Bluebirds - and love - forever

Rick Steber, a prolific Prineville writer of Western history and fiction, has given us another winner, "A Promise Given-A True Story of Life, Love...and Bluebirds."

This book is a true tale of true love and the twists and turns of Trevor Russell's life as he grew up a huntin' and fishin' kid near the little town of Odell in the upper end of the Hood River Country.

Most of all, it's a tale of undying love. On page 56 Trevor meets her: Vivian - the young lady who knocks Trevor flat and stands him back up again with his feet firmly on the ground.

Trevor's roommate, Rollie, a guy who thought of himself as a "ladies man," had his hooks into Vivian (or so he thought) when Trevor entered the picture. Trevor, being a crafty huntin' and fishin' guy, turned things around. It happened when Vivian stopped by the apartment to see Rollie, but he wasn't there...

"Vivian stood on the landing, broken sunlight slanting through the leaves of tall trees fell around her in a lively mosaic of light and shadow. Vivian seemed surprised Rollie was not there to greet her. It showed in her expression. She hesitantly asked, 'Is Rollie here?'

"'No,' responded Trevor, and then with more conviction and confidence than he felt, he added, 'But I am. Why don't you come in...'"

Trevor took her to see a movie, the good old boy/girl chemistry started mixing and when Rollie heard about it, he said, "'You doggin' my girl?'"

With blood in his eye, Trevor responded heatedly, "'She's not your girl,'" and the hook was set. But life wasn't all peaches and cream, and both Vivian and Trevor had some dark times in their lives.

But as the title of Rick's book on the life and times of Trevor and Vivian suggests, that bluebird of happiness entered their lives when the Russell family was living in their place over near Paulina, Bluebird Valley Ranch.

Vivian was quite ill, sitting on the front porch of the ranch house, watching the mountain bluebirds flitting about and said, "'If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I'd sure like to come back as a bluebird.'" That was the beginning of Trevor's involvement with the welfare of bluebirds, which ultimately meant building 1,000 nesting boxes.

If you can get through the beautiful last pages of Trevor and Vivian's life without having trouble seeing, you have a heart of stone. The last scene with Trevor and Vivian tells you why Trevor established the bluebird trails he loved, maintained and expanded over the years.

A few comments about bluebird nesting boxes:

• Make them as the plans describe.

• Use 1/2-inch or thicker exterior plywood.

• Make them so they can be cleaned annually (a must!)

• For bluebirds, cut a 1-and-9/16-inch hole - no larger (the starlings can get in), no smaller (the western bluebird can't get in).

• Place bluebird nesting boxes over six feet from the surface with the entrance hole facing north. (If the entrance hole is facing south or west, nestling can get cooked.)

• Be sure one nesting box cannot be seen by another when mounted.

• Do not place nesting boxes in areas with outdoor cats.