Finch Feeder

I moved the bird feeders off of the deck because of the mess they make. That is except for the humming bird feeder and one of the finch feeders, because they are just so pretty to watch.

Maybe since they are little birds they won't make too much of a mess???


We get gold finches and house finches.

Black Raspberries

Our thicket has dried up. The last time I picked, a week ago, I got about 2 handsfull of berries. I'm still learning how to prune them for a better yield and maybe next year I can learn how to keep the bugs from sucking so may of them dry. I heard that a heavy rain we had during the harvest period interfered with the yield also. They are a blessing, and everytime I picked a couple of quarts I thanked God for the gift He was giving us. I have enough in the freezer to make a few jars of jam and maybe some ice cream topping.

Visiting Amish Land

Stevie and I went with my friends Pat and Linda to visit an Amish tourist site near here (though no Amish live on these particular grounds). It was a nice calming retreat to yesteryear, and the tour guide was very informative. Most Amish no longer live in the old style houses that we saw and are allowed more conveniences than they used to, but many of them do still have farms to tend without some of the modern machinery. You can find out more about the Amish here.


We watched a film explaining Amish history, took a walking tour through the various buildings and a wagon tour of the grounds. Stevie wasn't thrilled at all to go see the inside of the school house, he thought graduation was the end of having to go to school.


We then indulged in the Harvest Meal they offer, Stevie's only goal for the trip. The food just kept coming, but we could pick only one dessert from such a big assortment. Needless to say we had to make up for it the rest of the week, but it was worth it.


They are famous for their cinnamon-y apple butter, which we smothered all over their homemade bread and rolls.

After the meal I went straight to their store and bought a jar to take home.

Bird Retreat

This feeding station was a birthday present from Steve. I can add more hooks and attachments to it if I like, or even take some off. There's something for everyone so I get a nice variety. I've since added an Oriole feeder since I saw one observing a couple of times. There is a Wild Birds Unlimited store here, or I can go online here.

I could sit on the back deck for hours just listening to them communicate and watching the different personalities as they all mingle.

A beautiful birdbath from my parents, made out of pebbles, has added to the bustle of this little retreat. I'll add a picture of that when I get one and put it on this same post.

Cardinals

We get a lot of cardinals, but I read that they get territorial in mid summer when they nest, so some of them will get driven off.

I also read that the male will feed the female not only when she's on the nest, but anytime he's driven to. So I watched them more and saw it happen several times. I wanted to get a photo of it but it happens so quickly. The closest I came was when he just did it and their beaks are still very close.

Hummmm

I think these are male and female Ruby Throated Hummingbirds. We get more than one pair.

When I'm out on the deck taking care of the flowers I hear that Humm or Buzz sound they make, like a huge bumble bee only louder.
If I'm real still sometimes they will fly up to my face to check me out before they decide it's alright to go to the feeder or the flowers nearby. They are precious.

Sometimes one will come and knock another off the feeder and I hear little chirps.

Assorted Birds

We have a variety of birds visiting our yard so I will be showing a few of them at a time.

Downy Woodpecker w/ Chipping Sparrow, Grey Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatch

Someone's Always Watching You

That's what my mom always reminded us kids when I was growing up. She was meaning God. I, in turn, always told my daughter that, meaning God and anyone else that we may not notice, and (in this day and age) even surveillance cameras.

Well, we have a pair of strange Cowbirds. In April this pair started perching on our deck rail right beside our picture window or on the hummingbird feeder hook that is suctioned to the window. Then they would constantly fly at the window. But not just fly at it, they would flutter up and down the height of it, tapping or pecking at the window 4 or 5 times as they did. If they thought their reflection was another bird they were fighting with I would think they would be more aggressive, but they just gently tapped at the window as they fluttered up and down. It was driving me crazy because it went on all day every day. After a month they shifted their interest to the sliding door off the dining room. They would sit just outside it and peer in, occasionally tapping. I could always feel their eyes on me. Even when it rained they'd be there, looking so pitiful. I came very close to letting them come in.

Another strange thing I noticed is that every 20 seconds (I timed it) the male would puff up and let out a strange noise and sway off balance, then the female would chirp at him. I began to wonder if he had some kind of mental or neurological defect and was staying at our door asking us for help. I know, that's a childish thought, but they were in my face for so long I began to humanize them. They started reminding me of Bible verses, which made me feel more guilty.

behold I stand at the door and knock... Rev. 3:20
ask and it will be given... Matt 7:7
because of his persistence his friend will give him as much as he needs. Luke 11:8.

