I caught this cute little Downy Woodpecker hopping along the deck railing heading for the feeder while taking turns with the others late yesterday afternoon.
The “music” in my backyard is something I cannot even describe to you.
Nothing soothes my soul – especially after a hectic work day or times of stress – like the music of nature in my backyard.
So… While watching the motion and listening to the sounds…
Well Mama Cardinal finished shaking her tail feathers and building her nest, and is now growing her family!
Check out this little video that I cannot believe we captured:
And look what is in the nest now!
Houston – We have Eggs. Cardinal Eggs.
And an Early Bird Bird’s Eye View from our bedroom window. Can you believe it?!
So it looks like our sweet new neighbor’s family is growing…
And I hope to keep you updated. Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to capture some video or photos of the little hatched baby cardinals as they fledge?!
Oh the anticipation! Stay tuned.
And speaking of birds, I must share with you a beautifully-created artistic piece by one of my blogger friends, Jill from Jill’s Art Journal.
Jill and some others have made a pact and commitment to draw/create/paint and then post a new bird every day for a year.
And WOW, you wouldn’t believe how fun and exciting she makes it!
I fell instantly and totally in love with one of her drawings – a whimsical bird named Curly.
And I shamelessly begged to have it.
Jill was so very kind to oblige and send her to me! So all the way from the other side of the U.S. from Spokane, WA, Curly arrived this weekend in her full glory! Could you just die how cute she is?!?! Somehow, I feel she is a portrait of me. 🙂  Don’t ask me why?!
And not only did Jill send me the adorable Curly, but she put a sweet note in the package and added this beautiful handmade bookmark that featured a bird on one side….
… and a “Home Sweet Home” sentiment on the other side that Jill said she thought was just perfect for me! How sweet is that?!?!
Thank you so much, Jill! I am beyond thrilled and grateful.
And peeps, I so encourage you to check out her blog: Jill’s Art Journal. You will so enjoy her daily postings and her wildly creative talent!
So I’ll be on cardinal nest watch “in between” everything else going on around here.
Hope you are having as much fun…. at life in between. 🙂
Momma Cardinal has been working for days right outside of our bedroom window in the rhododendron bush building this beautiful new home.
It is sure to add value to the neighborhood! Don’t you think?
I have never been more fascinated watching such diligence and perseverance as she flies in one tiny stick at a time, places it on the pile, then shakes her tail feathers to form the “cup” shape.
The new home has been under construction for about three days now. I cannot believe our good fortune to have such a view of this little miracle of nature. I can’t wait to see the eggs and then baby cardinals! Can you imagine how awesome that will be to watch!?!
According to Wikipedia, cardinals mate for life and stay together year-round. Isn’t that romantic?! Mated pairs sometimes sing together before nesting. During courtship they may also participate in a bonding behavior where the male collects food and brings it to the female, feeding her beak-to-beak. If the mating is successful, this mate-feeding may continue throughout the period of incubation.
The nest typically takes three to nine days to build, and cardinals do not usually use their nests more than once. The eggs are laid one to six days following the completion of the nest. Three or four eggs are laid in each clutch. The female generally incubates the eggs, which takes 12 to 13 days. And then, the young cardinals fledge 10 to 11 days after hatching.
Camera and tripod are set up, and I’ve taken about 50 kabillion photos already.
I love this one of her shakin’ her little tail feathers and looking at me while she prepares to nest.
I’ve spent too much of my life trying to be like the rest.
Trying to fit in
with the right look, the right clothes,
and the right way to be.
Trying to please the wrong people,
worrying what they would think
if I do my own thing
if I choose to be me.
I now choose each day
to stand tall and stand proud.
Embrace that I am me
And that is okay to be.
Like the crisp, clear white crocus
amidst bright yellows and rich purples.
Reaching and stretching…
and standing out in the crowd.
Mikey and I headed out for a lunchtime walk yesterday when the clouds cleared briefly on a gray, rainy day. I took my camera along intent on capturing a clump of purple crocuses that had caught my eye on a recent drive by a nearby church. But once I got close, what stood out amongst the rest was this crisp, clean, pearly white one – so unique amongst the others. And that is what inspired this “poem.”Â
When I was younger, I laughed at my grandma, in-laws and later even my hubby, who is four years older (and dang it – I hate to admit – wiser!), when they would get so excited watching, feeding, and identifying birds.
