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 |  A Journal of our Adventures in Country Living.... |
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"Home is where the heart is" and this is the continuing story of our life on the farm....where our heart is and where we make our home. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I want to thank janieruthryals for this wonderful Merit Badge: ![Merit Badge in Nature
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For the wonderful visit to your farm, all through the words in your blog.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Nature-1125.gif) |
| Rita’s right around the corner. Am I scared? Hell yes I am scared. You know, I have a very healthy respect for any hurricane, let alone a category five sitting out in the warm waters of the Gulf and heading my way. But what matters is what you do with this fear. Do you let it take over your emotions and run around half cocked? Or do you let it guide you so you can prepare yourself to confront this monster that will be knocking at your door in a day or so? We live about 85 miles off the coast, just north of Galveston, Texas (about 60 miles out of Houston). We are all waiting to see what direction Rita decides to take in the next 48 hours. If she decides to stay on her projected path, then we will be on the east side of her bowels, her ‘dirty’ side, and we will definitely get some crap dumped on us. But it won’t be to deep… just trees and limbs down, no electricity for three or four days and maybe some shingles blown off our roofs. We will probably experience winds around 80 to 90 mph. Lots of rain and sporadic tornadoes that spawn from her womb. But if she decides to wander off her directed path and veer North a bit, then we will take a direct hit and that could be bad. They are saying we could experience 125 mph winds, and that could take a house down. Hopefully, when she does reach landfall, she will die quickly and her strength will diminish before she reaches our door. But all projections keep showing her landing South of us, so I think we will be ok. We are as prepared as we can be. I have gathered all the necessary survival gear that they suggest having around; batteries, radio, candles, oil lamps, lots of bottled water, canned foods, manual can opener (its amazing how many people go out and buy tons of can food, and forget to get a manual can opener… all they have is an electric one), extra cat and dog food, waterproof storage bags to put important papers and documents in… etc. So we are settled down now, all set to welcome Rita if she wants to visit. If we happen to disappear offline for several days, you will know we have lost our electricity. We will get back as soon as we can. We will also call CC as soon as we can so he can update you on our condition. So yes, I am scared. Any normal, sane person would by lying if they said they weren’t. But its what we do with this fear that counts. It was amazing to see the exodus off the coast though. They have issued a mandatory evacuation of Galveston and the areas around there. As I said in yesterdays blog, our house sits between two evacuation routes. We live out in the country, so the traffic around us is usually slow and sparse. But when I ran uptown to pay a few bills this afternoon, the major North/South road I take was bumper to bumper traffic. Cars, trucks, trucks pulling trailers full of personal belongings, cars jammed full of clothes, trucks pulling trailers full of horses and cattle…. It was truly staggering and so, so sad to watch these people fleeing what could be the most devastating thing to ever hit them. They may have nothing to return to when this is over…. A repeat of what Katrina did to Louisiana and Mississippi. ******************************************* Ok, latest news release. I wrote this blog last night before I went to bed, planning on posting it this morning. I just turned on the news and I guess Rita has decided, at this point, to come right up to our back door. They have Rita taking a direct hit on Galveston right now, which means that our winds will reach well over 100 mph when she reaches here. So, all our friends out there, keep Tor and I, and everyone else in Rita’s path, in your prayers. Hopefully she will decide to turn again, either more East or back to the South so we don’t have to look her directly in the Eye!!! Friday night, early Saturday morning is when she is to come ashore, so we have one more day to prepare and interact with all of you. I am sure we will be without electricity as of Saturday morning, and am unsure for how long it will be before things are back to normal, if ever!!!! |
