Where It All Happens

A big hug and thanks to everyone who sent me a photo of your Blogitat! I had a great time receiving them and planning this post. Every day, we share our thoughts and our personalities here and unfortunately most of us will never meet face to face. Now, whenever I read one of your posts, I’ll have a mental picture of you tapping away in your creative space. I hope you enjoy the views. Here we are...

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Laura at Somewhere in NJ - During the nice weather I like to spend computer time on my screened patio - from this spot I can see and hear the pond straight ahead. Just out of view to the left are my birdfeeders - full at the moment with bright goldfinches, house finches, chickadees and tufted titmice. The outside of the patio has a small garden with iris, peonies, and the biggest bleeding heart bush in the world! The patio also houses my houseplants which are outdoors for their summer vacation, and also at the moment a few of our tropical plants that were over wintered in the basement. They're not ready for full sun yet, so they hang with me in the shade.

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Pam at Nature Woman - This is my laptop where I do all of my blogging, flickr-ing, etc. The photo of me on the right was taken by Tom (Mon@rch) on May 26, 2007 in front of a 200 year old sugar maple located at Allegany State Park. At the moment I'm working on uploading my Allegany State Park photos taken on May 26, 2007 to Flickr which I leave private until I label them and blog about them. Then I make them viewable by my friends and/or family. And on the left is the start of my blog posting about the awesome day I spent with Tom (Mon@rch) at Allegany State Park. The little desk that you see my laptop sitting on can move around - it was built special for me to use on the sofa in my living room and it only has legs on one side so I can lounge with my legs spread out on the sofa and work with the laptop right in front of me. In case you're wondering, I cloned out the piles of photo albums, etc. that I'm working on scanning in a little at a time! My room usually is neat, but you know when you inherit some stuff, you have to somehow absorb it into your home space. Before I do that, they're getting scanned in for my family. Hence the big mess that I didn't want everyone to see!

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Tom at Monarch Nature Blog - This means that I am stuck behind the computer all day at work and not allowed to get out of the office to do nature things! I’m from Western New York and spend most of my time here in Allegany State Park.

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Lynne at Hasty Brook - Welcome to my corner! Really- it's a corner that's my spot for just me. My corner is in our bedroom, upstairs, overlooking the backyard. Starting on the right you can see my camera case and my Handheld Birds. These two pieces of electronics are nearly always with me. On the window ledge are some of the rocks I brought back from Phoenix- you can't have too many rocks. No desk for me, I do my blogging in that old stripey chair with my feet up and my lap-top on my lap(top). My binoculars are always at the ready. I keep my favorite field guides in that white basket on the shelf. Right beneath my lap-top is my Bose. I really love my Bose- there is music on most of the time.

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Cathy at Looking Up - It's the couch. That's were it all happens. I sit here in the evenings with my hubby ensconced beside me. Between his clicking the dual remotes and my tapping away at the keyboard - we get our money's worth out of our cable connection. I don't know what I was doing with my time before this blogging thing took over. Hmmm. Better not think about that too much;0)
(Yikes! Looking at the pix - I see my part needs some color. Well I just don't have time - gotta keep blogging:0)

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Susan at Susan Gets Native - What is there to say about my little blogging corner? I have Cheetos, Euro the dove, my rats and hardly any decoration. Ho and hum. :)

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Trixie at Trixie’s View - Here is a picture of my area. There is the Our Lady of Perpetual Help. She hangs around, because I need all the help I can get. Then there is my jumble of knitting needles and neglected watercolor brushes. You may see a bowl of yarn and a picture of my girls. The window faces west/northwest. There are times I cannot sit here because the sun is streaming in. And yes, there is chaos in the background. The ugly pink ceramic box is what a co-worker gave me for Christmas. It was such a sweet gesture. And, the bobbing head turtles at the very top…see them? I do have to police kid mess here, too. YIKES!

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Donna at KGMom Mumblings - I have a laptop computer that has its docking station in our family room. That is where the photo is taken. BUT, I also use the laptop on our sun porch, with ceiling to floor windows and pet beds. Frequently, I sit there, looking out the windows at my flower pots (remember--the ones I planted like a crazy person recently) and with my dog Tipper and two cats--Cassidy and Allie. It makes blogging fun.

The real THINKING for my blog occurs many places and times--while I am falling asleep, while I shower (instead of singing), while I walk the dog. I have a blank page note book that I called Musings where I do some of my first writing. I jot down ideas, phrases, sequence of content, etc. Then when I write the blog itself. I first sit down at the computer, compose the blog in a Word document, spell and grammar check it (it wouldn't do for an English prof to make a mistake, now, would it?) then copy it into Blogger. Of course, then I add photos, and hit PUBLISH!

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Beth at Look What Love Has Done - Alrighty, girl - here you go. However - I have to admit to some cheating. I just rearranged my room today, moved furniture around and set this stuff up. Truth be told, I have NEVER posted from this place...yet....

The truth of my blogging is found when I'm curled up on my bed or lying on the couch with the laptop balanced on my tummy. We have a pc downstairs, and occasionally I'll work from there…but it is the kids' domain (though the monitor is honking HUGE and much preferable to work on!) I work there at times, but get frustrated dodging the Cheeto crumbs and empty milk glasses.

As I type this email to you, I am in my new 'workspace', so I guess that counts for something. And that IS my yard out the (dirty) window....perhaps this neat desk is wishful thinking. Whatever. It IS in my bedroom...

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Mary at Lost Roses - First let me say I haven't dusted this area since Christmas, (editor’s note: all Marys hate to dust.) I may do it again sometime soon, but not today. This is probably the most cluttered room in my house and that's saying something! I call it the computer room, but it also holds old photo albums, loose pictures, CDs filled with who knows what, newspaper clippings, a filing cabinet, my bills, wrapping paper, a spotting scope on a tripod, bird books, and anything else that doesn't have a home elsewhere. This is my workspace but blogging isn't work, it's my R&R!

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Ruthie at Nature Knitter – Here’s a pic of my blogging habitat. Field guides on the first shelf to my right (within easy reach) and the ones I'm currently using are laying on the desk. This workstation is in my dining room and if I turn in my chair a little to the right, I can look out the big bay window to my yard. This is especially handy for taking pictures when I hear a new bird singing outside or hear something splashing around in the birdbath.

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Alyssa at My Examined Life - Here is a picture of where I always do my blogging and everything else on the computer. It's very comfortable for me and the pugs think so, too. Thea lays on the back of the couch with her head on my shoulder and Garm snuggles up very close to me and snores! Our house is very small - one bedroom - so a laptop was my only alternative. I've got no room for a desk or work area. I don't mind at all 'cause I can be in the living room with Steve while he watches some goofy show, but I don't have to pay attention to it. You know what I mean? Obviously, I have a wireless system and my printer is set up in the basement on Steve's work bench. It works out very nicely. I just push the computer under the couch when I'm not on it.

