On Safari

I am going on a safari.
I am looking for butterflies.



I have glass boxes for the butterflies that did not make migration.
In the winter I bring them out.
I once again admire their wings.

My florist bouquets always seem so sterile
with out butterflies.

The glass boxes are on a pink crystal tray
on the dining room table
with the dish gardens.

I miss the butterflies.

My husband is taking a few days off work for our
Winter Safari.
We know of a butterfly conservatory about four hours away.
I plan on spending a couple of days with the butterflies.

We also will stop to see the Swans.

I am packing the camera bags and a picinic basket.

~Happy New Year~

Dazzling

A dusting of snow fell over night.




The air was full of light at sun rise.

I have chosen the Woodpecker Family to study in 2009.
In my backyard two pairs of Downy Woodpeckers,
one pair of Hairy Woodpeckers and a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers
come for suet and nuts.

I have seen Red-headed Woodpeckers in two of our city parks.
I have heard rumors that Pileated Woodpeckers are near by.
Lots of different Woodpeckers to get to know.

I will still feed the Blue Jays their peanuts.

Blue is my color for 2009.

Auld Lang Syne

Plaza Lights

We went to the Plaza for our Christmas Eve dinner.

It is just the two of us this year.

We took the cameras.

We strolled about while we waited for our table.

Christmas Eve on the Country Plaza
could be a new tradition.
The cameras were well behaved.

Christmas Eve Delights

The Carolina Wren delights me.
He seems to be a very happy bird.

The Cardinals fill my world with radiant color.
Each one different. Each one beautiful.

The House Finches mingle with the Purple Finches.
I love their little sounds.

I think the Black Birds are elegant .

There are many birds in the backyard today.
Many darlings to be delighted with.
May you find delight in your backyard.

It is so cold...

It is very cold.
So very, very cold.
Even wrapped in my blanket I cannot stay
outside for very long.

The birds are able to stay warm.
This morning I made sure they had plenty of seed and water.
I hung a few extra suet cakes in the trees.
The Gold Finches have a sweet call.
They flew about and watched as I refilled their feeder.



A flock of Robins came to the deck for raisins.
They remind me spring will come in the right time.
They are birds of hope and cheer when the skies are grey and dull.




Today I am inside.
Today I am reading and writing.
I am visiting with friends on the telephone.
A pot of soup simmers on the stove.

Once again Winter Solstice has come.
Once again I celebrate the return of light.
Another snow storm is heading my way.
I lit a candle for those that are traveling.
Be full of care.

Christmas Time is Here

Getting to know you

It is when I sit with the birds
that I get to know them,
and they get to know me.

The Red-winged Blackbird was shy at first.

He was all alone.

After an hour of watching me

he came in for a few portrait photographs.

"Hello, welcome to the backyard bird family!"

Red Wing Blackbird

I sat outside with the birds this morning.
The snowy weather has brought many birds to my backyard.
I was very excited to see a Red Winged Blackbird fly in.

Seldom do I see a Red Winged Blackbird
in my backyard.

They are birds of the countryside.

The forecast is for freezing rain this afternoon.
I will set up a few more serving trays.
It looks as if company is coming!

Bitter cold

It is very cold.
Even with sunshine and bundled up
I cannot stay outside
for very long.



There are six Blue Jays that are coming to the deck
each morning for their peanuts.

A large flock of Gold Finches were finding food
at the different feeders this morning.

The Pine Siskins stayed for the snow and the cold.

My trees are full of birds.

Snow

When I awoke this morning
it was snowing.

I stood at the back door.



I wanted to be out with the birds.

I wanted to feel the snow on my face too.
Yet, it was so cold.
Maybe later it will warm up.

It is my craft day.
I will work on my felted tree.
I met a new fiber friend last night.
She wore a felted hat while shopping.
She said it was to be a felted Christmas tree but it turned into a hat.
I understood.
There are no mistakes in felting only happy adventures.

Dish Gardens

It was 62 degrees when I was out with the birds this morning.
Strong southerly winds blew moisture up into the atmosphere.
The forecast was for the winds to shift to the northwest around noon.
The temperatures were to start dropping. By 7 pm. it was 11 degrees.
It is to drop to 6 degrees tonight! Sleet and snow over night and into tomorrow.
I put the heater into the bird's water. It is to be cold all week.
Crazy weather!



I came in and started my December gardening. I am creating winter forced bulb gardens.
I have a journal I keep notes in every year.
So very nice to be able recall what I did in the past and how the bulbs performed.
In September I filled the refrigerator vegetable bins with pink and white tulips,
pink and white hyacinths and white and purple crocuses.
Today I planted over two hundred bulbs!
I still have a hundred left to plant.
I am out of containers and soil.

Some of the bulbs are planted in dirt and some are in bulb vases.

I have been collecting bulb vases for many years.

I ended up doing 50 gardens.

The Christmas cactus is in bloom.
In four weeks it will be joined by over two hundred flowers.
Flowers chase away the winter chill.
My house should be very cozy when the north winds blow!

Bird Report

So many birds came to the feeders today

I knew the weather was to turn cold and wet tomorrow.

A nice flock of Gold Finches came for seed and suet.

The Pine Siskins are still here.

I wonder if they will stay for the big storm.

I have enjoyed them being here.

I am pleased they remembered me from last year.

Tomorrow is My Dancing Day

Maiden Voyage

I took our new camera out for it's maiden voyage.

I bonded immediately!
The shutter is twice as fast as my old camera!

I have lots to learn.

We bought a Nikon D 300.

It is incredible!

11 degrees Fahrenheit

It was 11 degrees Fahrenheit, -12 degrees Celsius,
when I went to feed the birds this morning.
The sun was shining which added at least ten degrees to how the air felt.
No wind, so I added another ten!
Silk long underwear and two wool blankets would give me another 20.
I knew I would be warm.
My enthusiasm for the day was worth at least 30 degrees.



Being with the birds this morning was exciting.
The light was so bright the camera and I both wore sun shades.



We had strong northern winds yesterday.

I was hoping they would help the Pine Siskins to arrive.

They did!

These are darling little birds. I saw a dozen this morning.
They are on their way to Mexico for the winter.
I am so pleased they remembered my backyard from last year for a resting spot.
I am going back outside so I can be with them.
They will not be around for very long and I really want to get all the
news from Canada.