In Honor of Fathers!

What would we do without our Dads?

They watch to make sure

their babies are safe.

They see to it that their young ones get fed.

 

This is in honor of a couple

very special Dads in my family.

 

First, my own Dad.

 

 

He shared with me his love for animals

and was also probably the reason I enjoy photography.

He was a dad who played with me,

and was never too tired to take me and my friends

someplace and then pick us up again.

He was a man of faith and worked hard,

and I was blessed to have him with me

until he was almost 98 years old.

 

God also blessed my life with another special man.

 

Some called him "Daddy"

 

 



Some call him "Grandpa"

 

But I call him "MINE"

My Precious Husband!

Happy Father's Day!





The "Big Storm" is Past

 

They said this may be our

big storm for this winter.

That would be nice.

 

Here is my husband digging us out.

 

 

Here are some of our birds

during all the snow.

 

A couple of "snowbirds" -- Dark-eye Juncos

 

A sweet, little Carolina Wren.



A couple of woodpeckers--

 

The Red-Bellied

 

 

and the Downey

 

A handsome Yellow-shafted Flicker

 

 

And a pretty, little Nuthatch.

 

 

Thank you to God, our Creator,

for the beauty and wonder of each season.

 

 

"For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise."



Baby, It's Cold Outside

Winter has formally appeared.

Some snow, wind and sub-zero temps,

and some hungry birds

sporting their fluffy, winter coats/feathers.

 

This pretty Mourning Dove

usually prefers to eat on the ground

but flew up to our deck to eat.

 

This sweet little Titmouse

was swinging in the breeze.

 

 

We were also visited by a small flock

of Pine Siskin.

 

 

 A number of Goldfinch

were also anxiously looking for food.

 

 

And, of course, the Woodpeckers

were taking turns at the suet feeder.

 

 

It can warm up anytime!!!!!



Some Handsome Redheads

And their Charming Mates

Mr and Mrs House Finch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

  

Mr and Mrs Cardinal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mr and Mrs Redbellied Woodpecker

Her husband sometimes looks like he has a butch haircut,

but she is always so sleek and neat.

I guess it is because she is a "lady."

Guests for Dinner

One evening about a month ago my husband and I were carrying our plates to sit down at our kitchen table, and this was what we saw:

I immediately said to Jack, "Take my plate and don't move."

This trio of Baltimore Orioles were originally

attracked to my Hummingbird feeder.

Before sitting down to eat, I quickly cut apart some oranges

and placed some on both of our decks.

For the next couple of weeks I could see them

eating out of two different windows.

In previous years I was lucky if I saw them on two days.

Such beautiful birds!  

However, some of my local birds and some visitors

were not at all impressed.

 

Taking turns didn't

seem to be in the

Oriole's vocabulary.

Even a few harsh words didn't help.

Finally the Rose-Breasted Grosebeak got a little creative.

And they ended the day as Friends!

Hope the Orioles come back next year...and bring their wives along.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

And it SNOWED all day!

These three little ones, the Titmouse, the Nuthatch and the Dark-eyed Junco, were just resting till it was their turn once again at the feeder.

The Downy's love the suet but were a little impatient about taking turns.

"Can't you hurry up....I'm getting hungry!"

"Where did that seed go?  It was here a minute ago."

The little Junco said,"Let me show you how to find those seeds."

"I'm not called a Snowbird for nothing!"

"Now I look like I just did a milk commercial."

This little American Tree Sparrow seemed happy to have found the feeder.

                      Then it quickly flew away with the wind and snow.

The Redbellied Woodpecker flew in, and everyone else scattered.

The little Carolina Wren finally had a chance to eat.

"Oh dear, my beak seems too short to get to the good stuff."

The squirrel couldn't watch all those birds coming and going without having a little bit for himself.

Way out in the forest the Pilated Woodpecker found something that pleased him.

It was a GOOD day.....a SNOWY day.....a BEAUTIFUL day!