| Just a short entry today. I must get ready for a visit from Rita. You know how it is when you have company coming!! I got most of the stuff yesterday, which was a big mistake on my part.... Panic had already set in and most of the shelves in WalMart were bare. I was able to pick up most of the stuff I needed by hitting the smaller, off the road stores around town. I have plenty of batteries, several oil lamps, a couple extra flashlights. I do need a bit more food in my cubboards. I have enough for a few days. Tor and I don't eat much, and I have four loaves of bread, three jars of peanutbutter, two jars of jelly.... gawd, we could live on that for a week!!! But I also picked up some spam and other canned meat, canned soup and chili. If push comes to shove, we can eat this stuff cold (yuck), but I have a gas grill, and we can use it to cook and heat stuff up on. I still need to stock a few more items though... I would like to have a few more cans of food, maybe another package of toilet paper or two... but I can't imagine WalMart being closed more than a day or two. They never close!!! My worse fears are being without electricity for days... of course we worry about the spin off storms, the tornadoes and high winds.... but those will only add to the loss of electricty. I was in the Florida Pan Handle when Ivan came through last year, we were without electricity for only 3 days... that wasn't to bad. The heat was the worse, we have become so dependant on airconditioning, that it was almost unbearable with no air moving at all in the house. But it sure was moving outside, so I just sat out on the back porch and watch Ivan go by!!! Sitting right in the middle of two main evacuation routes is the worse thing. We live South of town, so if a mandatory evacuation comes into effect, then they will NOT let you head SOUTH.... so if I run into town, it is HELL trying to get back home, almost impossible. So I am headed back to town now, to see if I can find a few more cans of food, and fill the cars up with gas and then I am coming home to sit it out. I will not be able to head out again until Rita decides to vacate the area. I have always told people that my door is always open, stop on by whenever you are in town.... but Rita is the one exception to the rule, I am a bit prejudice about hurricanes... I really don't like them at all!!! |
I just want to thank everyone who visited
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| The 70’s, oh my where do I begin. What a time that was, and I was privileged to wander through this decade of disco, during my prime. My teen years were spent in the 60’s, but I wasn’t aware of it... my time was spent on school and on my horse. I couldn’t have cared less for the fads of the times. But I graduated from High School in 1970 and stepped out into a decade of eye opening events that will remain with me for the rest of my life. The 70’s were an extremely interesting time period, filled with crisis, new technology and great entertainment. Who could forget the BeeGees, Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters? Star Wars hit the big screen and Saturday Night Fever staring John Travolta seemed to change pop culture overnight. We had Happy Days, M.A.S.H., Gilligan’s Island, Charlie’s Angles and All In The Family to settle down to in the evenings. Pop Rocks, Pet Rocks, Shag Carpet, Lava Lamps, Puka Shell Necklaces, Mood Rings, Peace Signs and Flower Power filled our every day lives. Oh, we also had Rubik’s cube, Sea Monkeys and... and... STREAKERS!!! Oh what a decade this was!!! The fashion influence of the 60’s was highlighted in the 70’s with men sporting either long, shoulder length hair or Afros, and non traditional clothing became the rage. Bell bottom pants, hip huggers, hot pants, platform shoes, clogs, gypsy dresses, and micro mini skirts. Polyester was raging through the fashion industry right beside denim that was studded, embroidered and embellished. Leisure suits for men were commonplace and women wore everything from ankle length granny skirts to hot pants with halter tops. Postage stamps were .06, a gallon of regular gas was .36, a dozen eggs was .62 and a gallon of milk 1.15. 90% of Corpus Christi, Texas was destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Celia. A rally erupted at Kent State University to protest the growing war in Southeast Asia. The National Guardsmen made the decision to open fire on the 1,000 students participating in the rally, killing four and injuring eight. My brother was in the middle of that great war in Vietnam. I remember sitting fixated to the TV watching the evening news and the devastating film coverage being broadcast. Oh, and the tears of joy when my brother called from our local Airport, telling us "he was home, come get me"!! And the tears of sadness when my cousin, who lived with us for a few years came home from there in a casket as did a very close high school friend of mine. After graduating I had been accepted into the University of Michigan, but declined the offer when I landed a job training horses. It was probably