Life in the Yard

Winter has arrived, at last. There is still much life in the yard.


In the pond, the parrot feather is hanging on for life .

Pond grasses are impatient and sprouting.

Constant life in the yard... Mr. Biggins exclaims, "Bella, you're breakin' ma leg!"

I'm waiting for

Hummingbirds to return to the feeder,

The heavenly fragrance of a Magnolia blossom,

The branches of the crepe myrtles to bend with the weight of green, white and pink.

Warmth on my back, frogs screaming in the pond, fish jumping, the lizards' return, and longer days.

The winter sunset is a masterpiece, though.

What a Day...TGIF

The day is done, thank goodness. My main focus at work was to order two very expensive camcorders for public safety training and two adult crisis manikins for the emergency medical services program. Dealing with our procurement office was a test of my patience and I just don’t have it anymore. It’s my age, I know it. After nearly four years of working for the States of DE and NC, I’ve had it with the red tape, protocol, and lengthy procedures. I’m sick of endless forms and requirements. They had me on an obstacle course today, jumping through hoops, running through very dark tunnels, and then they apologized for forgetting to tell me there is another step involved…blah, blah blah. If "they" knew their "own" jobs, life would be easier for us all.

Ten or twenty years ago, my response to these ridiculous requests would have been a sincere, “Oh, no problem. No reason to apologize. It’s been my pleasure working with you.” I still say the same things although a bit curtly and after I slam that phone down, I mumble out loud, “Stick your procedures up your a--, where the sun doesn’t shine! I’m sick of this runaround, you nit-picking idiots!” My coworkers and I find it very amusing and we all share grumpiness together. This ordeal still isn’t a done deal yet so I have it to look forward to on Monday. I need to get away from this circus. I really do.


For starters, while making my breakfast oatmeal in the campus kitchen this morning I opened the blinds to find that elusive Eastern Towhee staring at me, only about fifteen feet away from the window and perched on the top of an evergreen shrub. And it seemed he was staying… I don’t run anymore since ankle surgery but I took a shot at it, leaving my oatmeal in the microwave to overcook. Looking like a peg leg freak, I ran to my office, grabbed the camera, and then ran outside only to find the bird was gone. The birds were out and about today and feeding on the seed I scattered until I went for my nature walk later in the afternoon. No birds. Gone. I did see the towhee disappear into the dark brush. Gone. While cursing the construction site across the street, I did manage to see some color shout out from the brown and gray of winter. These leaves served at magnets to me and the camera. To coin Julie Z’s phrase, I was fast approaching the “advanced stages of crankitude” near the end of the workday.


After arriving home, I needed a little more therapy. I walked the neighborhood for a short while and found where the chickadees live. A neighbor who lives two doors down the street really knows how to attract the birdies. I need to meet her.

Me loves my Chickadees!

Most of all, me loves my two girly girls. We played ball, romped, gave hugs and kisses, and now I’m feeling much better. Whew. What a day.

Striving for the Strength

While the police cadets at my community college are in formation, they view a bell near the building. Today it was ice encrusted. It’s mounted on a four-by-four post with an inscription on each of the four sides.

Here lies a start of a new beginning.

Give us 17 weeks and we’ll give you 30 years.

Pain is temporary, pride lasts a lifetime.

If you can’t handle this, ring the bell.

Most of us complain about little inconveniences like stepping in a mud puddle or getting caught in a rain shower. At times, all of us complain about being tired. There are some of us who resent being told what to do. Shamefully, I am describing myself to some degree.

At 7:15 a.m. it was still very dark. There would be no sunshine today as ice, rain, and snow began falling early in the morning hours. I parked my car on the lot where our police cadets do formations. They were there, lying on the parking lot, on their backs, facing the sleet, rain and snow, holding leg raises, then doing push-ups. The commandant and sergeant shouted humiliating comments to these twenty-two cadets, two of which are women, telling them how stupid they were, and branded them with suitable nicknames, i.e. “Puddles”, “Chicken”, “Cripple”, “Knucklehead”. My heart would not let me take a picture of their tortured selves this morning. This is the second week of their training and already, three have bailed out. Only those who possess inner strength and determination can handle the pressure. By the second day, I would probably have a melt down and hide inside a closet.

