Pink March

I was fed an Instagram post that claimed, "once the hobby of senior citizens, bird watching is being embraced by young people in droves." Fed is the correct word there because, I don't know about you, but nearly everything in my social media feeds are either advertisements, click bait, or people I don't know. It frustrates me, but I suppose I can whine all I want and it won't get me anywhere, so hush up Gail!

It did strike a chord with me though because I just finished a terrific book that I got at the library for a song. Well really a quarter but a "song" sounds more fun. Called To See Every Bird on Earth, it is as much about a father/son relationship as it is about birds, so if either of those topics interest you, perhaps you would find it as fascinating as I did. Yesterday afternoon on my walk in the park, the sound of a bird calling and singing stopped me in my tracks. As the trees are beginning to flower and bud out, it is harder to find birds, but I followed the sound and found a Brown Thrasher, the first bird that captured the attention of the father when he was a teenager.  He went on to find and count over 7,000 bird species all over the world but, it was the sound of this beautiful bird that first captured his heart. 

Such a pretty bird that I have rarely seen in a tree because primarily it hunts for food on the ground. It made my heart sing too. AND I am thrilled that young people are taking up birding!

Nearby a Northern Mockingbird was noisy as well. We had a Mockingbird that stayed atop one of our bushes for nearly a week and I thought it would become a resident bird, but I thought wrong.

A cute little Carolina Wren, the smallest bird with the biggest voice, was in the shadows but easy to follow the song because it is so loud.

Everything is happening fast in our world of nature. One day a tree is bare as can be, and two days later it looks like, well, I don't guess there is anything else like it in the world is there?

I was sad when we had our little snow and then a few really cold days that did not do Sandy's tree any favors.

Some new buds remain, but it won't be long before the tree is green once again. 

Across the street from Sandy's house, is this house with the creeping phlox looking mighty fine this year after Bruce planted more last year. 

Most of the year it looks pretty crummy, but for this display it is worth it. Then too, I have watched a whole lot of YouTube videos on gardening and one thing that is stressed is pruning, so that will be my plan going forward after it blooms. I was so thrilled when I saw my first Yellow Tiger Swallowtail feeding on the prolific blooms. The warmth of Florida keeps bees, insects, and butterflies feeding all year but here it is very much seasonal so a cause for celebration when they do appear.

Last week between the cold, and a minor health issue, walks and pickleball were mostly not happening for me. Then on Saturday it was hot as the dickens! Seriously, from snow on the first day of the week to 85 degrees on the 6th! Today, on the other hand is just glorious both in a beautiful sunny sky and a high near 60.

The pink trees did not wait on me!

And look what is blooming on the shady side of the house.

I did not remember this blooming so early, but it seems to like the little sun it is getting before the Rose of Sharon trees develop their leaves and throw this area into complete shade. 

Friends, the lilac tree is showing great promise, although it is a spindly tree that is definitely in need of some pruning.

Over and over you have heard me talk about the Riverwalk and rightly so. Two rivers meet in the middle of town and are vital to our town for lots of reasons. The walk is broken into sections where some parts are wild and free, while others have lovely sidewalks. Can you guess my favorites?

You may be wondering how the seedlings are coming and the answer is slowly, but surely they are sprouting.

Remember the celery? By golly it's growing too!

In fact it seems to be doing quite well so I have another piece in water in the kitchen.  Things are popping up in the beds that I keep wondering what the heck they are;  I'm pretty sure these are hostas.

We will find out won't we? The grass was growing quite well as were the violets sprinkled everywhere amongst the grass. Bruce's sense of order won out although I will say the blade was high enough that we have plenty violets remaining.

His trustee duties are keeping him plenty busy that's for sure. It's almost as if he was a project manager again without any salary! Speaking of salary, tomorrow one of Bruce's favorite superintendents is coming to visit with his wife. We are looking forward to seeing them and showing off our little slice of heaven.

Here's one of the violets and a big fat bumble bee too.

One morning, out the basement sliding glass door, I saw a bunch of Goldfinch going crazy.  I took this photo through the glass and while it is not very good, I was able to count the birds. At the cottage we had this sort of thing, but this is a first for Campbell Street.

I am more used to seeing them like this.

