Sunday Poetry Quotes–Wordsworth

The birds around me hopped and played,

Their thoughts I cannot measure:--

But the least motion which they made

It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

From: Lines Written in Spring

by William Wordsworth

Hump Day–And All Is Well

The snow is falling outside, although the weatherman insisted we would only see rain.  I prefer the snow.  It silently falls and covers the ground to make for a quiet peaceful world.  It is a wet snow and I know that it will not stay long.  The rains that I know will come later today will melt it away in record time if the slightly above freezing temperatures don’t do it in sooner.  Yet for now I will enjoy it.

 

The wet weather will keep me inside today.  Working on items for my etsy shop as well as tending a pot of beans I put on for supper.  And if time allows I plan to whip up a batch of schnetka for nibbling with coffee later on this afternoon.  All in all I know I have plenty to keep me well beyond busy for the day. 

 

Still I long for the warmer weather and the chance to get myself outdoors and my hands into the earth.  I found my columbine starting to come up the other day.  I want to be sure and tend any brave flowers that may be peeking up from their winters rest a bit too early.  Covering with a blanket of mulch so that old man winter will not have the chance to nip them and keep them from their full potential when the weather truly is warmer in the months to come. 

 

I was sure to fill all bird feeders yesterday before the weather did turn as I knew the birds would appreciate the extra attention and goodies while the weather was a bit nasty.  I love my feathered friends so.  The joy they bring to me is more than I can express.  They truly are special little creatures and something I believe so many do not take the time to stop and enjoy.  But aren't there so many things that the average man does not stop and realize each day.   That is the true sadness in the world.  That it is all right at our finger tips yet we are too busy with trivial often worthless things to see the beauty of simplicity.  But then anyone who has read any of my prior readings knows that is one of my soapboxes. 

 

Blessings to you and yours this blessed Wednesday.  May you have a moment to enjoy a simply joy.

My New Houseguest

About the time we first hear the Robin's ringing welcome to spring

 we may listen for the Bluebird's more gentle greeting.

No bird's song is more associated with the return of Spring

 than the Bluebird's:

 - Frank M. Chapman, Birdlife, 1897

Last week on return from a visit to the moms we pulled into our driveway.  We entered the house and removed Winston from his crate and allowed him to go outdoors and relieve himself as he had spent some time inside.  Since the sun had already gone down the next task at hand was to gather our kitties,  Sweetie and Sunny to let them go into the garage for the evening.

Usually when we have been gone and return in the evening they are more than ready to go in for the night.  Living in the country there are many not so friendly noises and animals to go along with such noises to warrent a quick run to the safety of their evening bunk.  Yet on this night they were not anywhere to be found.  Even after calling, the slight tinkle of their bells could not be heard. 

I went inside to prepare supper, when I heard a strange noise on the front porch. When I opened the door there sat Sweetie.  When I looked further  to see why she was there as opposed to the back porch, I spotted Sunny as well.  This was odd as they do not usually frequent the front porch, especially after dark.  I quickly told Vincent where they were and commenced with dinner.

Finally shortly after, Vincent came in and informed me that the two had cornered a bird underneath the front porch and this was the reason they were relunctant to come when called.  He then said that in order to get them to come he had to get the bird and put it in the trash so they would follow. 

Now many of you know the many exploits I have had with my kitties in regards to their adventure with birds.  Many a time I have saved a little feathered friend only to bury it the next day when it finally passed.  So when Vincent told me of this misfortune I had to ask him what kind of bird they had caught.  He looked at me in a sorrowful manner and I knew that they had caught one of my precious bluebirds that frequent my yard. 

The next morning when I went to let the kitties out and take Winston for his morning duty, I went to the trash can to see the bird.  I had full intentions of preparing a proper buriel for him with the other "misfortunes" Sunny and Sweetie had given me.  To my surprise as I opened the lid I looked for him yet at first glance did not see him.  As I looked further, I spotted him sitting snuggled up at the botton between a couple of small bags of trash.  I carefully took him out and proceeded to examine him for the extent of his injuries.

Now mind you the many times I have "attempted" to save a fine feathered friend I have looked at them and expected them to be ok only to soon after come back to find them gone.  I did not see any visible signs of major distress except that a wing looked to be slightly banged up.  Yet as he jumped from my hands and attempted to fly I could see that it was damaged in a manner that meant if I did not tend him he would surely be breakfast. 