A little while later, I heard their marching voices from behind the wooded area and they emerged, learning to march, holding the left count, while raising their voices in song at the same time. There were a few who were surprisingly so uncoordinated that it looked nearly impossible for them to hold the left.

I work across the hall from Sgt. Moore, a 7 foot 2 inch tall black man, who I think is rather shy and soft spoken around the office. However, in his drill mode, he is a man made of steel. His loud voice always surprises me and today I realized that he has a very wonderful singing voice that echoes across campus! I listened for a while and was so appreciative of his talent. The commandant is wearing the shorts to prove anything is possible in below freezing weather. Whatever. The lady in the light gray sweats is our associate dean. She enjoys helping out while getting her own workout.

Despite the nasty weather, I pulled my hood up and broke out of the office for a while. I was in pursuit of this mystery bird for the entire time in the woods. (Click to enlarge) It was hard to photograph this bird in low light. It spent the whole time digging and nearly burying itself in the pine straw. I can't identify this bird, even after looking at my field guide. It was very black with a red underside, conicle beak. I threw some seed around and headed back inside to see my bangs nearly dripping! I'm not complaining, though.

I love this photo of the juncoes scrambling for a bite at the feeder in my yard. The icicles were getting longer by the minute. I was standing on my ice covered deck and trembling. Can't afford another fall!

Anticipating A Winter Storm...

I believe the weather forecasters’ predictions for an icy mix tomorrow morning. It was the grayest of days and very cold. This evening it became quiet and calm like it usually does before a storm. This afternoon I had a case of cabin fever at the office so I switched my shoes and headed out. Totally unprepared for the low-thirties, without gloves or even a lining in my trench coat, my walk was brisk. All the while I wondered what made me do this. Perhaps a little voice told me there was a Cooper’s hawk wanting to be photographed. By the time I caught sight of the bird, my feet were numb and I was unable to run, so I zoomed in the best my camera would allow.

The pine trees and evergreens are the tallest around and I noticed several very tiny birds scattering high in the treetops. My photos are at an angle where I’m always under them and far below. I like shorter trees! This is not a good photo and I can’t identify this bird but I am sure it can’t be more than three and a half inches long and it fluttered faster than any other bird I have tried to photograph. Maybe if it weren’t so cold, I would have waited for more opportunities.

A Carolina Chickadee hesitated for more than two seconds while I found it carrying out its antics and acrobatics. I can see that I need a different feeder to attract this bird to my backyard. Do these birds have an attention deficit disorder? It seems like it… When the time came that I couldn’t feel my hands or feet anymore and my nose ran like an open faucet, I quit and headed back to my office.

American Idol Addendum

Minneapolis showed the best of the worst last night. Here are my two favorite miserable auditions from last night:

This girl did an imitation/song of the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz .

FIE, WERE KING...NG...NG……, OF THE FORRE-E-E-E-EST? MMMGGGrrrrrrrrrMMMMPFFFFFFF!
Hilarious!

This one was over-confident of her singing skills and image. Simon's eyes nearly exploded from their sockets. Let's hope for some real talent to walk across that stage in the next few weeks!

Looking Forward to Something

This post ranks right up there with the ten most lame I’ve ever written. For lack of a good idea for posting tonight, this is the only thing I can come up with and I apologize to readers. It’s windy, very cloudy, and the sound of the dried oak leaves rustling on the trees brings back memories of winter, finally. The temperature dropped forty degrees in less than twenty-four hours today and there's talk of snow on Thursday. I’m looking forward to one of our river birches pictured here to provide a place for all of the hummingbirds to perch before darting to the Cannas and Zinnias this spring!

Bogged down by back-to-back meetings at the office, there was no time for me to wander outside today. I missed it very much but I do have something to look forward to tonight, though. The only television show I watch religiously is American Idol. This is my fifth season and I can’t recall missing an episode. Most days I listen to the last fifteen minutes of Oprah while starting dinner but I don’t really watch it. I zone in on other shows between laundry and various chores in the evenings but to sit and watch a TV movie or show is out of the question, even on the weekends. I’d fall asleep before the first commercial! Local TV news in the morning is something I need to have but I couldn’t tell you what the news crew looks like. I only know their voices. So, this is where I’ll be tonight for the beginning of the sixth season of the number one ranked show in America. In the bedroom, away from Michael who usually watches Modern Marvels or the History Channel…BLECH!!!

