Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

They could have been swallows.  I saw dozens alight on that wire and swirl above.  I never saw swallows migrate before.  It was early morning and they were over a mile away from water.  If I had to guess, they were cliff swallows.  I spotted them going through the “back way” into town.  I was surprised to see them.  Now is the time I usually see flocks of small blackbirds come through.  I still saw a hummingbird feed on my nectar today.  At least one has not decided to migrate.  Temperatures have fallen–the seventies.  Summer does not end for another three weeks.  There is no doubt Autumn has come already.

Tags: autumn, bird feeder, bird-watching, birds, blackbirds, cliff swallow, early morning, flock of birds, flocks, hummingbird, migrate, nectar, seasons, summer, swallows, town, water
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We were going home from church the back way.  Two fawns disappeared into the undergrowth on the right side of us.  I am sure “mom” was nearby but we did not see her.  I had never seen twin fawns before.  I was thrilled.  It was the highlight of my day.  In the wintertime the town does not even plow that road when it snows.  It was a little bit off the beaten path.  It is not unusual to see deer in the fields there in the early morning or dusk.  I never know exactly what animal I will see.

Tags: church, deer, dusk, early morning, fawns, fields, snow plow, twin fawns, winter
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I took the back country road to see what I could flush that early morning. I was not disappointed. I saw a flock of wild turkeys in the distance–maybe an hundred yards away–and they scurried into the woods from the open field where they were feeding.

There must have been about a dozen although I was not able to get an exact count on them. I never know what I will see on that road. Yesterday I flushed eight deer–one flock of six and another two.

It was eight o’clock in the morning today. Yesterday was seven in the morning when I spotted the deer. I always love driving on this road. To me, it is always amazing how wild creatures co-exist with humans. They, though, never lose their wariness.

Tags: back country road, bird-watching, birds, early morning, eight deer, flock of wild turkeys, open field, wild creatures, woods
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I left the door open to hear the cardinal sing although it let in some cool air.  It has been months since I heard one.  And I stood at the entrance to listen to the fifteen seconds of singing.  A few seconds later, I heard the cackle of a Pileated Woodpecker across the yard and from somewhere off in another direction the distant pecking of another woodpecker.

I must miss quite a bit since I usually do not get up before 9 AM.  I was going to church this morning and had set my alarm for 7:30.  I finally closed the door:  the brief concert was over.

Tags: bird concert, bird song, bird-watching, birds, cardinal, early morning, front door, God, going to church, Pileated Woodpecker, woodpeckers
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Sharon, the waitress, at the local diner is more than a waitress.  I found out she has worked there more than twenty years.  It is her calling.  She has on-going relationships with her customers.

She knows I often take my toast and give it to my dogs.  Today she told me, “I do not give my dogs extra food for they get fat enough on just the dog food I feed them.”  Not her exact words but a good paraphrase.

She is there (in the diner) for the long haul.  She loves her job and lives nearby.  I found out today her squash is not doing well in her garden.  Their buds keep falling out prematurely.  Maybe there was too much rain the last four weeks.

I am not extravagant with my tips but I tip accordingly; I give her a decent tip depending on my order.  I want to let her know I appreciate her excellent service.

She is a one woman show, usually she is the only waitress on and there is one cook.  In the early morning sometimes the waitress does every thing including cooking.

I eavesdrop on the conversations at the nearby tables.  It is amazing sometimes what I overhear.  Sometimes I do not talk at all.  I always sit at the counter.  Once in awhile I get into a brief conversation if someone sits nearby.

I keep returning to the diner for the coffee is good, the price of the food is inexpensive and the hash browns are always tasty and I enjoy the brief contact with the waitresses.  My order is usually very simple.  Eggs up.  Once in awhile I order a glass of orange juice.

Of course I go to the trouble of learning all the different waitresses’ names.  There is nothing like a local diner to make you feel wanted and erase some of the loneliness of the morning.  My wife is never up at that hour.

Tags: coffee, conversation, cook, customers, dog food, dogs, early morning, eavesdrop, eggs, excellent service, feel wanted, garden, give my toast to my dogs, hash browns, her calling, local diner, morning loneliness, my wife, orange juice, pets, sit at the counter, squash, tips, waitress
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