Friday, October 12, 2007

Autumn has arrived and brought Birds along

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It’s time for hot tea instead of iced, fleece robes and slippers instead of tee-shirts and bare feet, and breakfast or stew for dinner. On chilly days, we sometimes enjoy breakfast for dinner.

The endless summer has lost its punch and it packed a tough one, too. The clear, brisk Autumn air is here, letting us inhale deeply. While the drought is still a major concern, we are feeling lighter and enjoying blankets on the bed.

Take a little walk with me on campus to see some pleasant surprises. I was drawn to the outdoors and left the invoices sit unattended on my desk until Monday.



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A gentle reminder that Summer is still here.




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A small reminder of an inevitable Autumn.


Suddenly, out of the clear, blue sky, there are BIRDS!

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There were at least six Eastern Bluebirds flying overhead. I haven’t seen Bluebirds in several months. How did I feel about it? Elated or exhultant would be good adjectives.



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Hello, lone Phoebe! Been missing you…


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The campus grounds have been quiet for months. Birds are waking up, it seems. After leafing through my field guides, I'm not sure if this is an Eastern Phoebe. Its back is grayish brown but I don't see yellow on the belly and the tail feathers are pale... Help?



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Mockingbirds are everywhere, year round. This one, with its comical noise box, made me laugh out loud.


Now, take a little walk with me in my yard. I’ll fold the laundry tomorrow.

It was unnerving for me to see feeders without birds so often during our summer simmer. Twenty-five fewer degrees later - they’re back! As of yesterday, all of the regulars seem to have pep in their step, just like me.



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Of all the birds who visit, the Cardinals and Titmice fear me the most.


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Our tiny one-third acre has plenty of hiding places for birds, rabbits, chipmunks, snakes, and squirrels. We own the areas beyond the fence where refuges are growing. My feeders are also beyond the fence - protected from my Bostons. Chloe is the hunting and flushing queen but her senior eyesight holds her back. Bella has been showing some talent for chasing rabbits and stray cats.



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Finch Feast


I brought out my snowflake robe and slippers today. I have lots of nice robes that are newer. I purchased it in 1995 (from Hecht's or Walmart - I don't remember) and can’t part with the snowflake robe. It’s starting to look shabby but it’s perfect in every way. Just perfect.


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28 comments:

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Thanks for the walk May. I'd forgotten about your L-R slippers! Isn't it nice that things seem to be waking up again?
Glad your bewds are back!

Carol Michel said...

Love all the bird pictures and I laughed at your L-R slippers. Sorry I laughed, that really is a good idea.

It's funny how we cling to our old robes while newer, nicer ones hang in the closet collecting dust.

Carol at May Dreams Gardens

Q said...

Dear Mary,
I am so happy the birds are back! Yeah! I also am happy you are walking around the campus showing us the beauties...Blue Birds!!
I adore them.
Your snowflake robe and cute slippers are precious!
Now for rain!
Sherry

JeanMac said...

Your L/r slippers brought a laugh-my Dad marked his as a joke. I said Mom would have had a bird to see you do that. He said did it because he could now (Mom had passed away).
Glad your temps have mellowed. Nominated you for an award as per entry today but don't know how to link it- how's that for bad blogging?

Mary said...

Love the photos as always I have been reading your last post and laughing at the word "fanny". It has a very different meaning in England I don't know if you are aware of that. Glad you are cooling down Mary

Mary said...

Mary, can you let us all know what "Fanny" means in England? Please? :o)

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Love that first picture (well, all of them really)--but the light behind the golden leaves with brown veins is lovely--so characteristic of how fall feels!
I'm glad you're witnessing a comeback, at least by some birds.
We appreciate those fleeting visits even more when we've been missing them for so long!

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Great pictures Mary. I love the Cardinal picture. Have you ever tried the Spiced Chai from Liptons? It is really good. xoxo Nita

NatureWoman said...

Wow, I'm glad you got out to see so many bewds! I had forgotten about your L-R slippers, too. Nothing like favorite comfy clothes, huh?

NatureWoman said...

Oh, and I said fanny to someone from England once and he got all offended. I didn't know it was a bad word there. I thought it was better than saying ass to him, but I guess not! So I'd like to know what it means, too!

RuthieJ said...

