time, we hold our breath and marvel at her determination.
She’s fast. She’s smart. She’s beautiful. And she makes a wonderful “brrrrrrrt” sound by clapping her beak together to let us know she’s around, you can hear her respond to Karen’s call in this video:
Lucy has become more than just a visitor; she’s part of our lives now. Every encounter with her reminds us of one simple truth: when we choose to be kind to the wild ones, they sometimes choose us back, always on their terms and their timing.
When Karen is gone, Lucy happily accepts food from me and Jim
Recently, I wrote a blog called “Be Kind to Animals.” Watching Karen and Lucy, I’m reminded daily how deeply that principle lives in our family. Wildlife, pets, creatures great and small—each connection is a gift.
Lucy may have wandered into our world by chance, but she’s nestled into our hearts by choice. And that, I think, is the magic of it all. Because sometimes, love just shows up at your door.
With love,
Mama Becker
SALE: 15% off Organic Beef Bites
In honor of Lucy the roadrunner’s love for free-range, organic ground beef, we’re celebrating with a special treat for your pets! This week only, enjoy 15% off our Organic Beef Bites—hand-made with the same high-quality, ethically sourced beef Lucy can’t resist. Nutritious, delicious, and crafted with care in our family bakery, these bites are the perfect way to show your furry family members some extra love while honoring Lucy’s favorite snack.
Get Your Organic Beef Bites Here
offer ends Wednesday, October 8th at midnight (no code needed)