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Cuppa at Brown Betty Brew - Due to a back injury I suffered whilst roller blading a couple of years ago, I can't sit at a desk for more than ten minutes without having to jump up and run screaming for the nearest easy chair for some relief. I discovered that if I sit in a high back chair with my back and arms completely supported and my laptop on my laptop I am quite comfortable to write for hours. So I set up this writing nook in a corner of the master bedroom and it is where I spend many happy hours writing, blogging, emailing, reading, and... just plain wool-gathering. I have a view of the trees outside the bedroom window from this comfy spot and that really helps during the wool-gathering episodes.

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Julie at Julie Zickefoose - Windows let in breeze and birdsong. The photos behind the computer are of an impossibly hot Bill w/ basketball, and me and my dad when I was 12 and he was 58. We're looking at Audubon prints.

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Chet Baker at Julie Zickefoose - Are you sure you want people to see this, Mether? It is very messy.

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Dorothy from Woods View – The room where I blog is just a small room, a combination art studio and computer room. But it is my little sanctuary....my chapel. The flowers on my table were gifted to me from Laura, my daughter, for Mother's Day. She lives in California and I can't remember the last time we spent Mother's Day together.

In the summertime, this window overlooking my "woods view" will have flowers peeking in at me from a hayrack windowbox.

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Chris at Notes from a Somerset Garden - Looking at my work area has made me rethink! I have had to put up the cafe style curtains as I usually blog in the evenings and now the sun later it sets right in my eyes :-) I can't see a thing! I have made up my mind to change direction and rooms! There is a corner of the dining room I could occupy without too much upheaval and in the summer I could have the french doors open onto the garden! It’s on my list of things to do :-)

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Susie at Susie’s Space - Attached is a photo of where I do my bloggy thing. Remodeling of the office has been on the "to do" list since I posted this on Feb 27. Bill says it's going to happen by summer, but he doesn't say what summer ;)

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Sherry at Q’s Corner - When I look at my work space I like to see a beautiful area. I need a candle and a flower and I am working on living curtains so my ivy is slowly growing to be my office curtain. I am tidy by nature. I also like to see outside when I cannot be outside. I am thinking about going wireless so I can download photos and post while on the deck.

I lead a contemplative life in the busy atmosphere of the city. I like it, different. It is easier to be quiet in the quiet. It takes some awareness to be quiet in the noise. Also the UPS guy can bring my stuff without any trouble.

Thank you for asking for our photos. I think it is nice to see where the "muse" lives. For me, I am inspired by the subtle ways of Nature. I learn a bit more everyday about joy and beauty. Thank you for walking this journey with me.

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Larry at The Brownstone Birding Blog - I decided not to clean up my area. It seems the whole point is to get an idea of what our area actually looks like.

The black case is a CD case at my disposal so that I can listen to music. The can is flavored seltzer, my favorite beverage. There is a discarded Butterfinger wrapper-(the Butterfinger is in my belly). There is a copy of Sibleys that is too big to carry around with me so I leave it here. There are two checklists from this weekend that I have not bothered to file yet. The whole desk is backed up against the living room stairs. There is a notebook and pen for doodling. A patriots mousepad (I'm a sports fan).

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Sonia at Leaves of Grass - The place where I spend much of my time writing, reading and blogging!

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Ruth at Body, Soul, and Spirit - I am a laptop and wireless person. I have attached a picture of my favourite office. When the weather is not as grand, my office may be on the sofa, recliner, or kitchen table. Oops...got my toes in the picture. Our deck is sunny and warm, even on cooler days.

We went to wireless when we had 4 computers on the go all the time when my daughters were in university. The twins are gone, but I wouldn't go back to hardwire!

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Jayne at Journey Through Grace - It's Saturday morning. This space is full of light and warmth for me and looks out over the front yard. We went iMac two years ago and will never go back! The index card on the computer stand is the "meta" prayer Susan at Visual-Voice has started. It says, "May you be safe... May you be happy... May you be healthy... May you live with ease" and I think of that as I read all my blog buddies and send loving-kindness their way. The chickadees are on my mousepad (of course) and I have Hem playing as I enjoy my second cup of Coffee Fool African Safari and contemplate getting in the shower (at some point). :c)

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Me – I share a space with my husband. This is the den, located conveniently from everywhere in our ranch home and decorated in a golf theme which includes a lot of his memorabilia, plus a piano and a leather loveseat. But that’s OK because I own the spot 98% of the time. I just make sure his favorite pen is in its proper place. I keep it tidy but most of the time my blogging notes and field guides (including my new Sibley’s) are spread all over the place. When I look to my right, I have a view of the front of the house…

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Chloe and Bella from Mary’s View -

Bella: “Chloe, is dat a b-b-bunny?”
Chloe: “It’s a cat, you moron.”

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I just had to include some REALLY COOL DOGS!

I appreciate each one of you so much. I hope you enjoyed this as much I as enjoyed putting it together. Now, it’s time for a drink - of the wine variety.

Please shoot me an e-mail if I flubbed up or forgot someone? Sometimes I get carried away when I click "delete" on my incoming e-mail. I'll fix my error right away!

Short and Very Sweet

There’s a gazillion things to do around here lately.

I don’t have time to come out and play.

[Pout]

I’ll be back soon.

(This was first bluebird face I saw this morning. I melted.)

Love 'em all!

The weekend has been very busy! There’s not much time for words lately but I always find time to record what I see through photographs. I am making time to share a few things I saw over the weekend before I mix the potato salad.

All God’s Creatures,

Great



and small.



I Love Them All...



They test my picture-taking ability and

challenge my patience (an Untufted titmouse). I try harder.



They think and cause me to wonder.



They think some more and



ignore my requests



until they have success. I’m the one who’s baffled!



Some trust me too much. I’m not always very nice!

During quiet times, I sit in the grass. The rays of a sunset mesmerize me and illuminate the smallest detail.



They light up the vulture’s face

and the Chickadee in the shadows.



I sit, watch, and listen for the hummmm… The sun exposes it from where I sit.

It’s a Good Earth. I hope you have found time to watch and to connect with our extended family :o)



And Remember. Have a Happy Memorial Day!

One Year Ago

Around this time last year my next door neighbor, Maureen, said, “Here Mary. This rose bush is for you. When it blooms, you’ll always remember your Mom.”

Today is the one year anniversary of my Mom’s passing and I find it so fitting that the first rose of the season has bloomed on this bush and also that it’s a pink rose – one of my Mom’s favorite flowers.

During her long, difficult stay in the hospital before her death, I told her some very important and meaningful things. Now there are other things I wish I had remembered to say to her.

Being the middle child of five, she always felt inadequate and often lonely. A few weeks before she died, she even commented to me and my brother that she wished she was a “better Mother”. Well, we took care of that comment quickly and brought it to her attention that she raised some pretty great kids that grew into wonderful adults. Always analytical, stubborn, philosophical, spiritual, and competitive, she was quick to prove others wrong, but this time, she raised one eyebrow very high and said, “Well, I can’t say you are wrong this time!”

