Slow going. But I like the challenge. Since it’s Van Gogh, it’s basically little puzzle pieces consisting of brush strokes. That makes it both maddening and beautiful.
We did a lot of work outside yesterday. Don keeps carving paths into the wooded part of the back forty. I sowed seeds – this year will be a bit of a crap shoot because I normally add top soil before I sow the seeds. I don’t have top soil this year, so I sowed them directly into our rocky soil. Maybe I’ll get flowers…and maybe I won’t. I hope I get a few!
I also mowed part of the corral, an area next to the shed, and the other side of the front yard where the lilacs are. It’s looking so green out there. Now, when I sit in the den and look out the window toward the shed, all I see is green.
Yesterday, I happened to look out the kitchen window and saw a pileated woodpecker on one of the logs. I called Don over to the window and as we were watching, another pileated woodpecker appeared. Since we were trying to take a photo/video from inside the kitchen, the picture is blurry – really, it’s just pixels – but you can at least see them both. A pair of pileated woodpeckers!
I got this frame from a video Don shot. It was amazing watching them. They were really hammering on this old wood. They’re so big and gorgeous. I think it’s the first time Don has seen one.
I’m taking it easy today.
Stay safe.
What a moment of grace to see not one but two Pileated Woodpeckers. I hope they nest in your wooded area, what a joy that would be.
May everything be well with you and Don,
Kaye
It was truly wondrous! Thank you, Kaye. Stay safe!
Birds, beautiful birds! I had a pretty bird yesterday, too. I heard such a commotion from the trees outside, I had to go and look. There he was, a bright red cardinal, just chirping his heart out. I had to watch him jump and hop through the branches of the live oak trees until he disappeared. It always seems like a miracle to see that brilliant red in the trees—it makes me happy for the rest of the day.
I love cardinals. They bring a smile to my face. Glad you had your encounter with one of those beauties. Stay safe, Shanna.
Shanna, I wonder if you might have a nest. That is just how they act when they have a nest and some babies. I know you are in FL right now, but we are seeing and hearing babies here right now!! The babes are so cute. They have funny little cowlicks which makes them look adorable.
Chris, I do hope so! But they are so skittish. They fly when they see anything (like me) move! I’ve only seen two others in the seven years we’ve been here.
Oh, wow!! I guess we are so used to seeing many cardinals all day every day! The saying is when you see one, it is someone visiting from “beyond”. So, many times I will look at the male or female and pick a relative I miss and have a conversation. Yeah, it is crazy, you’re right!! But I usually feel pretty good when we are finished “chatting”!!
Isn’t bird watching interesting? Two pileated woodpeckers is a great sighting. We have yet to see any of those, but we do have 4 others from the woodpecker family that are regulars at our feeder. Perhaps, if you put out a suet feeder, they might become regulars.
I see did an unusual bird at our oriole feeder. He was gorgeous, reddish orange with black. Too vibrant to be an oriole. Turns out my neighbor identified him as a scarlet tanager. He is gorgeous, I hope he returns.
That’s all the news from our house. You deserve to rest today, after all that work. It’s quite windy here…I may plant a bit this afternoon if the soil dries up a bit. Puzzle’s coming along nicely…that’s such a pretty one. Stay safe!
Donnamae!! A Scarlet Tanager! Aren’t they beautiful?? I have only seen 2 over the years. Our Orioles are going crazy eating right now, and the Hummers are back. It is such a fun bird-time of year!
Oh…we’ve had a great time watching the birds! Between the woodpeckers, hummingbirds, orioles, and other beauties who just happen to show up, it’s been a fun month so far! Best part…it takes my mind off of the ‘other‘ things going on…lol! ;)
Lovely discovery! A scarlet tanager! I’ve never seen one. I don’t know if we’ll ever catch this pair of pileated woodpeckers together again, but it was sure wonderful. Stay safe.
2 pilated woodpeckers! We see one pretty regularly. I have never seen more than one at a time.
The orioles and hummingbirds have arrived here finally.
We enjoy watching them.
We had 6 inches in our rain gauge yesterday morning….and a lake in our backyard. Our partial depth basement (under the upper part of our split level) has about an inch of water. Fortunately, our basement is unfinished. We have 3 pumps going.
We have lived in this house over 40 years and we have never had flooding like this. Our county has declared a state of emergency. We are lucky compared to people who have water damage in their living areas.
I love that puzzle.
Take care, stay safe.
Six inches of rain! Wow! That is one heck of a lot of rain, Marilyn. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this.
Stay safe.
How exciting to see a pair of pileated woodpeckers in your yard! I saw one once in Oregon. Last evening on a walk I spotted two curved bill thrashers with fledglings in the middle of a huge cactus. Awesome to see close up.
That is amazing! Lucky you, Jacqueline. Stay safe!
How wonderful to see two Pileated Woodpeckers Together! I have seen several over the last 10 years or so. Right now I am on Hummingbird watch. One pair so far!
