Light Red!

The pink (light red) tulips have finally decided to open. It's been warm the last couple days, 70s and 80s, so they probably thought it was time. I'm impressed that the rabbits haven't eaten them or at least chewed the tops off but I guess they're protected by the daffodils and a planter.

 

An Oriole finally landed on the feeder and stayed long enough for a picture. It's a female so it doesn't have the wild dark black and flaming orange colors of the male but she'll bring him back, I bet. Twice this morning a male showed up, landed, and then flew away because there were other birds around. Sheesh. Way to be skittish, Oriole.

 

And the male Hummingbird was back this afternoon and I was lucky enough to see him. Two of my three shots are blurry but this one of him sipping at the port is pretty much in focus. I noticed that the level of nectar was going down but I hadn't seen any Hummingbirds so I thought maybe the squirrels figured out how to drink the sugar water but evidently not. Hooray!

 

The Bluejay came back to snack on the suet nuggets again today. It didn't cooperate and land where I could see it easily but you can still tell what kind of bird it is. I wish I could tell if it's a male or female but they look the same.

 

I drew Leaves today--an oak leaf and a sweet gum leaf. I was surprised that they weren't green in the book so I colored them the way I saw them. Must have been autumn when she drew them for the book.

 

I had three Zooms today. In the morning I met with my virtual assistant (who is a real person, not a bot) to talk about having her make some very short videos to post on Facebook and Instagram. I've decided not to get on TikTok because every time I go on there I get frustrated and confused. I don't like it so I'm not doing it. After lunch I Zoomed with my women writer friends like I do every Friday. We chatted, wrote for 10 minutes, shared what we wrote, and then chatted some more. After that I didn't have anything to do so I listened to an audiobook and drew a gratitude journal page for the first time in two weeks.

 

My third Zoom was Friday Night Knitting. I worked on Scrap Hat #4, got through the even rounds and into the crown decreases. Our numbers dwindled when the California contingent went off to bingo so when KW got tired at 8 o'clock we called it a night. I'm just as glad because I set my alarm for 6 in the morning so I'll be semi-awake when I arrive at the writing workshop to set up at 8 AM. Man, that's early.

 

Now I need to add pictures to these paragraphs, reread it to catch any typos, and then post it so I can hit the sack. Tomorrow should be quite a day. I'll report.

--Barbara 

Surprise!

After supper I looked out and was surprised to see a Bluejay on the suet nuggets. And it even stayed long enough for me to take three pictures. This one is the best because it shows most of the bird.

 

This morning a Goldfinch showed up and flitted around, posing here and there, until it stayed on top of the crook long enough for this shot.

 

I didn't even think of that when I flipped open the book and chose this to draw today. Another Goldfinch. It turned out pretty okay. The wing isn't right (it kinda looks broken) but I'll do better next time. Or not. (I'm thinking of the Heron that was worse the second time I drew it.) These might be my best bird feet though.

 

The Christmas cactus buds are getting bigger and pinker. There is no logic to this plant. For years it didn't bloom. Then it made a couple blooms. And now that I've given it a bigger pot, more water, and more direct sunlight it's going crazy flinging blooms out helter skelter.

 

Either this Robin feels extra dirty or is particular about being clean because it took a very thorough bath today. Robins are the most enthusiastic bathers of the birds that frequent my yard. They fling and flail, splashing out quite a bit of the water every time.

 

And would the day be complete without a picture of a squirrel on the suet nuggets feeder? I think not. Here's today's entry. I didn't see an Oriole today and haven't seen a Hummingbird in a week. Dang it.

 

The audiobook narrator sent me the revisions this morning, I listened to them, approved the production, paid the invoice, and published it. Now it goes through the quality assurance process which takes about 10 days before it's released into the world.

The back passenger side door of my car won't unlock. Not even if you pull the lock knob. So I've got an appointment next Wednesday to have it looked at. Fingers crossed a wire is pinched or rubbed and it's easily fixed. I don't want to not be able to lock my car and I really really don't want to have to get a new/used one. I'm so nervous about it.

--Barbara 

Inside

 The squirrel was back inside the square green feeder today. I didn't see it leap over and get in but it was there for a long time. At one point the squirrel was inside and there were three or four Sparrows on the perches not minding at all that a big furry creature was in the feeder.

 

In this Chickadee picture you can see that the squirrel is in the feeder but the Chickadee doesn't care. I was just happy to snap a decent picture because those little birds really flit around, never staying in one place for long.

 

I was fast enough and lucky enough to catch a picture of a Bluejay sitting on the fence at the back of the yard. It flew down below the cob corn looking for fallen kernels but evidently didn't find any because it flew right up to the fence and then took off. 

 

I caught sight of an Oriole again today for just a split second so I had to go into the archives for a picture. I know it's kind of cheating but I'm so eager to see one that I'm taking advantage when I can. Hopefully soon one will come and stay long enough for me to take a current picture.

