Saturday, January 31, 2009

Fe Fie Fo Fum...

We were leaving yesterday and I happened to look at the roof. What was that??? There were tracks on our roof. What, or who in the world was on our roof traipsing around?? I don't think it was the crow that i sitting in the tree in the back garden.Upon further investigation we can see right where they hop onto the roof.
Yes, all tracks seem to fan out from here.
I believe we know who the culprits are.
I hope you are all having a nice weekend.
After I posted my DB decided to get a couple of pictures to add to the one I had. You can see there are several of these rascals about the garden. Cute but they can be destructive.


Friday, January 30, 2009

Skywatch Friday

When we went to the park today for our daily walk that hasn't happened in the past couple of days we saw the sun trying to peek out from the clouds. A hopeful sign. We need the sun to melt off the ice on the roads. The park had nearly pristine snow as the city hasn't had time to plow the roads through it. We were the only ones there. Aaahhh, quiet.
Back at home this is how I saw the sun.
I tried for a picture without me in it. Difficult to do. Happy Weekend to everyone. For more skywatching go here.







Thursday, January 29, 2009

Snow Caps and Snow Visitors

Some people have lovely snowcapped mountains to look at. Here in the flat lands we get excited when our flower heads from summer are snowcapped.
On this one you can see the layer of ice that was first deposited on the sedum head.
We had so many visitors to the feeders today that it inspired my DB to get the camera out. This male Cardinal looks so pretty sitting on the ice covered branch munching a seed. In the background you can see a male House Finch. He can't quite compare with a cardinal even though he is sporting a nice rosey red.
While the female House finch isn't a particularly beautiful bird I think this photo is a good capture of the little lady. She looks quite demure sitting there in the sun waiting for her turn at the feeders.I thought this was an interesting angel of the juvenile White-crowned sparrow. It is looking around for just the right seed to descend upon. I wonder when his crown will turn white.
The most unusual feeder birds we had today were two Crows. They rarely come into our garden. It just shows how desperate they poor things were for some food.They were eating sunflower seeds. I put some yeast rolls out for them. I didn't know just what to put out for them. I could tell they were appreciative because they ate the rolls then took off to look for something more.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Snow Again

Today we woke to even more snow than we got yesterday. This is what we got on top of yesterdays 5 inches of snow and one inch of ice.
This is the second go round of trying to get our driveway cleared in case we need to get out. We cleared it yesterday and then more snow and ice arrived. There is a State of Emergency called for in our city. You aren't supposed to get out unless you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle. We don't have 4-wheel drive so we will stay in for the day.
But yes I do get out and help shovel off the drive. As you can see we are only getting down to the ice. It will hopefully melt off with the sun coming out today. I wonder how long the sun will last.
Early this a.m. my DB shoveled out to the bird feeders and chunked away some of the ice so the birds could find some nourishment.
Yesterday Lincoln looked more like a bear.
Today he looks more like a Snowy Owl.Luna was sort of excited about the snow yesterday. With just one layer on the ground she could still get around farily easy.
Today my little Snow Princess looks disgusted with it all. She seems to be saying "Aww Dad do you have to take my picture again. Can we go in now?"
Even the knot garden is looking a little lumpy today. The globe is barely showing. Yes, we had some snow.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Chicago Spring Fling

If your area is like mine, or worse even, all snow covered and you are sitting there waiting for more snow, six inchs they say for us tonight, well, you can have much more fun planning your trip to Chicago this spring. The Spring Fling will be May 29-31. You can go to the Chicago Gardeners Blog and get all the wonderful details. I hope to be there to meet all the garden bloggers that can make it.

Chicago, like Austin where they had the first Spring Fling, has wonderful garden centers, nurseries, Mortens Arboretum and private gardens of our dear blogging friends. Yes, there will some great places to see and experience. I hope to see you there.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Stranded on a Desert Island

Shirl over at Shirl's Garden Watch has asked us to choose three plants that you would take to a desert island if you were so lucky as to have to go there and post about them today.

This became a difficult task for me. I don't think I would want to leave any plant behind. I wrestled with the thought and have decided that the first plant I would take would be the Butterfly Bush. If I were on a desert island I would like to watch and study the butterflies that were on that island and this plant is a sure magnet for butterflies. The second plant would be the hibiscus. Not only are they colorful but they attract hummingbirds and many islands have beautiful hummingbirds and I wouldn't want to miss any of them.
My third plant would be the peony. Not only does it smell marvelous but it reminds me of home, relatives that are near and dear to me and no matter where I go I would like a memento of home.

