Hello all and no matter what the calendar & the government says, Spring is here. The critters know it. I know it. The sun is back. It is no longer dark at 5pm. (woof!)

Today is one of those fantastic clear blue occasions that start frosty, go to toasty dog-sleeping warm and then back to cold at sunset. Very life stimulating. Gets us going for sure.

As early as Feb 2 I had the same guy cardinal as last year (I think) raising the roof & advertising his red butt off only this year there was no snow on the ground. The Cardinals get busy right away. Nuthatches too. It’s a lovely clear repeated call.

There's no real urgency in that music but there is determination. To me, it's like a baby making noise in church - it's the real voice of god coming thru.

Not so sure the girl cardinal appreciates it all.

I lay out black oil sunflower seed for the yardbirds at least twice a day - 1st outdoor chore of every morning & first when I get home from work @5p.

She was there for the early meal but couldn't get a nibble. Every time she landed, he immediately tried to hop on before she could eat.

I didn't stick around to see what happened but later in the day I saw her in the trees watching for her chance to dine. (She didn't starve so I guess she figured something out.)


Still in the critter realm, I have a young doe who has figured out the "early bird" thing and arrives before the others. I startled her hiding place twice in two consecutive days.

She is terribly curious and maybe knows that the stuff in my pan is for them. Looking right at me from @ 20ft away, I see that nose working; I speak to her,

"Good Morning dear (pun intended), gotcher breakfast right here."

Obviously balancing curiosity, hunger and personal safety, she sticks around (eyeballing that pan of nugs), until I'm about halfway to her and then she bolts off into the woods, white tail flying.

She'll turn around when she feels safe and look to see if I'm gone. Once I vacate the immediate area, it takes only a few minutes for her to come back and only a few more for the rest of her gang to show for the chow down.

This morning, as I drove off to work, I could see them in my rear view mirror gathering to the food.

Big graceful critters. I marvel at them and will continue to feed 'em. Mostly does, I've only seen a few bucks, one with 6 points (2 brand new).

I think there's a dozen or so in the whole tribe and I might have seen a stranger at the food a few days ago. That one was very timid about approaching the rest while eating but was eventually accepted without challenge.

As far as challenges go, I have seen bucks pushing head-to-head but it didn't look too serious - maybe they were playing or practicing at being grownups.


Now, in town, a swarm of Robins - a couple hundred at least is (are) hanging out across the street from the courthouse where I work. There is a row of Holly trees in full red berry and these travelers obviously like 'em a lot.

They change shifts at the tree about every 10 minutes. One small cloud of birds flys off the trees while another bunch moves in from the opposite side - rotation.

If you get close (they pay very little attention to us) you can see the individuals working full tilt, swallowing as many whole berries as they can.

Some of the fuller ones show tiny round bumps in their red tummies and can have a tuff time getting off the ground.

I guess they are tanking up for the flight north. We had a bonus red holly berry crop so I presume they are pretty happy. If they stick to form, they’ll strip the row of trees bare of fruit in a day or two and move on.

Good to see 'em.

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A few days have passed and last night was very windy & rainy. It ain't March yet but it is coming in like a lion.

At daybreak this morning, all my silhouetted bare stick backyard trees were swaying widely as a unit. Being blown hard left then hard right - in a pretty extreme arc.

This is going to "pump the sap" right up to the top branches and they will start making this year's leafage. What a clever relationship the trees have with the wind & the sun.

It's starting a bit early compared to our average spring. But averages are usually nowhere near reality anyhow - if you have one foot in a fire and the other on an ice block - on the average you are comfy. Hmmmm

022916
Well - leap year day and no one leapt at the chance - OK guess I'm safe. (too bad)

Had a neat "conversation" this morning with my "early bird" doe. I saw her come into the yard just at daylight and kind of poke and sniff around the ground where I usually lay the nuggets.

I had yet to put out anything. I filled my pan from the big bag in the house and went out onto the deck. She spotted me immediately but instead of blending back into the woods, she stared with apparent curiosity.

I spoke, "Good morning sweetie, I’ve got some yummies here for you." She looks at me and nods, sniffs the air and eyes open a bit wider (if possible) & maybe recognizes that I have the goods?

I hold the pan out with two hands like an offering (do all critters "get" body language?) and I swear she does a double-take and looks right at me. I make a few steps closer and she gets ready to bolt but I'm still softly talking nice and I see she drops her head, then looks at me and then the food, then drops her head again, then looks at the food again.

I can see decisions being made and countered within that gorgeous creature. Safety wins and she walked (not ran) off until I layed out the food and went back to the deck.

With enough time, I might eventually get closer. The younger ones tend to trot to the food while the older more experienced deer stay professionally cautious. I really like these guys.

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Ok, so now it IS March (already!)

Its March 3 already and snowing. @ 3 in the afternoon and it's not sticking yet, but it will. I've only seen 1 redbud tree in bloom so far this year, on 441 in front of a dentist's office.

Purtiest thang I ever saw was a redbud tree in full bloom with just a sugaring of snow in the full sunlight. I probably saw that 10 years ago. It just stuck with me.

That same day when the roads began to melt, every car had a rainbow "vapor trail" following them down 441. That was one heck of a beautiful color day.

Small talk is good. Big talk is that I'm still recovering from Connie B's death. I get whapped by extreme mood swings when I'm not busy. Sleep & dreams are OK. Appetite is still a bit off. It is getting better.

I notice more calm times and I'm way past denial. Her kids are fighting over the property and it seems a bit disrespectful but they have a completely different relationship to her than I did.

Music is good and a great refuge. Singing w Ubu die-hards (way looking forward to the upcoming re-gathering), playing R&R with The Remnants and doing some church music too.

There's always a tune playing in my head (usually the last earworm I've heard - though "Love Potion # 9" is a new intruder and I can't recall having heard it recently.)

That's about it for now
More Later

Big Love to All









Ladybug dancing in a coconut tree
Snapping all her fingers and a winkin at me
You know I'd like to give a little hug
To my ladybug - ladybug