Needing to be fed

This baby robin was in a nest at my sister's house, and each time he'd hear us talking at the base of the tree, he'd raise his head, hoping... wanting to be fed.

Isn't that just a universal truth? Don't we all desperately need to be fed? Don't we all need to know that we matter? We all require different amounts of food, but sometimes even food does not fill up our need to be fed, now does it? Sometimes, that hole can't be filled with food, or anything else, as much as we'd like to try. The goal is to admit that we have a place inside us which makes us feel "less than" and to acknowledge that we can, through our very own thoughts, find ways to be whole. We all matter. We all have inherent value to the world, and we are all children of God. When we realize this, we can cease to be so hungry and so desperate to be fed by others. Know that today, you are enough.

Look Ma, no cavities!

Yesterday was Sam's cleaning with the wonderful Dr. N, and again, we had no problems. My wonderful boy, who it took forever to teach to properly brush and floss his teeth, has never had a cavity in his 15 years. Yes, I am finding some wood to knock on to ward off bad luck.

When it came time to find a dentist for regular cleanings, the anxiety was high. You can only imagine the potential sensory trauma it might cause him to have his teeth cleaned. Thankfully, his initial experiences were good ones, and so we eased into the every six month exam/cleaning with minimal issues. When the hygienist we were using left the dental practice, I searched out and found Dr. N, who is a pediatric dentist. Sam has been going to him for years. They have a TV mounted above each chair and when leaned back, the kids can watch a favorite tape or DVD to pass the time and take their minds off the procedure. Boy howdy, right up our alley. I know at some point, we'll have to go elsewhere as he'll no longer be a "pediatric" patient, but the staff there is so wonderful, and truthfully, would probably have no issues with us coming there until he is ready to transition elsewhere.

As they were finishing up with him today, and Dr. N was out with me giving me the report on the results of the exam/cleaning and how he's doing with brushing, I heard them say, "Here Sam... don't forget your toothbrush." They use it to apply the fluoride treatment after cleaning. Being fully a creature of habit and loving the toothbrush he uses at home, he turned to her and said, "Oh, no thank you, I have one at home." :c)

Dr. N is just another unsung hero in our long list of people who make life so much easier for Sam, and I thank my lucky stars for him and his kind staff who have no clue how much it means that they truly understand.

Feeding under view

We were out at the pool on Monday and I had the camera as I was trying to capture some busy feeding going on, when I heard a sound above me high up in the pines. I arched my head back, and hoisted the camera straight up to focus on something being fed a huge spider. Initially, I could not tell what it was, but when I saw the image loaded and enlarged (click on it), I was thinking it was a Red-breasted Nuthatch feeding a baby. But, according to the maps, this is their winter (non-breeding) range? Or, could it be a bluebird I am seeing? I can't tell from this under view, though I do see the rust breast. Somehow the beak and shape of the tail feathers didn't seem right? Any guesses?

Belated Thank You's

Back in March, Ruthie at Nature Knitter kindly awarded me with the Excellent Blogger Award. I had fully intended to pay it forward, but as with many things in my 40+ year old brain, it got buried in the busy recesses, and so I never created a post to say thank you and to add 10 more blogs to the list of blogs which deserve this honor as well.

So, thank you Ruthie, for thinking of me and adding me to the list!


Fast forward to this week, when Bruce at bruce-sc-pix awarded me with the "5 Blogs That Make My Day" award. As I saw my blog name in her list, I smiled, was genuinely touched, and then I remembered.... ack! Ruthie had awarded me with something..... when was that? Oh merciful heavens! Back to her blog I went searching.

The problem is that most all the blogs I read have already received one or both of these awards, and so I'll just say a belated thank you to Ruthie and to Bruce for your kindness, and let all of you know that in my mind, ALL your blogs are excellent and bring me infinite joy each and every day.

And speaking of joyful blogs.... go visit my friend Diane at Pinecones & Roses and check out her beautiful post today....

