Serendipity

Red cardinal I learn something new daily about the birds that come to the tree with the bird feeder just off our back deck. Each day, I see a new species of bird, or instead of seeing one or two of a specific species, they are now coming in pairs, sometime two pairs at a time. Each day, before going out the back sliding door to the deck, I check to see what might be at the feeder...and yesterday morning, I was very pleased to see that a red cardinal had come. I managed several photos through the window of the back door, so that they do appear somewhat grainy...for that I apologize! The cardinal stayed for some time, allowing me to get several different shots of him, and there were times I actually wondered if he knew I was in the window. Some of the birds are very skittish, but I have noticed that over the last week or so, they tolerate my presence on the deck more and more, and don't seem to mind any movements by me. At this point, I think the cardinal was scop...

the new bird feeder My mom always told me that patience was a virtue, but she never told me how rewarding patience could be! Last week, I decided to purchase my first (of many!) bird feeders (one was also a hummingbird feeder, which will eventually also become a seperate blog entry) for here where I live now, filled it with seed, dried berries and other 'treats' and placed it in a tree just off our back deck. It took me three tries to get it located where I could sit and watch the feeder clearly and be able to photograph the birds as they came to visit and eat. (I also threw some seed on the ground around the tree to entice them...then I waited...) I was rewarded about 2 days later as the birds began to discover the bird seed on the ground and then in feeder. At first, the only birds that happened-by, were chickadees, and sparrows. Day before yesterday, a mourning dove showed-up and although it didn't visit the feeder, it did eat the seeds on the ground. What was...

Little nubs of growth...3/18/12 As I mentioned in my previous blog: Taking the time , I have spending a lot of time getting back to things that I love...watching the world  change  outside my door as Spring settles in. I have not been more thoroughly fascinated in anything for some time as really "seeing" the moods of the skies, the various birds that flit about, and even photographically documenting the growth of a patch of rhubarb that is growing just off the back porch. It may sound like a rather nutty thing to do, but I can only say that all of this...right down to watching the rhubarb change day-to-day/week-to-week has given me a wonderful sense of peace and even gratitude for being able TO see everything around me! What follows are photos of the changes as the rhubarb develops and the leaves unfold. I have never noticed the beauty of these leaves before...and I hope that they will amaze you as well!  Enjoy! In just two days time, the nubs in the top ph...