I wish I had told her I regret rolling my eyes and being impatient with her endless stories of being raised on a farm in Finksburg, Maryland. Her parents were tenant farmers and struggled to feed their family. Now I appreciate the stories of her thirty-six cats, chickens, snakes, and the horse who nearly ate himself to death. Now I can laugh about her handling a shotgun so well! And the fact that her Mother made clothing for the children using potato sacks breaks my heart. Other than time spent in school, she worked the farm from sunrise to sunset and a hot bath was a luxury. I don’t think she tasted ice cream until she was ten years old. The conditions she lived in gave her a perspective on life that many people will never understand. Yes, we rolled our eyes and laughed many times. Perhaps because my brother and I were city dwellers as children, her stories seemed unreal and impossible for us to comprehend.

She encouraged me to be independent. She encouraged my brother to be spiritual. Although she and I weren’t close to each other on a daily basis and I saw her infrequently during the past twenty or so years, she knew me better than I know myself. I miss her voice. Mom loved her family intensely and I feel certain that she knows we are just fine. She was an avid reader and writer and told me to never ignore my artistic talent. Part of me thinks she might be enjoying my blog every day? She would have loved it.

"I needed the quiet so He drew me aside, into the shadows where we could confide.

Away from the bustle where all day long, I hurried and worried when active and strong. I needed the quiet, though at first I rebelled, but ever so gently, my cross He upheld and whispered so sweetly of spiritual things.

Weakened in body, my spirit took wings to heights never dreamed of when active and gay. He loved me so gently, He drew me away, I needed the quiet.

No prison my bed, but a beautiful valley of blessings instead. A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide. I needed the quiet, so He drew me aside."

Anon

Walk with me? And a Birthday...

It’s been a week since I walked the campus. There’s always something new for me to see and admire lately. Robins walk along side of me and I even saw Blue Jays today. They aren’t very common here.

My camera was with me whenever I ran an errand to the next building. I haven’t photographed my Bluebirds lately. Isn’t he just lovely? He’s hanging too close to the building for my comfort, though.

I would have never imagined I’d see a Great Crested Flycatcher on campus! Its song made me stop, look, and listen and my instinctive stalking mode when into action. I was determined to find this bird and it wasn’t difficult at all because of its loud song. A lifer! CHECK.

Here’s another view. Look at its raised crest. It’s obviously unnerved in this photo and very curious of the goofy woman standing under its tree.

Every time I walk the campus, Spring offers more surprises and new growth. Wild flowers intrigue me, especially when they are smothered with insects. I just love the bugs.

These are growing wild? I want to take a spade to work next week and dig them up and bring them home!

Oh, what the heck. He draws attention to himself in color and sound. He’s worth it.

Another sound intrigued me. I’ve seen Male Towhees before but never heard their “Drink Your Tea” symphony. Awesome!


This evening, I heard some commotion behind me in the yard. About six small birds were chasing down a hawk.

Gaining composure: “Holy Moly! What happened?”

“Are they gone?” (Striking the Linda Blair pose)

"I think it's safe to get out of here!"

I spent too much time with my field guide and browsing Cornell to ID this bird. The dogs were jumping all over me and the phone was ringing while I flipped through the pages of my field guide. I finally yelled, “Shaaat aaap! I’m trying to ID a freaking bird here!!!!” I know it’s an accipiter. I only had two minutes to observe it. It’s immature, I think. A Northern Harrier? It’s a wild guess and I know I’m probably way off, as usual. SUSAN?????

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I can’t end this post without reflecting on a special person. Billy is Gina’s boyfriend and they’ve been together for a few years. Today is his 26th Birthday.

Billy grew up in Austin, Texas, and other than an older step-sister who he refers to as his sister, he doesn’t have family there. He lost both of his parents during his pre-adolescent years. The circumstances were grim and Billy faced some terribly difficult and challenging times as a young child. He spent several years in foster homes before his step-sister took him in during his senior year of high school. His love of playing football and basketball fueled him to graduate.

After graduation from high school, Billy entered the U.S. Marine Corp. I believe his battery was the first to fire shots in Iraq back in the spring of 2003. He rarely talks about his time in Iraq, but I know he was willing and proud to serve.

He moved to Charlotte along with Gina last summer and he’s prospering. My husband is helping to guide him in the electrical construction industry and Billy is proving to be a highly skilled second-year electrician apprentice. His work ethics are commendable in comparison to many young men his age.

Billy’s an independent individual but I think perhaps this might be the first time in his life that he has real mentors, encouragement, and support from “family”, here in Charlotte. I think he likes it. We are his cheering section.

Happy Birthday, Big Tall Texan!

Cranky but Still Smiling

Might there be a rain cloud up there? Please?

We’re in a so-called “moderate” drought, approaching “severe”. I call it severe now since the grass under my feet is crunching out loud and it isn’t even July yet. Lawn irrigation just can’t take the place of a good, steady rainfall for a few days. Less than one inch of rain over two months just doesn’t cut it and the sun is getting increasingly hot.

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Before I let the dogs out, I say to them, “Now, don’t frighten the pigeons and blackbirds, OK?” How funny! The safflower is working at deterring the grackles and starlings but they are really after the suet. It will be a while before they stop stalking the feeders. The suet feeder is wiped clean and I don’t plan to fill it again for a long time :o( Winter and early spring was such a pleasure for me and I’ll miss the activity around the feeders. I just cleaned them two weeks and ago and now they are splattered with a mess that looks like Elmer’s school glue shot from a gun. It’s quite offensive! During the summer months, I think thistle and safflower seed should satisfy. I’ll know when it’s the right time to add more to the menu. Meanwhile, I'll go out to the birds instead of watching them in my yard.

Since there isn’t anything to look for around the feeders, I’ll have to find something else to do, I guess. Ho, hum.

This poor baby was frightened to death under the canopy ceiling at the back entrance of the building. As expected, I was the only one who noticed. For hours, it trembled and clung to the brick and of course, I tried to sweet talk him down. HA!

I went out and bought unsalted peanuts to lure the poor thing. Silly thought on my part, but very heartfelt. Later, someone with real brain power threw water and the little squirrel scampered away. Where is my mind?

I have camera worries. The hummingbirds were flying past my face yesterday and my camera lost power for no reason because I know it was charged. Hmmmm. Nasty dance! I can still see that bright ruby throat glistening in the sun in the most perfect hummingbird photo of all that I missed. Here’s a female. The male is quick and wary, switches to reverse gear, and darts into hiding but I am vigilant. The thrill of victory keeps me going and the agony of defeat only fuels my passion. I hope to be able to zoom fully when the hummers arrive. It takes practice and strategy!

If my cell phone hadn’t interrupted me, I would have gotten a hilarious series of this Mockingbird chasing a grape down the street. The birds are devouring fresh fruit out there that I offer occasionally but I don’t know who is – because I’m at WORK.

The Koi are spunky. June is their horny month and I’ve been seeing a lot of rigorous wrestling going on in the pond. The toads are still feeling amorous, too. At least the Koi don’t scream at the top of their lungs and there is quiet around here until dark.

I’ve been wondering how the ground and insect feeding birds are doing in this drought. Their food supply must be somewhat limited.

I wanted this bee in flight!

Things have got to improve around here! Dammit.

