Returning Friends

Song - You've Got A Friend covered by the cast of BEAUTIFUL

I know that Spring is around the corner as the Canadian Geese have been landing on our roof early in the morning doing their annual mating ritual.

 

The week started out pretty well as we had an intimate birthday dinner last weekend for Mr. B who turned 70 (yikes) and our middle son Jon who is turning 35 in a few days.  I was worried that we would have to put up two easy-ups because rain was threatening.  But all was well on Saturday morning and I was able to set up our large outdoor table with appropriate social distancing.  Of course it was on the cold side so we had a great fire in our outdoor fireplace and lots of blanket and coats were worn. And with that behind me.....

 

I moved on to enjoying the birds in our backyard!  Above is a White-breasted Nuthatch.  They really love the new suet log I place out there.  Actually it's not just tree climbers that use it but a variety of songbirds enjoy it as well.

The Downy Woodpecker comes several times each day so I try to keep the log full of suet for all of the visitors.

Early this week Mr. B read that songbirds are getting sick and dying in California.  I quickly read up on what was happening.  Apparently the Pine Siskin's are spreading salmonella across the state as they fly through from Canada.  So the recommendation has been to take down all backyard feeders and bird baths where birds are likely to congregate. Oh no....I said out loud.  They are my favorite company & entertainment during this pandemic. I then had a good talk with myself as to how selfish that is and the safety of the birds is much more important.  Apparently it will only be for a month or so until the Pine Siskin moves on to other territory.  Phew.....

There is another danger to my songbirds lurking out there.....

The Red Shouldered Hawk!  Usually he is hanging out in the big Oak trees that surround our property but lately he has been dropping in a lot closer to keep an eye on my little friends.  I'm not too sure what I can do about him other than throwing an ice cube at him occasionally. They are beautiful creatures but I love my songbirds more so I just try to make his presence around here a negative experience.

 

And when you have a happy, dedicated little helper like I do.....

 

 ....you are in it for the long haul.  I refill most of my feeders once or twice a week and I need all the help I can get.  Henry isn't even two years old yet but he loves helping me gather & fill the feeders and watching for the birds to come and eat.  He even imitates the calls they make! Then we go inside and wash our hands very carefully.....thanks Henry!

"Education begins the moment we see children 

as innately wise and capable beings. 

Only then can we play along in their world."

--Vince Gowmon

Pretty in Red

 Song - You've Got a Friend cover by Austin Brown

We had a couple of cold, wet days recently and the birds filled the trees waiting for their turn at my feeders.  I should say "our" feeders as my grandson Henry helps every Monday to pour seed into the tube and hopper feeders and Mr. B has been helping me lately with the heavy lifting. I have 21 various feeders that need filling at least once a week.  Some are suet cages that only need refilling monthly (unless a squirrel gets into them).  My hummingbird feeders get a good cleaning and refill every two weeks in the winter and more often in the summer.  

I recently got this log feeder that has holes drilled into the sides.  You place plugs of suet inside the holes and it attracts birds that like to cling to branches to feed.  Woodpecker, wren, titmouse, nuthatch, flicker and chickadee's are all attracted to suet feeders.

 

I had originally hung this feeder down near the creek as I know woodpeckers can be a little timid.  Then I realized that I wasn't able to watch who was feeding on the log so I moved it up near my kitchen. It has been a lot of fun to watch. This little guy hung out for an entire day on the log feeder.  

"A heart without dreams is 

like a bird without feathers."

--Suzy Kassem

Behind the Scenes

Song - Unchained Melody cover by Austin Brown

 

 

Just when you think there is nothing going on because it is winter......just take a walk outside.

 

 

 Here is some happiness in my garden just yesterday....

 

 

 

 A white camellia just outside my office window

 

 

 

 

 The rosemary is full of blooms and bees

 

 

 

 

 

 The hellebore is getting ready to bloom.  I just love this winter plant!

 

 

 

 My dogwood buds are getting plump

 

 

 

 

 Heard this plane and caught it as it flew past the moon

 

 

 

 

 My narcissus are ready to pop!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I have had a plethora of lemons and limes this year

 

 

 Alyssum flowers have reseeded everywhere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A lovely begonia that I got from my mother

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I planted several six packs of pansy's in the front yard but as you can see the deer love them!

 

 

 

 

 

 I have two urns of salvia that usually bloom late summer and through fall

 

 

 

 

 

By our front porch we have a Strawberry Madrone tree and I love how the bark peels off each year

 

 

 

 Here are her flowers....

 

 

 

 

 

 Daphne should be in full bloom and scent in a few days.  

