I took a walk..no,a trudge through the garden this morning
looking ..looking
I found berries and birds
squirrels and bare branches
but this little patch of snow made me smile
Ah, what a composition,
Mother Nature
Fall leaves fallen on snow
dead asters bowing
joy
I found joy this morning

Bunny prints
he must have found the fallen hawthorne berries
good for him

Beggar at my window

I love how squirrels pull their paws in when they are thinking
ever notice that?
This one for sure is sending me glares
and thoughts of his needs this cold and new -snow morning
I had to shovel my way out to put seed in the feeders for the birds
and for them, my pesky squirrels, who think I owe them
But the joy they bring me with their antics are worth it
I now have a new stray kitty that has been coming around for a bite
to eat .....Boo thinks it's wonderful his new friends at the door
and if my friend Mary hadn't rescued Boo..he'd be a feral cat
looking for food and shelter everyday himself
and living a horrible life full of dangers...
So thank you Mary for Boo
you saved a good one!

I know it was a miracle
an unexpected happenstance of nature
that three long earred owls landed
and stayed in my garden for two week
two years ago..but
I hold hope in my heart
that they will return
someday

I must guard myself from wishing for what will not be for a while
a garden filled with flowers and a warm breeze
For now I must enjoy the beauty I see
like snow gracing the branches of the white pines
and footprints in the snow
and the low hanging sunlight
shimmering against my wind chimes
and the birds
always the birds

Annebelle hygraneas

Ah... from the window.. the Annabelles
folded over in cold
touching snow
I saw bunny and kitty prints through them this morning
what a wonderful small discovery

Morning opens gently

I love when morning opens gently. Though it is cold outside and the snow has turned icy, the garden is alive with activity for my viewing pleasure. This little fellow and his cohorts have eaten just about every seed I have placed out for all the wards to partake of for survival. That is one thing about squirrels,they eat and eat.
A brave one came to the window and looked in....are you home?
Today I feel centered in my being and he simply amuses me. I drink my coffee slowly knowing shortly I will answer his pleas and place out some peanuts that he doesn't know that I have stashed away. 
It will be an empty day for doing nothing but puttering. A day to be savored with just myself.
 I like days like that. Not the same as puttering in the garden, but things need tidying up and tending to and weeding inside as well.  But for now let the sun pour in and make me glad.

nuthatch poem

 

Nuthatch

Quick,at the feeder,pausing

upside down,in its beak

a sunfower seed held tight

to glance by chestnut,dust blue,

white, an eye-streak

Gone in a blurred ripple

straight to the cedar branch

to the trunk to a crevice

in bark and putting it

in there, quick,with the others,

Then arrowing straight back

for just one more all morning.

-David Wagoner

This poet is an observer of the nuthatch, for sure.

Their curious behavior of grabbing a seed and stashing it is amusing to watch

Do they ever eat half of them?

Nature is funny that way..others do the work sometimes

But I'm certain it's all in the great plan of order

Today I delighted in watching a nuthatch

and thought of this poem...so well described

enjoy

wards of the garden

cold blowing snow
it's tough out here
shiver,feather tuck
no coos
hope she comes out
and scatters some seed
yesterday I hear she brought
a dog inside
and that darn stray cat
how's he rate a heated house
and water bowl?
At least we have each other

gift of helping

It was so cold and windy this morning that I didn't go outside to look around. But something appeared on my deck and began sniffing around the birdseed that had dropped. Boo, my little kitty, was the first to notice this poor creature. I saw Boo's tail fluff up and saw him halloween kitty across the floor. Oh dear, I called out to my husband...there's a dog on our deck and his nose is bleeding.
We put Boo away and opened the door and the dog came right in and ate all of Boo's food. The poor thing was limping and had his tail tucked so tightly. The police came and got him and took him to the shelter to try and locate his owners...old tags around his neck.
My my you never know how your day will begin. But I am happy to have saved this pooch from further freezing.
To be able to help an animal on my birthday was quite a gift from the universe...thanks God

winter color

Winter color
that's what they call it
remains of grasses and evergreens
The only things that break up the bleakness of deep winter
We are not there yet, but I heard this morning that Minnesota has 18 inches already..we may get 6-8 inches ourselves tonight
Galena probably will get hit hard too....and we are going to miss that glorious feeling of being stranded in wonderland :(
But for now I must enjoy what is before me.
I fed the 7 squirrels that were in trees in my yard
Filled the feeders as the chicadees were complaining
and I made sure that the water was still heated in the birdbath
Oh what I do for my charges....my husband does not get it
That's why I blog...you all get it!
and I love you for it!

Was that a robin?

Oh my goodness,yesterday on my way out I thought I heard the chirp of a robin.
I've heard that some do winter over here in Illinois...but I think that is very rare.
I presume the one I heard was just a lazy, silly, procrastinating, daffy bird.
Our winters can be very brutal with frigid weather..and the snow can be deep,heavy and everlasting.
So I think most, if not all songbirds hightail it to warmer climates.
Yes, it was a robin. I spotted him on top of the hawthorn trees...munching away on those glorious cheery berries.
I hope he gets going soon.
But I have to confess that hearing his chirp made my heartbeat bounce.
In spring it is what I wait for...the song of the robins. This one was not singing, only chirping..that short sharp chirp. I think it is an announcing chirp...food...or danger.
Lucky for this fellow the mountain ash berries have not all been harvested. They are covered in snow a bit, he'll have to work for his supper. But I am happy that I planted so many food sources for birds. Berries everywhere. Most are gone now, but I can see a few dried up ones here and there.
It is my wish that he move on.
Like a good mother who's heart is breaking to see them leave, I whisper....go child bird....go

The merriment has started
The first snow stirred the feelings
for Christmas and all its glory
A home on the inside
that from the outside looks warm
and inviting as the garden did in the summer
Let things bloom inside
in shades of reds,green,gold and silver
and leave out a tray of goodies
for our wards outside
who from our windows delight
us with their presense through
the short days and long nights ahead

Too bad a branch suddenly let go and dumped snow
on me and my camera...clouding my lens
But Oh Joy!
I wish you could hear the honking going on above me
the Canada geese were going nuts honking and flying
it was pure JOY listening
pure joy
..I'm gettting alot of that lately
how about you?
The snow this morning was of the pretty kind
fairy land...but heavy
I was like a kid rushing out this morning to walk in it
oh Seasons...Now I remember why I like them
summer who?
ps..do you see the goose in the photo!!

 Annabelle

you will hold your beauty throughout the winter

your dried petal hands reaching out for snow

and I will gaze upon you from the kitchen window

  sing your winter praises high and low

 

His Handsomeness

Oh dear

Who was there first?
I am happy to report that I didn't find a single feather,
however I did find a sleeping kitty in the outside heated house
It's almost winter..and he knows I'm a sucker
for stray cats...especially his Handsomeness

love affair with red

 You must plant it to enjoy it

and I am grateful that I did

For on days like this

those red hawthorne berries outside the window

have cheered my weary cold being

as I stir around the house

wishing and planning what I'll do

in the garden next year

Oak Leaf Hygrangea

Still a thing of wonder and beauty
passed its prime
lines,wrinkles and veins
like this face of mine