Rocky places

Another cool shot from the rock garden on the mountain. This reminds me of the phrase, "between a rock and a hard place" for that's sort of how I am feeling these days, in several aspects of my life. The nice thing is that there is always an open space beyond the rocks, and we have to take ourselves there, else we'll get stuck for way too long. Which reminds me of another phrase I love (aren't I just waxing poetic today?)... "Whether you think you can or can't, you're probably right." So, I choose to climb towards that tree. After all, it's where the birds are!

Hungry mouths to feed

This pair of Red-Bellied Woodpeckers are regular visitors to the feeders now, and must have a full nest somewhere as they come and get mouthfuls of seed. I usually put some larger fruit and nut mix on the ground for them specifically, but it does not stop them from hanging on the cups for some sunflower hearts. What acrobats they are!

A Happy Memorial Day to all!

Beauty on the mountain

Yesterday, we decided to get out of the house for a bit. We took a trek up to a famous rock garden on the mountain in neighboring City by the River town. The flowers were in their splendor amongst the rocks, moss, and ferns, and the temp was a good 10 degrees cooler than in the valley. The Rhododendron was spectacular along with other moisture, shade loving flowers and plants. It was a lovely respite from the busy week. So, here for your enjoyment, are some of the images we saw...

Double Delight

"Double Delight" blooming in my sister's yard.

I've always been a bit leery of roses. My dad grew quite a few when I was growing up, and I remember all the care, spraying, and pruning that went into keeping them healthy, happy, and blooming. My mother-in-law had a 100 bush garden in her yard, and painstakingly cared for them in the heat of south Georgia. You have to really love roses to plant them, and invest the time it takes to properly care for them. I just don't seem to have the desire or patience to put into caring for these beautiful, but needy, plants.

I know they now make a variety of "knock out roses" which are supposed to be really low maintenance, disease resistant, and yet bloom like crazy. I've seen some, and the blooms just seem... I don't know... not as pretty? Has anyone had any experience with them? Then again, is there anything more wonderful than to stick your nose deep down into a Tropicana rose? Maybe some day....

Evening regular

He still comes almost every evening.
I can hear his loud "pit-i-tuck" as he lights in the trees
watching and waiting for the perfect time to come to the
feeder cup for some sunflower hearts.
If he's lucky, he'll have some time to sit and eat,
but only if the male bluebird is otherwise occupied.
For some reason, he still sees the Summer Tanager
as a threat and if he's around, will run him away.

The bluebirds have hatched a second nest... three little ones.
A busy time on Chickadee.

Extreme bed makeover

Several months back, after a very hard rain, we noticed we were having some minor leaking into our basement over the poured foundation wall which is below grade. There was an area of erosion at the upper corner of the driveway by the downspout, which looked to be where the water was traveling down along the foundation wall. Yes, I know, not a good thing. Because of the way our lot is situated, there is a slope from the neighbor's house and all the rain sheet water was settling into this corner bed. Because I am so not the gardener, I called my trusted landscape professional Janet, and she came out to assess our situation.

The decision was made that the best solution was to either put in a field drain at the base of the slope out in the yard (oh, my.... husband's pretty grass, and husband, was moaning at the prospect), or re-design the bed so that the water would not be able to get to the house, and the plants would soak it up if it did get towards the house.

Tim and Dave came on Tuesday, and dug out along the foundation wall and the buried downspout to find that, not only was there a hole in it, but it was buried on a 3-4" rise. Why, oh why, can't contractors be more diligent? Sigh...

They back filled all the eroded areas, replaced the portion of the downspout which was broken, and placed a drain within the bed connected to the downspout hose, just in case any water did back up during a hard downpour.

The results are stunning, and we are thrilled!

Here is the bed before they came:


And, here it is after: WOW!

Within this beautiful raingarden, they planted Acorus, Rosea Coreopsis, Zebra Grass, Compact Inkberry, Variegated Iris, Summersweet, Virginia Sweetspire, and Winter Red Winterberry. I know birds, but not plants much at all. I needed, and appreciated all Janet's Master Gardener experience over these past 30 years!

Here is the drain they placed in the bed at the lowest point:

And, while they were here, we also had them pull up what had become some very ugly and out of control diseased juniper in front of this beautiful gardenia in the front bed. Instead, it now has some beautiful Strawberry Begonia for ground cover. A great makeover which will be enjoyed for years to come!