My American Idol throne. Removed of my robe and other articles of clothing, it’s ready! With a bag of “Smart Balance” popcorn that tastes worse than paper, I’m ready. This is where I'll be on AI nights until the end of the season.

Planning ahead for tonight, I bought two fresh Nylabone edibles for the black and white girlfriends in hopes they won’t pester me with constant lap-jumping and kisses. I’m thinking of hiring a kid to keep them occupied on Tuesday nights. Not really…Michael’s in Virginia tonight so I’m the only one in the house to provide them with the entertainment they need after missing me all day. We’ve played rigorously tonight, but it’s never enough for my energetic female athletes.

For those suffering the winter doldrums, here is a little splash of color from my front yard. Pansies peeking at you above the landscape wall.

The Power of Suggestion

Schools were closed today in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many adults had the holiday off, too, including myself. We all need a day to remember great men and to slow down. I’m guilty of rushing through life to a fault, like many people I know. In 2007, I’m trying to change that. On my way to the grocery store this morning I parked my car at the pond next to the entrance of the plaza and enjoyed the view of geese on a windy pond and the clouds mirroring on the water. An older, white-haired gentlemen in a white SUV slowed down and parked a couple car lengths ahead of me.

He was dressed in office attire so I guess he was a businessman that works nearby. With the camera on my face, I just kept shooting away and he apologized for interrupting me. “Hello. I was curious and stopped to see what you are photographing.” I replied with a smile, “Nothing special, just taking in the view.” After a few more photographs, I packed it up and wished him a good day. He stood there for a while, arms folded against his chest, and continued to enjoy the view. The butts-up made me smile.

Without knowing it, I invited him to enjoy something he might not have done. I like this.

I’m a GBH stalker and I admit it. My goal is to catch a photo of this bird in flight, preferably on his runway with the legs galumphing and wings spread wide. This occurred on my way home from the grocery store. My car parked on the easement again, me with the camera, and a mini-van pulled up behind. A young mother rolled her window down and said, “We’re wondering what you see!” She had a little boy and girl in the van with their noses stuck to the windows. I pointed to the bird. It was so nice to have them join me while I gave them a little information about the great blue heron. Ages about 5 and 6, they were thrilled to see a living thing in the pond that they might not have noticed if I weren’t standing there making a spectacle of myself! The little girl asked, “Why are you taking pictures? Because it’s so pretty?” Right on!!!!

While taking my neighborhood walk today, the same thing happened! Am I triple blessed? Four little boys wearing their helmets on scooters stopped and asked, “What are you looking at?” I pointed out the teeny-tiny birds on the feeder over there… “Have you ever seen birds that tiny before? They’re gold finches.” Wide-eyed, they said, “Wow! They’re little!” Another boy added, "No, Jason, they are small!" Little kids tickle me. They’re educational sponges. This photo is a little out of focus but I think I have a new one, here. A female house finch and a male purple finch? He’s raspberry… This neighbor has the right stuff for birds. I’m dying to set up more feeders at my house.

In my travels, if I ever see someone with a camera, I will stop and learn.

Now on to more valuable information.

THIS IS A SPOON TONGUE.

Gina and Mr. Biggins came to visit today. I’m blessed four times! Doesn’t Chloe stack well? My old girl still has it.

I wanted to upload some beautiful pansies for my friends who are living in a deep freeze, but Blogger cut me off.

Laundry is waiting. It's time to crank up the MUSIC!

A Musical Day

Lawn mowers were humming and we all wiped the sweat from our brow. I think I have sunburned arms. A glorious day in sunny NC but it's thirty degrees above the norm! What a day to look forward to cleaning the inside of the house! I raised the windows but that wasn’t enough.
Vacuuming and cleaning bathrooms was my pitiful destiny today. I needed help.