Weekend with Dad

Our first stop in Maryland on Friday was for lunch and we bought a Maryland Crab Cake for Dad. Notice, I capitalized “Maryland Crab Cake” because they are worth capitalization. Everyone on this blessed Earth should taste one. The only thing better is a Maryland Steamed Blue Crab, heavily seasoned with Old Bay and rock salt. Lots of them! I dream of the white fat and mustard in the corners of the back shell. Mmmmm.

It took a few days for me to get my mind ready to see Dad again. Since being told that he doesn’t recognize family or friends most of the time, I prepared for the worst. After all, when I lived with him last year for a few days at a time and took care of him while Mom was hospitalized, he was very confused and thought I was his sister. Oh, it’s so complex. Sometimes he’s right on target and other times he’s in another zone, far away from reality. We approached his room and Michael said to me, “Don’t say anything. Let him speak first.” Good idea.

I rounded the corner quietly and casually entered his room where he’s in the company of three other patients. It’s a large enough room with his bed next to a nice window view and they each have their own space, complete with a closet, bed, and television. He was in his own little world, sitting in his wheelchair and observing the others.

Before I said anything, he looked my way and, in his weakened, higher-pitched voice, belted out, “Mary!” Ahhh, I wanted to fall to my knees as my own name was music to my ears! A sudden wave of emotions took over me and I could barely choke out, “Hi, Dad!”. I didn’t want him to see my tears. He knew Michael but couldn’t remember his name right away and they talked almost like they used to. From a man who has lost his mind from strokes and dementia and has paralysis on his left side, he offers smiles frequently and tells us the nursing staff calls him “Anton” or “Tony Bologna”. The nurses were very upbeat and friendly, likely because we were there. Their jobs can’t be a treat everyday. No matter how much cheer they offer, it’s still a depressing state of living. I don’t have any major concerns about his care, but I don’t like seeing his false teeth and eyeglasses in his nightstand drawer! He needs them!

Dad is still Dad and I know this when I hear his familiar comments. He talked about the unwasted space in his new apartment and how it keeps the "riff raff" out. When asked, he’ll recite his birth date and social security number. But don’t ask him if he had a bath, ate lunch and breakfast. He won’t remember and gives his standard reply, “No.” He referred to the crab cake he devoured as the “Ace of All Aces!” and his own jokes make him belly laugh. It’s hard to follow his sequence of thought as he talks in circles and uses lots of clichés. Sadly, it’s mostly gibberish I hear, but I smile and nod, and listen for his frequent belly laughs.

On the next day we visited and he was in bed at 2pm. He was napping and tired but perked up for a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Hey, it’s junk food but serves as a real treat for my old Dad. We bought him a fake Orchid for his windowsill. For some unknown reason, hearing the word “orchid” made him laugh with delight! God bless and love him and the others he sits with in the dining room every day.

On Friday morning, we took the mountain route through North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland for the first time. The views were spectacular from the car but then the dark, heavy rain pelted us for a few hours.

We need to trade in the SUV. Regular gas prices ranged between $2.98 - $3.16. Ughhh.

This is a memory. I've probably made more than 3,000 trips through this tunnel over the years. Before heading to north Baltimore on Saturday, we visited Mom’s grave and I was impressed with the way my brother decorated her gravesite for Mother’s Day. She’s resting under a large, beautiful oak tree. I miss her…

We visited Michael’s twin sister in Bel Air for a while then visited his parents’ graves north of Baltimore. His Mom died in 1975 and his Dad died in 2003.

On the way back south to Annapolis, I took this shot of the Baltimore harbor and skyline from the Francis Scott Key Bridge, near Bethlehem Steel at Sparrows Point. For a few years during the late seventies, I worked on the 31st floor of the tallest high rise located on Light and Pratt Street. Then, it was called United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company and the Baltimore Inner Harbor was in its earliest stages of building and planning.

When Michael told me he had made reservations at the Marriott in Annapolis, I thought we’d have a water view of historic downtown. Heck, NO! We were inland, close to Rt. 50. Ugggh. So, I stood on the balcony after we checked in on Saturday and saw something interesting in the distance. I had one hour down time in the hotel room before dinner, so I grabbed the camera and my key and said to Michael, “see ya later.” I skipped down the back stairs of the hotel, landed in an empty parking lot, and found a pond.

Scanning above, I saw this.

Now, hawk IDs challenge me as much as LBJs do. Susan will correct me if I am wrong but it looks like a Red-Shouldered Hawk to me.

A Gray Catbird is a lifer for me!

I had to get closer. I quietly thanked this bird before I stepped away and headed back to the hotel.

On Saturday, while crossing water under Riva Road in Annapolis, I told Michael to make a U-turn and park at the restaurant by the dock. I took my camera across the road, ignoring heavy traffic and those PIAs who honked their horns while I focused on this nest:

While driving by, I thought they were Bald Eagles but I need help with IDs. If my photos were better, I’d try harder.

Any help? Click to enlarge these photos.

Oh, I wish I had slid down the embankment to get closer. Maybe I would have been able to have the sun behind me.

On Saturday afternoon, I had a little down time in the hotel again and walked the hotel grounds. I love this shot of a Robin.

The first time I’ve heard the beautiful sound of a Song Sparrow...

We went to a birthday party for a dear friend on Saturday night at a restaurant in Rock Creek, off the Chesapeake. It rained but I danced!

On the way home. Sunday morning. We saw the other end.

Travel, The Mob, Pea Soup

Gentle Reminder (no: Attention!): The “Blogger Habitats” post I am planning is steadily growing in size and I’m so happy about it! There are a few of my blogger friends I am still counting on to participate and you know who you are… I’ll be away for a few days and hope to see your submission in my mailbox when I return. Everyone is invited and details about it are listed at the end of this post. I want to show it by the end of the month so please humor me?

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Unsettling.

That’s how I’ve been feeling lately. We are heading to Maryland tomorrow morning for a few days to see my Dad in his nursing home and to visit with other family and friends. Reports are that Dad is doing well, but I need to confirm that for myself. I always feel apprehensive before I visit with him… A year ago, when I spent days at a time living with Dad and caring for him, he wasn’t sure who was feeding him dinner. What should I expect tomorrow? Sitting with a man who you know very well and trying to make familiar conversation is something I will never become comfortable with because I know, in my heart, he doesn’t know me anymore. Small talk is heartbreaking, too, because, fifty-two years of loving memories flood your mind while you are talking about absolutely nothing. My heart is already aching but I’ll try my best to be sure he smiles and enjoys the company.

Traveling with DH isn’t a party, either. He’s agenda-driven to a fault. On the road, there’s no chance of making left hand turns, or a U-turn (God forbid), for bathroom breaks, drinks, or gasoline. It’s gotta be a pit-stop. In and out. Right side of the road, only. When I’m driving, he fiddles with the buttons on my dash then finds a static talk radio station he likes, and I want to eject him.

Because I have this strange desire to leave a clean house, whether I am away for two days or two weeks, I’m home today with a list of 23 things to do. Does the pet-sitter care? No. But, I do.



