Just a glimpse of all the activity going on around here. For each photo that succeeds in capturing a flitting bumble bee, for example, there are about 30 where he’s a blur. Our woodpecker friend, a red bellied woodpecker to be exact, has been ensconced on the property for a while. We hear the rat-a-tat-tat of his pecking in the catalpa tree. I’ve identified his calls; he’s very talky. Yesterday I walked out the door and there he was on the shed, moving from here to there, assessing whether the shed was peck-worthy. In the end, he decided it wasn’t. But I was able to slowly sneak up on him and grab some photos. I don’t have a telephoto lens, but this kind of situation is exactly the reason I want one some day.
Don posted a photo of him on Facebook and asked for name suggestions. I think Guthrie (as in Woody Guthrie) won out. So Guthrie it is. He’s a beauty.
The shed needs painting. I don’t see it happening for a long while. I don’t like to paint walls.
Hey, it has a weathered look. I sort of like that.
It’s raining heavily and has been since last night. Knowing that rain was on the way, I ran out to the peonies yesterday afternoon with my pruning shears. I wanted to grab the fully opened flowers because I knew that the heavy rain would decimate them. Into the Ball jar they went.
Hello, beauties.
A fellow musician friend of Don’s is coming over today – he’s driving in from Connecticut. They’re going to practice together for a gig they have on June 21st. This guy is amazing; he plays the mandolin, dobro, steel guitar, you name it. Don met him recently and they seem to really get each other’s musical sensibilities. It’s a match made in heaven.
I can’t wait to hear them play. Perfect for a rainy afternoon.
(I was going to go to the Country Living Fair but I decided not to, for several reasons. It’s rainy and messy out there. I’m not real excited about the whole thing; I wrote on FB that I was feeling rather ‘meh’ about the whole thing. We’re on a strict budget here; I can’t really justify the cost of the ticket and the gasoline to get there, and I can’t really buy anything. So why go? If it’s a success, it will be back again. Right? But my friend Heidi has a booth there and I’m so, so happy for her!)
Happy Friday.
Inspecting critters is a fun activity! Yet there are a few I would prefer to ignore: black flies, mosquitoes, no-seeums…. DH likes me to walk with him since I protect him from the biters! How they love me… :(
I feel your pain. As a fair skinned person, I seem to be a favorite treat for those guys!
Claudia, LOVE LOVE LOVE Guthrie,(Arlo) also. I just read a history of the 1930s and the part he played in the Dust Bowl years. I was amazed at the songs he had written out of those times that I had NO idea how they came about. A woodpecker, would be my second favorite bird, first favorite? Meadow Lark!
Sadly we are hearing less and less, as our meadows disappear :=(
Woody Guthrie was a fascinating man, Judy.
Ooooh, yeah, I like the weathered look also. I do like the red paint so if you repaint it, I’m throwing in my vote for red again, sweets!!!
Off for a massage I definitely need today. Sigh.
xoxo,
Connie
Feel better, my friend.
Good Afternoon Claudia, Guthrie is a beautiful Woodpecker and it was so lovely to see him closeup. I saw quite a few whilst I was in India, but it was so hard to get photographs as they tended to be high up.
You are wise to cut your peonies, I don’t know how many times I have lost mine to heavy rainfall. They look so pretty in the jars.
What a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon, listening to Don and his friend practicing, I love the sound of mandolins. Much better than trudging around in a muddy field.
Best wishes
Daphne
Much better, Daphne!
I love those woodpeckers Claudia..I just bought some new suet cakes for them and the other birds here..I’m sure the music will help to cheer up a dreary, rainy afternoon..Enjoy!!
I am – they sound great!
Good morning, Claudia. I am an attraction to biting bugs. Any time there is one around.
I would feel the same about attending the show. I rarely ever see anything anymore that must go home with me. I am more in the mode of wanting to get rid of things.
Me too, Beverly. I’d like to be there to cheer on my friend Heidi, but other than that, the most I could do would be to take photos for the blog. And really….there’s nothing new under the sun, is there?
Hi Claudia,
Beautiful photos. Especially the peonies. Those were my Mom’s favorite flowers and I remember having several large bushes in our yard as a child. My daughter has inherited that love and has several planted around her home in Portland, OR.
Guthrie is a beautiful bird. How neat that you were able to get such good pictures of him. Have fun listening to the music. It sounds like a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon.
Blessings,
Betsy
Normally, Guthrie is way high up in the catalpa. I was lucky enough to catch him exploring the shed.
Hi Claudia!! I just love all your pictures!! The flowers look so nice, especially the peonies… I think Guthrie is a fine name for your feathered friend!! You will always know when he is around, as red-bellies tend to be very vocal!! I agree with you about the Country Living Fair. I was going to go too, but this rain has put a damper on everything. Enjoy this cozy rainy Friday… Francine
I would love to see everything, though I have attended other events like this in the past. I don’t really feel the need to meet ‘famous’ people or be ‘seen.’ Been there. Done that.
All the pictures are fabulous, Claudia. I especially love the woodpecker on your shed. I understand about the Country Living fair. It wouldn’t be in my budget right now either. Have a wonderful day. xo Laura
You have a wonderful day, too, Laura. Happy Weekend, my friend.
Happy Friday Claudia – Love the photos of Guthrie. I love your weathered red barn. I wouldn’t repaint it until I absolutely had to. I love the weathered look.
Your peonies are just gorgeous!
Have a great weekend.
Judy
Oh good! If you say not to paint it, I am happy to go along with you!! Have a wonderful weekend, Judy.
I LOVE Guthrie! We has seen a lot this year too. It’s not typical to see them here in the garden because of the cats, but they must be getting braver :) I for one think your shed has just the right amount of chippy-ness to it. Last year I painted the shack in the woods red and can’t wait for it to start looking like your shed :) I can’t stand to paint, so things have to pretty bad to get me to bring the brushes and roller out.
Have fun listening to some great music Claudia!!!!!!
hugs from here…
Hugs right back at you, June!
Beautiful photos! Peonies are one of the most beautiful flowers!
They sure are, Manuela.
Lovely photos Claudia! I’m so envious of your peonies, so gorgeous. Adore your woodpecker and shed … I was thinking Harvey as in Wallbanger … Guthrie is much nicer. & How wonderful to have live music fill the house (my husband likes Don’s music too!).
Well gosh … crazy afternoon here … shootings at Santa Monica College, sounds like once again violence began at home with two dead and then continued on from the home in SM to SMC. They just said four dead on the news … so angry, sickened and saddened by this continuing insanity …
Terrible news, Sally. I’ve been reading about it online. Another inexplicable act of violence.
Great captures and I love trying to get those shots of the littlest ones..usually it is by sheer ignorance :)
I see that you have a red bellied woodpecker as well..Mine spends more time at my feeders than the squirrels..