Oh Mary, you're feeding station looks great! A good advertisement for WBU.

Chloe looks ready for some snuggle time.

Unknown said...

Well unlike most here I never saw your slippers before. What hoot and a good idea. So glad your birds are back along with cooler weather.
Feels good.

I enjoyed your walk.

KGMom said...

Oh yeah--the L and R slippers.
I, for one, am THRILLED that autumn is finally here.
Last week we went to the Penn State game and sat in 90 degree (F) temps. Tomorrow--thankfully, we will go and sit in 60 degree temps. Now that's football weather, folks.

smilnsigh said...

Oh I'm so glad you have Autumn, and birds!!!!!

Mari-Nanci

Jayne said...

Oh I love that my birds are again so very active! I am looking forward to vegetable soup... yummmmm.

Anonymous said...

Love the cooler temps and great photos of the bluebirds! Ugg, will have to get another look at that flycatcher you have but a hard angle for sure! Great to be out seeing birds again!

Larry said...

I enjoy breakfast just about any time! Nice birds are coming in.-Keep a sharp eye out-you may see something rare passing through!

Julie Zickefoose said...

Eee ! Eee! Eee! (boff, boff with nerfbat)

This is a subtle one--but you're asking all the right questions. Eastern wood-pewee! Heavy white wingbars and remiges (edges of tertial wing feathers); peaked head, more delicate build and smaller-headed overall than the phoebe; the pewee has more erect posture and doesn't wag its tail like the phoebe does. Life bird? Hope so!

I yelled out "Bill, can you grab my fanny pack?" on the Chunnel train and people about swiveled their heads off their necks whipping them around to glare at me. I'll spare Mary from England at the risk of offending..."fanny" is the equivalent of a slang word that starts with "c" in Merrie Olde. Sad but true.

Eee! Eee! Eee! 'Ta!

Science and Improper Slang Chimp, signing off.

Mary said...

Yahooo! Lifer! I knew I was close...

Thanks, Science Chimp - in my excitement, here's a "boff boff" back atcha!

cat59 said...

Love the pics of the pretty bluebirds. Love this weather!

dguzman said...

I'm embarassed to admit that my old blue/gray flannel robe is almost 20 years old, but I love it!

You must be seeing the bluebirds that left my yard a while back. Enjoy them!

Oh--you have a Kodak camera, don't you? I'm considering a Kodak Easyshare z712 with image stabilization. Do you like your Kodak? I know you'd said there were some things that irked you about it. (For an explanation of why I need a new camera, and much melodramatic blubbering, please see my blog.)

As Cape May weekend gets closer, I'm sadder and sadder that you won't be there. But maybe next year!

Oh, and I see that the shrieking Science Chimp has swung in on a vine and ID'd your Eastern wood pewee, one of my favorite birds (I love its little pee-wee-pee-oh call).

I'm about to post a drive-home post I did a couple of nights ago, so it'll go with your walk-about.

LauraHinNJ said...

Thanks for the L-R slipper smile. I'd forgotten about them, too.

It's sooo nice to need blankets again!

Naturegirl said...

Mary I flew over on the wing of a butterfly! I am still in my PJ's most days..Thank you for your words of comfort and encouragement as I heal!
Now back to those wonderful pics of the glorious birds..just what my heart and soul need! I look out of the window and see my feathered friends and of course the cats are delighted as they chatter..a sound they make when they see birds.hugging you so gently..NG

Susan Gets Native said...

It is gratifying to "hear" you so refreshed. Your spirit has slogged through this GD awful summer and come out the other side!

I have a robe that predates the girls....(pink and white plaid with matching sloppy pants) I wore it while in labor for both of them, and I don't ever want to get rid of it.

Anonymous said...

Great.
I love all those birdie pictures. I must say that Mockingbirds are one of my all time favs.

sonia a. mascaro said...

I enjoyed so much your wonderful tour, Mary! Beautiful photos as always!

Have a lovely Sunday!

Chrissie said...

LOL! Mary, blogland is a bit public to explain the UK meaning of fanny :-) I'm not a prude but it would feel like shouting a rude word out in the silence of a library. It slang for part of the female anatomy :-)

David said...

Hey...nice feeder setup! Looks like some of those nice WBU feeders (shameless plug for our store there!!!) Great bird photos!