Birds At My Feeder Part 4: Rubies In The Sky

House finch, male (Carpodacus mexicanus)
(Click picture to enlarge)

"Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come." ~ Chinese Proverb

The house finch or common finch spends the entire year in our area. They have nested atop our large front columns and fill the air with a lovely warble each morning and evening as the male sits at the tip of the gable. These small birds are similar to the purple finch, except they are more ruby than magenta and they have underlying stripes on their breasts while the purple finch does not. Here, the purple finch is only seen in winter. These little creatures love our feeder, especially the platform where up to seven or eight may gather for sunflower chips and cracked corn. Very social, they mix well with goldfinch, sparrows... practically any other bird of its size. As with many species.. the female tends to be a dull brown in color a very like many different types of sparrows and the female pine siskin.

The day is always brighter when these small carolers show up... no matter what the time of year! Many other rubies may be seen at Ruby Tuesday each week.

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Monday Medley

Black-eyed susan, Rudbeckia hirta
Common Fleabane, Erigeron philadelphicus
(Click pictures to enlarge)

"I wish more people felt that photography was an adventure the same as life itself and felt that their individual feelings were worth expressing. To me, that makes photography more exciting." ~ Harry Callahan

Gray days give better colored pictures... less glare and fewer shadows in the way, a softer light. But these Black-eyed Susans shine and gleam on their own as if they grabbed every tiny molecule of light on this cloudy day and concentrated it into the substance of their yellow petals; enough shine to make their own shadows. Sharing the stage are the small white fleabane, with tiny yellow suns dotting the background. I can imagine laying on the ground looking up at a canopy of these wildflowers overhead, smelling the warm fresh earth and watching as they sway hypnotically back and forth in the light summer breeze. What a joy to experience nature through childlike eyes!

Nicky...the Clark Gable of Cats

"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever . . . it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." ~ Aaron Siskind

I have a lot of cats, I've had a lot of cats down through the years and they have all lived to a relatively old age. They go through the stages of life as we all do. Kittens play and jump and tumble an are quick, often too quick for the camera.. little blurs running around. Then suddenly, they drop... sound asleep, like babies have to take small naps in between making large noise. In young adulthood the cat is most interesting to photograph; a bit slower with more refined movement, he is interested in everything and often provides moments of comic bliss to capture on film.

Now, my cats have entered the "golden years" of life; all five are over 11 years old and no longer enticed by the latest catnip toy. They have developed sophisticated wants... a certain banana shaped catnip toy, a certain ball and mouse... all others lay dormant and untouched. Life is slow... no more fast movements, high leaps or intense curiosity... except for Mr. Rhett.. but that is a different story. Now, the cats sit for portraits, sometimes I think you could leave the shutter open for four or five seconds and they wouldn't move; the most difficult task is getting them to open their eyes for a good look at those baby blues. You wouldn't believe how many shots I get with eyes half open.

Soon, all too soon, they will pass on to be with the others who have gone before and I cannot stop time... except in pictures. So, even if the portraits tend to look the same and they sometimes show less than suave perfect fur... I still try to see that little spark behind the eye.. that shows how different each cat remains even now. And they are...unique... beautiful... friends.

Sepia Serenity... Camellia (Norfolk Botanical Garden)

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." ~ Ansel Adams

Sepia or black and white photos speak of age and wisdom. Our eyes and brains interpret what we see in color... and because of this, only the monochrome pictures can reveal mysteries that our eyes miss. These shots level the playing field for the flower... a lowly, dull, looked over plant brings as much beauty as the vibrant red rose. I love the colorful camellia flowers in our botanical garden.. they give life and warmth to the winter months here in Virginia. But I also love the delicate yet strong look that this sepia shot gives.



I chose three very different pictures for three different memes today... Mellow Yellow Monday, Blue Monday and Monochrome Maniacs (Monochrome Weekly).. these sites have many more participants with gorgeous photos. Please visit them to feast your eyes.

