Sublime Ramblings

Special Delivery!

katie — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:52:26 +0000

A special delivery came today. What could it be?

Special Delivery

The new bistro set is here! Our other chairs and table were about 10 years old. We were having trouble finding good replacement cushions, but the big problem was the chairs were at railing height. It doesn’t sound like a big problem but if you wanted to see something in the street or yard, you either had to stand up or scootch down and look through the balusters. And a huge problem: I couldn’t see the birds at the feeders!

So we decided on a balcony-height set. It will take some getting used to, because of all the drawbacks of the old set there was one plus: We felt kind of hidden on the front porch. Now we’re kind of “on display” at this height. Oh well, it’s pretty, clean-looking, and opens up the porch.

I also painted the porch floor a couple of weeks ago. It used to be (was supposed to be!) terra cotta but turned out to be a very pink salmon. I can’t believe that we lived with that color for years. Now it’s a soft sage.

It’s a lovely litle spot to watch the bird feeders again….

New Bistro Set

It Must Be Five O’Clock…

katie — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:11:31 +0000

…and Papa is on his way home from work.

Waiting....

Most Likely a Cowbird…

katie — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:40:19 +0000

…due to the cherry-red mouth. It supposedly serves as better target for the mother bringing food to the brood. Also, it was the first to hatch. Both of these traits enables it to have a better chance of survival. There’s a good possiblilty that the baby house finches won’t make it, but what am I to do? I’ll leave it to God. (Forgive the blurry pictures, I was standing on my tiptoes and I had to make a quick shot as Mother was scolding me from the tree.)

Cowbird Hatchling in the House Finch Nest

Cherry Red Mouth of Cowbird Hatchling

They’re Back and Ready to Nest

katie — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:00:37 +0000

I captured this pair of goldfinches today and they are in their breeding colors so we should be seeing babies in a few weeks! I love to see these little guys in the yard and not just because they are the state bird. They are colorful, boisterous and just liven up the landscape! They have been trying to fly into the picture window all morning but they are smarter than most birds; they know something’s there and don’t crash into the glass, they just flutter up to it, hover a little and then fly back to the tree. Sweet birds!!

Male Goldfinch

Female Goldfinch

A Perfect Mother’s Day

katie — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:17:08 +0000

It was a truly magical day. The temperature was mild, in the mid-70′s, the sky was a perfect blue without a single cloud and there was only the hint of an occasional breeze. Melissa and the kids brought me a begonia and a sun-loving New Guinea Impatien which she planted on the berm.

Melissa Planting the Berm

The grandkids were perfect (I know all grandparents think that of their’s but it’s really true in my case!) With a little refresher course on planting, I turned them loose on the beds and they did great. It was so much fun to watch them try to do it just right.

Josh & DeMya Weeding the Bed

Josh & DeMya Planting

They were particularly interested in a couple of visitors:

Swallowtail Butterfly

Ground Squirrel

We grilled brats for dinner and had a good time at the table. We ended the day just laying around, watching TV and enjoying each other’s company. I’m starting a petition that there be more than one Mother’s Day a year. This day was just too good not to have more!

Small Garden Tour

katie — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:22:48 +0000

I’ve got most of the bedding plants in now. Here’s some of them! And there’s also a few perennials that are starting to bloom, too. Love my garden….

Snapdragon	Pink Salvia	Dahlia
Gomphrena	Viola	Zinnia
Pentas	Seven Sisters Rose	Pink Potentilla
Pink Tearose Bud	Pink Knockout Rose	Clematis

Trouble in Paradise

katie — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:35:02 +0000

After a little research I’ve discovered that the squatter egg may be that of a brown-headed cowbird. The females are about the same size and look quite similar (if you don’t look too closely) so I may have had female cowbirds in the yard and didn’t even know it. Last summer I thought I saw a male cowbird but didn’t think they were city dwellers so I convinced myself it was a non-breeding starling or grackle.

If that egg is from the cowbird the house finch chicks won’t survive. If it’s a house sparrow, they will. I’ve read about “addling” the parasite egg but I can’t bring myself to do that. Prayers for my little house finches.

House Finch Compared to Cowbird

Squatter in the House Finch Nest

katie — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:19:59 +0000

A few days ago I posted a picture of the empty house finch nest and have been awaiting the arrival of the eggs. Today I noticed that the female house finch laid her eggs but I also noticed something peculiar–the egg of a house sparrow! I’m just going to leave them alone and see what happens. I hope they all survive.

House Sparrow Egg in the House Finch Nest

Welcomed Guest

katie — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:27:14 +0000

We’ve had a lot of goldfinches at the feeder this spring but they startle easily so it’s hard to get a picture. I sat patiently on my front porch this morning, camera at the ready, and finally got what I wanted. Isn’t he splendid? This is our state bird, by the way.

Goldfinch

And Then There Was One….

katie — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:09:19 +0000

I checked the nest the moment I got up this morning and saw only one left to leave. I snapped a quick photo and I’m glad I did because I came back 10 minutes later and he was gone! I’m happy that all four babies made it and the trees sure do sound richer and more alive but I think I’m experiencing ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’. So I cleaned up the mess–for now, and we’re back to normal–for now. They’ll be back to lay another clutch in about a month.

Last Housefinch to Leave

Empty Nest

Back to Normal