Another dilemma. Pea soup. Bad pump. No ecosystem going on here. When the pond installer did the work, I asked, “Where’s the biological filter?” His reply had to do with adding beneficial bacteria once a month. Now I know that’s bull. It isn’t working. Now we have another summer project to work on… The pond is pretty and the fish are growing but major work is on the horizon. Sigh…

All of us have seen Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. Well, welcome to my house for the same view. Forgive me for complaining once again, but they remind me of “The Mob”. Unbeknownst to me, I spoiled the starlings and grackles.

When I thought I was lucky to see lifers in my yard, my field guide burst that bubble real fast! These juvenile delinquent starlings were released on probation. They peck and poke at the adult starlings and grackles and the adults give it back. Beak wars. The constant screeching and discontent drives me insane enough to go out there and give them all the back of my hand. I muster all the control I have to keep myself from running out there like a crazed lunatic with a broom to knock their shrieking heads off! Instead, I grit my teeth and slam the screen door. Hmmmpf.

My wonderful blogger friends have given me suggestions and I just bought safflower seed today. By the time I get back from my twenty+ hours in the car trip, the feeders will be dry and maybe they’ll relocate. I’m learning.

Even the mockers are testy and raced this poor red-bellied away from his suet into a tree where the hawks usually perch.

I haven’t even been carrying my camera very often lately because I just got tired of stalking and zipping in and out of hiding places. Sitting back and enjoying the view is almost as much fun. I will, however, review some nice things I have captured.

First of all, after a chilly snap last week, the hummers are back! I bought another new feeder and I’ve seen them visit during the past few days. No bird in this photo but stay tuned.

This was probably the most ridiculous thing I’ve done with a camera. A dragonfly is resting on my right-hand pointer finger. I tried to take a photograph with my left hand. Hopeless.

Miniature roses are near the pond. They’re growing so fast this year!

My little Chickadees still visit when the coast is clear.

Mr. Biggins is showing his part-Boxer heritage. The boy needs to see a doggie orthodontist.

This sweet Song Sparrow visits me often as do the lovely little Chipping Sparrows. The woodpeckers, goldfinches, and hummingbirds keep me looking, too.

I really need to get away from home for a while but these girls will make me want to come back to witness another “attack of the floor monster”. Really, I dread leaving them.

While I was uploading photos for this post, I sat back in my chair, heaved a heavy sigh, and looked to the right through the window to the front yard. I saw some tail feathers in a tree that I’ve seen before – back in February.

To Chloe and Bella I exclaimed, “Cedar Waxwings!” I grabbed the camera, tripped over the dogs, and nearly fell through the storm door to get one shot. There were five and I didn’t even have time to zoom.

I think I’ll start carrying my camera with me again… I needed that!

Tonight, I’ll pray to be blessed with an uplifting weekend. Without a computer before bedtime for the next few days, I’ll immerse myself in Anne Lamott’s “Traveling Mercies”. It’s a gift from a friend.

Me? A Thinking Blogger?

Dear Laurie at Don’t Make Me Get My Flying Monkeys nominated me for a Thinking Blogger Award. I was so surprised that I nearly fell off my chair. I do think, now and then, and sometimes deeply, too. Rambling is what I do best on the keyboard, then I think about it later.

Laurie doesn’t think she thinks, either, but she does. You just can’t come up with the variety of emotions she shares if you don’t think. She’s a combination of seriousness and slaphappiness. If you don’t know Laurie, visit. Her blog is a treat.

Receiving a Thinking Blogger award creates more thinking. I need to choose five other bloggers who I think is deserving of the same award and let me tell you, that’s hard to do. There is a special person behind each blog you see listed on my sidebar and there are others that I haven’t even had the time to add yet. Each one offers a different personality, insight, and style. Some have already received the award! How can I possibly narrow my list to five? I love them all. So I had to narrow it down to ones who wake up my brain and cause all sorts off commotion inside my head…

goes to:

Donna at KGMom Mumblings is an exceptional thinker. She’s a teacher of language and literature and shares her gift. Animals and nature are close to her heart and the words she attaches to her photos are exquisite. Donna experienced culture and lifestyles that are foreign to most of us as she lived her first fifteen years in Africa. I love hearing about her life and times in a country I’ll probably never visit. Check out her “Saturday Soups” for some delicious recipes, too! She’s a remarkable woman.

Julie Zickefoose’s blog is the first one I read and visited last fall. It was our love of Boston Terriers that first drew me to her. She’s all about loving nature and science and is a great wife, Mom, artist, published author, photographer, and NPR commentator, all rolled into one incredible lady. Julie graciously offers her talent for us to savor and enjoy in our own homes. I never miss her posts that usually make me laugh and cry… And, even though she is so accomplished and admired, she is real! She makes my day.

Ruth at Body, Soul, and Spirit must lie awake at night thinking about her next ten posts. She loves historical subjects and has an attachment to Mexico. I learn something new from her every day. Ruth is a nature lover and environmentalist and nothing stops her from discovering. Her expertise lies in health care, particularly for seniors, and her heart will always remain with them. Ruth has a strong desire for photography, learning, and researching, but now and then, she gets a bit whimsical, too! Ruth graces us with "Friday Flowers" every week. Glorious color!

Sherry at Q’s Corner is a bit of heaven. She posts throughout the day and I find great pleasure and relaxation to see what she’s been doing during my workday at the office. Sherry calms me when I need it. Her heart oozes caring, “Walking in Beauty”, and love. Her relationship with birds “Please Indulge Me” , flowers, insects and all nature has to offer is so refreshing. I imagine her with a camera lens the length of a baseball bat to capture everything beautiful at any time of the year. Her words are few but carry much weight.

Vicki at A Mark on My Wall - after reading one of her posts, I’m usually left speechless for commenting. This lady has pizzazz! Vicki’s a Zoo Guru and a woman full of life and adventure who lives between Illinois and Florida, alternately throughout the year. Her humor keeps me gasping for air between hee-haws! She finds humor in the most serious and sensitive days of our lives. Isn’t that how we can get through it all? She’s a real thinker, no doubt, and her photography skills are out of this world.

So, please accept my commendations? You can pick up your award here. If you don’t care to name your “thinking five” and participate, that’s OK with me. We are all very busy now. It was my pleasure to honor you today, that’s all.

Thanks again, Laurie, and to those of you who remove the cobwebs from my brain!

The Last Flower of Her Life

Happy Mother's Day

Mom loved Zinnias, Mexican Roses, and pink roses.

She was rushed to the CCU in mid-April last year because of a viral infection that took her strength away and aggravated her advanced lung disease.

My Dad needed her to be his caregiver for ten years. Mom did a commendable job on her own for the first seven years or so then needed to rely on outside help as her own health declined. My brother and his wife assisted her, along with day nurses because it was an overwhelmingly difficult job for one little lady. Dad was, and still is, wheelchair bound. He had a major stroke and subsequent mini ones. It’s not his fault.

After Mom’s few weeks in the CCU, she became strong enough to enter rehab. I didn’t like that place. It was dreary – a temporary holding tank, so to speak. During that week she progressed slowly. We all had high hopes because she worked hard and was wanting to go home. She missed her cat, Ditty, and the family. I had traveled north and south on the interstates to visit her and to help take care of Dad, but I wasn’t there on a very important day.