I'll help you out....twenty Goldfinch, many of whom are beginning to show their bright yellow mating colors.

Our ladies group had a White Elephant sale that was fun and I bought a few things, including an amazing handmade basket with Eucalyptus for five dollars. Because it is a fund raiser I should have insisted on paying more. I bid on this handmade bowl but lost out to a higher bidder. 

I am finishing up a scrappy quilt, sewing on the binding while seated on the front porch because it is NOT COLD! I am using a little needle book that I made many years ago. 

I thread four and sew until I run out and do it all over again. An abundance of natural light helps my aging eyes! The holes in needles seem smaller and smaller to me. Just one more thing that is harder than it used to be. Think opening anything, whether it is a jar, a plastic bottle or something encased in the hardest plastic on earth. It's not easy for some of us old folks!

See this cat. It is a menace cat. It likes to sit on our porch in the mornings and even more so under the bird feeders. Birds do not like cats so birds stay away from feeders. Boo hiss! I filled a spray bottle with water and it did not take many squirts before above cat runs when he sees me picking it up. Go Away!

I saw my first bunny last Wednesday. Today, as a matter of fact, about twenty minutes ago I saw my first groundhog. Both were in the our neighbor's yard. Said groundhog was viewed from my second story kitchen window while rinsing my lunch plate. Both are threats to my garden. Boo hiss!

Our Japanese Maple is coming!! Truth be told, by the time we return from Florida there is a good chance that all the leaves will have opened, a sight to behold. After months of a bare tree in the front yard it is most welcome. It remains to be seen how my blogging will go next week, but I will do my best.

your friend,

Gail

p.s. I hope you enjoyed pink March! 

Kick Starter

I'm not sure if it was a call from my sister Nancy, or the gradual change in the weather, but I'm officially out of my funk. It does not hurt that Bruce is coming home tomorrow evening, or that he got his CO on Monday, two days early! I say Bruce, but the truth is, it takes a big team to build anything of substance. Last night, while talking to him around 8:30, he said he was going to Home Depot and naturally I asked what for? He said to pick up a few supplies, to which I replied, "honey, you are the project manager, not the laborer." He reminded me that he is "whatever he needs to be to get a project done--always has been and always will be." Can you blame Steve for wanting to hire a guy like that? Wednesday was what they call the "handover" when the managers arrive and are shown how all the systems operate, along with critiquing the work. After some prodding, Bruce told me that it was the best, most complete restaurant they'd ever had. No doubt in my mind they were speaking the truth!

The weather!! Five days without rain!! Hip, hip hurray! The calendar tells me that fall has arrived, or autumn as some folks call it, and I can definitely feel a tiny bit of cooling off. Of course here in Florida those calendar designations rarely mean much, but still, a girl can hope. Even if the temperature remains in the 90's, the produce market reminds us that fall is here.

About two weeks ago, when this Bruce being gone saga began, I took the photo below to demonstrate how things are going around here at nighttime. Dinner over, and you can usually find me here.

Making the bed has been pretty easy these days as I sneak into that little envelope, remaining there until the sun rises. So that was my original intent however, there's been a big change in our bedroom, because, during one of Bruce's infrequent days home, we got a big stain on his beloved quilt. Oxyclean did not do the trick, nor did turning it the other way around, so on Tuesday, I set out to find something new, which was much harder than it sounds.

I began at the nearest stores including TJSaks, or make that TJMaxx. Can you guess why I took the photo below?

If you've no clue I'll tell you why. Both ladies are carrying the same handbag! Isn't that the craziest? I suppose one of them had it, and the other liked it so well, they got one too? So, anyway, no luck there. Onward to Mecca, as I like to  call it, others use the Mall at Millenia name, an area where there are more shopping opportunities than you can count. I went into one store after another with no luck. I even went to the mall itself, which is rare indeed. I'm nearly always struck by the window displays; this one from Kate Spade was really something. Foxy Lady indeed.

Walking from one end of the mall to the other, I can assure you that plaid, as well as the color burgundy, are making a big comeback. You may be thinking right about now that there is such a thing as online shopping Gail, and of course I know that, even trying that earlier in the day, however, after perusing countless websites, I can tell you that there are a lot of ugly bed coverings to be had. Plus, I wanted a quilt that wound not smother us like a duvet, or comforter. Simply put, it's just plain too hot for either of those in my humble opinion.