Another winter favorite!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Some old primroses are popping though the garden leaf clutter

 

 

 

 This is an azalea that a friend bought for me when my father passed five years ago.

It blooms year round.

It is amazing!

 

 

 

A little snowdrop pushing her way though the earth

Midlife: when the Universe grabs your shoulders and tells you “I’m not f-ing around, use the gifts you were given.”

 

--Brene Brown

 

New Beginning

 

After a lot of deliberation I finally came to the conclusion that I need to "branch out"......he he....

I love doing my personal blog but I have also put years (about 50) collecting family history.  My own family, Mr. B's family as well as his bio-family, friends and family members trees, documents and photos. So I have decided to cut back on my personal blog to give "Twigs on my Branches" room to grow.

 

 

It is still uncertain how the new blog will develop but I need to get some of this information organized and out there for others to enjoy.  I thought for a long time about doing a small book but realized that it might be boring to pour though pages and pages of data and sources.  Several weeks ago I came across a woman's blog that resonated with me.  It was organized in a way that made it fun to read as she put the facts together along with some history.  For instance her relatives worked in the weaving mills in England and Scotland as did mine.  BUT...she found that they spoke their own dialect in each mill.  Apparently it was so noisy in the weaving sheds that they developed a form of speech with exaggerated movements to allow lip-reading and it was called Mee-mawing.

 

 

This is my 3rd Great-grandfather Henry Grieve, he is 50 years old in 1851.  His occupation is listed as HLW Cotton, meaning Hand Loom Weaver in Cotton.  

Come along with me for the fun. I know we will meet some colorful characters and you & I may even turn out to be cousins!

Twigs On My Branches

Twenty-twentyone

Song - Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springfield

 

 Happy New Year!

Here's to a year when we can hopefully start hugging again.

And dining with family & friends sharing our stories and love.

Hold on tight to the small, important things that make us happy...

...a sunrise...

...puppy love...

....a meal cooked with love...

...a frosty morning spent by the fire...

...a long walk by the ocean...

...live music..

...traveling to far off places and getting to know the people who live there...

...a little cabin in the woods (and I know just the one for me!)...

...a child's laughter...

...a great book...

...a road trip...

...the joy of seeing people smile again!

 

Whatever makes you happy, I hope you find it in this New Year!!!

 

"You are never to old 

to set another goal 

or to dream a new dream."

--C. S. Lewis

 

 

..

An Ear-full

 Song - Three Little Birds by Bob Marley & The Wailers

Last week I looked out of a window and I saw a flock of birds that were bigger than the song birds we normally get.  I thought they might be Cedar Waxwings as they were in an Oak tree and flying across our little lane to a Privet tree.  They were too far away to see their markings but they sure were acting like Waxwings. And besides I don't usually see Waxwings until January or February!

And sure enough yesterday they reappeared in my shade garden.  There are six of them in this photo. Can you spot them all?

As soon as I saw their yellow tail edge and that distinctive black eye makeup I knew it was them! And guess what a flock of Cedar Waxwings is called?

An "ear-full" or a "museum" of waxwings!

 

 

See the bird on the far left with the red tipped wings?  That is a small appendage on it's secondary feathers and is made out of red wax....therefore "wax wings".

 

I'm out to clean out that birdbath now as fruit eating birds get very thirsty.

 

 

Enjoy your weekend!

"Birds of a feather flock together"

--an old Welsh proverb

Let's Give Them Something to GOBBLE About

 Song - Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie 1967

 

 Welcome to my home for Thanksgiving through the years.....

This is me, my brothers and cousins.  We are at my Grandparents home in Oakland 

celebrating Thanksgiving 1957.

Here we are at our new home on Ponderosa Lane standing in front of the

 old walnut tree, one of many that lined the street.

Thanksgiving 1958.

This will be my first Thanksgiving with out my mom.

She taught several generations how to make her gravy.

It still amazes me how she did the whole meal by herself.  

Never asked anyone to bring anything!

 

Every year we would pose in front of this October Glory Maple tree to take our family portraits.

We will miss all of those who could not join us.

Last year we had 26 and this year we will be 7.

Glad people are taking care of themselves and us!

 

 

Same place same time next year!

Stay safe and know we are Thankful to have you in our lives!

 

 

Bursting with Color

 Song -  Bring it on Home to Me -  Sam Cooke cover by Marc Broussard & Jamie McLean

Autumn begins slowly and before you know what hit you it is a riotous state of color!

 

"How beautiful the leaves 

grow old.  How full of 

light and color are

their last days."

--John Burroughs