"Tiny" the chickadee-dee-dee

Last weekend, my sister and her neighbor were outside discussing their joint purple martin house venture, when they noticed that the Carolina Chickadee babies in a porch post house on my sister's porch were fledging. They watched as mom and dad got the babies to leave the nest and follow them across the street to the woods. What a privilege to see them leave the nest after hearing them chirp so loudly for the past weeks as mom and dad fed them!

The next day, my sister took the house down to clean it out, and lo and behold, there was still a baby in the nest. This one was small, much smaller than the ones they saw leave the nest. She quickly put the house back up on the post, and watched all during the day, but no mom or dad came back for this baby. He was chirping madly as he was hungry, but still, no parents.


So, she and her neighbor got "Tiny" out of the nest and decided to try and help get his strength back so that he might be able to go out on his own. The alternative was that he would stay in the nest and die. So, they fed him water soaked mealworms, pieces of sunflower chips, and even some boiled egg yolk. Even by the next day, he was quite a bit more alert and active. He stayed in a dog crate on the porch in the evenings, and marched around in her front bed in the daytime.


I went over to meet him Tuesday and snap some photos. He's simply adorable. He's starting to fly to the arbor vitae now and they plan on showing him where the feeder is so that he'll have a source of food until he can either meet back up with his clan, which have to be somewhere nearby, or can fend for himself. I am glad they found him in the nest, and that at least he'll at least stand a chance to grow up and find his own mate.


** Update: I hate that I have to write an update like this, but Tiny was found this morning, barely breathing, and Rachel held him as he took his last breath. Maybe he was ill and this was to be the eventual outcome, but it was still sad. They buried him in her rose garden. At least he had three more days than he would have had in that nest all alone.

Silly Names

Some fun from Liza over at It's just me...


1. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (Mother and Father’s middle name):
Ruth Lee

2. NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother’s dad, father’s dad):
Clyde James

3. STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name):
Jaytra

4. DETECTIVE NAME: (favourite colour, favourite animal):
Blue Bird

5. SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born):
Lynn Knoxville

6. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav colour, fav drink, add “THE” to the beginning):
The Coral Zinfandel

7. FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 3 letters of your last name):
Jaell

8. GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavour, fav cookie)
Chocolate Chip Thin Mint

9. ROCK STAR NAME: (current pets name, current street name)
(no pets) Chickadee

10. STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy):
Lovely Pecan Turtle

11. PORN NAME: (1st pets name, street you grew up on):
Missy DuPre

Here I am!

This Blue Jay and some of his friends have been visiting regularly.
He comes flying in to the ground below the feeders
all full of confidence and announcing his arrival loudly.
But, he can't seem to stand still for a moment,
hence the odd turn of his head as he takes in his
surroundings. I love the way this showcases his tail
feathers and his over-the-top personality!

Feeder pole makeover!

In the past few weeks, I've tweaked my feeder pole system from WBU to add some other feeders. I grew weary of all the hundreds of goldfinch. I know, I know... many would dearly love to have them, but trust me, when you have hundreds eating you out of house and home, it changes your perspective. I took down the 3.5 pound thistle feeder, along with the (sigh) oriole feeder.

I was at the Tractor Supply and saw they had a great selection of the Stokes feeders, and got the nice black oil sunflower feeder on the right to replace the thistle feeder. Always a great feeder to have as so many birds love the sunflower seed.

I also went by WBU to see if they still had the dinner bell feeder, and found that our local franchise has replaced it with what they now call the "Supper Dome" (bada bing, bada bang) from Birds Choice. This cool feeder is actually made to be a mealworm feeder, but can of course be used for seed, or in my case, as a great place for the Zick dough! It comes with the two side suet bar holders. Of course they sell the bars there, and I got the ones with insects in them. The downy woodpeckers are all over it, as well as the chickadees and the tufted titmouse. I was concerned my bluebirds might be a bit intimidated by it, and it took them a while to try it out to get to the dough they love, but they finally did, and before too long, the babies were coming as well.