Much as I did not want to, from there I drove over to Florida Mall. Orlandoans will understand what I mean when I say that route is not through the best of neighborhoods, and it was plainly evident while driving down Oak Ridge Road, seeing what looked like must have been quite the crime scene as there were at least 10 Sheriff cars, as well as a helicopter, and the news media. Although I meant to watch the news to see what it was all about, I was just plain tuckered out by the time I got home, forgetting all about it. The next morning's newspaper mentioned something about gang arrests, however, there were no specifics. Speaking of the newspaper, some days I can't figure out why we still have it delivered, and then other days when I read something like this, I know why. You absolutely MUST click on that link because it is astonishing, particularly the first letter, a good foil to reading about a man disembowling a woman. You just can't make this stuff up!

Parking outside of Dillards, up the escalator I went, soon discovering that if only I'd gone there first, I could have saved myself a full day of shopping. Whether or not Bruce is going to like it, remains to be seen, so I'm leaving all of the price tags attached. The multi-colored quilt worked perfectly with my orange lamps, and newly recovered occasional chair;  finding a replacement that would meet those requirements was no easy feat. So, I went the plain route.

Quite the change, huh? One thing I was hoping to find, and I did so at Dillards, was a dark bed skirt to replace the ivory colored one that Baxter used to love rubbing against, leaving a black streak over time from the bed frame. Mission accomplished, or so I hope!

I mentioned Nancy calling, and during our conversation I said I just did not have enough to keep me busy, which is not what she wants to hear as she is the only one of the Price siblings with a job, and a difficult one at that. I told her I'd even resorted to cleaning the blinds in the living room, a job which I loathe. "How about the closets Gail?" Just what I needed to hear! I tackled the foyer closet yesterday, and a trip to Goodwill followed. I don't quite know how many years I had been holding onto a box of Matthew's books from his youth, but most of them finally found their way to Goodwill, except for these below!

Sitting between my yearly sales book, and Dave and Michelle's wedding picture, I expect they will stay there until someone makes me move them. Those notebooks contain the story of my business so they will remain as well. One of the reasons I've been so lost is that I've not been to the market for a month now, however, I am so grateful that Sun Dance has still been working for me. Well, themselves as well, but you get my drift. It has been a year now since we learned of the big Hobby Lobby sale. What a day that was! Since they began selling the prints at the first of the year, every month they've re-ordered, some months a number of different ones, others only a few of them. Yesterday I received my monthly mail box money check for $1,000, making for a pleasant surprise. Then too, I see that another company made some pretty big purchases, always exciting, including one that I took while visiting Vancouver! As you know, they also license images, and there is one being used for a "light lamp box", whatever that is. Can you even believe how lucky I've been? Pinch me because I can't!

Out and about on my bicycle, this morning I saw a magnolia blooming which is so odd. Whatever makes a tree bloom out of season, I'd like to know?

While on the subject of blooms, the other morning while visiting Sue, she took me out back, explaining that the fantastic coral blooms opened over night.

She has no shortage of blooms in her back yard, and I expect there will be no shortage of butterflies either.

What with all the sunshine we've had for the last FIVE days, the shadows are aplenty. I wonder if my son Matthew will recognize this place.

I bet Karen Howard will! You may recall that her husband suffered a stroke on August 6, and had to be airlifted to Atlanta from their home in Murphy, NC. I received a note from her yesterday, saying it was the date their lives changed forever, which is not exactly good news, however, he is on the road to recovery.

The birds are making a come back after a quiet month at the feeders. This guy, one of my favorite birds called a Brown Thrasher, does his feeding on the ground, making a mess in the process.

According to one of my friends that is also a bird nut, the Painted Buntings should be returning within the month, and you know who hopes they will make a stop at her place!

The internet is like a two edged sword, don't you think? All the rushing to judgement on barely fact based news stories drives me insane, but then there is the other side filled with wonder. This, my friends, is some mind blowing photography, combined with exceptional creativity.

My friend Bonnie has started a blog about their adventures in upper Michigan, Traverse City to be exact. Here's the link that I've included it in my blog roll on the side as well. Here's wishing her well on an exciting new venture, one I've thoroughly enjoyed, and hope she does too.