One day I decided to change the bird food in our deck feeders to get rid of the flock of Cowbirds and Grackles because they take over the feeders and keep the prettier birds away. They do not like safflower seed but the cardinals and other birds do like it, so that's all I put out. I also put up a finch feeder (which the big birds can't eat from) to keep the gold and purple finches around.

The flocks of grackles and cowbirds eventually went away, but it took this pair much longer to part themselves from our windows. I only see them on the deck occasionally now. I hope they've grown out of it.

My sister in Michigan said she had a bird constantly flying at her sun room window for 3 years. It has now directed it's attention to her neighbors car window.

Animal Rights

"Okay Joe, on 3 we jump that thief." This Grackle and Cow Bird look like they're ready to run off this squirrel. I love to observe the critters on my back deck and imagine what they are saying.

Well, they achieved their goal.

Grackles, Cow birds and Squirrels would be on my hit list if I had the nerve to use a beebee gun. They scare off, and eat all the food that attract, the pretty birds. When my grandpa was alive he did shoot squirrels and Blue Jays so that his favorite bird, Cardinals, would have more of a chance. He let us kids take home a squirrel tail once, which my mom promptly threw away. Being a mom now, I would too.



Male and female Cow Birds.



The squirrel was the first thing to find the bird food when we first moved here in November and wanted to start attracting pretty birds. Even though he was a baby, he ate a big part of the daily supply, Along with the raccoons that came at night. But the birds eventually started coming and the raccoons seem to have backed off.



I will be posting more pictures of the variety of birds we have around here. Somehow they all manage to fight for their right to the rations.

"When I was your age, television was called books".

The Princess Bride
I don't usually steal other peoples posts but since I like funny movie quotes, I wanted to share this post with you over at Life With My Special K's.

Would you like to tell me some of your favorite funny quotes?




Remember; no matter where you go, there you are."- Buckaroo Banzai

Wary Bird

I caught this Rose Breasted Grosbeak spying on Deliverance preparing her garden beds down below him.
I could just imagine he wanted to make sure there was no threat of her coming after him before he would go for the food.



The Lord sure made an interesting variety of birds. They are all unique and beautiful. The longer I watch them, the more personality I see in them.


I guess Mr Grosbeak liked the assortment I had because he came back the next day and braved the rain. It looks like he spotted me in the window with the camera.

One For The Memory Book

Remember at Christmastime when I said we took in Steve's mom to live with us because she can no longer safely take care of herself? My sister-in-law Barb and I had to take her to a Dr appointment one morning so Barb thought it would be good for mom to get a hair style, while we had her out, that would be a little easier for me to take care of. One that Barb wanted her to get for years now, a little more stylish. We also talked her into going with a more natural looking color for her age.

Since we would have to wait around while she had this make-over Barb made the appointment for all 3 of us to get some color highlights, a trim and a quick curl with the iron. Barb and I had about 4 different colors put on, and mom had 3. She was very hesitant to go shorter and gray-er, but she trusted Randy (our hairdresser who works wonders) and ended up being very pleased with the result. These are the before and after pics.

Mom's dementia has been effecting her more often so we thought she would like a soft stuffed animal to keep on her bed for all those spur of the moment hugs she always feels compelled to give. She picked out "Pinky" because she is so squishy. Mom has also been obsessed with having a watch that doesn't ride up her arm since she's lost a lot of weight. Barb has brought her so many that were still too big, but we happened across some childrens watches while looking for her "handy hugger" and she picked a pink one with angels (pink is her color). It thrills her to pieces that it stays on the wrist.

On the way home Barb stopped to pick up her husband Lee and they decided to treat us all at a Mexican restaurant. Mom was so tired she couldn't eat much, but was happy to stay out and show off her new "Do"



The events of that day had created a memory to cherish, because now mom is bedridden and suddenly over the last 2 weeks the dementia has her in constant confusion, so there will be no more special outings with her.

Everyone Has Something Going On

Deo Volente has a touching video clip on her blog.
This man had his own very heavy heart, but he chose to focus on lightening someone else's burden, and took his mind off of his his own in the meantime.
Click here to see it (hope you have audio).

Scooby's World View

Scooby's world is basically the deck area at the back of the house. He has a leash long enough to run around a small part of the yard until we make a fenced in area for him. He often gets tangled around a bush or a post which prevents him from getting back up the steps until we go get him, so a fenced area will be nice for him and us.

He likes to try to look through the trees for the dogs that live on each side of us. They make little noises when they hear me let him out through the sliding doorwall.



Steve and Josh make paths in the yard to be able to walk around, get to the shed, and for Scooby to ---you know.