A Little of This and That

 It's no surprise that I love viewing nature as most of you my friends do as well.  I have been watching a sweet little bird come and go at my feeder for a couple of months now and I'm concerned.  It's been difficult catching him with my camera as he is quite cautious and flits about nervously.

 I had to do some research to try to figure out what is going on with this male cardinal.  As you can see he has no feathers on his head like his other brothers.

It appears that he is molting, but the timing should have solved that issue by now.  Usually when a bird molts he has his feathers grow back fairly quickly.  Upon further investigation I read that bird experts don't agree as to why this happens.

 These experts believe it is possibly from parasites.  There really is nothing I can do to help!  Some experts also believe it could be from trauma.  I really feel bad for him as the ladies don't take kindly to him because of his looks!  Some ornithologists also think it could be genetic.  Whatever the reason this little guy still visits us at the feeder occasionally.  I wish him well and hope his feathers will grow back.  If you have ever seen a cardinal like him I'd like to know.  I've seen cardinals molting before, but never like this one.

On another topic Grayden was able to power wash our patio rug.  With his health issues the last couple of years a lot of jobs that he normally takes care of have been delayed.  

As you can see this rug was filthy!  I told Grayden we needed to buy another one as this would never get clean.  Boy, was I wrong!

Grayden has a small power washer that worked great on this really dirty rug!  

He was able to wash this rug on the front and the back so we were able to put it on our patio again.  Our concrete patio floor gets hot and this rug helps with that and anchors our patio table and chairs.

We are supposed to get cooler temperatures tomorrow.  Hopefully we will be able to enjoy our cleaned up patio rug as we watch the birds.  Maybe the sweet little bald cardinal with pay us a visit.

Thank you for stopping by, my friends.  I hope your day gives you joy!

  

Sometimes Someone's Perfect

My friend Denise introduced me to Becky Hemsley's poetry on one of her posts!  I had not read any of Becky Hemsley's work before reading about her on Denise's blog.  www.anenglishgirlrambles2016.blogspot.com  You should go visit Denise if you haven't!  I don't know how she does it, but she posts daily. Thank you Denise!

Becky Hemsley's writing is quite extraordinary.  It speaks to me, and maybe it will to you! 

 

"Sometimes someone's perfect

Is another person's flawed

Sometimes someone's peaceful

Is another person's bored

Sometimes someone's freedom

Is another person's trapped

And sometimes someone's make-believe

Is someone else's fact

One man's trash, they often say

Is someone else's treasure

And someone's stormy forecast

Is another's perfect weather

Sometimes someone's scars

Can tell a very painful story

And sometimes they're reminders

Of a celebrated glory

Because it all depends you see

On where you're actually stood

On what you care to notice

And how far you dare to look

And there is sometimes someone

Standing just across from you

Who from the other side

Can see a very different view

Yes, all the time perspective

Will determine what we find

It's how the number 6

Is sometimes someone's number 9

And it is also how

You sit and count your flaws and scars

Whilst to someone just across from you

You're perfect as you are"

Becky Hemsley

Thank you for stopping by and remember "You're perfect as you are"

Hello Friends

It's been way too long since I've posted in this little blog.  I do appreciate all that come here.  Inspiration has been lacking but still I enjoy posting the joyous things that happen in our lives.  

 The America rose really bloomed beautifully into June.  

These same America roses change from a coral shade to a lovely pink.

The red knockout roses performed beautifully as well.  They provided many bouquets around our home the whole month.

Our hydrangeas don't typically bloom that well, but this year they have!  The pink ones mean they are growing in alkaline soil.

 The more purple are growing in acidic soil.  Sometimes you see both on one plant.  They are a favorite of mine and I enjoy bringing them indoors as well.  I learned a new trick this year that makes them last quite a while indoors.  Take your cuttings early in the morning and place in water immediately.  When indoors make a fresh cut and put alum on the cut edge.  Then place them in your container.  I've had some of them to last over 3 weeks on our tables.

This method works well for Lace Cap hydrangeas as well.

My gardens are now suffering from lack of attention and severe heat.  I am very thankful for the rain we received over the last couple of days.  We always have hot and humid summers, but this one has been quite oppressive to this old lady gardener!  (Grayden wanted me to edit that, but he lives in a dream world with me)!

