birds — Page 33

Stronger

September 9, 2018 at 9:58 am by Claudia

Yesterday, I was putting on my shoes to go outside and retrieve the mail when I saw this:

I ran for my camera. This little one was so sleepy that I was able to step outside and take photographs without disturbing him.

When I purposely made a little noise, I got this:

I remained there for quite a while and then I quietly went back inside. Let him sleep. The mail could come later (it was only a bill anyway.)

Sweet little goldfinch. It’s sort of puffed up. I often see the mourning doves like that, especially when they’re resting.

I’m hanging in there. Thank you for your support. It was an awful day yesterday. Simply awful. But I feel stronger today and I’m slowly putting things in perspective. It’s a lesson I’d rather not have to learn, but learn it I have. It’s not as dire as “Don’t trust anybody” – I’d hate to go through life that way. It’s not my nature.

But “Be wary!” works for me.

I am really, really good at what I do. This I know. This I’ve heard from hundreds and hundreds of people throughout my career. Not only do I have the mastery of my skills, I am compassionate and kind. There’s no better combination. And if this sounds like I’m tooting my horn, I’m not. I’m just calling it as it is. So I’m damned if I’m going to let this crap affect my confidence or my absolute knowledge that I am an excellent coach. As Don, who has been coached by me several times in the past, says, “It’s their loss.” And I can guarantee they’ll feel that loss.

They’re not bad guys. Not at all. They behaved badly.

I’ve definitely learned that I’m expendable. But let’s put this in perspective; I know this has happened to many, many people in all sorts of professions. I’m not special.

Yes, it hurt me deeply. But I am strong.

It’s 63 today – 30 degrees less than it was a couple of days ago. My head is spinning. I did mow yesterday and that helped. I used it to sweat out all my anger. To curse out loud because no one could hear me over the sound of the lawnmower. To concoct emails in my head in which I told them off. That kind of thing. And the good thing is that I got all of that out and now I’m not going to communicate with them at all. That would just be to make me feel better. To teach a lesson. I used to feel the need to do that when I was younger. However, the older I get, the less I am inclined to do that because it’s all about ego. It’s all about feeding my ego when I’m feeling fragile or wronged.

And the lawn looks great, which is a bonus. I also did a bunch of other chores. And then, having not slept a whole lot the night before, I collapsed. We watched Die Hard last night, which I haven’t seen in many years, and it was the perfect antidote to my sorrow. You can’t help but be completely engrossed and it’s such a good film!

Today I might mow again or I might just read. And heal.

Thank you, my friends. Your support meant everything to me yesterday. Bless you.

Happy Sunday.

Tuesday Morning

August 28, 2018 at 10:17 am by Claudia

It’s once again very hot and very humid here with excessive heat warnings today and tomorrow. It will feel like it is well over 100 degrees. The air is like soup. And my friends in Wisconsin are battling rain and floods and my friends out west are dealing with forest fires. I can’t help thinking Mother Nature is pissed off. And I don’t blame her.

I watered everything this morning and I’ll be staying in for the rest of the day as humidity and I don’t do well together. Oops! Have to put more water in the birdbath, though I’m not seeing as many birds there as I did earlier in the summer. My lonesome dove often sits on the edge of the birdbath for a spell and the finches take quick drinks, but otherwise, I’m not seeing the catbirds (who love baths!) or the robins. All of that means summer is winding down, which, as much as I’ve hated the weather this summer, makes me sad.

I spoke firmly to the heavenly blue morning glories this morning and asked them when I am going to see flower buds. So far, I’ve received no answer. I’m getting impatient!

The limelights are turning pink, another sign of the seasonal change. That bush, which used to be upright, is now hanging down to the ground due to the constant rain pummeling it until it bent over under the weight. I’m not happy about that. I’ve done my best to nudge it upright, but it’s not working.

Most of the bee balm has dried up and is finished for the season, but there are a few flowers here and there.

I started in on the deductions yesterday and worked for several hours until I felt the beginnings of a primal scream. So I stopped. More today.

Thanks for all the tips on the butterfly and nightshade. It’s Eastern black nightshade and I don’t see it anywhere else. There’s lots of discussion as to if it’s really as toxic as people think it is. I don’t have a pet that will chomp on it and most animals know not to. Most of the discussion is about its effect on soybean crops and not on animals or humans. Since it lives mainly in the woods, I’m leaving it there.

Happy Tuesday.

Flowers, Birds & Perspective

August 21, 2018 at 9:42 am by Claudia

A surprise this morning:

And there are two more buds ready to open. These roses bloom early in the spring and then, when you think they’re done for the season, more leaves emerge. Then flowers. Such a nice later-in-the-summer surprise.

Yesterday morning, we were sitting on the porch having coffee and I heard this amazing bird call. I looked across the road. Since I had brought my big girl camera with me, I quickly got up and took several pictures. He was way up in a tree and the gray skies made a dark background, but here he is:

A pileated woodpecker. I’ve seen them around here before. They are large birds. And noisy! See the two little birds to his left?

Now, a cropped, zoomed-in version:

And one more:

Pretty good for a dark and gloomy morning!

Edited to add: No, the leaves haven’t all dropped off the tree. It’s a dead tree.

Let’s see…I mowed a bit yesterday morning. Not too much, just the corral and the grass surrounding it. Ran errands. Cleaned. Read.

It’s been cooler; still humid, but much more bearable when it isn’t in the nineties. It’s cool this morning and gray and darkish again. We were just out on the porch and I remarked to Don that if we didn’t know what time it was, we would think it was early evening! I’m starting to feel the beginnings of the seasonal change. I cling on to summer as long as I can because I know that after fall comes winter. But this has been such a tough summer weather-wise, that a part of me will welcome the cooler temperatures.

My second Snow White egg cup arrived in the mail yesterday from Australia. She’s safely ensconced in the cubby cabinet. I’ll take a picture of both of them later today.

From my chair on the front porch, one perspective:

And another perspective:

I love playing with the focal point of a photo and depth of field. And I really love my new camera.

Thanks, by the way, for all your great supportive comments about the cubby cabinet. It was a chunk of money that I hadn’t expected to be spending, but, in the end, it was very clear to me that I had to get it. I will never see something like it again. It’s truly one-of-a-kind. I haven’t regretted the choice to buy it for one second. I pass it several times a day and I smile each and every time I see it. You guys are the best!

Happy Tuesday.

Stronger

Tuesday Morning

Flowers, Birds & Perspective

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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