 

This morning I went down to Zambaldi to visit DS. He was doing three things at once so I didn't stay long. He was brewing Yard Games IPA. In this picture he's measuring out the hops to put into the boil to impart that traditional hoppy flavor. He also poured us tiny glasses of his hibiscus-lime sour beer that he made last week. It's pink! He's going to add more hibiscus to ramp up the flavor and maybe add some orange to enrich the flavor.

 

The lilacs are starting to bloom! A few of them are opening. I had to pull a flower right up to my nose to smell it today but soon enough of them will be open that the fragrance will be nearly overpowering.

 

And the Christmas cactus buds are getting bigger. There are four of them, two bigger and two little nubbins, all in this picture. I guess the flowers are a thank you for water and sunshine.

 

Dad's rose is sprouting. You can barely see the dark maroon shoots in the center of last year's canes. I need to get out there with clippers and cut back the old wood so the new wood can grow and flourish.

 

Today's drawings are In the Garden. I like the clippers and trowel, oh, and the frog. Also the snail. I guess I like them all.

 

After Zambaldi, I went to fill up with gas and noticed that my key fob didn't open the door locks and the locks didn't lock when I shifted into drive so I stopped at Rabideau Auto Mart to see if I'd blown a fuse. JR found the door locks fuse and replaced it. The locks worked. Hooray! But it only worked twice before it stopped working again. I suspect that means I've got an electrical problem which isn't easy to find or fix but I'll make an appointment to have the mechanic check it out. I don't want to have to get rid of my red HHR. Sniff. This fuse is tiny, about the size of a pinkie nail.

 

I tried working on some short story starts this afternoon but didn't get very far. Maybe tomorrow I'll have better luck.

--Barbara 

A Tight Squeeze

I saw a Mourning Dove do something I've never seen one do before. It landed on top of the square green feeder and I thought it was confused. But it figured out how to flap down and land its big self on the skinny little perch at the bottom of the feeder then bend over to peck at the seeds. It had a heck of a time keeping its balance there, spreading its wing to help keep it in place.

 

This Robin had a lovely bath but I didn't catch sight of it until it was just about to fly away. You can see how wet its breast is. It probably splashed out half of the water!

 

We had intermittent rain today. Just when I thought the sun was here to stay, a dark cloud came over and dropped some rain on us.

 

A Bluejay flew over and landed on top of the crook a couple times. I'm not a fan of blue but I do love seeing a Bluejay. 

 

A House Finch stopped at the grape jelly again today. I still haven't seen another Oriole or Hummingbird but the level of the nectar has dropped and there's a lot less grape jelly but the House Finches and squirrels have been in that so that might explain it.

 

In the afternoon I finished listening to the audiobook files and making my list of revisions. It looks like a lot but I don't think it'll take SW long to fix them and get it back to me. She's good at that. Then I'll get it all up and running on all of the sites. 

 

The drawing of the day is Berries. It was more fun to draw than I thought it'd be and I like the way it's colored. I can't take credit for that because I just copied what the book said to do.

Tonight was LC's spring band concert. The middle school choir sang, the 6th grade band played, the orchestra played, then the 7th & 8th grade band played. They all did an amazing job and the director handed out all of the Solo & Ensemble awards of which there were a lot. LC got a first for her trombone solo. Afterwards we went to Culver's for custard with LC's friend and her parents. Turns out it's a popular spot after the concert. There were a lot of kids there, all hyped up on performance energy. It was fun.

--Barbara 

 

The Biggest Bird

So pretty much the biggest bird in the area stalked through my backyard this afternoon. It isn't a big as the African Marabou Stork that was flying around the area last week but it was pretty darned big. It's a hen turkey, maybe the same one that nested in the lilies last spring. She was checking out the area on top of the retaining wall then jumped/flew down onto the lawn and walked off.

 

The other amazing thing I saw was the Christmas cactus has sprouted three buds. Christmas is seven months away (thank heavens) but the plant doesn't seem to care. I noticed that shortly after I drench the plant and let it drink as much water as it wants, it throws out buds. Could this be connected? I don't know but I'm not arguing.

 

The lawn mowers came today. He zipped around like a crazy man, even encroaching into the renters' side far enough that she texted asking if they had to pay for it. So I went out and talked to the guy with the string trimmer to make sure they didn't mow the other side, just mine. I don't mean to be selfish but I provide the renters with a nice mower, so they can do their own. I'm not their mother. Just the landlord. Also you can see the baby leaves have popped out on my little maple tree. Yay! Leaves!

 

This Robin has become a regular visitor, standing under the suet nuggets feeder, watching the crumbs fall and then pecking away at them. I saw a Bluejay on the ground under the cob corn but it didn't fly to anywhere I could try taking a picture, darn it.

 

 Today's drawing is of a Bat. I didn't color the wings realistically. Instead I used a bunch of purples to color them in. I like it.

 

Tonight I finished the ribbing of Scrap Hat #4 and started the six even rounds before the crown decreases. I'm almost out of the blue chunky yarn but I have another full skein of it so I think I'll dig it out even though the hat is supposed to be made of leftover yarns. I'm the boss of this hat. I can change the rules. (We don't need no stinkin' rules!)

