Sugared Mountains

 Song - Blackbird  by The Beatles

Yesterday Mr. B and I headed over to Yosemite and it was a lovely day and it was a Christmas gift from Mr. B. We could see a little, light dusting of snow on the higher mountains but it was a great temperature in the valley. Above is the view of Half Dome from our room. 

 

 

We took a walk while the weather was nice and we walked over Swinging Bridge to admire the Upper & Lower Falls. There was a tree full of Blackbirds happily singing. 

Can’t you just hear them now?

 

We had dinner in the bar and read for the rest of the evening - no cell service which turned out to be lovely. 

It rained all night and when we woke up on Thursday morning it was raining as well. After a while I didn’t hear the pitter-patter of rain outside so I glance out the window and it was snowing! 

 

What a lovely, peaceful, quiet time.....

Same view out of our window but Half Dome is shrouded in clouds.

Blackbirds

Song - Blackbird by Paul McCartney

Blackbirds social distancing 

in 

 Bodega, California (where else?)

where they filmed "The Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock



"Mrs. Bundy: I hardly think a few birds 
are going to bring about the end of the world. 

Melanie Daniels: These weren't a few birds."

-- The Birds 

The Bandits Are Back

Song - Blackbird by Paul McCartney

The berry bandits that is.......Cedar Waxwings with their marvelous bandit masks on!

 They usually appear near the end of January as that is when the Privet berries ripen.

 Today happened to be a nice sunny day and as I set up my camera even more birds began to arrive.

I was outside taking these photos for about half an hour.

 Suddenly they all flew off as a small sized hawk flew directly at them!

 This isn't a great shot but it does show the bright yellow tail tip and the red wax color
under their wings. And that's how he got his name - "Waxwing"

 The hawk came in so swiftly that I didn't even get a change to take his picture.

It's been several hours now and the Waxwings have not returned.

Hopefully tomorrow but it's supposed to rain.

"Faith is the bird that feels the light 

when the dawn is still dark."

--Rabindranath Tagore

The Bird Lady and Her Tree House

Song - Blackbird by Crosby, Stills and Nash

I have a friend and mentor who lives in a tree house.  

Or I should say a house high in the trees.

She also happens to love, care for and feed the birds.

Four little Bluebirds come to her when she calls and it is feeding time.

She has lots of bowls of fresh water for them to drink and bathe in.

And happy flowers grow everywhere!

And plenty of homes for them to live in.

 

They are happy to live in her little sanctuary.

 

 

They are content and so am I when I go to visit.

Just to sit and talk and be with nature.

 

And have nature watch us back.

They patiently wait for their daily feeding and fresh cool water.

Why hello there!

Everything thrives in her wonderful care.

That's quite a cigar mister............

.....really it's a meal worm!

This little Nuthatch loves to hang upside down.

Sit for awhile in the shade of the Oak trees and Dogwood.

Grab a cool drink or maybe two.

Ponder life and the beauty of nature up high here on the mountain.

Grab a snack if you like.

Or just puff out your chest and enjoy the warm sun.

My friend, thank you for sharing your little slice of heaven with me today!

"So this is how you swim inward. 

So this is how you flow outwards. 

So this is how you pray."

--Mary Oliver