Red, White and Blue

In this valley stands true.

Before The Storms

birds gathered to dine.

Soon they were squabbling

This should never happen!

Feathers were ruffled

but they decided to put their best foot forward,

to simply be together not the same.

Linda Kay and Wednesday's Wit and Wisdom

The Junk Feeders

You have met these

and the bird vote is in.  They are a success.  Of course the birds aren't very picky and will eat on the ground and from dog food bowls. 

 In fact, there are a few dog food connoisseurs in our bird flock.

Remember this piece, crooked on a stick?

I added this

Bird inspected.

Bird tested.

Bird approved.

Playing With An Idea

about turning a light cover and a hub cap into a bird feeder.

Some feathered friends became very curious

sampling the dog food and the orange.

I believe this one was admiring his image.

Word spread

Now I need to decide how to make it straight and functional.

Linking with Saturday's Critters

Changes

had every critter scrambling to get a meal before the weather worsened.  The valley was full of crows but they are more alert than me.  Not one picture was good.

The Cardinals were busy gathering nuts in December

Lots of activity in the old pecan tree

and the rain began to fall

Birds blended easily

and this guy decided to hide

Want to know the weather?

Just watch the animals and they'll tell.

Eclectic

is the best word ever.  I now have a style!  I like the odd things and now instead of someone saying, "Her style is a little crazy.  Bless her heart",  I can be eclectic and all is forgiven.

Here is a barbed wire wreath with a tree knot.

A barbed wire "nest" with rusty pliers "birds"

My bone tree

with bird feeder.

Perfect for the upcoming holiday.

A experimental solution

for a trash bag in your car.

The grocery bags fit perfectly inside, 

and are fastened on each side over buttons.

The white part is elastic and the entire bag is washable.

.

I will fine tune my idea with color coordination

and different shapes..

Not bad for the first prototype.

This may be adjusted for a glove box trash container.

Scary?

Happy Halloween!

2560...

is the total number of posts I haven't deleted since I began blogging.  

That's a lot of words.

Here are birds

through

Marcy's door.

Barn Swallow

The nests are gone
Go away
With your scissor tail
You can not build
A nest here

They flit
Swoop
And chatter
Like many in life
They build again
And again.

Trekking...

Monday I walked into the snow and mud.  I wanted to remember the last day I explored in 2012.  I needed to reconnect with the land.

I saw beauty in  frozen sand as the rain washed a path through snow.

I captured diamonds in the cedars

and rejoiced that my Lizzy was happy At The Farm.

I visited a frozen pond hidden among the pines.

I reached the highest point on our acreage and enjoyed the view while it gently rained melting much of the remaining snow.  I heard the high-pitched yip that Junior voices when he's on the trail of a rabbit. 

The Bald Eagles weren't around or they had flown away with the first sound of our approach.  A Blue Heron took flight from the pond too fast for my camera or me to see well.  The crows cawed telling the world I and the dogs were here.  

Bird song filled the air but the dog pack had them uneasy so they stayed high and safe from the marauding bunch that traveled with me.

I had lost track of time.  I headed down  to the valley that has cradled our family for five generations.  It felt good to be home again.

Why I'm Never Bored...

At lunch time today I watched some ants take apart a caterpillar and haul him off to their nest.  Amazing how strong and industrious these little guys are.  I wish I had a crew At The Farm that worked as hard as ants do.

That is the way my sisters and I were raised...to work hard.  I only told Mom one time, I had nothing to do.  She broke me from ever saying that again.  I was given enough chores besides my regular chores I needed an army of ants to help me.  I did learn my lesson and I am never bored. No matter where I am or what I'm doing boredom never hits me.  Because I see things a little differently.  I notice what's around me and enjoy the beauty of all of it.  If they put me in a padded room I would know the thread count by evening.

Why am I talking about boredom?  I filed my retirement papers today or rather mailed them today.  People ask me, What will you do?  That question always amazes me because I will have time, maybe, to look at fossils rocks and ants.

I will take the time to look at the birds

instead of scurrying off to work.

Maybe I will have time to paint, read, write, build fences, clear brush, clean house like it should be, play with the dogs, count the cows, catch fish and just look at all the things around.  I may even make some time for real fun like going to the lake or the river. 

Going to work gets in my way of being able to see the beauty, small and large, that is around me.  Maybe I can find time to sit on the porch with my iced tea just for a minute or two.

Now, if I can just win the lotto I will be sitting pretty!

Through My Window...

The birds decorated the trees.