We have had so many bunnies in our yard this year.  They have enjoyed eating rudbeckia, purple coneflowers, larkspur and even hostas!  I'm so happy they like what I plant.  I was recently reading an article about eating more plants, so maybe we'll try those in our next salad.  Only kidding friends!  Stay cool and hydrated.

At Home with Nature

It's always exciting to view nature at home.  We live in a neighborhood, not out in the countryside, though that would be lovely. 

 Over the 50 years we have lived here we have added every plant that occupies our property, except the large trees that have grown greatly in those many years.  One of the oak trees that is quite close to our home had to have a limb removed several years ago.  This year we noticed a hole developing in this tree that our children used to call "the man in the brown suit."  Our children used to play soccer in our backyard and "the man in the brown suit" deflected many passes on their attempts to make a goal nearby.

We decided to have our tree surgeon take a look at this hole as one of our trees had a similar hole and we had to have it removed.  The tree surgeon used a ladder and took a look at it closely.  He said we needn't worry as this hole was shallow and should close up over the years.  So we are happy that "the man in the brown suit" can stay here at least for a few more years.

We were happy to see the eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly.  I spotted this beauty on an early morning during the first part of May.  I don't think I've ever spied one in the garden that early.

This butterfly is Virginia's state insect.  The poor thing looks as if it has had a run in with maybe a bird as its wing is damaged.  It stayed quite a while enjoying the nectar of the columbine.  I've not seen another since then.

Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal always enjoy the offerings at the feeder.  The poor Mrs. feels the same as I, too much rain lately!  She looks similar to me after taking our walk yesterday believing the weather radar map to be true.

I was so surprised when I looked out the dining room door and saw a flock of birds flying to the holly tree.  This holly was full of red berries that these birds were after.  After getting a better look, I discovered that they were cedar waxwings.  It's been years since we've seen them here.  

These beautiful birds come in by the hundreds and eat every berry in sight!  

It was hard to get a photo as they work fast eating all the fruit they can.

They can survive on "fruit only" for a few months unlike other birds.  Unfortunately cedar waxwings can eat too much ripe fruit and become intoxicated and pass away.

When the wing is being formed and many berries are eaten the red pigment turns the tip orange!

I was also treated to see another beauty at our feeder for only a few moments.

This rose-breasted grosbeak is a new sighting for me!  My photos don't do him justice.

According to my Field Guide of Birds this one appears to be a male.

Though we didn't hear his voice, it rises and falls similar to a robin's song.  Some say it has more feeling as if a robin has taken voice lessons.

I often think of Gladys Taber's quote:

"As long as you have a window, life is exciting."

Thanks for taking a look outside our windows!

Proud Moments

This past weekend marked the culmination of a lot of work for our dear grandson, Samuel.  I've talked about him a lot on this blog.  He has lived with us since he graduated from high school so he could attend college here.

The class of 2024 was led into the venue at Mary Ball Circle by the Eagle Pipe Band of UMW. 

Samuel graduated with a degree in English from the University of Mary Washington.  He has worked through all of the challenges that were presented him.  We couldn't be prouder!

Samuel's parents were so excited, especially his mother!  Our daughter Noel could hardly contain her excitement.  This day has been a long time coming.  Noel said this was the best Mother's Day gift ever.  I couldn't agree more!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined."  Henry David Thoreau

Needless to say, our joy couldn't be contained.  Thank you for sharing that joy with us!

New Sightings

 We all love seeing critters that are our first sightings, don't we?  I get so excited when a bird that is new to my yard makes an appearance.  Especially one that I thought only moved around at night!  Though he or she didn't stay for long, I managed to capture what I thought was a large hawk. Upon further observation and cropping in my photo,  I think we spotted an owl on the fence. 

 I was only able to take two photos from the dining room through the Florida room windows before he flew away.   So I apologize for the poor quality of the photo and the lack of a frontal view. Take notice of his head and the ears that look like a feline. Reading more about these owls I learned that though they prefer hunting at night but they will occasionally hunt during the day.   

Samuel reminded us that some folks call owls "flying cats."  I can really see the resemblance.  I do worry about our feathered friends when a mighty hunter visits.  Yesterday we had a very large hawk visit as well.  By the time I got to my camera he was off to find a meal somewhere else.  For that I was thankful!