I put him into a bird cage I had purchased last summer to aid in my many attempts of rescue and put him in the silence of the garage while I went in to have my morning coffee.

Needless to say I was surprised when he seemed bright and alert when I later went out in the day to check on him.  I brought him into the house for warmth and also to examine him more closely.  He definately had a bad wing and bled slightly from underneath.  I did not think he would make it through the evening yet once again the next morning I was pleasently surprised when I awakened to his song.

He has been with us now for 4 days.  I researched online to see what I could do to help him out and we bandaged his wing up as best one can for a small bluebird.  He still likes to crawl out of it on occasion yet I bind him up again to keep his wing as immobile as I can.  He has proved to be quite calm and allows me to hold him in my hand without attempting to fly.  He likes to be soft spoken to and a soft stroke on the side of his face seems to make him quite content.  Each evening he nustles his head down and dozes off to sleep and his song fills our house during the daylight hours. 

I am grateful for each day that he remains with us and pray that he makes it to the point where one day soon I can allow him to return to his world.  There is a sweet solace in a birds pressence.  The blue bird in its colorful beauty is a wonderful example of this.  He seems to talk to me with his eyes and even seems to enjoy when I cradle him in the soft piece of red fleece I use as a blanket for him. 

So my absence the last few days have been spent tending to my new friend.  And hopefully in the days to come my time will equally be asked for as he slowly recooperates back to his old self.

Twelve Days of Christmas - Four Calling Birds

On the fourth day of Christmas

My true love gave to me

Four calling birds

Most think the line goes "four calling birds"

when in fact it is four colly birds.

Colly is a dialect word meaning black.

It refers to the European black bird

Some think the four colly birds

refer to the four gospels and/or evangelists

Matthew Mark Luke and John

Eight more days until Christmas.

Twelve Days of Christmas - 2 Turtle Doves

On the Second Day of Christmas

My True Love gave to me

Two Turtle Doves

The last couple weeks I have had to tend to my bird feeders quite often.  The cooler weather brings all the birds (as well as a few squirrels) out in abundance.  I have added a few new feeders this year, although I think I have plenty really.  Yet the birds I  sure will not complain. 

I have hung a couple thistle feeders on the back porch as this brings the brightly colored finches closer so that I can watch them better.  I love how they dance back and forth with one another in play and a means to show off their vigor.

This year we were fortunate enough to have a flock of doves that settled near here.  The first time I saw them I was quite fascinated by their pure whiteness.  A group of about 12 of them would fly about each afternoon.  At first I thought they may be egrets yet they were far to small in stature for this.  Next I assumed they were an odd lot of pigeons.  Yet this also proved to be wrong.  When I observed them closer, I realized we were blessed with a small flock of white doves.  I am not sure how they ventured here as it is the first time I have ever seen so many  yet it was a pure delight. 

The turtle doves also as well were here.  They are such beautiful birds with such distinct markings and when adult most generally run in pairs.  They seem to be so devoted to each other once coupled.  I have  heard that they claim only one mate in a lifetime.  I am inclined to believe this as this summer we had a couple who would frequent our yard.  Later in the season I noticed only one.  As I continued to keep track of it through the days, it continued to remain alone. 

My grandfather used to cup his hands together and blow.  The sound he would make was that of the mourning dove.  It was one of my favorite things as a child.  On still afternoons I still love to sit on the porch and listen to them call. 

Perhaps because of its mournful song as well as its desire to create such strong pair bonds, the dove is often used as a symbol of devoted love.  Below an excerpt from a poem by William Shakespeare.

The Phoenix & The Turtle

by William Shakespeare

Here the anthem doth commence:

Love and constancy is dead;

Phoenix and the turtle fled

In a mutual flame from hence.

So they lov'd, as love in twain

Had the essence but in one;

Two distincts, division none:

Number there in love was slain.

Hearts remote, yet not asunder;

Distance, and no space was seen

'Twixt the turtle and his queen;

But in them it were a wonder.

So between them love did shine,

That the turtle saw his right

Flaming in the phoenix' sight:

Either was the other's mine.

Mother Nature's Little Harrier

One of my favorite things is sitting on my back porch and watching the hummingbirds dart to and fro. It seems that they become a bit more active at this time of year and their acrobatics become even more daring and entertaining. Perhaps it is because they seem to be in competition for the feeders. Although there is always plenty to go around they appear to not wish to share. I have tried placing numerous feeders throughout the yard yet they seem to like it better when there are but a few.

