Loved Ones Who Don't Get It, and the Awards

Part I: They laugh at me.



When she walked onto the back deck and saw me on my knees, balancing myself on pond rock with backside up, she laughed out loud. Why does my daughter think it’s so funny to see me weeding the pond? I had just finished pulling enough water hyacinths, lettuce plants, and parrot feather to fill four paper grocery bags. Precious plants, they are, but too invasive. Yes, it’s odd seeing me wrapped in six-foot long parrot feather roots, but it’s worth the work.


I

In a few weeks, I’ll be doing it all over again. I’ll need to wear my waders and if I’m lucky, I’ll emerge with snails in the pockets.

Then my husband joined her on the deck. The two of them think they’re a comedy team. HA. HA. They laugh at my passion/hobby and pretty much agree I’m an eccentric about the birds, bugs, and everything else that interests me. They just... don’t... get... it... but won’t admit to being intrigued. Really. They giggled like crazy when my husband said, “Hey, if the house was on fire and I was sleeping, she would save her camera from the flames before she’d save me!” Now, that’s a ridiculous statement but there might be some truth in it. I’d call the dogs while grabbing my camera on the way to save his life. OK?

According to them, I’m responsible for the pigeon poop on the neighbor’s rooftop across the way. Well, I had news for them. I asked them if they had looked at our roof yet! Honestly, they do understand that the birds are thirsty during the drought but they also wonder why I have so many feeders. I didn’t waste my time on any lessons for them. Three words out of my mouth made them guffaw and I couldn’t help but laugh, too.

I asked them to be quiet and whisper for a few minutes while I tiptoed inside the house to get my camera. I explained that the Mockingbird was ready for a bath and they are bold enough to do it while I take pictures. Well, I should not have said a word. Before I could tiptoe back outside, camera ready, they stomped their feet and clapped their hands. Not funny.

Poor thing. I could have captured armpit washing.

The thought crossed my mind to pick up a bag of wet, stringy parrot feather and fling it on them. And I mean vigorously fling it! What a photo opportunity that would have been for this blog and I would have had the last laugh. We had fun at my expense. I know I’m a bit weird and I’m still giggling about it.

I wonder if anyone else receives eye-rolling like I do.


Part II: The rewards are great.

Delia at "Beginning to Bird" awarded me a Blogging Star award. Wow. She calls herself a beginning birder but she is far more than that. Delia knows her birds and actually ventures out and finds them with real birding equipment! I admire her adventurous spirit. Stop by her blog and enjoy her travels. Delia has met Julie Zickefoose on a field trip. She inspires me to get out of my back yard. Thanks, Delia!

Toni at "A Spattering" awarded me a Joyful Creative Award. Maybe Toni hasn’t been visiting me long enough to know I’m not always so joyful. You need to visit her blog. She’s a fantastic artist! I recently spent an hour looking at her artwork on Flickr that made my jaw hang open in awe. Toni's artwork needs framing in my home. Thank you, Toni!

See my blogroll on the left sidebar? There are so many wonderful people listed there and they all deserve an award.

Cheers to everyone!