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Finding Shade In The Shadows

Smiling on the outside, melting on the inside.
Daisy: "Hey! Mom! When can we go in?"
(Click picture to enlarge)

"He that will enjoy the brightness of sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade." ~ Samuel Johnson

I don't think Daisy will be moving from this shade anytime soon. It was hot and sweltering, humid and with a temperature of almost 97 degrees. The heat index was well over a hundred and we were only outside long enough to fill the bird feeders... but that seems to be too long for a certain cocker spaniel. She did her "business" in record time and wanted back into the cool den with its gently rotating ceiling fan. Here she could cuddle up on the loveseat or in her padded bed and snooze in comfort. But I wasn't finished with the job at hand. So what is a "hot dog" to do? Find the nearest shade of course, even if it is the smallest of trees, only planted a couple of years before...shade is shade. She grins as the shadows dance across her body and her face. I wonder...does Daisy think she can catch these sunbeams? No.. she just wants me to quit with the pictures and fill the feeders ... it is simply too hot to be out...

Did you find yourself a shadow to rest in today or is yours simply following you around being no comfort at all? More shadows are at Harriet's Shadow Shot Sunday.

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SPH: Tip-Toe Through The Trash

Not much room left for dumpster diving here.
(You may click the picture to enlarge...
but why would you want to?)

"My wife is always trying to get rid of me. The other day she told me to put the garbage out. I said to her I already did. She told me to go and keep an eye on it." ~ Rodney Dangerfield (American Comedian, 1921-2004)

I didn't have many pictures of actual garbage this week... though I have thrown away my fair share of pictures that were essentially garbage. This is it... the dumpster that currently resides on the street just outside our fence. It has been emptied once... and for a long time, there wasn't much in it. But that changed a lot this week and now it is filled with construction garbage..discarded wood fragments, stones, broken brick, patio pavers, wooden pallets and a variety of trash..oh, yes... and a few odd broken plastic chairs and a really raunchy door mat.

My next door neighbors are Navy and are being transferred clear across the country. Last week they had a dumpster delivered; now there are two... dueling dumpsters. But my dumpster is prettier, by far.

Tennessee Chick graciously hosts Saturday Photo Hunt each week... and this week's theme is "garbage". I am sure there are many more takes on this theme than my muddled mind could come up with this week... make sure to check them out.

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PhotoHunt

Two Bumps On A Wall....

Two bumps on a wall, or is it four?
(Click picture to enlarge)

"Sleepy turtles never catch up with the sunrise." ~ Jamaican Proverb

Life is busy, going at breakneck speed... no time to slow down, stop or rest for most of us; but not the turtle. Collecting "stuff", most of which we don't need or use until it becomes overwhelming is a problem most of us face at some time in life; but not the turtle, he carries his possessions on his back. Sleeping in the sunshine, a recipe for disaster with most of us; but not the turtle.

Turtles know the value of pulling back, retreating into a safe place to ponder the next move. Still to get to the next pond or log or simply to the other side of the road... they have to stick their necks out. They are not afflicted with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, jumping here and there.. they plod along, proving the geometric premise, "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line." They know the value of fifteen minutes in the sun each day. We could learn a lesson or two from the turtle... hey, is there room for me on that log?

Watery Wednesday keeps us cool this summer so visit and enjoy!

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Forever Thine

Ruby red dahlia (bicolor)
(Click to enlarge)

"To analyze the charms of flowers is like dissecting music; it is one of those things which it is far better to enjoy than to attempt to understand."
~ Henry Theodore Tuckerman

There are so many different varieties of dahlia, different sizes, different petal shapes, different numbers of petals, different colors and blends of colors. This one is newly added to our flowerbed this spring and I picked it because of its deep dark red petals and the bicolor white petals that really stand out. The small white petals edged with red paint blend into the central splash of yellow. Dahlias are thought to be associated with dignity, elegance and declares to the beholder "I am forever thine." They are easy to grow... they have to be in our flowerbed. Here we can leave the bulbs in the ground for the winter, but further north they need to be removed and kept in a cool dry place until spring.