I sent her flowers with pink roses on Mother’s Day. I asked the florist to include Zinnias but I don’t know if they did. I called her room to see if she had received them. There was no answer. I called the staff and they told me she was attending an activity. It made my heart warm to hear that news!

Later that evening, I received a call from my brother and it wasn’t good news. She was not attending an activity that afternoon. Mom was rushed into emergency surgery, instead. Her belly had swelled due to a ruptured bowel. How horrible to happen on her last Mother’s Day.

Mom never regained full consciousness after that surgery. She slipped into a coma before she left us two weeks later.

She saw my flowers before she was rushed into surgery. My brother confirmed it! Oh, how I wish I could have laid them upon her lap.

I regret that I wasn’t with her on her last Mother’s Day but I feel kind of warm knowing that the last flower she gazed upon came from me.

Flat Friday

Oh, my. I'm ready to publish this post and I'm bored to tears. Sigh... Here goes. Click.

It’s been a week since I walked the half mile during my lunch hour and I noticed so many new flowers blooming. I was stunned to see many beautiful Iris (?) at the edge of the woods. Alone on the trail, I stopped in my tracks and commented out loud, “stunning”. I walked briskly today knowing my return to Weight Watchers starts tomorrow, but I had to stop for a while and gaze at the color.

It’s very warm here in the Carolinas and the humidity is rising. We’ve only averaged about two days of light rain per month since March. The effects are evident now. Overnight, the grass gave up and turned brown in spots. We have an irrigation system since it’s a requirement to keep things alive in this climate but I’ll be spending a lot of time this weekend with the garden hose in my hand. Also, I’ll be spending a lot of time inside cleaning the house since we’ll be in Maryland next weekend for a whirlwind visit with family. There is so much work to do outside and inside… And here I sit, blogging my heart out. Time for relaxation is a requirement, too.

The Grackles and Starlings are annoying me as I voiced this week. They were swarming the feeders when I stepped onto the deck this evening and I just can’t keep up with their appetite! I introduced suet near the end of January and it didn’t become popular until April. Now everyone wants it in large quantities! I’ll need to start making Julie’s recipe if I want to please instead of making trips to the store every week to keep their bellies full. Cutting back on the BOSS and suet hasn’t turned them away. When the feeders run dry, they still hang out.

I enjoy the backyard birds I have now. Our home in Delaware was facing a flat, link-style golf course, void of foliage and trees. Flocks of Red-Winged Blackbirds and Mourning Doves visited my feeder. No Sparrows, horny pigeons, Thrashers, Chickadees, or Cardinals. During a severe deep freeze one year there, I did a happy dance inside the house when I saw several bluebirds getting a drink from an unfrozen hole in the pond.

The thought of letting the feeders run dry for a while, in hopes the Grackles and Starlings will leave, is depressing. What would I do without the rest? I took all of the following photos today. Here are just a few who live here.

He can run, but he can’t hide. He's a very bright loud mouth.

House Finches in large numbers get boring but I’d miss them. This female trusted me to be close for a few seconds to photograph her butt.

Lovely sparrows on the ground and hopper challenge my ID skills every day. I'm too tired to try ID tonight.

A Brown-headed Nuthatch has visited every day!

Carolina Chickadees are special. Small and mighty, but difficult to photograph. They manage to have “alone time” at the feeders.

There are more Mockingbirds in my area than any other bird. This is probably my finest photo so far, taken on my walk on campus today.

My heart rate increases whenever I see woodpeckers. I hold my breath and screw up the photo opportunities most of the time. The Red-Bellies visit all day long.

Honeysuckle scent is captivating.

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Reminder

Don’t be left out of “Blogger Habitats”. I’ve received several photos so far. I know everyone has too much on their plate now but please take a little time and send me a photo of your space and a brief commentary. Details are outlined at the end of this post. Will ya, please?

Unexpected Pleasures

Deer have crossed the road in front of me but I’ve never seen five horses gallop in front of me on my drive to work. I braked quickly as did others. Not surprisingly, I was the only one to pull over onto a grassy shoulder. It would have been dangerous for me to get out of my car, so I sat in the driver seat and enjoyed the view. After their charge across the road, they stopped to graze.

Someone left the gate open. While they enjoyed their freedom, I was awestruck and a little worried. Will they make it home? There is a horse farm near them and I was hoping they wouldn’t try to cross the road again.

I wished that I wasn't in such a hurry to get to work and had instead taken time to photo them at their best angles.

Unbridled joy!

Or, maybe they were frightened. I don't think so.

Romping and heading home. I envied their freedom, in a way…

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On the way to the bank today, I saw a brown bird on the ground next to an interstate exit ramp. It resembled a Brown Thrasher but was deeper in color. It didn't walk, but hopped straight up and down without wing movement. I didn't have time to get a shot because the light turned green.

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While waiting for my vehicle to be serviced, I opted to walk around the back of the dealership instead of sitting in one of those waiting rooms. It was cloudy then and threatening rain but I just couldn't sit there for an hour.

I found a sediment pond and a lifer. It’s good to venture out! I need help with this ID.

It was so dark that my whole series of photos turned out to be trash. It looks like a Solitary Sandpiper but they don’t belong here. Anybody?

If you can click and can enlarge this photo, there is a small insect on this flower and it looks like a tiny Praying Mantis. I'm certain it's a mis-ID! I didn’t realize I had captured an insect, too.

Unexpected pleasures are so special.

They keep me alive and going.

Body Fat, and The View Outback

Those Lay’s KC Masterpiece barbeque potato chips are addicting. That’s what I had for lunch today – not my protein-packed usual. No, protein is not my usual type of lunch anymore. I’ll be honest. I’ve lately convinced myself that six, small, mild chicken wings are a protein lunch. I’ve ignored the fat calories in those tasty skins.

The success I had with the Weight Watchers program after joining last November was short-lived and I have myself to blame. After the holidays, I maintained my weight very well for a few months, but lately, my unhealthy, bad habits returned and I have found myself standing in front of the vending machines again. This whole situation is disgusting to me, especially when I stand in my closet at 6:30 a.m. wondering what might fit around me today.

I check my home e-mail during my lunch hour. Potato chip in left hand, mouse in the other, I opened the message. I’m supposed to be counting points and I’ve lost count of the number potato chips I downed in thirty minutes! Ughhhh. I grabbed a napkin and wiped the salt and barbeque seasoning from my mouth and hands, took a long drink of water, and closed the bag of chips. I’m going back on Saturday with dear daughter. Ten or fifteen pounds isn't much to lose unless you are a petite woman.

Good-bye potato chips. Hello tasteless, fat-free everything. I will adapt to the change and like it. :o/

The skies have been altering light and dark with breaks of sun, then threatening rain again. The effects of the tropical storm “Andrea” off the North Carolina coast is heading westward. Nothing compared to Kansas and California. Big sigh…

After work yesterday, I made a list of things to accomplish in the evening. At the top of the list was “quit the full-time job and find a part-time job”! I know that won’t happen in the near future. To do anything else but sit on my fanny was a chore. The job/weight factors in here.

I picked myself up and headed to the back of our property to see what has grown around the culvert. Yes, Susan, we have a large natural area in the back of our manicured, green lawn! You’d love it.