After looking online for identification, I can only imagine this owl was a Great Horned Owl.  If any of you know different, I'd love to hear. 

When we were in Williamsburg we also saw a critter from our balcony.  There was a pond with a fountain that sounded so peaceful behind our unit.

 As you can imagine we enjoyed our tea and coffee and occasional meals on the balcony.  Grayden spotted a very large turtle swimming one afternoon.  Of course I had to take a picture the best I could from the third floor.

I cropped the photo in hopes of further identifying him.  I believe he is a Common Snapping Turtle.

The Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra Serpentina) is seen in fresh waters in the USA down to Florida and up to Nova Scotia and out to the Rocky Mountains. 

He was quite large and a great swimmer.  Upon further reading about him, I learned he is basically harmless in the water, but on land can be quite combative with his beak like jaws.  In the water he is more likely to hide in the sediment of his habitat if approached. 

Most Common Snapping Turtles weigh up to 22 pounds at maturity.  Though in captivity, where they are overfed, they can weigh much more - up to 75 pounds!

Have you ever seen a Common Snapping Turtle?  This is a first for me, though not in our backyard.

Also we observed a rather interesting sad couple of Canada Geese that lived near this same pond.  They appeared to be a happy couple, but upon further observation one had a wing problem. 

 

The other goose limped with each step as he ate from the grassy area.

These two geese stayed close together and seemed to watch out for each other.  They never flew from this area.  We can only surmise that they felt safe here together.  No other geese flew into the pond, though many flew above in the evenings.  It was like their own little hideaway.  At least that's what I'm hoping.  I do know injured animals are vulnerable to predators.  We did not go near them to see if they had a nest as we know better than to do that as they can get quite aggressive if they feel their nest is in danger.  

I do hope for the best as these two make their way in the coming days. 

 

"I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles." Anne Frank

 

Flowers Everywhere!

Hello friends, it's been a while since I've posted.  I do hope all is well with you.  This sweet little Eastern Bluebird visited us one morning.  

Life has been quite busy for us.  We've had a new roof installed and a new refrigerator delivered that took a whole month because of bad advice. Our old refrigerator was 28 years old so we really were happy for its long life.  We understand new appliances don't last as long now so here's hoping for the best with the new one.  Enough complaining as there is much to be happy about.  Seeing the American Goldfinch visit the feeder is always welcome. 

Spring is here in all of her glory.  I've said it before that it is almost an embarrassment of color all around us now!  In our garden the daffodils have bloomed, the dogwoods are blooming along with the azaleas, wisteria, and viburnum along with many plants in the perennial bed.  It's a great time for most of us if you can stand the enormous amount of pollen.  I have been sweeping up on the patio frequently and Grayden has been using the blower for that job as well.   The pollen from our oaks reminds me of tumbleweeds as the pollen gathers together.  When Spring blooms in Virginia it comes all at once! 

Instead of posting about our garden as I have done many times in the past, I decided to show you all the florals we recently viewed in Colonial Williamsburg the week of April 10-18.

We passed this field of yellow buttercups on our way to the Duke of Gloucester Street.  Do you know the little test of holding one under your chin tells whether you like butter or not?  If it glows, you like butter like I do!

I know that they are considered weeds, but I enjoy seeing them growing.  The bees and some birds eat them when food is scarce.  Unfortunately they are poisonous to livestock and cause blisters in their mouths if eaten.  Farmers do not like them in their fields for this reason.

Behind most homes in Colonial Williamsburg there are lovely gardens that one is welcome to visit.

 This garden was full of lovely tulips!  

Tulips were the queens of the gardens in Williamsburg during this week. They really don't like the very warm weather.  Luckily we were there to see them before the hot weather of Virginia begins.  The Blue Poppy was dancing in the wind as we continued on our walk.

The above two photos do not do justice to this lovely blue, yellow and white garden. 

This white rambling rose was quite spectacular growing on this picket fence. The honey bee agreed.

Though wisteria is on the invasive plant list it is quite beautiful growing on this fence with the Dogwood tree.  

In front of the home there is another lovely bed of tulips.

Grayden and I never tire visiting Colonial Williamsburg.  Thank you for visiting with us!