Oh, and the white ball hanging above the suet feeder? A great way to offer nesting material for the birds in this condensed ball of cotton, strings, etc. The birds can just pull out what they'd like! The joy in watching them come to eat and then leave with some string or cotton fiber to use has been fully worth the $4.99 price.

All in all, I am pleased with the feeder makeover. And I did it all without Ty Pennington, though if he were ever in the neighborhood, I'd love to show it all to him. ;c)

Fragrant Cloud

Name: Fragrant Cloud
Synonym: Duftwolke, Nuage Parfume', Fragrant Cloud '84
Designation: TANellis
Class: Hybrid Tea Rose (Modern Large Flowered)
Hybridizer/Date: Tantau, Germany 1963
Parentage: seedling x Prima Ballerina
Fragrance: Very Strong damask
ARS Color: Orange-red and orange-red blooms.

Back when I was doing home health nursing, I had a patient in his 80's who required weekly injections. I loved visiting him, not only because he and his wife Winnie were adorable, but because he had a huge rose garden. I used to admire his roses with him, and one in particular became my favorite. The Fragrant Cloud had an aroma unlike any of the others. I could just lose myself standing there with my nose in this beauty. Each time I'd see him, he'd insist on cutting me a beautiful bouquet to take with me. I shared the joy and beauty of them with my dad, who has always had a softness for roses. The Fragrant Cloud became a favorite of his too and he soon found one for his own yard. The above photos were taken on Mother's Day. I'd like to think that Mr. Jackson is looking down from heaven and smiling that the enjoyment of his beloved rose goes on...

Evening nibbler

The other evening, as I was going out to fill the feeders
I noticed some movement in the yard.
This little guy was enjoying some grass and sat
pretty for me as I took his photograph.

Boy, am I glad it's the weekend.
I've had an odd week of sleep, or lack of, and I
am really feeling it here at the end of the week.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend of
flowers, birds, sunshine, and restoration.

Nest of twigs

Last week, while at my sister's house waiting for the
flycatcher to show up, I saw this proud mocker
busily building a nest in her neighbor's barberry.
They are such entertaining birds to watch.
She knew we were there, but just went about her
business, stopping only occasionally to sing in the trees.

Better than Hallmark

Conversation in the car after school last Thursday:

Me: "Sam, you have glitter all over your chin. Why do you have glitter on you?
Sam: "Oh, it's from your surprise Mother's Day card."
Me: (smiling at my child's utter concrete honesty)
"Oh, OK... I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
Sam: "Why mom?"
Me: "Because I wouldn't want to spoil my surprise."

But, alas, Sunday came and I received no card from him except for the one Dad got him to give me. It had glitter on it too, so I surmised he'd signed it that morning, hence the glitter on his chin.

On Monday however, he came out of the building after school with a huge smile on his face and this masterpiece in his hand.

Sam: "Here mom! I left it it in Ms C's room and forgot to bring it to you on Friday!"
Me: "Oh Sam! It's so beautiful! And it's so special too because it was a total surprise. Thank you for thinking of me."
Sam: (grinning) "You're welcome."

The front:

And inside.... so much better than a Hallmark, don't you think?
I'm feeling very hugged and kissed indeed. :c)

Flame in the trees

I so enjoy seeing the Summer Tanager come to the feeder,
but would dearly love to see his wife as well.
I've finally learned his call so I can hear him
before he shows up to have some sunflower hearts.
His red/orange is like fire in the trees.

Perching visitor

Last week, I looked out towards the feeders and saw what I initially thought was a Phoebe, but when I got the camera pointed in his direction, saw that it was a beautiful Eastern Kingbird perched and waiting for a careless grasshopper. I usually see them on fence posts around the large pastures, so it was nice that he decided to pay me a visit.