the biggest mistake I ever made in my life, but I would do it again, if I had the chance to relive that time. Horses became my life, and in 1971, I ended up in Southern California in a little coastal town of Carpenteria training Morgan Horses for one of the more prestigious farms in the West. The farm sat up on the foothills and overlooked the Pacific Ocean, with the town laying nestled down below. The mountains surrounded us to the west. I met my first husband here, and enjoyed a 'few' years of bliss and happiness. I met a lot of ‘Hollywood Stars’ through the horses, since a lot of them bred or showed horses as a hobby. I have dined with Steve Reeves, danced with Charlton Heston, partied with Robert Conrad, William Shatner, Amanda Blake. My husband also played pedal steel guitar and had a country/western band called ‘The Gold Coast Express‘. They were the house band for a hotel called the Hillsdale Inn which was owned by Jason Robard’s brother. Right down the road from us was the Circle Star Theater, and when the stars would get done with their show, they would come to the Inn and sometimes come down to listen to the band. I always sat at the band table and kept it open for when the band took their breaks. At times, I would recognize one of these stars and would go over and invite them to sit at the band table. I have sat and talked with Jimmy Dean, Hank Williams Jr., The Oakridge Boys... and others, I just can’t remember them all right now. I was young, about 21 or 22 at this time, and it was a wondrous time in my life. I grew up in a Catholic household and had great and loving parents. The only problem was that I was just a bit naive... well, maybe more than just a bit. lol It was quite an experience to be living in California in the 70’s for me. I learned a lot, a lot about life, about love or what love wasn‘t, and a lot about myself. My husband and I headed up to the San Francisco bay area to open our own training stable, and I fell in love with the city. San Francisco was so unique, in its own way especially in the 70‘s. We lived about 40 miles south, on the peninsula, and I use to head up to the city quite often to just mosey around on the piers or visit Golden State Park and the museums. The gays were coming out of the closet, free love was being demonstrated in all the wrong places! Oh my, what a city. Just over the mountain was the Pacific, and in 30 minutes I could be laying on a beach, listening to the gentle wash of waves rolling up on the sand. I loved California at that time. To me, it was like living on a strange planet! It was at the complete opposite end of the spectrum that this good mid-western catholic girl was use to. But, all good things must come to an end. My marriage was falling apart and although I spent seven years trying to keep it together, it finally dissolved when I became pregnant and my husband decided he didn’t want that responsibility. My son was born, and I spent another year trying to put the marriage back together, but finally gave up and moved back to Michigan with my son. The 70’s were almost over, the 80’s just around the corner... but who can ever forget the 70’s? I know, for me, the 70’s will always be the decade that shaped my life, made me think about what was important and what wasn’t, and made me grow up. More 70’s facts: Patty Hearst joined in the bank raid. (Later, in the late 70’s I sold Patty Hearst a horse and had lunch with her to wrap up the deal). Elvis Presley died. Man steps on the moon. Jogging suits became popular Punk Rock became the rage 54 U.S. officials were taken hostage at the U.S. embassy in Iran and weren't released till the 80s. D.B. Cooper disappeared The Concorde was launched End of Vietnam War Nixon and Agnew Jaws Rocky Farrah Fawcett hair dos ‘Go Away Little Girl' by Donny Osmond. 'I Shot the Sheriff' by Eric Clapton Oh, the list could go on and on, I just can't remember anymore!!! Gawd, does that mean I'm getting old? REMEMBER THE 70’S !!! I don't have any pictures of me in the 70's... either my son has them, or they were some of the ones that got destroyed in a roof leak I had back in Michigan. Leak was right over my box of photographs and albums. I found these two... one is my graduation pic, and the other is just one of me getting ready to go out....gawd, to be that skinny again. Wouldn't want to be that young again, just that skinny!!!! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| As mothers, we are very protective over our offspring. We protect them from the harsh realities of life for as long as we can. We wrap them in our arms, we wipe tears from weepy eyes, we sooth their fears with tender love, we are just being mothers, it’s a genetic, inherited feature that we just can’t do anything about. It’s just us being Moms!!! This protectiveness should diminish as our children grow, experience life and eventually step into the shoes of adulthood. But for some reason, it sticks around, causing worry and concern even when our children have finally left the nest and are flying on their own. One example was when my son decided he wanted to join the Army and learn to fly. He has always loved helicopters, especially military helicopters. Even as a little tyke finding his balance on two legs, MASH would come on TV, he would run as fast as he could to watch the beginning scroll showing the Huey helicopters flying into base. Then after that, he would return to whatever it was he was doing. Well, he told me he talked to the recruiter and he really thought this was the way he wanted to go. I had mixed emotions about him joining the military, especially flying helicopters. I knew this was something he really wanted to do, and I supported that... But the thoughts of him flying, especially flying in war time just scared the wits out of me. He took all the tests required, passed everything with flying colors and soon had a departure date to attend Basic Training. With a heart filled with pride, happiness, dread, sadness and excitement, I drove him to the recruiters so he could start the long journey ahead of him. He had never been out of my grasp before. How was I to protect him now? I knew he was a young adult, had a good head on his shoulders and would be watched over by Sergeants and other military staff... But who would hug him when he was down, who would cook him meals he loved, who would make sure he had everything when he walked out the door????? The mom in me was coming out in full force. I drove back home by myself and entered a house so quiet and lonely that I immediately collapsed on my bed and cried. He also had left his dog behind, a dog that loved him unconditionally, loved him, loved his truck, loved everything that had anything to do with Richard. She jumped up on the bed and lay next to me, and if a dog could cry, she would have. I had received a letter from the Army explaining that I would hear from my son when he was firmly within their grasp, but then it may be weeks before I hear from him again. Basic Training doesn’t allow them the use of a phone (or much of anything else) for several weeks. They have to earn these privileges. Sure enough, the next day I received a call from Richard telling me that he had arrived at Fort Jackson, and was getting settled in the Induction Routine. He said not to worry, and he would call me again as soon as he was able. Well, one week went by, two weeks went by, three weeks went by, and the phone finally rang. I grabbed the receiver and answered with the usually “Hello?” Nothing... Blank noise, no static, no nothing. So I hung up and started walking away when the phone rang again. I picked it up and OMG... it was Richard... My baby, calling... “HI” I yelled…”HOW YOU DOING”... Richards reply was...”Hello... Hello... Hello... HE COULDN’T HEAR ME!!!!! I yelled again into the phone; RICHARD, I’M HERE...HOW ARE YOU? Again.. hello.. hello.. and finally he hung up and the quiet nothingness on the other side of the line just about killed me. I hung up the phone and just stared. That was my son, and I didn’t get to talk to him. But at least I heard his voice!!! He was still alive!!! The phone rang again and I quickly snatch the receiver up, and there he was... My son... And I could hear him, and he could hear me. OMG, it was like heaven. “Hi Mom” “Hi, how are you doing,” I replied. “SON YOUR TIME IS UP” “But, but... ... ‘SON, THE ONLY BUTT YOU HAVE IS DOWN BY YOUR ASS, NOW HANG UP...N O W !!!!!!! Click....silence.... nothingness..... stillness.... dread!!!! I started packing my suitcase. I was going on a road trip to Fort Jackson to save my son from this horrible, monstrous voice I heard on the other end of the phone. The loud, irritating voice that caused my son to hang up and end a connection that we never really had. OMG, my poor son, what were they doing to him???? How dare they yell at him like that!!! I must do something... I must save my son... MY SON NEEDS ME!!! I threw clothes into my bag all the while planning my venue. I would get there and yank my poor son out of their murderous grip. My son would be forever grateful that I was there for him when he really needed me, that I saved him from a terrible fate. The more I ranted and raged throughout the house, throwing clothes into my bag, the more I started to come to my senses. I knew, way down, that he was ok. That he was in Basic Training, and the rules were tough. I knew my son was tough. I knew that he was ok. I knew that he would call again as soon as he could. I knew that I was acting irrationally. But I was him MOM... He needed me... Didn’t he?????? I collapsed on the floor, and Snickers (his pitbull) climbed into my lap and snuggled into my arms. She licked my tears as they fell, and we lay there for a long time together. I finally