Michael was away for most of the day playing golf in south Charlotte so I had the house to myself, along with my little black and white girlfriends and.....Taylor Hicks. The new Taylor Hicks CD was a gift from Billy on Christmas day. When I listened to it the first time, it didn’t rouse anything within me and I was very disappointed, missing the swooning and the heart a flutter part. Maybe it didn’t move me the first time I listened to it was because I was on my way to work and feeling annoyed and sleepy. Yes, that’s it – I was cranky.

Is he just too irresistible? If I were twenty years younger I’d hunt him down and there’s no tellin’ what might happen. I would love to dance with this Soul Man. In August, I saw him live in Charlotte and when I thought I’d be dancing in the crowd, I just sat there, motionless, in total awe. Whew.

What did I do to restrain myself from walking outside today instead of cleaning toilets? Slipped that CD in the Bose and raised the volume to a very high number (after all, I was a budding adolescent in mid-sixties and I like loud). While cleaning the super glue-type dog snot/saliva from Mr. Biggins on the front window, I started to gyrate a little. Gina, NO, I do not dance like Seinfeld's Elaine. I have the moves. Watch me move to Outkast.

By the time I finished washing the back door to free it of more dog snot, I parked the Windex and paper towels on the kitchen table while listening to Taylor’s “The Deal”, threw my hands up in the air, swiveled my hips with my best moves and footwork, snapped fingers, grabbed the frig handle for a little jitterbug action and danced with the googly-eyed Bostons, tongues wagging and smiling ear to ear. Treat yourself to Taylor! If you love soul and love to dance as much as I do, this is the ticket.





Another newcomer arrived at the feeder today! A female Cowbird, and a very brave one. I hope my ID is correct...








Bella can't get enough sun and fun with her hula-hoop. She never stops. As I am writing this, though, she's snoring louder than an eighty year old man with sleep apnea.











I'm joyful today and I do love my camera.

Two Lifers and a Two Things Meme

In my post “Loving the Pursuit” yesterday, I whined about the Tufted Titmouse that got away. Today I awoke with high hopes. I didn’t give up.





Lookit! Gotcha! This small bird is antsy and I just couldn't get closer. I am soooo satisfied...

(click to enlarge)

My neighborhood is loaded with bird song. I took a nice walk this morning and enjoyed the views and warm breezes. Along the way I caught some Gold Finches snacking in a neighbor’s yard. Hmmm. I wondered why they haven’t visited my yard…

Oh, how I would love to have this view from my back porch…

I wanted to trespass and walk along the cart path. Prohibited! Those homes in the distance are way too large. We’re happy with our medium sized ranch home, thank you.

Well, guess who came to visit? As soon as I got home, a little Gold Finch was perched at the back of my yard. Made ma heart skip a beat! My once a month paycheck arrives in two weeks. I'm going to blow it on at least five more feeders. I only have one!

Two Things Meme...

I saw this first from Lynne at Hasty Brook.

2 names you go by: Mare and Mom

2 parts of your heritage: German/American Indian – Pennsylvania Dutch/Ukranian

2 things that scare you: Heights and Fire

2 everyday essentials: Sloppy Spoon Tongue Kisses and Fresh Air

2 things you are wearing right now: Periwinkle sweats with a bleach stain on one of the arms, ratty Saucony shoes

2 of your favorite current bands/artists: This is difficult because I like everything. Enya and Christina Aguilera

2 things you want in a relationship (other than love): Laughs and Harmony

2 favorite hobbies: Pond keeping and playing with dogs

2 things you have to do this week: Call the vet to make an appt. for Chloe and clean the bathrooms (like...now!)

2 stores you shop at: Target and Petco

2 favorite sports: As a spectator, figure skating and swimming

2 shows you like to watch: American Idol and Oprah

2 things you'd buy if money were no object: More ponds and more trees

2 wishes for 2007: Good health and peace within

Loving the Pursuit

This was my first five-day work week since December 15 and I’m glad I made it through. The older I get, the more I enjoy Fridays. It’s been a cold and almost winter-like week in NC but Sunday is predicted to be in the mid 70’s again. 74? The warmest winter on record so far. Where am I? Lucky me – I got this photo through the sunroom door this evening. I love, love, love, seeing the birds quench their thirst on the waterfall!

