FEATHERS, FUR & BLOSSOMS OF HOPE

A little feathered friend.

 I thought I would share a little of what's happening in my world this cold and dreary winter.

I keep birdseed in an old cookie sheet on the back deck and as you can see I have many visitors. Here a Dark Eyed Junco stands on the rail waiting for her turn.

I sat very still in front of the slider and took pictures through the glass. Any fast movement and the birds were gone in a flash of feathers and little bird poopies. This Stellar's Jay was especially nervous and no wonder. I have had a huge bald eagle hanging around.

 Song Sparrows are such sweet little birds. Not the show off type but their song brings Spring to life in this lady's heart! I am fascinated at how birds can get a seed in their beak, open it to eat the inside and discard the hull. How can they do that? If I put a whole peanut in my mouth and try that, I have to spit out the whole thing! Yes I did try. LOL

 The Rufus Sided Towhee is another shy little creature. It's brick red sides in contrast with the black and white coloring make this little fellow really stand out in the snow. His eyes are the same color as it's red sides. Enlarge the photo and see.

 Ok, now for the fur. This doe (in the back) had these twin fawns last summer. She kept them quite well hidden most of the summer but now with the freezing winter upon us and so little for them to forage they are coming to my front yard to eat the grass and whatever else they can find. There is very Little nutrition in it this time of year, but it's something to fill their tummy's. The babies still have most of their fuzzy winter coat although some is gone.

 Here are the kids, looking to see if I have apples for them. I can't believe I am feeding them. They will grow up and destroy more of my flowers and shrubs.

But for now, they are hungry babies and I have a mother's heart.

 Believe me, it's awfully hard to resist these hungry brown eyes. They don't come  close enough for me to touch them but do come within 4-5 feet, I think If I held out an apple they would take it from my hand. I will try that next time they come. A few days ago while sitting at my computer I saw something out of the corner of my eye and was very surprised to find mama deer walking up the stairs to my front deck. Patty said one day she will be knocking at my door.

LOL!

 Mama and her babies have finished the apples and are wandering up to the old apple tree where several large patches of English Violets grow. I love the way Violets smell. Deer love the way they taste! I will put blood meal around them after the deer have other things to eat. That will discourage them so I will have a few violets to enjoy.

 Another kind of fur

Sir Tudie says, "I want winter to go away!! It's too cold." Here he is burrowed down into my blankets, head on my pillow too. I bathe him and Matilda often because I won't want to wake up smelling like a dog. Isn't he cute though?

It has been quite cold here, in the teens with snow and ice all over. It's snowing again now as I type. A light dancing sort of snow, softly drifting whichever way the breeze carries it. It's a lazy day. I think I will do what Tudie is doing.

As I look out at the snow and feel the chill of winter, I remind myself that in about two months, just 8 short weeks, my Gravenstein apple tree will be blooming once again, just as it has for about seventy-five years. Blossoms give me hope. Hope for another beautiful spring, hope for my country, hope for all those I love.

THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER. I CAN HAVE HOPE IN ALL THINGS BECAUSE OF YOU.

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Please remember to hold my friend John up in prayer. He sees his doctor on the 4th.

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