Soup and a Bird Fight

 Goodness gracious. where have I been? I am not sure but time really got away from me and also I've missed checking in with all you sweet blog buddies. Gotta do better with my time management! Or maybe time management can do better with me. 

We had a soup lunch yesterday. A bunch of us gals made pots of soup and took them downstairs to share. Oh my goodness. How good was that! All kinds: Taco, Pea, chicken rice, Italian cream/sausage, and other's I don't recall what all. I made Cream of Tomato. I hadn't made it in a 'hundred' years so I wasn't sure if it would turn out but it did. I got lots of compliments on it. Of course, I didn't make a picture!! 

We followed our lunch up with a January birthdays celebration and that was fun. It was my birthday month and there were three others, as well. 

Oh, let me tell you about taking a picture. Another one that didn't get taken. I saw two birds in flight and in fight a couple days ago. One was a Blue Heron, the other a White egret. They were fighting over the prime spot of that pond for fishing. 

The Heron was there first but that egret was determined to have it. They'd peck at each other then they'd take to the air and have an air battle. I ran to get my camera but by the time I got back they had settled down. The heron stood his ground in his favorite spot and the egret was standing a ways off giving him the evil eye. The heron had his back turned to the egret so those daggers she was shooting wouldn't hurt him. It was so funny to watch. 

We are expecting a snow storm this coming weekend. That will be pretty. So glad I don't have to be out in it. I'd rather enjoy from my window! 

A Week At the Beach

 Oh my gosh....

What a week. It was certainly different than our family get-aways, and because I don't scrapbook anymore it was different in that respect, as well. But, I enjoyed myself. I mean, how can you not enjoy someone else cooking your meals for you for 6 brunches and dinners! I didn't have to do laundry, go shopping, clean toilets or mop floors. 

Instead, I read one and a half books, I painted 3 watercolor paintings, I did numerous crossword puzzles, streamed a bunch of my tv shows and wrote every day in my journal. Good week, I'd say. 

There were about 2 dozen women in this huge beach house. And, all the furniture was moved out of the Main room on the top floor (except our tables where we ate our meals) and scrapbookers brought in their own 6' tables and all their scrapbooking supples and there was hardly any walking room in there at all. 

Because of a dune, we couldn't see the water's edge so missed out on watching the waves crashing or seeing the birds running around the beach line. 

Some days were very cool, windy. 

    Some days were warmer, sunny. 

Once when Shirley and I were having some key lime pie on the balcony, a bird (not sure which kind) came in hopes we'd feed him. Shirley said I'd better not, I'd get tons of birds flying in, but I did anyway. A few crumbs of the crust. He was happy and so was I.

And, no extra visitors wanting their share.

You should have seen me trying to get out of this tall Adirondack chair!

Got into it fine. But, could not get out! 

Shirley to the rescue!

Our comfy bed! 

More in the next post. 

It Feels Like Spring!

 It's gorgeous weather! Oh my, how I wish it would last but unfortunately some cold fronts are moving in and we will lose this beautiful, warm sunshine! I am so ready for Spring. Years ago I wrote a poem about The wind and spring and such.... 

I sat out on my balcony... no sweater... and it's February, folks. I saw something I don't believe I had ever seen before... and y'all, these are so out of focus but the branches got in the way... but it was two hawks sitting on a limb together. I am used to just seeing one at a time. And, I am quite the hawk finder. I am first to spot them in trees, on electric lines or whatever when we are traveling. 

Shirley came to get me this morning. It's Thursday so, do you know what is served at Cracker Barrel on Thursdays?  Yep, turkey and dressing. I just need a shot of that ever so often to soothe my southern soul! As good as that dressing is, it still does not measure up to my Mama's. Now, my Mama could make some wonderful cornbread dressing! I never developed the knack, sorry to say. 

Hope you all are having a bit of this 'spring like' weather. If not, I hope it comes to you soon. Hugs to each of you! 

A Sleepover, then An Herb Thief!

Shirley and I just had a lovely 'late mother's day sleepover' with her daughter and son-in-law. We were supposed to do that a week earlier but bad weather changed our plans. It couldn't have worked out better. 

I find the Eastern Shore of Virginia to be very calming, peaceful, a good place to relax and rewind. We arrived at my granddaughters in time to just visit and then get ready for a belated Mother's Day dinner at the Yacht Club. What excellent food, what excellent company. It was great but no pictures inside. They don't like cellphones in the club. But, trust me. It was grand. 

The next morning Shirley and I had breakfast at the Coffee House in Cape Charles. Such a charming place, and the scrambled eggs were divine! 

We stopped at Baines Farm Market and bought strawberries fresh out of the field. In fact, we got the last of the morning's pickings. And, that's what I had for breakfast this morning. 

Coming across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel we saw a Navy ship and a submarine, both heading for home base. We always are thrilled to see our Navy boys wherever they are... I still miss our Navy days all these many years later. 

On another note: It has been bird nest building time around our apartment complex. I saw a crow gathering sticks for his nest one day. Managed to get his picture. 

No picture of this. and dang it, I wish I'd had my camera ready. But, I saw a starling sitting on the edge of the pot of rosemary on my balcony. He was breaking off limbs and carrying them back to his nest. Man, that's gonna be one good smelling next! 

