For The Birds...

"Do you like my feathers flat or..."

"do they look better spiked?"

~Cardinal

 

"I have a large repertoire of music, but I just don't feel

like singing right now."

~Mockingbird

"Put that camera down and get me a seed cake."

~Red-bellied Woodpecker

 

"Make sure you get my best side in the picture."

~Eastern bluebird

"I caught him!" 

It looks like the bluebird caught an insect just about the time

I accidentally caught him in flight.  He was sitting on the

pole and I was trying for a shot when he suddenly took off.

There are many beautiful bird photos around blogdom lately.

I hope you enjoyed seeing a few of the many birds that I

have in my backyard.  

Enjoy the rest of the week and don't forget to take time to 

smell the roses or watch a bird or two!

xo Cheryl

A Tweet Conversation...and Other Tidbits

Hello!  It's been a busy week with planting flowers and a few trips to the Big Town.  We've had lots of showers and a few thunderstorms coming through, but our county is still in the drought zone.  

The pots are all completely planted on the front porch/patio and I have just a few to finish on the back patio.  I also have a little garden area to plant once the soil dries out enough.  We had 3 knockout roses there, but they never did very well, so BG dug them out for me. 

I bought some new cushions for the chairs that go with the patio table.  Also a cover to pull over the whole shebang that's supposed to keep the chairs dry when it rains.  

I walked into the kitchen the other day and saw the above cardinal sitting on the window ledge.  Thinking maybe he had hurt himself by flying into the window, I took a closer look.  He just sat there looking at me, but appeared to be okay.  The window was closed but I began talking to him like I would talk to one of my kitties.   

After a bit, I turned around and went in search of my camera, thinking all the while that my new little feathered friend would be gone when I got back.  He was still sitting there, waiting patiently.  

I snapped a couple of pictures and began talking to him again, telling him how pretty he was and how much I enjoyed watching him and his friends flying between the nearby trees and the feeders.  I'm sure he understood every word!  

At one point I turned away thinking he would fly off but when I looked back at him, I saw that he had moved his body slightly so that he was looking straight into the window as if he were looking for me.  I went back and talked to him a little more.  Soon after, BG came home from work and I told him to take a look at the bird and when BG got close to the window, the cardinal soon flew away.  He hasn't been back for another chat, but I will always remember this "tweet" visit.

  

Me:  Stormy, what are you doing?

Stormy:  What does it look like...I'm taking a bath!

Me:  Do you have to do it there?

Stormy:  Well, it is the bath room, isn't it?

This afternoon is almost gone and I still need to get out the vacuum and clean up after the furkids.  I'm loving my little vacuum that I ordered, it does a fantastic job picking up the fur.  

I'm also so thankful for Clorox Wipes.  They are used several times a day, wiping off kitchen surfaces...and the bathroom vanity...that I know some little feet prance around on even though they know they aren't supposed to!

This weekend will be a busy one with BG heading back to The Project to work on the electric wiring.  Last weekend was spent on yard work.  Hope your weekend is a good one!  Take care...

xo Cheryl  

A Few Birds and A Few Words

My first robin of this year landed in my backyard along with about 10 of his friends the other day.  I was so excited to see him that I broke out into song.  Now that isn't something you'd want to hear, but I was a happy gal.  To me, the first robins say spring is on the way!

Excuse the quality of the bird shots today as I was 

shooting through a dirty window.  

Saturday is garage cleaning day.  I had to postpone the cable/internet/phone change over because I just couldn't get into gear the last few days to get everything done before they invaded my house.  The basement and most of the upstairs is clean except for the computer room.  The wiring for the upstairs TV comes in through the garage and I doubt if the technician could even find the wire should he need to change it.  I don't know how the garage gets so messy so quickly.  For that matter, I don't know how my computer room gets so messy, either.  At least I can't blame that one on my hubby!  The stuff is all mine.  Paperwork and stacks of books and magazines, luggage, you name it...it is kind of a catch-all. 

I have to admit that I've been spending way too much time reading the news instead of working.  The election news is both fascinating and annoying.  Are you getting as tired of all the whining, fighting, and barking as I am?  But I can't help it, I have to see what they say next.  I tend to take with a grain of salt what the pundits say or write.  It's plain to see that many of them have their favorites and don't even make an attempt to be impartial.  

One thing I have to wonder, and I hope I don't offend anyone by saying this, is this group of people the best we can do?  I'm talking about both sides of the aisle here.  And just think...we have many

more months to go to listen to all this.  Sigh.

My new glasses have been ordered and should be in this coming week.  I found out that my right eye is worsened because of the beginnings of a cataract.  He said that it will be a long while before it will cause problems enough to have to be removed.  That was good to hear.  I didn't even ask about contacts.  I'm very nearsighted and have progressive lens and since it had been awhile since my last pair, I nearly fainted when they told me how much they were going to cost, but I figured it was worth it considering how long it had been since I had a new pair.  I also ordered new prescription sunglasses.

We devoured the blueberry muffins and it's time to make something else.  I've got some bananas that are turning dark and I should make banana bread, but I've got a couple of new recipes that I've jotted down to try.  One is called Cream Scones and the other is Cinnamon Apple Muffins.  Maybe I'll make both!  Do you use sugar or a sugar substitute in your baked goods?

It's after midnight as I write this so I better wrap it up and hit the Publish button.  Morning will be here soon enough and we need to get the garage cleaned out for starters.  I also want to trim back some Knockout roses, too.  We are supposed to have temps near 70 today so it will be a good day to work outside.  BG also wants to get back to work on the electric wiring at The Project.  We need to get that finished.  So much to do, so little time.  And energy.  We'll get it all done eventually.  

Enjoy your weekend! 

 xo Cheryl

Blooms, Birds, Birthdays and Baby Kittens

It's Friday!  And it's been a busy week since I was here last.  

Rain has fallen, the sun is now shining....the

flowers are growing.

Birds are singing.  I snapped the bluebird while sitting on the 

patio one afternoon in between bottle feedings and chores.  

This photo is a happy accident and not clear like I wanted, 

but I like the way it turned out looking kinda like a painting.

Kittens are thriving.  And this is one of the reasons I've 

been too busy to blog.  They are both doing really doing well now. 

Rainie is eating much better as well as walking and is so sweet.  She likes to be cuddled and purrs a lot.  Rambo the Rambunctious loves to run around and explore everything.  It was quite an undertaking as I'm not used to feeding, burping and fixing bottles!  Not to mention the changing and washing of their bedding each time they are gotten out to feed and to play. 

But, it's impossible not to fall in love with them.

As my friend, Virginia, said in an email just the other day,

"Animals don't ask for much, just love, and they will

return it a thousand times."

Birthdays are happening.  Our daughter is having a birthday this holiday weekend.  One of her friends is having a party at their house with some of her friends to celebrate.  This photo is from last year, but she doesn't look any older!  

Happy Birthday, Kim!!

We love you lots and lots. 

BG and I picked up some fast food and enjoyed the lake view 

while we ate our supper last night.  I'll be happy when the 

bridge work is done so we don't have to take the detour.  

I don't go very often now and I miss my lake visits. 

While we were making plans for the weekend, we decided

to go this evening to the cemeteries and decorate the 

graves of our loved ones.  It is tradition here to not only

remember those who have died for our country but also to decorate

  the graves of our loved ones on this special holiday.

May each of you have a wonderful holiday weekend

in remembrance of those who died so that we might be free.

Happy Friday to you!

xo Cheryl