The bird I rarely see around here – though I do see them – is the Hummingbird. Of course, we don’t have a feeder, either.
Stay safe, Judy.
Aren’t they magnificent?? I have only seen one, but I won’t forget it. My Ortho was telling me that her husband was a veterinarian in Madison. One day he received a call that a Pileated had flown into a large window of a huge house near one of the lakes. They thought it was still alive. He jumped in his car and drove there and the homeowners were watching from a distance. Another Pileated had arrived and was standing over the injured one and sort of doing a “shout” of some sort. As they stood there, the injured one got up and they both hopped along for a couple of minutes, and soon they flew off together. An amazing story.
I will bet you will get flowers even without adding top soil. It is still quite cool and cloudy here and we are all ready for some SUN!!!! The weekend here looks less than stellar. ugh. But perhaps that will keep some of the crazies indoors. We could use that break for sure. Hope you have a good remainder of your day.
I’d see one of them around here this spring, but had no idea there were two!
That story about the vet and the pileated woodpecker is wonderful!
I hope you get some sun, Chris. Stay safe.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the pileated woodpecker. Pretty darned gorgeous!
The rain might have stopped — I think so. At least it’s stopped flooding the basement which is on its way to dry.
That puzzle is really going to be terrific when done but I can see what a challenge it is!
They’re also huge. Maybe the biggest of the woodpeckers?
Glad your basement is recovering, Jeanie. Stay safe.
I used to see woodpeckers. My other house up on a woodsy hill. Old telephone pole from the 1920s. The peckers had been at it for years with that pole and had carved out a lot of their little house-holes for I assume protection and nests. I really enjoyed watching them at their quite-high-up perches although that was a steady pole that didn’t sway in the wind. Then, the power company replaced the pole (c. 2011, so that pole had probably been there 90 years when the hillside subdivision [vintage homes] had first been developed; it definitely looked different from the more-recent-years poles for telephone, etc.; the guys taking it out affirmed the pole was THAT old; it actually wasn’t AS high as the poles today and it had a sort of rounded top; also, the wood of the pole was so ‘weathered’ that it looked like soft, smooth tree bark). I’d think, “Why did it have to happen while I was living here?” Woe-is-me. Especially because they couldn’t give me a good reason why they were taking it out in the first place, since it seemed to be functioning just fine in its role for all those wires/cables. They took away my fun with watching the birdlife! And think about the poor birds losing their little niches. I always think of that when someone cuts down a tree; whose bird family did they disrupt?
You two must be feeling a real sense of accomplishment with your yard. You get the satisfaction of the hard work/toil, but then you reap the pleasure of seeing the results when you sit on the porch or look thru your windows. We humans are meant to move and have activity, feel productive; get stuff done. You’re getting much better balance in your lives, now that you can have a blend of inside tasks and outdoor chores; snow & wintry weather be gone! Now you get a good four months of bliss!
I love the blues and yellows of your puzzle; really eye-appealing. Gorgeous combo of colors. Make sure this summer that you get a bunch of puzzles ordered for next winter; I’d read puzzles were selling out like hotcakes of late. Depleted inventories! Gotta make sure you get ones that really capture your attention with challenge and color (not just any-old puzzle, right?!).
Yes, it’s so wonderful to get outside and DO things. I love mowing, too, and seeing the result is very satisfying! Yes, puzzles are selling out everywhere, but I have a connection to a couple of companies I like, so I’ll keep watching their websites. You’re right, it’s wise to stock up for the long winter. Stay safe, Vicki.
the puzzle looks great! can those little brush strokes help you fit pieces into the puzzle?
we have three kinds of woodpeckers here (including pileateds) and they are so much fun to see! glad you and don saw two together and have some video/photos of them.
you two had another busy day outside! i hope those seeds take and you soon get lots and lots of flowers! i know it’s a labor of love and something you enjoy doing … but i am glad if you took it easy all day today.
that’s what i’m doing … taking it easy and being glad and grateful to be home. chance of rain here, too. :)
hope you, don and everyone else are well and stay that way!
kathy in iowa
No, they make it more difficult!
Glad to hear you’re taking it easy, Kathy. You deserve it. Stay safe!
Where do you get the puzzles from? I know you did mention it once but I did not make a note of it.
I don’t have the list on hand. It’s on a post here with links – just search for “jigsaw puzzle” and it should come up in one of the posts. Stay safe, Rose.
Thank You!
xo
The pileated woodpecker adventure was truly a gift! Did you squeal with delight? I don’t think I have ever seen a pair frolicking together. We have a few in the woods and wow, do they make a racket! And I love to see the holes in the standing deadwood so unique, I’m glad you and Don chose to enjoy the moment as it was meant.
We did! Actually, we gasped and talked quietly because Don was filming!
Stay safe, Kelly.
It is so much fun watching the birds. It is also relaxing. We had a Woodpecker in our tree in the back. We have not seen it this year.
Marilyn
It’s very relaxing. Thank goodness for birds! Stay safe, Marilyn.