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

Baby, it's cold outside!

This is the view outside my window mere minutes ago.

According to the noontime news, we're in for yet another snowstorm.

"Say, what????"

"Sorry, Sammy!" I guess he hadn't heard that news until I just announced it.

Lucky for him, the feeder is filled with an assortment of bird seed.

Chow down now, Sammy. It's going to be COLD tonight.

Of course after eating, it's always good to wash food down with a nice drink.

Unfortunately our heated birdbath got unplugged by accident yesterday. We plugged it back in this afternoon and topped it off with warm water until the frozen part thaws, so thankfully Sammy was able to drink to his heart's content.

It looks like someone else dropped in for a drink...

He's coming closer, Sammy! I think you'd better finish up and give Mr. Blue Jay his turn!

And speaking of Blue Jays, they are most definitely enjoying the feeder as well.

As are the Juncos (you see one in the background),
who love all the seed that gets tossed to the ground.

Looks like a little squabble might be brewing over who's hogging the seed.

(Not that I claim to be an expert on blue jay body language. Just saying).

Here's a little "simulated snow" as this iswhat it will look like in about an hour.

I took this photo of Mrs. Cardinal several days ago, just before our weekend storm arrived. 

(As you can see, we didn't get all of our leaves raked up before the snows came.)

I have to say, the birds and Sammy squirrels really enjoy the heated bird bath on these COLD winter days. My old heated bird bath stopped working toward the end of last winter, so I made sure to buy a new one before the freezing temperatures arrived this winter.

And here's the view inside right now
(as reflected in the antique wavy-glass mirror), 

where we're very blessed to be while the snows fall outside our front door.

Stay safe and warm wherever you are!

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

Donna

A little visitor...

While sitting at the dining room table yesterday, I happened to glance toward the living room window where I spotted the brilliant red that can belong to only one bird here in New England...

I begged him to stay while I ran to get my camera, and he kindly obliged.

I love it when I spot one of these beauties. Cardinals were my mom's favorite birds, so I naturally think of her when one visits.

It's been a very strange winter here in New England as we've only had to shovel the walkway and end of the driveway once thus far. The lack of snow coupled with warmer than normal temperatures have made for quite a pleasant winter for this non-snow/cold lover.

However, we were hit with a mega snowstorm the week before Halloween, when the trees were still covered with leaves. The weight of the snow on the full foliage branches was just too much. In addition to losing major branches from multiple trees, we also lost entire trees in some cases, including a maple next to our driveway, an oak in the side yard, and yet another in the back yard.

This maple tree that sits in our front yard also lost some major branches, but it could have been so much worse. I'm thankful that it is still standing, providing a perfect spot for the cardinals to visit whenever they'd like. Happy February, everyone.... Donna

The calm before the storm...

The weatherman said we might get up to 12" of snow on Sunday. I'm sooooo not ready...

On the bright side, I looked out my office window yesterday and spotted this handsome fellow perched in our hoppa crab tree....

Cardinals are just so striking.

Still no tree up. The jury is still out as to whether we will be putting one up this year or not. All thanks to this little girl, seen here curled up behind the tv in my office, another of her favorite places to hang out.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Donna

Cardinals, Snowy Days, and Christmas...

... these are all things that remind me so much of my mom. She would have loved the snow that came down over the past 24 hours as she loved winter and watching snow fall...


(click any photos to enlarge - cardinal outside window today)

Mom also loved cardinals, and one showed up outside our dining room window today, sitting on a branch for the longest time...


Mom loved Christmas. She loved everything about it - decorating the house, singing Christmas carols, enjoying family, all of us riding around to look at Christmas lights, watching Christmas movies on TV, sending and receiving Christmas cards... everything about the season...


(Mom and my sister, Christmas in the 80's)

Every year her mirror was trimmed with holly, and Rudolph always had a place of honor right in the center...

Mom's manger, shown here with mom & dad's cat, Gypsy, in the background (photo from the 80's)

Mom and Dad, Christmas 1957

Mom passed away 12 years ago today and was buried on Christmas Eve day. I didn't know how I would ever get through Christmas that year, let alone ever enjoy one again. Mom was always cheerful and happy, and the last thing she would have wanted was for us to be sad... Time is also a great healer... grief subsides and tears are eventually replaced by happy memories, shared stories, and laughter.

Anyhow, I thought about you a lot today, Mom... You loved snowy days, and watching the birds and squirrels (especially your cardinals!). You would have loved today, so I captured the day in photos for you... and I smiled as I thought about you...

(our backyard Saturday afternoon)

(a junco at the bird feeder Friday afternoon)

(the bird feeder this morning, piled high with snow from overnight)

(a gentle mourning dove at the feeder Saturday afternoon)

(a junco at the feeder Saturday afternoon)

(the male cardinal, from the dining room window)

(isn't he striking in this winter wonderland?)

(I think he rather liked having his picture taken)

(a snowy Sammy eating sunflower seeds)

(The angle of the lace valance in this photo reminded me of a church window)

(Christmas day, 1980's)

Merry Christmas, Mom... We love you! You were, and always will be, the best Mom/Nana ever!

All my love, always...

Donna