Last summer was my first summer here working with the Villa, and as such I had a lot to learn not only about my job, but about the nuances and traditions that have been occurring here for many years. One of the first Cafes of the season, my coworkers and I were setting up with Patty from Zilli's when I noticed a morning dove above the lights at the side door from the pantry to the courtyard. I swore it wasn't real...I was so close to it and it didn't even flinch. I called Patty over and she said "Oh yeah, that's Jezebel, she's here every year." No way, I thought, you are definitely pulling my leg. For several minutes I exclaimed that there was no way that bird was real, while Patty insisted she was not trying to play a trick on me. Finally, I got up as close as I could to the bird, so close I could have reached out and touched it, when she blinked. I was so startled that I laughed hysterically for probably five minutes! After that, I saw Jezebel (named by our Katie Shorts) and her two batches of adorable babies every Sunday morning at Cafe.
These morning doves are a fixture in our Courtyard. Despite putting wire over the lights so they can't build their nests
inside the top of the lights, they have returned, apparently building their nests
on top of the wire netting. These two have definitely made the Villa Courtyard their home, and I for one am happy they are back!
They don't even try to walk away even when you get right up next to them!
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