I placed one on the east side of my porch when we first moved here. The first year we had so many hummingbirds it was unbelievable. Yet because it hung almost directly over the grill I thought that maybe I should move it. The first year if I was grilling there was one hummingbird that would come up beside me and give me a good chirping, as if to tell me what in the world did I think I was doing. Yet when I moved it, they did not seem to like any of the places I tried to relocate them to. Thus each year I end up putting a feeder in the same place and despite the occasional heat from the grill they still seem to flock to this feeder above all the rest.

Yet today I sit here on my back porch, notebook on my lap and enjoy their tactical flying maneuvers around my head in a means to keep possession of the coveted feeder. Winston does not exactly know what to think of them. I will admit that the first time one buzzed me that it scared the tar out of me. If one is not familiar with the experience they would swear that a giant bee just buzzed past them. And I think I can safely say that most are probably like me and such an event gives a startle likened to a crazed jump in the air followed by a shrill shriek.

I have sense gotten used to their ways and do not give the neighbors a show to get their daily giggles from. Yet Winston seems to not quite understand them. He is not like Sweetie who occasionally positions herself beneath the feeder to just to enjoy their presence. She seems to enjoy them buzzing about her head and they in turn do not seem to have much worry that she is a cat.

As I watch this marvel of creation I cannot help but be baffled at their abilities. During the day their heart beat can race as fast as 1500 beats a minute yet as evening sets and they settle for the night it slows to a mere 50 beats a minute. They have the ability to fly upside down, backwards, sideways and of course straight forward. They dart in and out with such ease and such quickness at times reaching a speed of 30 mph. Such a small bird, weighing close to that of a ping pong ball with a size of only a few inches, yet they manage to travel great distances during their migration. This is a great example to me of the intricacies of nature. Something so simply yet so specific. But then I have always been easily pleased.

Autumn in the Air

Another week has passed and most of us look eagerly towards the weekend.  Free time to do what we enjoy most, at least for most of us that is.  I am amazed that it is already mid to late August and September is not far in coming.  The feeling of autumn is definitely in the air.  It is not only me who feels this way as it seems that everyone is somehow hinting of their intuition or craving for the season.

We have not yet be lucky enough to get any of the cooler weather or any much needed moisture, yet I am keeping my fingers crossed as well as ears open for any good weather spells that may help such a thing to happen any faster.  The days are slowly shortening.  It is not something that is drastically obvious yet it is noticeable.  I read a post over at Moontides this morning and Mary spoke of how the evenings were more quiet as people were not out as late as before.  A sure sign of fall and the shorter days.  A bit of a peace in the evening. 

Although I love the busy work of summer and all it brings, I enjoy also the slowness of fall.  The unwinding of the day and what seems a bit more of an evening to relax.  I know that as the time draws closer and the weather cools more that there will surely be some remorse for the absence of the thrills  that summer brings.  Yet still fall has always been my favorite time of year so I myself am looking forward to the crisp mornings, and the turning of the colors.  I look forward to cradling my hot cup of coffee in my hands as I enjoy the mornings and evenings on my back porch.  I look forward to the many beautiful flowers that show themselves during this time of year and also for the second blooms that will come to some of my spring flowers that slowed and at times stopped due to the over abundance of heat this summer. 

The activity of the wildlife as well as the birds is also something that I love at this time.  All seem to be  preparing for the colder times ahead and are storing what they may need for such a time.  The hummingbirds are definitely more active preparing for their long journey south.  The squirrels are always more plentiful at this time and I seem to have to fill my feeders twice as much.  I have already put up a couple extra feeders as well as started to purchase my seed so that I will be ready. 