This dahlia shouts...romance and is a perfect entry for Ruby Tuesday.

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SPF: Pink Is White Trying To Be Red

Top & bottom.. Left: Azaleas.. Right: Kawanza cherry tree
(Click pictures to enlarge)

"Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the hammers, the soul is the piano with its many chords. The artist is the hand that, by touching this or that key, sets the soul vibrating automatically." ~ Wassily Kandinsky

Spring in the south wouldn't be spring without azaleas. In Mississippi, the first of April brings "The Pilgrimage", a two week tour of antebellum homes, replete with period costumes and history lessons. It is the most beautiful time of the year... the pink and white dogwood are in full bloom, daffodils, wisteria, and of course, the azaleas. Many are huge, thriving in the acid soil under the pine trees and lining the long winding driveways that lead to the large tour homes. We have them here in Virginia as well, but they seem to be more at home in the deep South.

Cotton candy striped tulips, pink tulips
and butterfly favorites, names unknown.

"Flowers have a mysterious and subtle influence upon the feelings, not unlike some strains of music. They relax the tenseness of the mind. They dissolve its vigor." ~ Henry Ward Beecher

The tulip garden was particularly nice this spring. I was struck by the pink and white variety... one petal was a bright cotton candy pink, the next a pure white. They looked good enough to eat... you could almost taste that pink bubblegum flavor. Two of the plants I have no name for... the star shaped flowers grace the butterfly garden, providing nectar and may be a form of milkweed. I thought the pinks were beautiful, differences in shade and textures... so many variations on the theme.

Sunrise...Sunset

"Slow buds the pink dawn like a rose
From out night's gray and cloudy sheath;
Softly and still it grows and grows,
Petal by petal, leaf by leaf."
~ Susan Coolidge, The Morning Comes Before the Sun

"In the pink light the small red sun goes rolling, rolling, round and round and round at the same height in perpetual sunset." ~ Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979)

Sunrise at the oceanfront is an experience... to be there when the first pinks appear on the horizon, before the crowds and the lounge chairs are out.. just you and a lone seagull. The ocean breeze is always cooler than that inland and you sit on the warm sand with the sounds of the waves and you wait.. wait for that bright yellow disc to break through the water and reach for the sky. Even the surface of the ocean develops a pink hue during the process and at that point in time.. earth and sky become as one.

Sunsets are also often tapped with shades of pink reflecting off fluffy clouds... but sunsets show deep, rich, jeweled color palettes while the sunrise deals in the pastels.

Not your ordinary fire hydrant

"I am the very pink of courtesy." ~ William Shakespeare

For fun, I threw in this poor fire hydrant. I think it must be embarrassed to have been painted such a bright "Pepto Bismol" pink hue... and then to be accented with that blazing blue. The other hydrants around town are drab metallic gray or bright yellow or even red... but pink and blue? Oh, the shame!

Pretty In Pink..My Mom...1934

Finally, I've added this picture of my mom taken around her sixth birthday. I love these old colorized photos and I am even old enough to have been the subject of a couple of these types as a baby. The monochrome photos were painted or stained with just touches of color.. in the clothes, the hair, the eyes and such. Here she is all dressed in pink with just a blush to her cheeks. This mother and grandmother will celebrate her 81st birthday in September... and she still wears pink... bold, hot pink!

Tennessee Chick graciously hosts Saturday Photo Hunt each week... and this week's theme is "pink".