came to the realization that my son was not dependant on me anymore, that he had spread his wings and flown off to experience all the great adventures that life held instore for him. That I would always be here for him, if he faltered, but that he didn’t need me to hold his hand, to wipe his tears, to pick him up every time he fell. He was quite able to do all that himself now. I went into his bedroom and lay on his bed, Snickers beside me. I looked around and realized how very proud of him I was. He was a strong, independent, caring individual now. He was out there doing what he loved, and enjoying every minute of it. It was at that moment that I came to accept that I was still his Mom, but in a different way. I didn’t have a child anymore, I had a responsible, young adult out there making his mark in the world. The next week he called me again. He explained that when he called the first time, his platoon had placed first in several competitions and they all earned three minutes of phone time (they also got one can of coke and a small bag of chips). Well the first 2 1/2 minutes were wasted trying to get the call to go through, they were timed by their Drill Sergeant from the minute their hands touched the phone. It didn’t matter that the first two attempts didn’t go through. So by the time our call made a good connection, his time was up!!!! That was his Drill Sergeant that I heard yelling at him. Richard said, “Mom, don’t mind them, they always yell, we are use to it.” His platoon went on to be the top placing platoon and during Graduation from Basic Training, they put on a special show for the crowd. I was so damn proud of him!!!! He’s been in the Army for 6 years, is a WO2 (Warrant Officer 2) and doing what he loves; flying helicopters. He plans on making it a career. He has a lovely wife now, who is there to hold him, love him, cook his favorite meals, and to make sure he has everything when he walks out the door!!! I feel content that he is in good hands!! |
| I sometimes just randomly click on someones blog, some person I have never read before... and this one really hit me hard.... please go read it and send your prayers her way. Her blog deals with her child who was born with Spida Bifida, and the first entry I read was posted today 9-18-05 and it just tore my heart. Her son is getting ready to go into surgery... and she is so scared. Please read it, and leave a prayer for her.
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| Just a short entry today.... I told Schipperke that I would have to do a blog on the 70's, but not today. I will leave that for another day... maybe tomorrow. I am finally feel better. I got over that dang stomach virus that Tor gave me... then my allergies flaired up and I ended up back in bed for a bit. My allergies get my sinuses to going and I get this terrible, deep, hacking cough that just about tears my chest up. I have actually pulled chest muscles I cough so dang hard. The cough brings on a migrain type of headache and face ache... and I am out for the day. I have two choices, don't take medicine and hack and cough, head pounding, face aching (have any of you had a face ache? Your jaws hurt, your teeth hurt - all of them, your cheeks hurt, gawd.. even your eyeballs hurt) or take the medicine and then crash. The meds just put me in lala land. I was laying in bed sleeping the meds off yesterday when Tor came in and laid down beside me. He put his arm around me and ask me how I felt. I tried to look up at him, but couldn't open my eyes. They were so heavy I just couldn't manage to open them. He asked me again, and I tried to look at him... my eyes fluttered, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't open them. He finally got a bit upset and said... HOW ARE YOU FEELING?... I was able to answer him with a squeeky... I don't know, I can't seem to open my eyes. I gave one last heave of an effort, and opened my eyes to find out that I was actually alone in bed. It was just a dream!!!! It was like that the whole time I slept... weird dreams. Gawd, I kind of like this medicine!!!! I finally got up and felt a bit better. I slept pretty good last night.... took some meds again this morning... slept until noon... and now I finally feel normal. I think I have finally beat this thing. I don't know what it is that I am allergic to... but if it gets ahold of me... it sets me right down on my butt. Now I can just take my allergy medicine to ward off anymore attacks. Tomorrow, I will try to do my blog.... on the 70's and Me!!! Those were the good old days!!! |