The last time I saw one in my yard was in April of last year when he was perched on top of the bluebird house in the freezing cold and was all fluffed out. Such a pretty bird. :c)

Cobalt glow

I was out on the deck Friday evening when I saw a bird
fly from one of the tall pines down to the neighbor's yard.
Could it be?
I ran for the binocs, and there he was.
He never left, but he's been scarce.
He was pretty far away in my camera frame,
but that deep cobalt color gives him away.
~~~~~~~~~
Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful Mommy!
See you a bit later. :c)

Great Crested Flycatcher surprise!

My sissy and her neighbor have been diligently trying to attract a Purple Martin colony. It's a joint venture and the house now sits in-between their homes. They've read up on all the particulars in terms of what the martins like and don't like and have even gone as far as to play the Purple Martin Dawn Song CD on my sister's porch each morning to attract them. They've painstakingly put some mud on the house, supplied some nesting material, and added some gourds to the mix as well. Last week they went to visit a local woman who has a colony and stood in awe in the early morning as they flew overhead and chattered to one another. Boy, were they stoked.

So, imagine my sister's excitement when she saw a bird on top of the house the other day! She ran to get her binoculars, but saw that... uh-oh... it was not a martin at all.

She looked and looked at this bird before finding it in her guide and called me yesterday breathless with excitement. Lo and behold, a beautiful Great Crested Flycatcher was bringing nesting material to the martin house.

So, of course, I ran over there with my camera yesterday afternoon to try and capture some images of this gorgeous bird that I'd never seen before either. After an hour of sitting on her porch, we heard her "wee-eep" sound, and there she was, with some twine or maybe even carpet yarn in her mouth.


When she left, they took the house down to look in it, and found that she had added nesting materials, including some snake skin, to several of the compartments. Now the dilemma... they really, really want some martins, but how can you deny this beauty? They are trying to come up with an alternative solution. But, what a sweet gift and what a joy to see this magnificent bird!

Growing up

The Bluebird babies have finally started coming to the feeders
on a regular basis. They fledged on the 20th of April and are
growing up fast. Initially, I only saw two at a time, and wondered
what might have happened to the other two, and so I was
happy to see three show up together yesterday with Dad.
It's rather funny to watch them sitting in a cup full of
sunflower hearts, and yet screaming at Dad with an open mouth.
Mom already has another nest going in the other bluebird house.
She's in for a long, busy summer.

One more thing

I got a mixed berry bowl at the grocery store the other day.
I opened it and found just one more perfectly
wonderful and delightful thing about spring.
Just look at the size of this blackberry!
And yes, it was that good.

Sam's Road Not Taken

"Road at Chantilly" by Paul Cézanne

In Sam's language arts class this semester, they were asked to re-write Robert Frost's poem The Road Not Taken. His parapro, Ms E. went on and on about how wonderful his re-write was, but I had not seen it until yesterday when it was sent home in his bookbag...

Here is Sam's Road Not Taken:

There was an intersection in my life
And I was lost and could not find my way
And be a boy filled with strife
I wondered where I could find a wife
So we can have a family one day

I took the road I thought I should take
I thought I would be able to find my way
Because I know the others may be fake
And I need a wife who knows how to bake
And some children who would love to play

If I cannot find what I need
I will not work hard all day
And I must know that a very good deed
Will make my money growing in speed
Will help me find my way

In the end, it is my decision
I know I must use my brain and be smart
I must make it with precision
Because I look at my life with a vision
Because the choices I make will affect my heart

Ta-da!

I had mentioned the braided trunk
of this hibiscus in Saturday's post.
Here you go....
All blooms on the same hibiscus tree! :c)

Chip, chip... moo?

I saw this little Chipping Sparrow fly into one of the Arbor Vitae shrubs at the pool fence, and went over to check out a possible nest. When I peered inside, I was perplexed at what I saw...

She did have a nest and the eggs had just recently hatched, but something was awry. Was that ... blood on the nest? Hmmm... what on earth? Mom was frantic that I was peeking into her nest and so I tried to limit the time I stood there so she could return.

I later sent the picture to the Science Chimp (aka JZ) to get her take on it. She noted something I had not noticed. The baby to the left is huge in comparison with the others and is pale pink. Uh-oh. Julie said it's probably a cowbird egg that hatched and to look for a bright red gape with no color on the flanges. Poor little Chippie. Still... no real explanation for the blood being present. Anyone else care to speculate?


Photo taken the next day....
Yep, there it is... bright red gape with colorless flange. Well, poo.