Shadows

Monday was Groundhog's Day, and the weather here was balmy and beautiful. The woodchuck could certainly have seen his shadow, had he been up, but unlike those people in Punxsutawney, we chose to let him sleep.

There are plenty of other creatures around here who are awake already. The Flicker, wearing a heart on her back, cast a shadow, but she was more interested in the dogwood berries she was mining from the grass. Yum!

The day was sunny enough; the red squirrel would have noticed her shadow if she'd been looking in the right direction, but looking for nuts and watching her back were far more important.

It's a silly tradition, after all, one we've heard since grade school, that if a groundhog sees its shadow that day, there will be six more weeks of winter. But it speaks to our longing for spring, and the warmth and light that come with it. I have a bit of a conflict this year, because the only snow we've seen so far sprinkled over the ground like powdered sugar on a Weight Watcher's cake. And I love snow.

Snowdrops are blooming, and those small white blossoms are always a welcome sight, reminding us that no matter how long it takes for spring to get here, it will surely arrive. They call to mind the promise God made long ago:

As long as the earth endures,

seedtime and harvest, 

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

day and night

will never cease.

Genesis 8:22

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

and Saturday's Critters

10 Reasons to Celebrate 2014

1. Capers

2. Spring

3. Friends

4. Summer Mornings

5. Surprises

6. Dreams

7. Miracles

8. Treasures

9. Autumn

10. Provisions

You crown the year with Your bounty,

and Your carts overflow with abundance.

Psalm 65:11

Linking with Saturday's Critters


If you see word verification, please disregard it.
It is turned OFF.

Feathered Feast

Thanksgiving is behind us, and the company's gone; 

the patter of little feet and squeals of delight are only a happy memory.

Our Thanksgiving meal was a little different than the traditional feast, but not unlike what the first pilgrims ate; 

we had venison, potatoes and rhubarb pie.  

History may not record whether or not they had rhubarb pie at that first Thanksgiving, 

but if they didn't, they should have.  It's our favorite.

There's a belated Thanksgiving feast going on in the old dogwood tree outside our window.  

A flicker came early, dressed in his black polkadots and bow tie, 

the bright red heart on the back of his neck matching the berries he came to eat.

Cedar waxwings arrived in small groups, the tips of their tails freshly dipped in red and yellow wax.

This celebration doesn't happen every year.  

Often, the squirrels strip the berries before the birds consider them ripe enough to eat.  

But this year, there's a bumper crop of acorns, 

and the squirrels are far too occupied with their favorite nuts to dine on dogwood berries.

When the biggest bird on the block, the pileated woodpecker, dropped by, the other birds scattered.

 He didn't stay long, but picked up his carry out and flew away.

Just one more bite of those sweet morsels and the bluebird flew away, too.  

I expect they'll all be back; there's plenty of berries left on the tree.

When opportunity knocks, you'd better open your beak.

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

Mrs. Squirrel Strikes a Pose

This red squirrel is a frequent visitor to our birdbath.  

She seemed quite friendly when she first came, 

but after being scolded repeatedly for stealing from the bird feeder, she's much more wary.

If only we could have her for a friend without having to feed her.

Caper

This one was pulled off in broad daylight.

One of our resident red squirrels had his head inside the bird feeder when we first saw him.

He had gone to a lot of trouble to pull off this larceny.

He climbed a 12 foot "squirrel-proof" pole,

negotiated two "squirrel-proof" baffles,

twisted off a "squirrel-proof" lid,

and helped himself to a treasure trove of sunflower seeds.

Ever watch a caper movie and find your self rooting for the thief?

We watched this creature with a certain grudging admiration

while he cleaned out the vault and dismounted.

Now there's one more obstacle on the feeder lid,

and we'd like to think that's the end of the story.

What are the chances?

Ok, there's not a bird here, 

but I'm hoping a bird cage qualifies me

to link with Wild Bird Wednesday.

Also linking with Saturday's Critters

Survivors

Since Thanksgiving, 

wild turkeys have been emboldened to come around close to the house.

I heard a soft clucking this morning, 

and glanced up from my desk to see two hen turkeys

on the patio outside my studio window.

This one looked a little accusing,

 and I wondered if she could possibly know about all those leftovers in the fridge.

The red squirrel seemed to think it was no big deal.  

But then, when's the last time anybody's had squirrel for Thanksgiving?

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

Pecking Order

Hungry goldfinches around here bide their time

while greedy squirrels monopolize the bird feeder.

One intrepid bird got tired of waiting...

and flew in the face of Red's wrath.

Apparently, the black oil sunflower seeds are worth the wait,

because he was soon back

waiting on another squirrel.

When you're low on the pecking order,

it pays to be patient.






Linking with Camera Critters
and Wild Bird Wednesday