| Tor is feeling better.... he may not think so, but he is... and he is taking his butt to work tomorrow. He is worse than a little kid, when he is sick.... Honey, get me some pepsi. Honey, get me the remote. Honey, get me a sammich. Honey...get me, get me, get me....... lololol. Actually, I love having him home. I don't mind waiting on him at all... he is so cute with those pouty looking lips and pleading eyes.... But he didn't have to give me this stomach virus. He was sick yesterday, but went to work anyway... but then had a rough night and looked terrible this morning at 5:30 when he got up. He insisted that he was going to go on in... but I threatened to call WalMart myself and tell them he wasn't... so he finally called in. We both went back to bed, and darn it, if I didn't have a wave of nausea wash over me. It lasted all morning and well into the afternoon. We both just laid around the house, moaning and groaning and taking turns playing X-Box!!! We felt well enough tonight to head up to the local Catfish Inn and eat dinner... we were both starved as neither of us had eaten anything all day. I hope this doesn't set us back a notch or two tonight, and we end up tossing and turning, our stomachs complaining again!!! Oh well....... We do get to sleep in tomorrow, Tor doesn't have to be at work until 3pm, so we have all morning and early afternoon to play and feel better. See y'all tomorrow... and I hope everyone else who is ill, is feeling better. I sprayed our computer with Lysol, so hopefully we won't pass this thing on to our online friends!!!!! |
| I am not working at the moment, so you would think the days would be long and lazy and relaxed for me. But for some reason, they just seem to fly by. I get up at 5am to get the coffee on, let the dogs out, feed the cats, fish and bird, turn the computer on and wash my face. Then at 5:30 I get David up for work. He leaves the house about 6:15. I sit for a moment and watch the news to see what has happened while we slept. About the only thing on the news lately is related to the hurricane and its consequences. Then I pick up the house, dust, vacuum, do any dishes left over from the night before and breakfast. Then I dress and take the dogs outside and play with them for awhile, picking up any branches or other junk out of the yard. I enjoy these cool mornings, as I know that the heat and humidity are just a few hours away. If needed, I get the lawnmower out and start cutting grass. We have approximately 1 acre to cut, and I only have a 20 inch cut, gas powered push mower... so if I do it all in one day, it takes me about 3-4 hours. But the heat and humidity get to me, so I usually cut for 30 or 40 minutes at a time, then have to head into the house to cool off and get some fluids in me. Even at 8am, the temps have been up in the 90s, with high humidity. But that should change soon... Fall is right around the corner. In East Texas, Fall brings low humidity and temps only in the low 90s, high 80s. Its the low humidity that is truely enjoyable. I don't mind the 'hot' as long as the humidity is tolerable. Winters are just heaven, though. Sunshine, temps in the 70s with cool nights. We even get up to light frost some mornings... but then by 1pm, its back up around 70. I love Texas winters. I told David, we need a job that would allow us to move North in the summer, and back to Texas during the winters. I keep looking, but haven't found anything yet!!!! Oh... back to my busy days... how easily I am distracted today!!! After the morning chores are done, I have a light lunch and do a few loads of laundry if needed. Then I hit the workout room and do my daily routine. I shower, dress again... and then before I know it... its time for David to be getting home. This isn't counting the time I spend on WDC.... sometimes I don't even have a chance to check out the blogs, the time flies by so fast. Thats why you don't see me around for a day or two.... there are just not enough hours in the day to accomodate everything there is to do!!! Whoever made up these 24 hour days just didn't give us enough time. And to create an eight hour work day, five days a week... whats up with that?? Why not 36 hour days, four hour work days, four hours a week? Now that would be great!!!! Whoever came up with our current standard should have been fired!!! Oh, another thing that is now taking up my time... I bought myself a X-Box game. David is always playing his games on X-Box. They are all war type games, and there is one that we can play against each other. Its kind of neat.... you are enemies and hunt each other down... but he is forever sneaking up on me and shooting my butt!!!! So I wanted a game where I could just stroll around, looking at stuff... like a 'window shopping' game!! But, alas, they don't make those types of games. But really, a game where you could just explore places, different cities around the world, maybe looking for hidden treasure... with no one chasing you trying to kill you... just a leasure type of game, like being on vacation... what would be wrong with that?? Anyway... the closest thing I could find to that was "Cabela's Dangerous Hunts". David said, "How are you going to