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PhotoHunt

Skywatch Friday: A Little Rain Must Fall

Into each construction project, a little rain must fall.
(Click picture to enlarge)

"Pretty soon it darkened up, and begun to thunder and lighten; so the birds was right about it. Directly it begun to rain, and it rained like all fury, too, and I never see the wind blow so. It was one of these regular summer storms. It would get so dark that it looked all blue-black outside, and lovely; and the rain would thrash along by so thick that the trees off a little ways looked dim and spider-webby; and here would come a blast of wind that would bend the trees down and turn up the pale under-side of the leaves; and then a perfect ripper of a gust would follow along and set the branches to tossing their arms as if they was just wild; and next, when it was just about the bluest and blackest--fst! it was as bright as glory, and you'd have a little glimpse of tree-tops a-plunging about away off yonder in the storm, hundreds of yards further than you could see before; dark as sin again in a second, and now you'd hear the thunder let go with an awful crash, and then go rumbling, grumbling, tumbling, down the sky towards the under side of the world, like rolling empty barrels down stairs--where it's long stairs and they bounce a good deal, you know." ~ Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Stormy weather...severe warnings... and rain... lots of rain. This was a frightening storm that came up suddenly. Framing on our addition was in full swing... and this stopped the carpenters dead in their tracks. Outside work... near a golf course.. not a good idea and best left to another day.

Fast forward three weeks to yesterday... the day was spent pouring and leveling the concrete patio base, a new porch and sidewalk. The men finished about 6 PM and I left the windows in the garden room open, thinking to leave them open all night. Then came the scroll at the bottom of the television... severe thunderstorm warning... but not here, north and east...it should miss us according to the radar...but, better close the windows anyway. So, windows closed at 9:15 PM... 9:45 PM, a loud clap of thunder... just one... and the skies opened, dumping hard rain for 20 minutes... again confirming our contractor's belief...."Let me pour concrete... it will rain in a desert... every time."

Mark Twain said it perfectly...

See more skies... hopefully sunny... at Skywatch Friday.

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The Bluebird Chronicles #3: Mother Warned Me There'd Be Days Like This

Bluebird Chronicles Part One: The Arrival
Bluebird Chronicles Part Two: Go Lay An Egg And Wait

"Humans have it easy... usually one baby and they don't have to hunt for food."
(Click pictures to enlarge)

"Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are?" ~ Matthew 6:26 (New Living Translation)

After the hatching... the fun begins. Both parents pitch in, the incessant flapping and yearning to get into the big house is over... only the needs of the chicks are important. Mama and Papa bluebird work hard, day and night, to bring tasty morsels to their young; first mama shows up, then papa. She doesn't seem to mind that I sit out in the yard and watch with my camera trained on the house. Papa, on the other hand, is annoyed and jittery; he flies in a large arc from the fence on one side of the house to a spot equal distant on the other side... trying as if to sneak in to feed. Soon the tiny voices of the chicks can be heard above the breezes. All will be quiet, but just a touch of the mounting pole and high pitched "cheep, cheep" sounds come from above. Mama has taught them well... "When we are not here... BE QUIET!"

Beetles and worms and moths... OH!MY!

It's quite a variety of food coming in here.. no leftovers, no complaining..."Oh, Ma, do we have to have grubs again?" Hard shelled beetles, beetle larvae, small moths, earthworms... but no seeds. They didn't seem to be into seeds or the dried larvae I put out especially for them. Those bluebird nuggets didn't fly either. Mama was quite the hunter. One evening I saw her pluck a small moth out of mid air as it fluttered towards the spotlights on our house. And with all the rain we had had at the time, there was no shortage of earthworms and other bugs. The babies don't look too pleased with my flash there in the lower left picture, do they. (above)

The Hallelujah Chorus: "Hallelujah! Supper's here!"

The little birds grew and their chirps became louder and more demanding. I couldn't have been easy in that little house with four growing kids and such a small space. Privacy is non-existent and they are all trying to jostle for first place when feed arrives. The largest flaps his little wings and leans close to the opening... waiting for than next worm.