For a short while after I got home from work, I parked myself on the ground, about fifty feet from the feeder. Every shot I have of this Song Sparrow shows blue eyes. I wonder if they are really blue. He surely blends in with the ground colors and I hope you can see him... The ground feeder birds didn’t care about my presence but the feeder birds did… So, after five minutes, I gave up and let them relax. Then I walked inside the yard and stood about ten feet from the feeder with camera around my neck. What appeared? A Tufted Titmouse! No doubt! With a silent “oooo and awww”, I raised my camera. He took one look at me and was gone. Another “Damn!”

Bird watching is a lot like playing a round of golf. I haven’t played a round in a few years, but I remember the anticipation and high hopes before every hole. On some holes, you tee up, drive, and continue to hit worm burners or sharp right hooks into the woods until you finally get to the green. Feeling frustrated to the point of quitting, your mind takes you to the next hole, somehow, and you dream about what your next drive might bring. Possibly a Birdie or an Eagle! (I’ve never had an Eagle…) That Carolina Wren and Tufted Titmouse will be within my reach very soon…

A sequel to yesterday’s glimpse of the Great Blue Heron. Again today, there he waited. I call him a “Stinker” in an affectionate way. The GBH did me wrong many times and proved to be a thief but I am mesmerized by his majestic beauty. That’s why I pulled over again, parked, and walked a long way down a steep hill to get closer but he was still very far away. My friend birders and non-birders are probably thinking, “Oh, that Mary is a genuine fruitcake.” That’s OK. This happy fruitcake is up for a challenge!

Another "Stinker" for Susan

Most of my day was uneventful. I took my little walk at work and it was eerie not to hear anything rustling in the woods. Two crows overhead got my attention but were gone from my view in a flash. There were only two small, very quick chirps high up in the tallest pines and I thought it sounded like a tiny bird calling, “Hey, I’m way up here and I'm home alone!” On my lunch hour I made a little trip to the grocery store and I saw bird seed on sale at Harris Teeter. I bought a ten-pound bag to keep in my office, and you know what? I don’t care if people think I’m nuts! Where I’ve seen birds congregate, I spread the seed. If I can afford an inexpensive feeder, I’ll plant one for them in a convenient place for me to keep an eye on them.

Without an idea for a post all day, I decided on my way home from work to take a little break from blogging and to just do some blog “lurking” tonight. At the same time I made that decision, I entered my community on the narrow road and looked to my right as I always do and quickly pulled over!


Here’s another Stinker for ya, Susan! You’re getting two birthday gifts this month. The sun was hidden behind heavy clouds and the GBH is showing more color in this photo than the previous one. I had to apologize to a very sweet school bus driver as I moved my car more inside the easement to allow her to drive by. Her route was held up for thirty seconds because of me but she was all smiles, realizing my mission. After a few photos, I drove around for a little while, trying to find a better way to get closer to this swampy pond but it looks like I’d need to tip-toe through a private residence and cross the 10th fairway to get closer. There must be a better way and I am determined to find it!

When the sun was beginning to set and the clouds made the evening even darker, I noticed a newcomer at the feeder. Welcome the White Throated Sparrow (White Morph) to Mary’s house. It’s a ground feeder that escapes under brush and very quickly! I hope you can see a better view if you click on the photos. Blogger is bad tonight.


If I had time to pose motionless for while, I could have gotten a closer shot but the dogs were running wild and giving the birds the jitters, as usual. I like this photo of a female Cardinal observing the Sparrow.




The long day without a thrill ended very nicely, indeed.

Seriously...

After turning fifty years old, I always thought life would slow down to a peaceful pace. Being empty-nesters slows the pace quite a bit, but when you add two out-of-state moves within the last four years, it’s unsettling and distracting. Life has not slowed down. Not one bit. Since we started moving around the region, I had forgotten, or didn’t pay attention to, what I need.

Now I think I’m getting it back. Blogging helps me to analyze and organize my thoughts. I'm working on my lazy and disorganized writing skills (on most days...). It forces me to think positively instead of worrying about my next household chore or what tomorrow will bring at the office. Blogging is my time, put aside especially for me. With my camera near me, I notice more. There is a huge landscape out there loaded with beauty and I’m loving it.

