I saw my first robin of the year. Spring is almost here. There were times the last few days I thought I saw one but this time its red breast was unmistakable. Yesterday, I saw a pileated woodpecker cross the road and alight on a branch. Across from my house across the street is a tree with many holes it it and I have, also, seen one there. I have also seen red bellied and downy woodpeckers on the same tree. I always keep my eyes open on it expecting to see another pileated woodpecker on it. But not yet.
Tags: bird-watching, birds, downy woodpecker, first robin of spring, Pileated Woodpecker, red bellied woodpecker, robin, spring, tree with many holes in it
Posted in animals, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
The ten day forecast is forties high every day. That is the first time in months. Spring is less than two weeks away. Maybe the weather has turned a corner. Now I can start inspecting my garden every day for the sign of the first flowers of spring. There is still quite a bit of snow on the ground. Let us see if it melts within ten days of this “heat wave.”
Tags: forties every day for ten days, garden, snow, spring, spring is around the corner, the first flowers of spring, weather
Posted in flowers, local, nature, seasons, time |
The birds stop feeding and disappear about an hour before dusk. They must roost somewhere for the night. That has been my observation. Even if there is birdseed on the ground they disappear till the next day. I notice that in the winter some of them seem to have more feathers, perhaps, for insulation from the cold temperatures. I just love watching birds. And if you can identify a new species, that is even better. Usually, though, I see the same birds. You never know. A bird I saw only a few times was the red breasted grosbeak and last year all a sudden I saw a flock of three outside my window feeding on the ground. In less than two months I will be seeing ruby-throated hummingbirds who have traveled a long distance to come to my nectar I have prepared for them-several thousand miles. I always await their arrival.
Tags: a seldom visitor, bird-watching, birds, birds roost, birdseed, nectar, pleasure identifying new birds, red breasted grosbeak, ruby throated hummingbirds, spring, the arrival of the first hummingbirds, winter
Posted in animals, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
We did have a new bird come to our suet feeder–an hairy woodpecker. An hairy woodpecker looks just like a downy but bigger. We have seen them before but not recently. We got more snow last night. In fact, it was still snowing when I awoke. Spring is less than two weeks away. We have had snow on the ground for months. We are soon going in a spell (eight days) when it will be in the forties every day and even in the fifties one or two days. I wonder whether all the snow will melt during that period. We will see.
Tags: bird feeding, birds, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, snow, snow on the ground, spring, spring two weeks off, suet feeder, warm spell
Posted in birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
Before I know it the slate covered juncos will be gone. There is a reason they are, also, called “snow” birds. The snow will melt, the temperatures will rise and they they will migrate North and will not return till next year. I keep checking the ten day forecast and temperatures will hit the forties in a few days and gradually rise and spring will be here–now only three weeks away. Last I checked the daffodils were not poking their head out of the ground but I have not looked in a week. The blooming of the crocus and primrose are not far away and then I will have to make daily inspections for the next sign of spring. Spring is a time of rebirth.
Tags: birds, birds migrate, crocus, daffodils, primrose, slate covered juncos and their imminent migration, snow, snow birds, spring, Spring flowers, spring is three weeks away, spring rebirth
Posted in birds, flowers, local, nature, seasons, time |
Today is four weeks from spring. We are in the throes of a freeze. It will continue for, at least, ten more days. I never wanted it to get warm so desperately. It has been cold forever, it seems. I just can’t wait for the warmer weather to return.
Tags: cold freeze, countdown to Spring, I can't wait for warmer weather, spring, spring four weeks away, winter
Posted in local, nature, seasons, time |
It is hard to imagine spring is less than four weeks away. The warmest it gets in the next ten days will be thirty-four degrees. That is the only time it will be above freezing. They are still predicting more snow. I do not want to leave the warmth of my house. As soon as the covering of the snow melts (as if it will ever) and that is how it feels right now, I will check to see if the daffodils are coming up. Those are the two spring flowers–daffodils and crocuses that come up first. Actually the primrose come up first but I am not sure any of them are left. It is too cold for even them.
Tags: cold freeze, crocuses, daffodils, extended freeze, first flowers of Spring, more snow, primrose, spring, spring less than four weeks away, warm house
Posted in flowers, local, nature, seasons, time |
Forty-five degrees. The warmest day in the next ten days. Spring is less than six weeks away. We still have to get through February and the cold and snow they keep forecasting. It is like that each year: the winter acts as if it will be here forever. But spring and the warmer weather is always around the corner.
Tags: February, spring, spring is less than six weeks away, winter, winter cold weather, winter snow
Posted in local, seasons, time |
Winter is less than four weeks away. It is in the sixties today. The cold weather will return. Nevertheless, I will enjoy today. I just learned that 2014 has been the warmest in history. I am sure the bitter cold will come and there will be snow again. The only question is how bad will winter be. And spring will follow. Isn’t that a happy thought?
Tags: 2014 warmest in history, a happy thought, autumn, cold weather, snow, spring, THe sixty degree temperature is an aberation, winter, winter less than four weeks away
Posted in seasons |
It was almost November and one pink rose was still blooming. The weather, on the whole, was still mild although the temperatures were still gradually dropping. It is hard to believe that in less than four weeks Thanksgiving will arrive. The clock gets changed this coming Sunday. The colder weather is coming but all I can think of is the weather of next spring. I wish I could hibernate. But I can’t. I will just endure the coming colder weather (and dress warmer).
Tags: dress warmer, flowers, mild weather of Autumn, November, pink rose, rose bush is still blooming, spring, thanksgiving, the hour gets put back, the on-coming cold weather, wish I could hibernate
Posted in beauty, flowers, local, nature, seasons, time |
Suddenly I could breathe. The cold was really done. For now. Warmer weather was on the horizon. Spring has started. And March was typically wet. In fact, today was the first day of the trout season in this area. In May I will camp with my childhood buddy for the first time in three years. The last two I visited him in New Orleans. I have much to look forward to. Warmer weather, particularly. And trout fishing. And getting together with my lifelong friend.
Tags: camping and trout fishing, cold weather, lifelong friend, March, my childhood buddy, New Orleans, spring, warmer weather and rain
Posted in balance, life, local, nature, relationships, seasons, time |
Spring is a day away. It has been abnormally cold. Maybe, that is why there has been no evidence of crocuses–one of the first flowers of spring. The daffodils are coming up–now only an inch high. I really am tired of the cold. Along with other people. The next few days are going to be in the fifties.
Tags: abnormally cold, crocuses and daffodils and spring, flowers, spring, Spring flowers
Posted in flowers, local, nature, seasons, time |