One interesting thing I began to notice was that mom would bring food, go inside and then leave with something round and white in her beak. Papa never did. Yes, he brought food and dropped it in mouths, but never left with a full beak. Then I realized that Mama was cleaning up... scooping the poop, so to speak. Even in the animal world it is the MOM who tends to those nastiest of jobs.

Back and forth; this mouth, that mouth.
A parent's work is never done.

I never saw more than four open mouths, although there had been five eggs. Probably one failed to hatch and the parents may have cracked it open and cleaned out the shell from the house. No broken shells were found on the ground or in the house after the birds fledged. These four were quite the eaters and posed graciously... ok, sometimes without much enthusiasm. And they grew quickly while mama and papa never wavered in their care.

Mama counting heads (Left)..Curious but cautious (Right)

The largest baby was also the bravest.. still cautious, but brave. After mama flew away to chatter at me from the tree and the other siblings had withdrawn back into the house.. this little one dared to watch and peek over the top of his doorway to see what this strange lady was doing. He was met with a flash and quickly scowled.. then all became quiet as they settled down to rest. Their final trials were almost here... it was almost time... to try their wings.

The bluebird chronicles will be visiting Friday's Ark and Camera Critters this week.

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A Fountain Of Gladness

Rose Garden fountain... Norfolk Botanical Gardens
(Click picture to enlarge)

"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles." ~ Washington Irving (1783 - 1859)

Well... the dog days of summer are here. Yes, these days between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs are the dog days of summer. Even my dog would rather be out only a few minutes and spend the rest of her day lounging... on the sofa, on the bed, on the pillow, on the rug... anywhere she can. And I would be down there with her.. sitting in the air conditioning or under the ceiling fan. It seems that everyone uses the "hot" words... sweltering, oppressive, scorching, blasting, burning... and these words, by themselves seem to send the mercury soaring even higher.

Come with me to another place with only natural air conditioning and no fans. It is still hot, still 95 degrees and the breeze is still missing in action. Now, I'll add a few "cooling" words such as.. shady, dark, refreshing, bubbling, clear, wet, ... and already I feel a slight chill. Feed your eyes with the smooth flowing of the fountain, rest your weary head in the shade of the overhanging tree and let your ears cool you with the sweet gurgling sound of the water here.... There, are you starting to feel better? I am.

Watery Wednesday has many wonderful ways to cool off.

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Stars Of The Earth

Fuschia...royal purple and ruby red.
(Click picture to enlarge)

"What a desolate place would be a world without a flower! It would be a face without a smile, a feast without a welcome. Are not flowers the stars of the earth, and are not our stars the flowers of the heaven." ~ A.J. Balfour

I go to White's Nursery once in a while.. it is close to home and they have a wonderful selection of plants for the yard and for the home. When I saw this fuschia plant it immediately reminded me of something... a group... an organization with chapters all over the US... individuals who meet regularly and dress in bright colors with opulent accessories and adornments. They have a great time together and never fail to cheer others around them. So, who do these flowers remind me of? The Red Hat Ladies... of course! They are red and purple and beautiful!

Work of the Poet hosts Ruby Tuesday each week. Go visit!

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Sunshine For The Ground

A mellow yellow macro daisy...
(Click picture to enlarge)

"Bright flowers, whose home is everywhere
Bold in maternal nature's care
And all the long year through the heir
Of joy and sorrow,
Methinks that there abides in thee
Some concord with humanity,
Given to no other flower I see
The forest through."
~ William Wordsworth, To the Daisy

It was cloudy with a nice breeze when I left for the botanical garden yesterday. Then, the sun came out and the humidity headed back up and the breeze died down... so I took shelter in the shade of the small gazebo at the edge of the wildflower and butterfly garden. There were lovely coneflowers and yarrow with many butterfly bushes of various sizes and colors and there were daisies. Most were the classic white petal with buttery domed centers.. but a few were what I like to call "designer daisies"; with petals in bright shades of pink, orange, gold and red. Of these... this is my favorite, with more subtle color shades of lavender to yellow in the petals and with the vivid crown of golden grains in the center. I have no idea of the name of this variety... but in the end... it is only what the beholder feels when he or she gazes at this beauty that matters in the long run... what do you feel when you see daisies?