shoot those animals?" Well, its all pretend, and I don't mind pretend. You get to travel all over Canada, the United States even Africa on big game hunts. David is going to bop me for this... but mostly I find myself just strolling around the countryside, looking at the scenery. If I happen to come across something I am suppose to shoot.... well, I shoot it. Then I continue on my stroll. Each section of the country is pretty much set up like it would be in real life with the plains, river valleys, mountains, praries... etc. Its really neat!!!! Oh well, I'm off track again....but this is just another thing that will take up this time that I don't seem to have. David gets home from work and ask me, "and what have you done today, sweetie?" And I honestly have to say "really nothing dear!" lolol But its time for me to head on out and see if I can find a job. There is not much offered here in this little town we live in. Houston is an hours drive away, and the work traffic to and from there is horrendous. I am not sure if I want to face that every day. But the wages and opportunities are greater. I will try here first, in Livingston... maybe even put my application in at Walmart..hehehehe Ok, I have rambled enough. I've got to go check out my favorite bloggers... I haven't read them lately... ran out of this thing called....TIME!!!! |
| As my bloger friends know, I have bird feeders hanging all over my yard. David swears I put them out there just to create an obstacle course for him when he cuts the grass. He is forever hitting his head on them. They all hang from branches except for two, so if you aren't paying attention, it is easy to run into them. Six of these feeders I can see from my kitchen window.... four of these are real close, close enough for a up close and personal view of the birds feeding. Then I have two hanging in the front yard, and those I can watch when I am sitting on the front porch. I took this picture from the kitchen.... please, don't pay attention to the dirty window. The one closest to the window (just 12 inches away) is a hummingbird feeder, there is another one hanging on the pole. It is just amazing to stand there and watch these little creatures come in to drink the nectar I have in the bottles. I buy a hummingbird mix that has the correct nutrients in it for these little fuel burning critters. They are such delicate creatures, and it is especially neat, when they land and sit there for a few moments... letting you get a good look at them. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** These next two pictures (sorry, you guys know how I love pictures... and I do believe in that old golden rule... do onto others as you would want them to do to you!!!)... these two pictures I took yesterday, standing at the kitchen sink, looking out watching the feeder. I didn't have to use a zoom lense... this is actually how close they get... it is so neat!!! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I could post a few more pictures of the birds, but I know how slow they are to load if you only a have dial-up connection. As I get them, I will put them in my portfolio's photo album. I even have caught David standing in the kitchen, watching the birds....hehehe The hummingbirds are really territorial, and will protect their feeding source with a ferocious quality that is unbelievable for such a tiny thing. David and I were standing there yesterday when three males starting bombarding and attacking each other. They do really look like little knights jousting. While these three males took off after each other, a fourth male came in and drank his fill. I just read something interesting, and I never realized this... I have two books "Birds of North America" and "Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America"... and they say that the hummingbird is common only to the Americas. There are approximately 330 species, making it the second largest bird species in the new world. The most common hummingbird I have at my feeder is the Ruby-throated hummingbird. The male has jewel-like colors, that seem to change as the bird darts around in the sun. The females are just blanketed in non-descript greens and browns, so that she is well hidden while sitting on the nest. I have watched a little female perch upon a branch in the tree, then have taken my eyes off of her for just a moment, then can't locate her again because she blends in so well. It isn't until she turns her tiny head, that I can find her again. One key to their popularity is their bold, pugnacious personality. Incredible speed and agility give hummingbirds the audacity to look a person in the eye from a few inches away, then disappear in a blink of that eye. Ok, enough about my little bird friends... I just think they are so neat... and had to share with my friends!!!!! |
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