Baby, Blizzards, and Bluebirds...

Massachusetts has seen more than its fair share of snow these past few weeks,

with yet another 12" or so due on Monday.

Even Baby doesn't know what to make of it.

In other news, the bluebirds are daily visitors...

... with the main draw being both the meal worms...

... and the heated birdbath.

(yes, the heated birdbath really is there, mid-blizzard, with enough of a warm water oasis 

that the birds were able to drink to their hearts' content).

I love these 'in-flight' photos.

It seems like someone is always coming or going.

And I've found the bluebirds to be very curious...

...  and not the least bit fearful when they see me in the window.

As a matter of fact, when I sprinkle the meal worm on the screen feeder

and do my little clucking sound for them,

... they start landing on the feeder before I've even completely shut the window.

 Their second favorite food source is suet. You can see a bluebird perched on the

 shepherd's hook that one of our suet baskets hang from.

The cardinals, not nearly as trusting as the bluebirds, are very wary of me in the window, so capturing this handsome fellow on the feeder with one of the bluebirds was quite a treat. Until last year, I'd never even seen a bluebird, and now we are graced with flocks of them visiting the feeders of the house we've lived in for over 33 years! 

They certainly add to the view outside our dining room window!

I'll be joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday this week.

Till next time, stay safe and warm, everyone!

Donna

Pahk the cah in Hahvuhd Yahd...

A quick trip into the city yesterday... 

... found me parked in Harvard Square outside one of Harvard's 

exquisite iron gates and gorgeous old buildings 

while Amanda ran a few quick errands.

I absolutely love this city.

Meanwhile, back at home, the bluebirds have returned.

It's hard to resist a plentiful supply of mealworms, suet, seed, and fresh water...

 once the weather turns cold.

This poor little guy is waiting patiently for Mr. Bluebird to finish with his suet.

I cannot believe the year is almost over. My mother used to say, 

the older you get, the quicker time flies. How true. 

Hoping you are all warm and cozy as this year comes to a close...

Donna

Inside (Studio Office continues) and Outside (Bird News!)...

Inside things are pretty much the same...

 I still have a long way to go with the office. I lined up a lot of my religious decor to see the colors. I want to pick a rug that goes with the the pieces I'm planning to use on the walls.

(photo altered with film grain filter)

 Today I cut a lot of stringy tendrils from the Wandering Jew plant I got at the Woodstock, NY yard sale last fall. I stuck them in a vase of water. With any luck they'll root and I can start another plant.

I put some of the smaller cuttings in this hanging rooter that I've had for nearly 20 years.

And of course I perched a few of my 'weighted' parakeets on the rooter as well.

In addition to the 'vintage Catholic' decor I'll be using in my studio office, I'm beginning to see another theme emerge! You might remember this antique parakeet lamp I shared with you in a previous post. Claudia (Mockingbird Hill Cottage), knowing how much I loved her parakeet lamp, was instrumental in helping me get this sweet lamp from New York to Massachusetts!

My Nana LOVED her Pete the Parakeets, and memories of being at her beautiful home in the 50's are so vivid. It's no wonder I want to create vignettes and such that remind me of her.
Here are just a few 1950's photos of my beautiful Nana with her Pete's and my sister and I. 

No. 1 is Nana and me with Pete overhead; 

No. 2 is Nana with Pete (cage door wide open & a big bowl of water in front for Pete to bathe in; 

No. 3 is my sister and I with Pete (I'm the big sister on the right), and...

No. 4 is my Nana holding up my sister when she was very young to see Pet close up. 

(Oh how I wish I had that bird cage and the table it stood on in some of the photos!)

Since I don't, I did the next best thing and got a vintage cage of my own to set in the family room, right next to an almost identical table that once belonged to my Mom (with the small table covering).

And, of course, the cage is complete with a (faux) parakeet and a canary!

Now speaking of birds, there is a lot going on outside.

The bluebirds have most definitely claimed the birdhouse as their own.

Mama and Papa spent quite a bit of time making their nest.

... and it appears that Mama is now in the box almost constantly, which makes me think she has laid her eggs. And Papa is never far away.

Quite exciting indeed!

On another note, when I looked out the window this morning...

... I spied a burst of brilliant orange...

... which can only mean one thing...

The Baltimore Orioles have arrived after a long winter's absence.

Of course our little robin friends also have brilliant red/orange breasts, but these boys have been around since February/March and are much more common than the Baltimore Orioles.

And last, but certainly not least, we've had our first hummingbirds arrive! A female was at the feeders last night and a male was at them today. They were not on the feeders when I took these photos, but take a look at the sweet mourning doves in the background. One is on the bench in front of the window and the other is on the large flat rock on the ground in front of the bench.

Spring arriving has been such a blessing after the long hard winter.

I hope you all have a wonderful week.

I'm joining Brenda at Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday
and Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

Donna

For the love of blue birds...

 I picked up this bluebird music box statue at a thrift store about six years ago because,
after all...

... who doesn't love bluebirds?

A few years later this bluebird gravy boat came home with me because, again,

how could I resist the bluebirds?

I own this video of Shirley Temple in The Blue Bird. 

I love Shirley Temple. And bluebirds.

And this little green 'bluebird house' storage box came home with me from a thrifting expedition a few years ago because... Well, I think by now you know why.

So now that I have this little guy and his friends visiting my very own back yard on a regular basis (for the first time ever!)...

... I've made sure I have all the necessities on hand to entice them to stay such as 

Insect Suet and Mealworm Suet and freeze dried mealworms...

... and fresh water (in a heated birdbath as it's often still below freezing here in New England!)...

... and we put up one bluebird house in the back yard 

(it's the birdhouse that is new wood and hasn't weathered yet)...

... and another in the side yard, both placed 6-8' high because my research said 

that that's the height bluebirds like!

Yes, I'm doing all I can to keep these beautiful little blue birds as regular visitors...

... because it's been THE most amazing experience having them visit us on a daily basis -

a once in a lifetime experience!

(or at the very least, a once in 33 years experience since that's how long 

we've lived in this house without ever seeing a single one!)

So are we tweaking our yard to make them feel welcome?

You betcha!

I'm joining Brenda at Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday
and Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Donna