"Blue" birds and sniffling!

 I've been bird watching from my kitchen table and was thrilled to see this special visitor! 

 It's called an Indigo Bunting.

 I had to slide my door open ever so slowly to try and get a picture.  They are a bit wary of my presence and leave quickly.

I was thrilled to see that there are three of them!  See the one on the far left in between the branches of the shrub!  I'm guessing there are females visiting too but I haven't spotted them- they are plain and less obvious as it goes in the world of birds.

Intresting fact about these "blue" birds:

 Indigo Buntings have no blue pigment; they are actually black, but the diffraction of light through the structure of the feathers makes them appear blue. 

I also have Orioles visiting and of course the American Goldfinch's have been here for a while. 

These are Rose Breasted Grosbeaks that I always enjoy seeing visit too.  There are two females and two males in this picture- but no partridge in a pear tree! LOL

I picked up a cold the end of last week and I've had the classic sniffling, coughing and lethargy that comes with it.  I'm getting better, but you know it's never fast enough!

  Oh and yes we have wild turkeys that pay us regular visits too!  

It's been a real bonus living at the location we are when it comes to birding.  Not far away there is a lake, fields behind our property, and this big stand of woods next to us which combined together make for a great spot for a nice variety of visitors.

We are also visited by raccoons, chipmunks and squirrels which will each every bit of seed we have in no time at all so that's why we built this multi feeder with the metal baffle attached to keep them off.  

 It's not super cute or pretty but it's a great feeding station and definitely attracts the birds.  I chose plant hangers to be mounted on this 12 ft. post to hold the bird feeders and we chose random heights to stage them. This picture is from the first year when it was built. 

I'm itching to be outdoors but we've had a lot of rain lately.  It's pretty classic spring weather for us and no I am not complaining!  My daffodils are blooming and soon the tulips will be.

I did do a little something interesting in the living room just before I caught the cold and I hope to get my act together and get some pictures taken!

 
I'm joining
Between Naps on the Porch
for
Metamorphosis Monday

Just in time...

Wouldn't you know I caught a cold!  I made it through the whole winter and just in time for spring  when I should be outdoors I've been stuck inside with a box of tissues and coughing.  I spent most of Mother's Day inside lingering from the sofa to the chair but did go out for a bit and take a few pictures.

Last year I set this large stone at the corner of my pathway to the back patio and garden area. I've decided to bring some of my fairy garden accents over to this spot so I can see it more easily.  I'm at the beginning stages of planning and this piece of tree stump and cement house are my first steps.

July 2013

Now that I've reviewed this photo from last year I see I need to move the stump and stone house further back so all of the perennials I planted will be able to come back up.

You see that beautiful boxwood on the left?  Well they didn't weather the winter too well so I decided to remove all of them.  Even with winter protection I still ended up with severe browning and it just ruined their shape and attractiveness.

My big stone had also covered up these daffodils but as you see they managed to work their way up and find the light!  

The Jack Frost Brunnera is up (super reliable plant).  I did manage to pluck away the old dried stems from the hostas from last year after I took this picture.  It's so much fun this time of year to see the life emerging from the ground.  Each week it changes.

The Pachysandra, Japanese Spurge is flowering.  This evergreen plant is always a surprise when the snow melts- all green and ready to grow.  The bumble bees were enjoying it too so that's a good thing!

Bad thing is those darn oak leaves are tangled up inside of it nice and neat.  

I'm delighted that the orioles have already arrived and of course the darling finches are always a joy to see.  As you can see the orioles will gladly eat sunflower seeds!  

The Rose Breasted Grosbeaks are here too!

Photo bomber… LOL… 

Yes the turkeys are also visiting. They like to check for fallen seed and drink from my bird bath. 

I tiptoed outside a few minutes ago.  The daffodils are finally open. 

 It's beautiful and warm out there- my invitation to go outside and get some fresh air! 

I hope your week is going great!

 

Mother's Day Wishes

I want to wish all you Mother's out there a very Happy Mother's Day! 

 We'll be staying home and probably go out for dinner.  As I've aged I appreciate dining out so there's not so much work involved to enjoying the day!

Another reason we're staying home instead of going to see our Mom's is to keep a eye on our beloved cat Riley.  He's been diagnosed with a serious illness so we're watching over him. 

I'm feeling nostalgic and dug out some pictures from the past. 

1963 Vacation. Mom on the left, me with my shorts hiked up, sister Jen next to me and our favorite Aunt Lavina.  I'm guessing we're at the shore of Lake Superior.  My dear Aunt was petrified of going in a lake and anything above the ankles made her miserable!  

 Mom and I - approx. 1978 and every one's favorite uncle Ray (dad's brother) Aunt Lavina's husband.

Mom a couple of years ago on Mother's Day admiring

a bouquet we all gave her

A candid shot of our daughter Chelsea and me on Mother's Day 2013

My daughter is a tiny little thing!  I was once...that's all we'll say about that!

Love to all of you on Mother's Day and always!

 

A Beautiful Thought...

Isn't that such a true and beautiful thought!

Now if the weather would cooperate and it would warm up enough

I could actually plant something!

This is the prediction for our area from the Farmer's Almanac 

The word "cool" is used a little too much for my liking but then again I won't be complaining about being too hot!  

May 7, 2013

I think we're about a week off this year.  I'm still waiting to see the daffodils bloom.

How is it going in your area?