And that pretty much is all I have to say aside from one more newspaper related article entitled, "Should kids make beds? It depends on age, parents' goals." Is that really worth a three column article? How can any parent even wonder about such a thing? Of course they should make their beds!!!

Perking up by the day,

Gail

The Birds

Last week I really, really tried to keep going, however, most of the days I sure didn't feel myself. Getting up Saturday morning, my eyes were stinging, and I still had little energy, but pack the car I did and drove out to Winter Garden. God bless Dana's son, Cole, for putting up a tent over my display because, if not, I would have been hard pressed to make it. Fortunately, the day was worth it as far as sales were concerned.

Once home, I felt pretty worn out, however, we had agreed to go to a party at Steve and Barb's condo in Lake Nona at 6, and I did not want to disappoint our friends. Barb's boss's 18 year old son died in his sleep last week, obviously, quite the blow to the entire department. She is a good friend, helping in any way she could, meaning cooking for the party was not in the cards. She bought these gorgeous desserts from Whole Foods:

Little Missy here, did not feel like trying a one of them. I did not even finish my wine, which is really saying something.

Around 8:30, with glazed eyes, I whispered to Bruce, "I just can't stay any longer." Making apologies, we drove home, I took some aspirin, and was asleep in minutes. Waking up Sunday morning, Bruce suggested I stay home and rest which turned out to be a good plan. While he worked in the garage, I lay in bed, finishing a silly travel book called, "Queen of the Road." Mostly it was enjoyable, however, after a time, I did get a little tired with her Jewish American Princess shtick.

So, what pray tell does my title have to do with the above? Hold your horses, I'm getting there!

As you've probably figured out, if you've been reading this blog for long, I'm not a good sitter. I'm also not great at multi-tasking, however, if the activities are simple enough, I can sometimes accomplish two things at once. Feeling puny,  I planned on watching as much of The Masters as possible. Because the couch now abuts the main living room window, guess what I can see out said window? Birds in the beautiful blue bird bath! Of course, there is the window, screen, and mullions to deal with, but none of those stopped me from taking a few shots when the occasion arose.

When I was 10 years old, Alfred Hitchock's film, The Birds came out. My memory is fuzzy on whether I saw it at the long-closed, Vogue theater on Colonial Drive, however, what I do recall is how scary it was. So scary, in fact, that many people my age do not like birds because of that film. Once the children were around that same age, our library began carrying movies to rent, and I could not wait for them to see "The Birds," however, to their tastes, it was not scary at all--as I recall one of them thought it was silly. Oh well--so much for sharing childhood favorites with your children! Anyway, as you well know, I am fascinated by birds, both their appearance and behavior. Plus, their eye colors--so interesting. I like all kinds of birds, but if pressed, I'd have to say songbirds are my favorite. Can you believe that there are over--get this--10,000 bird species in the world??? I've probably seen about 30!

The brown thrashers are back:

Forgive the quality--see above. Wonder why their eyes are yellow?

Doves galore:

That pretty little blue ring around the dark black eye is so nice.

Out front, again through the window, the finch are starting to multiply:

Someone just told me about seeing finches with blue coloring--I sure hope they find their way here!

Then there is the always the under-appreciated female cardinal:

Enough already Gail! Sorry, can't help it!

Last week, on a trip to Wal Mart, I stopped to see the peacocks, and boy howdy were there a bunch of them!

Also last week, I went to sign our income tax forms at Olga's house.

Long ago, she and David lived together. I'll always be grateful to Olga for suggesting Dave take a teller job at Sun Trust while he was in school. He began working there a few days a week, rising to his current job as a Wealth Manager, with an office on Park Avenue. If you're from here, you know that sounds like an awesome gig. We always got along well, and since I already knew her, once I had my little business going, I needed some help with my taxes. Enter, Olga, CPA. We owe this year, mostly because my sales were stronger in 2012, however, not much.

One of the primary reasons I want to get better is our trip this week. Don't ask me any details because they are still sketchy, however, I did get a book from the library on North Florida and will pack it, making up the trip as we go along. Or, at this moment that's what I'm thinking. With my muddled brain, who knows where we'll end up!

Finally, if you are SICK of bird pictures, just say so, will you?