I can't wait to see what all everyone posts for their garden island adventure.



Sunday, January 18, 2009

Out of the Garden

This week we have had about all the weather you could have during winter. It was so cold earlier that there were icebergs floating down the Wabash River. I have lived here for 15 years and this is the first time I have seen this phenom.
This morning we got a good dusting of snow. I couldn't wait to get out in it for our daily walk. Of course our little polar bear couldn't wait to get out either. My DB took a picture of Luna and I as we traipsed through the area called Coopers Woods. We were looking for winter wren but we didn't find one. You know you have been cooped up too long when you start making foot prints in the snow to entertain yourself. The snow didn't last since it got so warm. You know we have had a cold winter when freezing is considered warm.
While we were out this weekend we did find some more interesting things to look at. Such as this huge gathering of Canada Geese loafing on the frozen lake nearby. Mixed in with the Canadas were Greater White-fronted Geese and various ducks.
On the gravel pit at the edge of town we found two Tundra Swans. They are the big white birds in the fuzzy photo below. They were pretty far out from the bank hence the fuzzy photo.
Near another area where we birded this weekend we came upon this sight. One of those small donkeys that people are keeping as pets around here. It, this big brown cow and a smaller black cow had obviously escaped from their pasture.
The big brown cow must have been the leader of this herd because when we drove up closer to get better photos it took off for the main pasture and the other two followed. I have seen several of these beautiful donkies around the area. I think they have such a sweet face.

I hope you all had a fun, relaxing weekend.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Skywatch Friday

For the first time in many days we have beautiful sunlit skies. Just a few white whispy clouds. It looks wonderful to me. The sunshine makes those -2 to 16F temps more bearable.
Happy Sky Watch Friday to you all. For more skies to watch go here.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - January 2009

What with us in the deep freeze with single digit temps here at mid day I can only say I don't have any blooms. I was inspired by a quote in the notebook that I am using right now. This quote is by Henry Ward Beecher. He inspired me to go into the way back files and dig out some photos of blooms that I could use to illustrate this enchanting quote.



"What a pity flowers can utter no sound!



A singing rose,


















a whispering violet,





a murmuring honeysuckle-oh, what a rare and exquisite miracle would these be!"


And isn't it funny that after you find one quote you like by an author you see several more not long after. I hope you read inspiring quotes during these freezing days while you have visions of singing, whispering, murmuring blooms in your head if not in your garden.


For more blooms go to Carol's May Dreams Garden.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Out of the Garden 1-11-09

This morning as we were heading toward our birding destination I could tell that we were going to have a good day of birding because as you can see there was a break in the clouds and the sun was shining. The Sun was playing peek a boo through the clouds all day.My Dearly Beloved took all of the following photos. I want to thank him for sharing these with us.

Driving through Saunders Woods on our way to the power plant area we were delighted to see a Barred Owl sitting not too far off the road. He gave us the evil eye before he took off for a quiet place to rest for the day.
Standing sentinel as we entered the power plant area was a dapper Great Blue Heron. He is beginning to sport his breeding plummage as you can see the feathers out the back of his head and the feathers on his chest blowing in the wind that kept it cold today despite the sun.
We came upon this American Kesteral with his breakfast. He must have been hungry to allow us to get close enough to take his picture. Normally they fly when you get very close at all.He went on with his meal as we didn't want to disturb him.
Another great look was give to us by a male Common Goldeneye. They are such beautiful ducks. We usually don't get this close to them either. He was another hungy soul. Now you see him... bloop, now you don't. They are diving ducks and he went under all the way. DB caught him mid dive. Toward the end of our birding day we drove by the Bald Eagles nest. We knew there was something there because another car was stopped in the road near by. Sure enough there was a pair of adult Bald Eagles sitting side by side near the nest. This is a sight you usually only see during mating season. They pair up and remodel the nest together while bonding.
This was such a great way to end the day, the weekend. I hope you all had a great weekend and are well rested.

New Blogger, Old Blogger

     All I can say it is difficult to deal with change. This new Blogger format is not as user friendly in my opinion. I guess I will get us...