Monday, October 22, 2007

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

Part I: They laugh at me.

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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.


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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?


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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.



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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.



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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!

28 comments:

Carol Michel said...

Mary, you should have thrown some wet parrot feathers on them! They deserved it. "Poor picked on Mary"!

thailandchani said...

You are always joyful. "Joyful" isn't synonymous with "cheerful". :)

You are most definitely joyful.


Peace,

~Chani

nina at Nature Remains. said...

That's why there are blogging communities--to share with other what our others may not share!
Been away for a while, just checking back--found your spectacular sunsets. WOW! I'm scared about the dryness, too.
Maybe some good will come of having to ration what is ordinarily taken for granted? A greater appreciation?

LauraHinNJ said...

I love Chani's comment!

:-)

Find your joy where you can. If it so happens that you bring others joy (I'm not surprised at that) - well so be it - let 'em laugh!

JeanMac said...

You really deserved the awards - always make my day ending it with cheer. Love J

Susan Gets Native said...

That is why I started the education stuff. Geoff tunes me out. He's supportive in his own way. But I would totally smack him in his mouth with wet parrot feathers if he purposely scared off a bird I was trying to get a picture of.
This is EXACTLY why we blog. Because others don't get it.
I am "joyful" and happy to be part of your club.

dmmgmfm said...

Oh Mary, you never fail to make me smile. Thank you.

Alyssa said...

Congratulations on your two new awards! Both fit you to a "tee". I think it is wonderful.

Your family sounds like a lot of fun. I'll bet they are very proud of your birding, pictures and wonderful blogging. When you can all laugh together about each other, it just proves how close you really are. (Hope that makes sense.)

Some of myy pond plants are looking kind of bad now. I took out all the water hyacinths 'cause they were turning black! The Celery (I call them Lettuce) still look great but up here they'll be mush after the first frost.

Mockingbirds are really pretty - I wish they lived in Wisconsin.

Jayne said...

Mary, my husband used to think I was a bit loony about the birds, but now, more often than not, it's he who is looking out towards the feeders and making comments about the "cows" at the feeder (mourning doves) and he who has sighted many lifers for me (the summer tanager). We share in your passion and don't think you are odd in the least bit! :c)

RuthieJ said...

Hi Mary,
You're a good sport, but I hope you made them buy you supper for picking on you!

P.S. In a fire, I would save the pets first too ;-)

The Quacks of Life said...

i've found nothing more rewarding than watching wildlife.

have you informed hubby that he is below the camera AND the dogs yet?

Mary said...

Hey Alyssa, I was thinking green and didn't catch the celery blooper. Thanks for the tip :o)

Q said...

Dear Mary,
I think I have always been a birder and a bugger. My husband too! We both spot and he tells me to get the camera.
I would have been somewhat miffed at those two, non birders....They do like to tease you.
Now if every photo you posted was bringing in a hundred dollars they might have a different view.
Nice you can laugh with them.
You are most deserving of the awards. We love you! We appreciate you! You are not weird. You are a naturalist.
You are Goddess of the Endless Summer.
You care.
Sherry

dguzman said...

Oooh, I would definitely have thrown some soggy plants at them! Kat just kinda rolls her eyes and says "uh-huh" a lot when I talk birds. You're right--they just don't get it, and thank goodness (and Blogger) we have each other to share our birdy stuff with!

Unknown said...

Your self-control is admirable. I'd have thrown the weeds at them! :)

Congrats on your awards -- your blog is always a source of joy.

Annie in Austin said...

Dear creative Mary, who pays attention to the natural world,

You could throw plants at them, or you could just wait a few years... imagine what it would be like if after your husband retires he begins learning the names of plants and your daughter finds herself morphing into a gardener.

Well it could happen!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Chrissie said...

You just have to smile, Mary :-) I do get a lot of eye rolling too! My family know I have a love affair with my camera. I tell my sons that one day they may appreciate the things I say and do even if they don't understand now :-) As for husbands, it's easy to get pay back :-) Throw the weed when he is least expecting it :-)

Anonymous said...

Hah! Hang tough and they'll come around, I betcha. If you were to stop birding and gardening, I'm betting that you'd start getting a massive amount of encouragement to start again. Besides, they know more than they think they do, thanks to you.

Also, that's one fierce mockingbird you have there! Those are great photos.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your awards and very much deserved! I just love your mocking bird shots!

NatureWoman said...

Ohhh, everyone that hangs around me better shut the heck up when I tell them to (and they do) for photo ops that I want to capture. The other day someone wasn't patient with me, but I stuck to my guns, and I'm glad you stick to yours, too, because you capture beautiful photos Mary!
Congratulations on the awards!

Anonymous said...

Mary, even that pigeon looks good! You just enjoy yourself and keep taking those wonderful photos.

Now you have got me thinking about what I would take first in a fire!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Oh Mary, I can see the green slimey feeling wet goo just dripping off them. tee hee hee...

LostRoses said...

You'll win them over eventually. Well, it might take years, but every time I see my grown son identify a bird or The Dubious Gardener trying to find a "lifer" for me, I chuckle inwardly. Keep it up, Mary!

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

You have been tagged. xoxo Nita

Kerri Farley said...

Your pond is just lovely! This is my first visit.... I've enjoyed it and will be back.

Mary said...

How very cool! I don 't know a thing about blogger awards or any of that yet..I do think its cool though. I love that you don't let the neighbors upset you, that's something I need to learn better. Mary t

Cathy said...

OK, Sweetness. Here's your only mistake. You should have sent THEM into the house for the camera. I did this for the first time EVER as I stood under my bird feeder with the newly arrived red-breasted nuthatches nearly landing on my head in their excitement to feed. "Get the camera!" I shouted to my hubby. Come to think of it, my husband's complying with the request may have been more remarkable then the nuthatches! :0D

Cathy said...

P.S.

Oh yes! yes! I second, third and quadruple those nominations and awards!