Sharp-dressed man

Top coat, Top Hat.....I don't worry cause my wallets fat......just a little ZZ Top in case you didn't know.....and this post title is due to THIS post over at The Run 'A' Round Ranch.....I saw her post and immediately thought of the cardinal and how perfect the title would be....
However I had to resort to the snow photo above because the one I had taken the other day does not shot his 'top hat' to perfection.
Plus if you enlarge it, you will see that he is losing some of his feathers. But he is still a gorgeous bird, no matter what.
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Before I left home, in the winter we always fed the birds. No, we didn't buy birdseed. I am not even sure if I had ever seen birdseed to buy. And I for sure didn't know anyone that did.

We took a milk jug and cut windows in the sides, leaving the bottom at least two or three inches deep, and would use a string to tie the handle to this trellis mom had at the end of the porch....plus someone, not me, would make some kind of flat 'tray' to nail to the top of a fence post.

We would crumble up leftover cornbread as the main food, and I know we used other stuff but I cannot remember what else unless it was corn. And the birds would just flock to both....there would be cardinals in abundance. I can remember seeing 9 or 10 male cardinals at the same time. Plus there would be different sparrows, chickadees, tufted titmice, and probably wrens, though in all honesty I can't think for sure. But being that they were there all the other time, they just about had to be there then. Mom would also save leftover fats and make a suet for them...

Then come spring/early summer, when we were no longer feeding them...the cardinal would suddenly appear on the fence post, flitting his tail and almost like he was scolding us. We took that as a sign he wanted food for babies...so I would crumble a little cornbread on the post. Here he would come, grab a piece and take off back to the cedar thicket. We never tried to follow, so did not know for sure if they did have babies, but always felt like they did.

Feathered friends for supper....

These are just a few of the little feathered friends that have been stopping by for a bite to eat...I know the above is a woodpecker, but what type he is I don't know. I really need to study the little woodpeckers and the sparrows.
I am not sure if the above is a purple finch or a house finch...whichever it is, I like seeing them.
This here is the titmouse. Another visitor I am always glad to see.
And of course the nuthatch...we always have some of the above birds with a few more that I did not stand out there long enough to capture. We have the chickadees, the cardinals, red-bellied woodpecker...oh, and the juncos. Plus all the other sparrows. They have been flocking to our feeders...most all coming in in one big swoop, with a few stragglers following behind. I think there has to be at least 50 of them. I have never had them so thick.

Then, I have been having the wren regularly...I only see one at a time, so don't know if it is single or I just haven't looked at the right time to see the two of them. And, I had three big blue jays out there at the same time. We used to have lots of blue jays all through the summer...but the past few years, we only see one occasionally. I don't know what has changed for them to just not show up at all, and now to see them at the feeders was surprising.

One afternoon we came home...can't remember where we had been, but it was as if someone had dumped the feeder on the ground. I wondered had two or three blue jays landed on one side, but the next day the crows were out here so I sort of figured they were the culprit.

I only have two little squirrels that are coming, and I have not seen one of them attempt to get up to the food....plus even if they did, they are only a bit over half grown. Or else really small. They are not big as Mama Squirrel and she never did tip the feeder when she was getting into it.

Well, that is my bird report for now....maybe I will have success later with some of the other visitors we have.

Fence posts are for perching....

I just thought I would show another Dickcissel--again singing his heart out.
The Goldfinches have also started out at the strip pits...they are more intent on working on the thistle seeds than in singing. Not the greatest photo, but not horrible either.
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I am not sure how much blogging I will get done in the next few days...I have photos scheduled for Time Stand Still, but have not got anything scheduled ahead for her. I am hoping I at least get time to post but not positive that I will.

Gray, a beautiful color

I like the color gray, but had never really thought of it as beautiful. However, the more I watch the birds...the more I classify as beautiful.
These were taken at Turkey Run State Park...
I have these kinds of birds at home, but have yet to get shots even as good as these. And these were taken through dirty windows.
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Lorelei and her mommy came up today....I taught her a new habit. I have a basket that has handholds--not a handle. I set her in it and took her for rides. She liked it. I have a feeling I might regret doing it if I don't find something else to distract her. She went to it two or three times after I did it the first time and got in it...

So, I had her in tears right before she went home....
I was giving her one last diaper change before she left, and she started her version of the E-I-E-I-O from Old McDonald Had a Farm...it is something we all sing back and forth to each other. Just the ee-i-ee-i-o part...so when she started she looked to me to take my turn at it. So, I did...only I sung the ee-i-ee-i part in a normal or slightly high voice...then I would lower the tone of my voice and say (almost shout) it while getting her belly. She laughed so hard and had me do it over and over...she honestly had tears rolling down the side of her face from laughing so hard.

I have never seen a child that young have tears of laughter, and I know I say this all the time but I have never seen a kid of any age just look for something to laugh at as much as she does. She has been that way from so young.

Goldfinch

This was taken out at the strip pits today...I did not know that Queen Anne's Lace had anything for a goldfinch, but this one was on top of a dried flower eating the seed I suppose. He sure is a bright little fellow, but Roger seen him first and it took me forever to actually spot him.

Introducing the Eastern Kingbird

This is the Eastern Kingbird....seen out at the strip pit area. I don't see them here in town, but I always seen them out at the orchard, often on the power lines.
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As you may recall, I planned to babysit Lorelei today. Well, she came, but her mom did not go to work. She stayed here with us, and we worked on getting her used to a bottle. She fought it every time....cried her heart out. So hard to see those big old tears in her eyes, hard for me knowing how hard it is on Sarah. It is probably harder on Sarah than anyone.

But oh, is she a joy to be around. She tries so hard to talk part of the time. She went to sleep in my lap, and I just sat and rocked with her. She woke herself up laughing! She started out with what would be a giggle for us, and then opened up and laughed out loud. Just smiling and laughing. I would love to know what she is thinking/dreaming about to do that at this age.

More scenes from my chair

Even though we got snow today, I ended up just staying home. And to be honest, I didn't do much here except fix our meals and do dishes. I did try to capture some of the birds though. The geese above were taken yesterday and today...and this is just a small portion of what I noticed. Every time I glanced out, or was outside I seen/heard geese.
How do you like my thing to hang the bird feeders on? I wanted one a little bit taller than normal so Roger took rebar and a long length of pipe and designed this for me. I am 5'3" tall and I will need a step stool to get the feeders down to fill them. At least one of the cats cannot jump up and nab a bird.
The cardinals were here today--in all the snow.
Doesn't he look cold?
We got done with the baby's room just in time...I have yet to take any pictures. It will probably not be what you expect, thought it is really pretty. But I don't think my camera can capture the true color of it.

This coming weekend my other daughter moves to her own apartment...and guess what? We have snow--a winter storm warning is in effect. And it is worse the farther south you go. Last night when the news was on, Terre Haute had 2 inches of snow and up here about 20 minutes north, we only had a skim.

Tonight, when Rachel was heading home, she called to tell me she was leaving the gym. She thought they had maybe 3-4 inches of snow, and at the most we have 2 inches. But more is coming tonight and tomorrow. And I think there is a chance of snow Thursday and Friday, also.