 

This morning I had a 2-hour Zoom with cda critiquing each others' writing trying to get her 20-year-old historical fiction novel to a point where it can be published. We keep finding places where she needs to add info which must be frustrating. Then after lunch and shopping for bananas and grapes (can't run out of fruit!), I listened to four more audiobook chapters. Only five more to go! Which is good because sitting here listening and reading along I'm hunching over enough that I have a crick in my back. It hurts. I'll be glad to be done. I try to sit up straight, like I am now, but it doesn't seem to work when I'm reading a book.

--Barbara 

A Split Second

Just as I answered the phone when DD called tonight, I looked out and saw a male Oriole land on the crook but it only stayed for a split second. I laid my hand on the camera and it was gone. So I dug into the archives for an Oriole picture because I'm so excited that one came and I saw it.

 

Other wildlife has discovered the Oriole feeder. This pair of House Finches enjoyed pecking on the orange half. They also visited the grape jelly but I didn't get a picture.

 

A squirrel was on the suet nuggets (which I filled today) and then noticed the Oriole feeder. So it had to investigate and have a little sweet treat. I opened the patio door and chased it away. I had to do it again later on too.

 

I hope your Mother's Day was happy. Mine was. DS and his family invited the grandparents over for supper. DS grilled marinated chicken thighs and zucchini,  they roasted potatoes, and DIL1 made a Caesar salad. There were lemon bars for dessert. It all was delicious. As we left after exchanging a few gifts, each grandmother received a bouquet of flowers. Mine are carnations, my favorite flower. Aren't they pretty? And they smell good too. I also received a tiny tube of sunscreen and a little tube of hand cream, plus some nice cards. I gave cards to DIL1 and HJZ which they exclaimed over. They said they thought I should make a 4-pack of them and sell them at vendor shows for $10. I don't know. I'll think about it.

 

When I went out to fill the suet nuggets and cob corn, I saw a little dark pink over on the side of the patio. The first little bleeding hearts flowers are starting to bloom.

 

And in the corner of the bed next to the patio, the ferns are starting to send up fronds. I love the way they look like little green knuckles before they unfurl.

 

Today's drawing is Crafting. It's a collection of sewing and knitting items that were pretty fun to draw.

 

I goofed away a lot of the morning before getting into the shower and getting dressed. Hey, I didn't have to be anywhere until 4:30 so what was the rush? I went through LL's comments on Sailing the Seas, the 4th Seaview Series book and then after my shower and lunch, I listened to five chapters of Anneke's Legacy. Only eight more chapters to go, then I send the revisions to the narrator, she sends them back and I re-listen to those spots to make sure it's right, then approve it. After that comes the final invoice (gulp), I pay it, and then it's mine to do with as I will. I'll upload it to INaudio so that it'll be on other sites beside Audible, Amazon, and iTunes for wider distribution.

Happy Mother's Day one more time!

--Barbara

Bird & Squirrel

Not together and not at the same time. But this morning I got a picture of a Hummingbird that shows the ruby throat of it. I'm pleased. I love that his wings are fluttering so fast that they don't really show up on the picture.

 

Then this squirrel was hanging by its hind feet from the suet nuggets feeder and nibbling away. I saw crumbs of suet fall to the ground and then later on a Robin was doing cleanup under the feeder. Didn't see an Oriole today though. I'll keep watching.

 

The pink tulips are just about open. It seems like there's more of them this year than in previous years. I'm eager to see them open because I remember one or two of them has a purplish cast to it which redeems the pink in my opinion.

 

And right in front of the tulips is one of the last remaining daffodils that isn't turning brown and shriveled yet. It has its face turned shyly away from the front of the flower bed and I can only see it from the front porch.

 

I got to have an OJ day today because we hadn't had one in a long time. We went to lunch at Home Town Cafe, made a batch of honey/lemon-lime lip balm, and went to the Brick Spot to check out the pricey Lego sets. Evidently DS mentioned to him that I made lip balm and he was very interested. He asked if that was true and I said, "Do you want to make some?" When he said yes, we went downstairs and got busy. Some of the ingredients are a little old so I checked online to see about replacing them with fresh only to find that my old supplier is out of business. *sniff* But I think I've found another one. *whew* OJ also started writing and illustrating a book about Tedd Bear. I think it's an adventure story.

 

Today's drawing is a Primrose. I added the bee. I like the way they both turned out for once.

 

I got a voicemail when we were at lunch. When I listened to it when we got home I was directed to the front porch where I found a Mother's Day bouquet from DD. It's beautiful! And there was a very sweet card attached.

 

While OJ watched a documentary about dinosaurs, I went out and cut some rhubarb and then made a pan of sauce. I can't wait to have it on my yogurt in the morning.

 

Even with my unplanned guest today I got all but two things on my to-do list accomplished. I didn't listen to any of Anneke's Legacy audiobook files and I didn't fold the basket of laundry. Ah well, there's always tomorrow. 

Oh, I almost forgot. I glanced over my shoulder at breakfast and just caught sight of a Hawk perched on the birdbath taking off. It flew across the yard and I didn't have a chance to figure out what kind of Hawk it was but I was excited to see it and sorry I hadn't looked sooner to take its picture. 

--Barbara