I noticed this morning as I was watering some of the areas of my yard where flowers and wildlife like to escape from the heat, that my mum which I planted last fall is covered with blooms.  I am excited as can be as I have never had a transplanted mum bloom.  I am so looking forward to when it finally opens.  Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend.  Hopefully your weather is just right and enjoy nothing but good times.  blessings

Morning Music

I have long been an avid admirer of our fine feathered friends. It does not matter really what form they come in.  The dainty little finches that frolic together, frantically trying to get as much seed as they can possibly hold.  Although their size is small they seem to be the most fearless.  I have been blessed with both yellow and red ones.  Each time I do my routine of filling the many feeders scattered throughout my yard, they continously chatter at me as if to be asking what took me so long.  Rarely do they fly away while I am near.    I am also blessed with an array of woodpeckers.  A pair of downy woodpeckers live in the willow next the pond and also a pair of flickers.  I love the variety of color they have.  I am always sure to leave suet for them and occasionally fresh fruit or nuts.  There are many others also who come and partake of the food that is always available to them.  A multitude of sparrows as well as bluejays, cardinals, tufted titmouse, and so many more. 

I even like the group of crows that come each day just at the right time.  First one will come to check and make sure that there is food.  Then he will call the others in.  I have had some issues this winter with them though in regards to my suet cakes.  The bullies like to take the entire cake out of the feeders I have with no tops.  I thought this was impossible til one day when I stood and watched them do just that.  Yet what can I say I am a sucker for any of earths creatures.  With the winter being as harsh as it has been it has been hard for me to turn any of them away.

I have noticed that their morning songs are much louder as of late.  They are singing as soon as the sun begins to peek on the horizon and continue throughout the day.  This is a classic sign that the mating ritual  has begun. Even the ducks have joined the act.  A group of 5 frequent my pond each morning.  Four strapping drakes and one bashful hen.  There must be something special about her to warrant 4 drakes to follow her constantly trying to attain her attention.  

Most birds begin to lay their eggs in early March. Some can lay as many as 9 at one time.  There are many legends of the birth of the world that go along with the egg.  One which is one of my favorites is of Finnish origin.  It tells that before time began, a pregnant virgin goddess of the water lifted her knee towards the surface of the ocean.  A magical bird flying in the air gave to her seven eggs.  Six of the eggs were golden and the last egg was iron.  The virgin returned to the water and soon after  the eggs began to open.  All the contents of the eggs began to transform into items which eventually created the world.  The membrane created the heavens, the yolk and white of the eggs rose and created the Sun and the Moon, all the little light colored pieces of the shells became the stars in the heavens and the dark pieces became the clouds. 

Early alchemists at times referred to the egg as the philosopher's egg  (similiar to the philosopher's stone).  They equated the shell with the earth element, the thin membrane between the shell and the egg as the air element, the white as water, and the yolk as fire, which when combines together became life. 

So each morning as you look towards the east to greet the new day, and  the music of the morning seems a bit more robust and lively.  Remember it is the coming of spring in the air that you hear.  The joining and/or mating of the many birds as well as others animals around to usher in yet another turn of the wheel of life. 

December Giveaway - A Few of My Favorite Things

I had so many things runnying around in my head for this months giveaway... Then finally I decided on the above... They are a few of my favorite things... which at this time of year go well together.... I love the birds as I have talked about in past postings... I dont even want to know my budget for seed and such... A while back I was given a box of packaged popcorn balls that were to be thrown out... I took them because I knew the birds would love them.... I put a few in my trees via a wire string and right I was... They ate them up... With the weather getting colder I figured that some peanut butter and some added seed would be good for their bellys... Hence the bird feeder.... While I am out feeding the birds, esp lately, it can get rather cold so a nice shawl is good to have... Hence the hand knitted  multi colored shawl that you see.  Now even a good shawl can not take all the winter cold from you, so when you finally do come in from the cold, a nice hot cup of tea is nice.  Hence the big red cup with a variety of tea to choose from.  Maybe you like honey in your tea, as do I.  Hence the honey stir sticks.. You will love them.  And what would a nice cup of tea be with out a piece of chocolate... A variety of chocolates to nibble on as you watch your birds out your window.  And lastly, today while I was finishing up my grandbabys quilt I did this cardinal square.  I thought it would go wonderful with this giveaway made up as a coaster... just a few of my favorite things to do on a cold december day. 

To enter just do the following:

-Leave a comment.  If your profile is private be sure and leave your email so that I can get a hold of you in case you win....

-Be A follower -

For extra entries:
-Post about the giveaway on your blog - be sure to leave an extra comment with your link to the post so I can give you credit.
-Post a button on your sidebar with a link back to my site - gives you 2 extra entries - just post 2 comments letting me know you did this...

The winner will be choosen randomly on December 30th... Wouldn't want to take anyone away from their New  Year Eves celebrations... You do know it is going to be a blue moon.....