And then guess what happened?
Yep – you guessed it! Â I became fascinated with watching, feeding, and identifying birds…. (and add PHOTOGRAPHING to that too!)
A true sign of “maturity.” (the positive way of wording the reality of getting OLD!)
And now our kids laugh at us… Hmmfff! Some day their kids will laugh at them.
This pair of Mourning Doves, which I’ve come to learn are also referred to as Turtle Doves, made me think of the beloved Christmas Song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” (hence my clever and witty post title – – tell me you got it and are singing along too?!??!!!)
They make a beautiful cooing noise and are so sweet. This is one of the larger birds that come to the feeder on our deck, and they are like the gentle giants.  I think this pair is husband and wife.  🙂  I am fascinated with how the birds really pair up. The cardinal male and female are almost constantly together.
If three french hens come to the feeders, I’ll be sure to share.
Yesterday was Spring Ahead day for the annual Daylight Savings Time (DST) change ritual. For those clocks that don’t adjust automatically, we advanced them ahead one hour when we went to bed Saturday night (or Sunday morning for those we forgot).
So now for days, people will be saying, “It’s 5:00, but it really feels like 4:00.” People (including me) will have a harder time getting out of bed for work in the morning all week. Some (including me) will stay up later, because our bodies don’t feel like it is 11:00 pm like is was last week. Babies will be all off schedule. People will be late for work, sleepy during early meetings, and maybe a little grumpy…  But the same ones will be delighted to drive home in daylight and have what feels like a longer day.
Basically, we will all be screwed up for a while.
But we will eventually adjust.
The BEST part about yesterday’s Spring Ahead day (at least here in Mars) was it really felt like Spring! On my morning walk with Mikey, the birds were chirping, the air had a fresh smell to it, joggers were out, everyone had a new “spring” in their step, and the day reached near 50 degrees F! That’s about 50 degrees higher than it has been in the past few weeks!
I put all my snowie winter decorations away, and brought out some Springy decor.
And after dinner, in my BARE feet on the sun-warmed deck, I found a little bit of snow in the corner and made an itty bitty snowman and placed it on the railing. He had black jelly bean eyes and a mini carrot nose. He didn’t last long…
I think this may be the end of the snow for this season. It is melting fast! You can hear the water rushing through the downspouts and the driveway that was a sheet of ice when I headed out on my walk, had muddy puddles on my way back an hour later.
Spring is on it’s way!
Do you have a hard time adjusting to Daylight Savings Time? Do we even need to be changing the clocks ahead and back any more?
Whatever the case, I hope you are enjoying whatever season you are in right now – of weather – and of life.
I was talking with a friend yesterday who asked how I was doing.  You know… just the usual small talk.
She commented, “I’ll bet you wish you were back in Florida with your friend in the warmth.”
And yes – I do wish I was back there, especially with my dear friend. And especially because our high temperatures have barely reached double digits for the past two weeks let alone get above freezing….
Yet, as I explained to my friend, if it weren’t for these bone-chilling temps, I’m not sure I would appreciate the warmth of Spring and Summer or trips to Florida as much….
I truly love the beauty of the four distinct seasons we are fortunate to experience in my part of the world – life here in Mars. It always amazes me that our yard can look so differently in the different seasons, and the snow and ice I tromp through in the Winter to get to the mailbox is the same yard I lay in and walk through in bare feet in the Summer and pile leaves on in Autumn and watch life burst through in Spring.
And though the temperature was a mere 9 degrees F yesterday, the sky was a deep azure blue and the sun was shining so brightly and reflecting on the snow that I needed sunglasses.
It was melting the icicles on the back of our house, and they were glistening and sparkling like bright diamond shards against the clear sky. And the crystal droplets created a beautiful sheet of frozen iridescent ice bubbles on the deck beneath.
Through the lens of my camera, there is so much beauty to be found.
Thanks for the reminder, Lori, and your continued support and friendship.   🙂
the creative life in between 