There was a field of these. I called them “Buttercups” as a child.

I saw loads of these pretty bells, too. So fragile.

The girls waited for me as I slid down the hill on pine straw. I sat in the grass with them and we played while the sun brightened us, then retreated behind dark, heavy clouds.

Bella is very possessive of her hula hoops. Chloe doesn’t bother with them and prefers retrieving golf balls and eating dirt and bunny droppings.

After nearly 11 years, Chloe won't stop digging. She’s having a dinner of dirt, bunny droppings, and whatever she finds.

Coughing up her dinner. Serves her right! Oh, I love her anyway.

After fifty hula hoop retrievals, she’s had it. My spoon-tongue Bella is so energetic and sweet. I need to keep up with both of them!

I turned around to see the Chickadee liking the orange suet! My bird friends have me wrapped around their little fingers. I’ll be out shopping for them again soon. It’s hard to ease up on feeding but I’m doing well with it.

When the girls needed a drink, I left them and headed to the front of the house where the sun was shining.

Gang Awareness and Other Backyard Behaviors

All law enforcement officers across the country are required to take many hours of in-service courses and many of them are State-mandated. I found one of them particularly interesting as I browsed the description of a course entitled “Gang Awareness (& Street Drug Investigation)”. Behaviors and characteristics of potential criminal activities in gangs are discussed in this course and I found some similarities between this course offering and my own backyard dynamics I study every day.

My brain is mush tonight so the following descriptions and analogies are silly. Please bear with me.

Common Grackles thrive in gangs. Together, they fly to the feeders at breakneck speed causing the station to bounce, sending the finches off their feet in a springing motion. I rarely see just one grackle. The one in the photo above is alone because they all flee before I can raise my camera! They are easily frightened wimps even though they certainly look quite fierce and mighty. The gang membership dynamic works for them.

Starlings also travel with a gang and although they aren’t quite as large and overwhelming as the Grackles, they have the snotty attitude that makes up for it in a big way. They push and shove their way around and usually get what they want. When alerted, they take off as fast the Grackles do while the smaller, dim-witted birds like Mourning Doves, Robins, and Finches wait it out and stand firm.

Mockers get all bent out of shape when the Grackles and Starlings are hogging the space and they are great security guards, offering assistance to fellow feeder dwellers. Sometimes a Mocker can annoy the heck out of these two species and cause them to flee. The Mocker’s flashes of white and gray swirl around the largest crows and drive them off effectively.

Often I hear a familiar small bird voice from a distance and suddenly, in a flash, the birds disappear! It’s an alarm that sounds from this small bird and all the rest heed to it.

When this happens I first look for a hawk nearby then I watch the vacant feeders for a few seconds. Just beyond the feeders, I see a tiny, swift, black and white aircraft hover up and down, coming in for a landing.

Chief Chickadee, Gang Specialist

“Mmmm. Quiet. Nice for me! Tee hee!”

This small Chief can really pack a punch when it feels like it and is very skilled in crowd control and gang management.

Then there are the lurkers, the birds and other furry critters that arrive at the feeders or ground and seem to be dying of anxiety attacks. They hardly take a step without scanning 360.

Are you yelling at me? (Rocky, the bull-headed.)

Gee, I don’t think she likes me…

I’m outta here!

The Rock Doves (pigeons?) stop by every day around 5pm. They must wear wristwatches to be so prompt. See nervous Claude there, peeking at me? Claude has a friend. If there is just a bit of movement from the house, they are history and will land on a rooftop and watch from afar. But today, I was the paparazzi!

Dear, you look just lovely tonight.

Oh, stop it, Claude. You’re making me blush.

May I have the honor?

Ooooo. (Fumbling camera) Ahem!

Perhaps they will nest near the paparazzi’s house?


(Once again, I am not a pervert. I’m just a curious bystander…and I thought these birds were SHY.)

Damp Feathers and a Little Shopping

A weekend of rain rushes new life.

A shopping spree with Gina was in order today. It’s been a long time since we headed out with mall coupons. She and Billy will settle on their house in less than a month and she’s full of chatter about paint colors, furniture, window blinds, garden hoses, fencing, shrubs, etc. The list is long for first-time homeowners and I remember it so well.

Mr. Biggins says, “I’m here! I’m here! Open the gate, Chloe! Let’s play Bell Bell! Where’s my grandma? Oh, Joy! Oh, Boy!”

Before we turned into the mall, we stopped by her future house and she showed me the boundaries of the fence they will build. I could hear her talking but I didn’t see her, as my eyes were overhead, watching the bright, white belly of a Tree Swallow.

“Mom!” She knew I was bird watching again.

“Sorry, Gina, but you have Tree Swallows here!”



I followed her lead at the mall and I was very surprised she only glanced at handbags and shoes instead of drooling and lingering over the latest wedge and Dooneys. We didn’t even enter the Coach store! She wanted to show me some prints she and Billy found to decorate their walls. While I browsed through Ron Burns’ abstract, colorful prints of dogs and cats that she loves so much, I thought about priorities. Sure, they need buckets and brooms and garden hoses, but more than that, they need some color and pizzazz to surround them in their new home already decorated with dull, off-white walls. So that is what I set out to do - to buy them something eye-pleasing. I bought “Toby” and “Landy” – framed in black, to compliment their contemporary taste in decorating.

She, in turn, gave me a compliment without knowing how much it made my head swell. When she said, “I want to frame one of your sunrises or sunsets for our house…”. I couldn’t even speak.

I could use a few new things to wear but I prefer giving to the children. That’s what a Mother does.

It was my pleasure to treat her today. For me, she’s sunshine on a rainy day.

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It rained continually from Friday through Saturday night and I could not believe the birds I saw. Indigo Buntings flew overhead and landed nearby. Brown-headed Nuthatches visited my feeders but I fumbled the camera in a desperate attempt to catch them. Not a chance. I just could not keep my eyes off the back yard. Most of the following photos were taken during the rain but some were taken today – sunny, chilly, and “hold on to your hat” windy. I hope to get much better photos this week. A few of these birds have their back facing me. Perhaps it's a message for me to scram?

“Please don’t tire of me. I love it here.”

“I’ll let you take my picture for some suet...”

“I don’t see you; therefore, you don’t see me.” This song sparrow has a nest nearby but I haven’t found it yet.

“Will…you…please…put that camera away, woman?”

“It’s her again. That nosy lady with bright hair…”

“Uh Oh. I think she caught me.” There are two Brown Thrashers here now. They’re peaceful and quiet birds.

“Wanna take my picture, lady?”

“May I please have a little privacy to wet my whistle and rinse my armpits?”

“I don’t think she sees me. Just one extra sip." The hummers have grown into a small army of mini-aircraft. I love it!

Looking for Yellow, and an Invitation to You!

Today we were blessed with a steady, soaking, soft rain. Oh, how we craved it! It’s chilly and we’re wearing coats but that's alright with me. It's only temporary. The outdoors are clean and the plants and flowers are upright, open, and drinking up the moisture.

So I ventured outside in my raincoat and looked for yellow to replace the sunshine.