Posted today for Mellow Yellow Monday and Macro Monday. (Yes, late yet again!)

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A Place To Play And Pray

A place to play and pray...in sunlight and shadow.
Norfolk Botanical Garden.. Colonial Garden
(Click picture to enlarge)

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." ~ John Muir

It is cloudy and warm but with a north breeze... so the heat index is not prohibitive. Now, if that radar will just cooperate, I will be off to the botanical garden for the afternoon. A perfect "light" day for the new butterfly garden. Perhaps a visit to this venue too. The Colonial garden has a quiet stream that wanders by with herbs, flowers and bushes that were found in Colonial Virginia. The paths here are covered with white broken shells, just like those in private gardens of Williamsburg. A white gazebo with comfortable benches affords a place to read, relax, contemplate and rest. On the day I took this picture, the sunshine behind the garden threw long shadows over the gazebo and lawn. Come and join me.

An entry for Scenic Sunday and Shadow Shot Sunday.

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SPH: When Flags Fly

Helpful flags... Clockwise from top: Hurricane warning flags,
emergency clinic flag, "we are open" flag.
(Click pictures to enlarge)

"There is hopeful symbolism in the fact that flags do not wave in a vacuum." ~ Arthur C. Clarke

Helpful flags keep us safe during the storm, lead us to a place where our physical ills can be treated and let us know when our favorite restaurant is open. These flags serve a specific purpose in everyday life.

Colorful and festive flags....
(Clockwise from top right): Children's garden at Norfolk Botanical Garden, traveling
carnival flags, knights in shining armor flags at Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC.

"Colors answer feeling in man; shapes answer thought; and motion answers will." ~ John Sterling

Some flags show us a good time... leading the way to carnival rides and cotton candy, marking the entrance to the children's area of a botanical garden where kids can touch and smell and dig and play to their heart's content and guiding us to days gone by when handsome and brave knights rescued damsels in distress. These flags lend color to our lives and stir memories of childhood past.

Old Glory

"When Freedom from her mountain height
Unfurled her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robe of night,
And set the stars of glory there."
~ Joseph Rodman Drake,
The Croakers--The American Flag

As we close in on Independence Day, this flag is foremost in my mind; Old Glory, The Stars and Stripes... our flag that has always and will hopefully always stand for freedom. Our freedom was hard fought and should be cherished and guarded at all cost. This flag still brings a tear to my eye when it is carried with honor in a parade or raised high above a stadium or when folded tight, is given to a grieving widow and family. It talks to me of sacrifice and the hope of a better future. This flag does not belong to the Federal Government... this flag is yours and mine and our children's... this flag belongs to ...WE, THE PEOPLE!

Tennessee Chick graciously hosts Saturday Photo Hunt each week... and this week's theme is "flags".

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PhotoHunt

Partly Cloudy...A Dusky Flight

Virginia sky at dusk.
(Click picture to enlarge)

"The sky is that beautiful old parchment in which the sun and the moon keep their diary." ~ Alfred Kreymborg, Old Manuscript

These are the clouds most people love... those fluffy whipped cream clouds that catch the rays of a setting sun and splatter them all over the earth in shades of red and yellow and purple. These clouds would never send shooting daggers of lightning or echo with rolling thunder... no, they are pleasant little clouds.. shading us during the day and frolicking across the sky at night. It hasn't rained for four days now... the construction guys love it this way.. still, we could use a few more of the gray clouds with rain... especially since the windows are in the new addition. Until then... these soft sunsets are beautiful and look.... a large bird soars up with the air drafts.. perhaps a hawk or an eagle... perhaps.

This shot is for SkyWatch Friday and Carmi's theme for the week is "cloudy".

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