Aside from a summer of power walking before I broke the foot, my lifestyle has been pretty much sedentary. I’m looking forward to my two-mile walks again. It will be me and my new Ipod, loaded with music that will keep me moving on a good tempo. Slowly, I’m starting to get moving again.

This week, I've been leaving the office for a thirty-minute hike on a nature trail. This morning it was very cold and I decided early on that I didn’t care to go out today. But I went out later that afternoon, anyway, because I knew I’d regret missing it.

It was difficult to capture good photos today. There’s a large construction site across the street that normally doesn’t cause a problem but the equipment they used caused vibrations under my feet. Joggers passed by while I was focused squarely on a tiny, flitty bird. It would have been a very good photo and I wanted to call that jogger to my attention, “Excuse me, sir, would you mind taking another route? You’re disturbing my photo-shoot.”

In a short time, I've been able to recognize some bird songs, for instance, the sound of a Cardinal. That’s cool. When I hear a new and unfamiliar song high up in a tree, I’m determined to see the singer! No luck today.

This one is way too familiar. Feeder hog. Freeloader. Today I missed a great photo opportunity. I opened my back door after arriving home from work to see at least a dozen Doves, Sparrows, Cardinals and others bathing in my pond and quenching their thirst on my waterfall. Damn! But hey, there’s always tomorrow!

Wind, Birds, Toes, etc...

The winds were biting fingers to numbness today and it finally feels like winter in the Carolinas. Just an hour northwest from us in the mountain counties, there is a heavy snow warning for tonight and tomorrow. Michael is there on the VA side, so I might not see him until Thursday instead of tomorrow night. Sadly, I’ll settle for watching snow on TV. Above is a photo I took yesterday of a perky bird that I guess might be a female house finch. Or a mockingbird. I'm so screwed up.

Around noon today I braved the wind and took a short walk on the trail at the college and caught another mystery bird on a tree top. (Click on my photos for a larger view.) My wild guess is an Eastern Phoebe as it had a brownish back. It’s not a good photo and few birds were around today due to super gusty winds. I’m counting on my friendly bird experts to challenge me.

It’s so darn hard to focus your camera and keep your balance while wearing a very long trench coat in 35 mph wind gusts. Even while wearing athletic shoes, I have no balance. I have never had good balance and it’s because my toes are weak and my feet are flat. Your toes keep you standing, you know. Those who can use their powerful toes to accomplish little tasks have always impressed me. Like my daughter, Gina, who can grab a pencil with her toes, and probably write with it. Her toes are so powerful that I was always amused by her ability to wrap her toes on the edge of a starting block and dive into the pool during a race. That must take a lot of strength in those tootsies! I’m sure most people have strong toes but I’m not one of them. Skating on rollers or blades? Forget it. Instead of walking down a driveway with scattered icy patches to retrieve the mail, I wear tall boots and trudge through two feet of snow to save myself. I fall backwards on ice - on my rump. What has made balancing worse for me is having ankle surgery a year and a half ago which left three toes on my left foot numb and completely powerless. I can wiggle most of my toes slightly, but for the most part, they are just lame, lifeless fillers for the front of my shoes. With the wind howling around me today and my trench coat serving as a sail on a boat, I was bobbling forward and backward like the last bowling pin standing - the ten pin spare shot - lost. Not fair! Add holding a camera to your face while peering straight up to a bird perched two stories high and this is what you get (above). Enough of toe-talk. Geeezzz.

End result. Northern Mockingbird, I think… There has been little time for me to study my guide but I’m trying to devote myself to my new Stokes.

Other noteworthy musings,

Yesterday, our new class of police cadets began their 17-week journey of training towards their appointment of rookie cops. Already, three have bailed out. It is excruciatingly difficult for these recruits, as the commandants and drill sergeants are ruthless with them in the intent to weed out the weak. I have seen grown men, young men, and women sob. Those who prevail, in the end, are outstanding individuals. I’m looking forward to seeing them progress and lose the frightened look on their faces (and the pot bellies, too)!

Funny caption. Chloe on the right is thinking,

“Where’s Bella’s one-way ticket back to Stewartstown in Pennsylvania? Please…”