Category Archives: Birds

Sun and Eagle Chasing…

Our trip on Sunday up highway 530 in Northwest Washington was one of trying to find the sunshine and spotting some eagles along the Skagit River.

We found both and enjoyed the sunshine and the eagles we spotted. Some of our Mennonite girls get eagles right on their own properties and others don’t have to travel far to enjoy viewing them. Maybe next year I’ll just go squat on their properties to see many eagles all together.

The Skagit River area between Concrete and Marblemount off of highway 20 in Washington is a good spot to see eagles in January. We were a little late to see a good number this year.

The Skagit river was flowing nicely with some interesting swirling that we enjoyed watching.

Tomorrow I’ll be picking up our daughter from the airport for her 1 month stay with us while our Son in law is doing some training off the base. We’re happy to have her here with us instead of on base by herself for the month. We are looking forward to some fun events together. She’ll bring a different kind of sunshine to our home.

Taking Flight…

This is another regular resident at my friend Beth’s house. I was happy to have my camera in hand when it took flight.

Speaking of taking flight…my mom is being kicked out of the nest at the rehab center and headed home on Saturday. Her doctor wants her to do more moving around and to exercise her right leg more. I think my dad will be relieved to have her home again even though it means more work for him. My siblings, siblings in law, and nieces are setting up some food deliveries for my mom and dad. My mom has not been pleased with the food at the rehab center so things will start looking up come Saturday in that regard.  Thanks for all your kind concern for my mom. I’m looking forward to seeing both my mom and dad in September.

Quack, Quack…

…waddle, waddle. Mama and her 8 ducklings came to visit.

I’ll be seeing my mama and pops and 6 of their ducklings this weekend. There will probably be a lot of quacking going on. Some of us are at the waddling stage, too. But back to mama duck and her ducklings…

They decided they wanted to eat the bird seed that falls from the bird feeder while I was mowing close by. I left them in peace and mowed another section of the yard until they were done. We think this is the mama duck that visits us every year. This is the first year she’s waddled about our yard with ducklings. We think her eggs got eaten last year.

Things are busy around here as we get ready for a couple of events. Tomorrow we have a dinner here for our end of session celebration with our small group. Then bright and early dark and early on Friday Dear is dropping me off at the airport. I’m flying to Southern California for our nephews wedding in a barn. Makes me think about one of my father’s favorite things to say when we’d leave a door open “Were you born in a barn?” Now Levi and Kristin can say they were married in a barn. Maybe they should have their first babe in a barn. (I digress again) Dear will be joining me later in SoCal. We’re excited that Josh and Laura and Katie will be joining us, too. It’s been a couple months since we’ve seen Katie and we’re looking forward to spending some time with her.

What’s new in your neck of the woods?

The Blue Herons of Kenmore

Tucked away behind the Kenmore Park & Ride is an area of growth where Blue Herons make nests and inhabit every year. Dear noticed increased activity at the sight so I stopped by with my camera. It’s just so odd to see these large birds way up high in these trees in their nests.

The area around these nests is fenced off and this is the closest I was able to get to the trees. I might go back on a day that isn’t so dreary and see if I can catch some of the herons flying in and out.

We have another low key weekend and Dear has Monday off for President’s Day. Katie arrives Sunday night from North Carolina so she can be here for all the last minute wedding details. I’m going to do all the relaxing I can before Tuesday when we hit the ground running! Hope you have a nice weekend.

Feed The Birds?

I’m really not sure who is getting more of the birdseed…

I see plenty little birds coming to the feeder, also. Today I have to refill the feeder because it is empty!

Tomorrow all the Christmas boxes are coming down out of the attic again and I hope to re-organize everything while I put stuff away. How long do you keep your tree and decorations up?

Do you have any big plans for New Year’s Eve?

Love Watching…

…my little visitors and other randomness.

We are being threatened with flooding rains today. We’ll see what happens.

Today I’m getting my temporary crown replaced with my permanent one.  I’ve been encouraged that this will be nothing like my last appointment so I’m optimistic. While I’m out I’ll take care of getting what I need for my contribution for the Thanksgiving gathering we are having on Thursday at the home of dear friends. Our son Dan made it home from our family Thanksgiving time to 14 inches of snow at his home.

How are your Thanksgiving plans shaping up?

Time to Switch…

…from the hummingbird feeder to a regular bird feeder, and boy have I been entertained!

Because my little hummingbirds have been few and far between but other types of birds come and perch on this feeder I decided to change the feeder out.

Can you see the flutter of the wings in this photo?

I need to get out and wash my window again so I can get clearer bird photos in the future. All the bird seed is gone so I need to buy another bag. The funniest thing to watch is the big Blue Jay who comes and attacks the feeder trying to perch on the base. He sends the feeder rocking to and fro with very little seed consumption.

Today is our last Bible Study session until January. We are having a brunch today and I’m taking Judy’s Ham and Egg cups to share. Tomorrow our son arrives from Eastern Washington for a few days. We are going to have our family Thanksgiving meal this Saturday while Dan is here. He has to work on Thanksgiving day. So much to be thankful for. Hope your week is going well.

Northern Flicker Red Shafted ~

At least I think this bird is…

I much prefer him in the yard instead of pecking on our chimney or roof.

I spent Tuesday recuperating from all the 4th of July Party fun on Monday. I did not make it out of the house. I watched some Women’s World Cup Soccer. Made an appointment for a mani/pedi later in July which is a gift from my brother’s family. Washed one load of laundry. It was and is another beautiful day in the Northwest. Enjoyed the lovely fragrance coming from the rose bouquet Jody brought to the party.

I hope your Wednesday is more productive than my Tuesday!

Photobucket replaced all my photos with blurred out versions and photobucket stamped versions. They are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

“The Birds”

Late yesterday afternoon we heard an eerie noise…

 

We have our resident crows that come visit everyday. They peck on our roof sometimes making me think someone is knocking at the front door. They carry trash around the neighborhood and dump it in the most unlikely spots. It’s weird to see a McDonalds hamburger wrapper on my roof. But yesterday things were different. The crowing was deafening. I grabbed my camera and went outside instead of boarding up the fireplace. You remember “The Birds” don’t you?

 

If I had a video/sound feature on my camera I could share how loud and weird this was. We have never seen this many crows around our home squawking so loudly. It was also really windy.

 

 

I’m glad they finally decided to flock elsewhere or I might have considered boarding up the windows and fireplace.

I’m headed out on an early morning walk with my walking buddies from long ago. After the walk Dear and I are taking our son and his lovely wife out to celebrate his birthday which is next Wednesday. We are having a little dry spell and I’m hoping it lasts through the morning.

A good Saturday to you all!

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

It’s Saturday…

What are you doing?

 

I walked out to the garage this morning and I got a very distinct feel of fall in the air. Yikes is summer coming to a close so soon? I think I’ve decided that I am a lot fonder of the beginning of a season then the end of a season…

Since Dear has been on vacation this week I really haven’t made any plans. I just wait to see what he’s up to. We had an overnight at the beginning of his vacation to Eastern Washington but for the rest of the time we’ve just been hanging around the homestead. We spotted these animals in the East. I’m glad this guy was of the carved variety…

Have a wonderful day wherever you are and whatever you are doing!

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.