It’s Friday. A sunny Sunday is ahead!

Perhaps I’m the only one in the neighborhood with thistle?

I found these near the culvert beyond the fence! Orphans.

Plenty of sunshine here!

I think the male Gold Finches are brighter than sunlight. Exotic.

Soon to burst into a ray of light on a dark day.

A single ray of light...beauty standing alone.

Ahhhh. There is so much to see on a dark day if you look for it.

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You are invited!

Recently, Liza posted a photo of her new monitor and it gave me an idea... Wouldn’t it be fun to see where everyone creates their fabulous posts?

This is an invitation for YOU to send me one photo of the workspace where you record your journal and share your wonderful words and photos ~ the place where you sit and think before you click “publish”. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a mental picture of the blogging habitat of those with which you share your days?

1. Including yourself in the photo is optional.

2. If you include your monitor, display your home page!

3. I urge to you include a short narrative in your e-mail to me about your workspace. If you don’t include a narrative, you’re taking the risk on my comment about your workspace… :o)

4. I guess that two weeks should allow you enough time to tidy up your desk and shoot a photo to me. If you don’t want to bother tidying up, that’s OK, too! Due: May 16.

5. E-mail me: maryferr at carolina dot rr dot com

Give me a week or two after the deadline to post “Blogger Habitats”. Don’t be shy. I'll post reminders.

In Search of Wildlife Habitats and Lifers

Our wildlife habitat on campus will be a slow process. I arranged a meeting with a State environmentalist and a few campus committee members to assess our campus for possible sites and to talk about obtaining NWH certification. We met yesterday. She was quite knowledgeable and had great suggestions and encouragement for us. We walked the entire campus and I’ll add that it was 92 degrees in the shade. No one whined or complained but since the weather inside the offices is a crisp 65 degrees and we dress accordingly, we all looked like cats in a bathtub by the time we finished the tour. The creek bed above provides water, shelter, a food source, and it’s loaded with all sorts of wildlife, including numerous snakes. No thank you. Additionally, it backs up to the transportation technology building that houses the roaring engines of tractors hitched to 18-wheeler trailers and other engine noisy equipment. No way.

Another area of the campus has a small pond surrounded by tall oaks, pines, birches, and some smaller ornamental trees. Now, doesn’t that sound encouraging? It’s located near the law enforcement building where I work but there is a plan for building a firing range next to it for law enforcers/swat teams. Now, isn’t that just dandy! No thanks.

Our hopes were crushed until we made the last stop on the tour at the home of Millie and Johnny. They have their hands full right now and I wish I could peek inside that house. None of us had ever noticed this:

A water source is located only a few yards away from where Millie & Johnny live! It works, too!

This is the area we have chosen to start. In the fall, we’ll begin planting low berry producing shrubs for ground feeders, butterfly bushes, native flowers, nesting boxes that are properly mounted and baffled, simple water features like bird baths or a fountain, paving stones for designated walkways, and signage. Now we have something to look forward to!

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The temperatures plummeted thirty degrees this evening, the winds picked up, and the sky is dark. I am praying for rain tonight. Since I’ve been living in North Carolina, the droughts have plagued us.

The migrating birds are arriving every day and I can’t keep up. I’ve seen flashes of birds I can’t even identify yet. But I will.

Sure, I’m obsessed with the hummingbirds right now, but who wouldn’t? I added a new feeder on the deck but they haven’t discovered it yet.

Through the sunroom glass, I got him! My photographing tactics need improving and I know I’ll have them mastered in the coming months. I’m giddy with excitement!

Still playing games with me. Those Chickadees make my heart rate rise so quickly! Damn!

I’ve seen so many Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks on fabulous blogs in the past week and I poo-pooed myself, thinking I’d never see one here. Well, look! Drop dead gorgeous. I hope he comes back! I’ve joined the club. Or, may I join?

One of the few flowers I have. I am absolutely aching to spend a week of loading flats of flowers and flowering bushes in my car… crawling around in the soil… Sigh… My office job really gets in the way.

And forget the lifers for a minute. Here’s a reliable, sweet, food-loving, lovey-dovey visitor that I see every day, all year long.

Few Words Wednesday

Summer rushes in.

Home from work later than usual.

Ninety minutes on the phone with Dell, blah blah, blah.

Some chores to do.

Then the rush to see...

"I promise, Gardenias, to relieve you of this horrible drought. I'm falling behind. Forgive me."

"Please resist your urge to burst open until tomorrow? Wait for me? I'm too hot and sweaty right now. I need a cold drink."

"I know you are hungry. Give me a few minutes, lovely Koi. I'm rushing to you and I know it's late."

"You are new, blue you! Do you like it here?"

There are too many new visitors. My head is spinning.

"I saw your male friend but it's getting dark already. Where is he now?"

I think it's going to be an exciting summer

and

I need to step up to the plate and meet the challenge.

The fragrant summer breezes

inspire me. Ahhhhhh...

My Peace Offering

A little over a week ago, there was a dramatic scene at my house when I removed the barn swallow nest for a cleaning and then unintentionally destroyed it. The female who raised a brood in that nest last June caught me in the act with her nest in my hands. The timing could not have been worse. I’m still heartsick over it. During the two days following that episode, two eggs were laid on the rock ledge where the nest once sat, rolled off, and splattered on the ground under the nesting area. Dear Julie Z was so kind to confirm my suspicion and also offered a suggestion that took me by surprise. The more I thought about it, the more I liked it! Why not build a swallow nest? It might attract her or another bird and will be a cool experiment. I Googled artificial swallow nests and learned they are quite successful.

Since the female started building that nest in May last year and the babies fledged around the end of June, I thought I’d better get cracking.

Her nest was built into a ninety degree angle in a corner under the porch ceiling. I used the corner of a sturdy shoebox to help form a nest with Sculpey. Since her nest was packed with North Carolina’s finest bright red clay, I chose terracotta.

It’s recommended that barn swallow nests should have no more than one and a half inches clearance from a ceiling. That’s very small, so I allowed two inches.

After more resizing and reshaping it was ready for the oven at 275 degrees. I'm not skilled at sculpting and it shows! Standing on the step ladder near the porch railing thirty feet above the sidewalk got a little easier on my nerves after a while.

While the nest was in the oven baking, I baked some mud on the driveway.

I’ll admit it, sometimes I go over the top with things but I couldn’t resist some paint! Now it looks like a distressed flower pot but, hey, who cares? My artistic side got the best of me.

For baking purposes I sculpted a hollow nest. To fill it, I accumulated washed stone, human hair from hairbrushes around the house, dried grasses, and some soft twigs from my hanging pots.

The nest is shallow and formed softly with mud. It’s all adjustable to suit a female’s fancy but I invite any comments on where it might fall short or need improvement.

Perfect fit. It’s not attached to anything but the gravel inside and weight of it will prove to be very stable.

Perhaps she won’t return this year. The nest might sit empty for a long time. It’s OK. More than likely, she’s probably working away at another nest somewhere but if she gets evicted, she can have an extended stay at my hotel. If she returns, my heart would swell!

Building this nest is the least I could do. She’s worth it, despite the poopy porch.

June 2006