A day or two later I saw a smaller bird breaking off stems from my pot of spearmint. Poor thing, it's one sided now. I did bring the spearmint inside. I left the rosemary outside and it is a bit smaller in size than it was.Oh heck, I  wasn't going to use all those herbs, anyway. Might as well share with my feathered friends. 

The Crow and the Mocking Bird

             Sometimes you just get entertained without even trying! 

I was sitting on my balcony watching a mocking bird which was stretching his feathers to get some sun. He was atop the street light across the driveway. 

All of a sudden here comes a big black crow and just shoved that mocking bird off it's perch. 

Made that mocking bird madder than an old wet hen. So, he started dive-bombing the crow. He wasn't successful in making that crow move but he sure did pester the heck outta him. 

Enjoying Our Surroundings

 It's cold this morning. We had a bunch of rain yesterday so it's not a good idea to plan on sitting on the balcony today. Wind has picked up, too. Makes for a miserable time. 

I do enjoy my balcony. I love to sit there and watch all the things God has given us to enjoy. The other day I noticed a couple of Mallards on the pond. I think it is so odd that in most of nature the male outshines the female. But, as a human, and a woman I think we outshine the men!! Right, girls? 

Sometimes late in the afternoon, a black cat will come creeping out of the woods and sits on the bank of the pond to sun herself. I am not sure who she belongs to.. there is a church and a school on the other side of the woods so perhaps she is the rat catcher for those places. She'll sit there for ever so long and then she just casually strolls back through the trees and is gone until the next afternoon. 

I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday. I hope your day is sunny and bright.... and warm! Take good care of yourselves. See you again soon. 

Chili Night

 Last night we had a chili cook-off! I think we had five different kinds of chili with all the fixings so I ate way too much.

Shirley organized the event for us so it had more 'going on' than just eating. 

First of all, everyone was given a 'tasting' of each chili. Then we had to vote on the one we liked the best. 

A trophy was awarded to the winner and then we all lined up, got a big bowl of the hot stuff topped with whatever toppings we wanted and we ate and ate and ate.

The door prize was won by one of the guys. He was certain that his chili was going to win so getting a door prize wasn't in his plans. But, there were a couple of crockpots full of chili that were better than his. It's funny to see an old man pout like a little boy!! ha ha. 

Since Shirley was taking me to my radiation treatment today, we had a 'sleep over'. No sense in her driving home (35 miles away) only to turn around and come back when she woke up. We enjoyed our time and this morning I saw a big bird land in a tree opposite my apartment. 

Shirley was hot on it's trail. She's a bird girl for sure. Soon found it along with another one on the same branch and she snapped some photos for us to have. 

Now, I enjoy birds but she has me beat big time. She knows their songs and she can identify most birds. Me.... I know a robin (it has a red breast), the bluebird is of course blue, the cardinal is red and I know a few others. but, I am lost when it comes to knowing one hawk from another, or one sparrow from another. And, the only song I know is one the mocking bird sings... 'cause he changes his tune so often. 

Two more treatments to go!! 

Chickens At The Fair!

 The fair was pretty mundane until we got to the farm animal tent. Then I perked right up and started enjoying myself. Must be that Southern Farm Girl gene in me. 

When I was about 5 or 6 I had a pet bantam rooster. I was very sad when he died. 

When I was a fairly new newly-wed Elbert and I had an egg farm. A hundred hens who kept us in enough eggs to eat for ourselves and to sell.

And, we had chickens when Elbert retired from the Navy and we moved to the farm in Alabama. 

So, chickens have been a part of my life here and there. Glad I don't have any now. But, I had a great time enjoying them at the fair. 

In Flight

While I was sitting on my balcony late yesterday afternoon a flock of geese flew over me.

I just wanted to share!

 

Our Geese Are About Ready to Fly The Nest!

 It's Sunday....

and I don't do Sundays well for some reason. I was getting down in the dumps so I decided I'd visit with you folks to lift my spirits. 

I've mentioned the little goslings (some weeks back) that are on the pond and it's time for an update. Those little buggars have grown with leaps and bounds. It's hard to tell the youngsters from the parents... except, of course, the adults have black on their heads. 

I sat out yesterday and watched as they all swam across the pond in single file. Hadn't seen them do that before. There were 20 of them. 

Today the youngsters were flapping their wings maybe preparing a flight in the near future. And, then they formed this pattern on the water. They looked like a bunch of airplanes skimming across there. 

Just look at how big the little ones are now! 

I know they'll be gone soon. I'll miss them for sure. 

I am afraid that I got spoiled after my surgery with all the beautiful bouquets that arrived at my door. They are all gone now. So, while I was in the grocery store (Aldi's) I bought me a bunch. Placed them in a little blue pitcher that I've had since childhood. 

Aren't they pretty!

I guess I'll go get into something else! 

Have a nice Sunday

and a better week! 

Y'all Come Back Now!

They Grow Up and Leave the Nest!

 We've always had geese on the pond. A couple of years, there was a nest built and Mama sat on the eggs but we never had any goslings. 

This year was different. Before my surgery I saw a pair of geese swimming across the pond followed by 5 little ones. I was so excited. 

Back home again there were two families sharing the pond.

Now there are three!  Sorry, no pics of all three at one time. 

Wow... What a joy to watch them grow. Soon they will be big enough to leave and then I'll have to find another distraction!! Oh Well.