Looking out my window...

They're BAAAAAAACK!

The above photos were taken July 1, 2010 by Sharon

 

Oh, I'm so relieved. I really thought the cardinals had abandoned us. That's my nature. The cardinal's nature is to find a home and stay there. I really don't think they live on our green patch, but rather a few doors away. A neighbor must have put out some competing feed. That's okay. Actually it's good. At any rate, along with the return of the cardinals, we now have a bunch of house finches and their babies at our feeders.

 

Something else happened this week that I thought was funny. We have a new neighbor, a gentleman, who lives right next door to us. He caught the Chief outside and said something to the effect of "Your air conditioner runs all the time. It's right outside my bedroom window. I can hear it."

The Chief said something like "Well, that's how my wife likes it."

Good ploy. As one man to another, if it's what the wife wants the men can't do anything about it. No anger or bad feelings between the men folk, ya know, 'cuz that's the way wives are!

I was dismayed. Well, not really. When we were deciding which unit to buy we could select just about any of them. We changed locations and models several times. One of the deciding factors was the two air conditioners were both placed by the one bedroom window. We thought better of that and chose the one without the noisy things.

Any way, I gave the Chief some other answers he could give:

1. My wife has allergies so the air has to be on.

2. We unfortunately have full expose to the West which means the bedrooms get really hot in the summer and don't cool off. You, dear neighbor are lucky to be facing the East, so by nightfall you can get the cool air in.

3. With our windows open, our wonderful, cute puppy barks all night at the traffic going by.

4. Because we have a loft upstairs, the air conditioning doesn't cool off the downstairs as well. Your place is smaller than ours, we have to run ours longer.

5. And finally, we've lived here for over 10 years and never had a complaint before! You're lucky you have such good hearing.

All of the above are true-ish.

Of course we only had one neighbor during those 10 years. She was a nice, older lady who hardly ever left her house. She would pick up her mail via her car. Prior to her moving in her son installed surround sound in all of her rooms. She was a music lover.

The Grass Is Greener...

Our Green Grass with Geraniums by Sharon

Bunny in The Grass by The Chief

I love green grass, and I mean the kind that is our lawn. This year the grass is greener. For about the last month we've had rain almost every day and some of it was coming down in buckets.

Yep, some of it came down in very heavy, like weather alert heavy, thunderstorms. While the automatic sprinklers were sprinkling.

The sprinkling system here in our little development has been a thorn in the Chief's and my sides. It was bad from the very beginning, having been installed incorrectly. Then it started to break down more and more. The condo association has spent thousands and thousands of dollars trying to keep it going. Well it's going alright... it's going while it's raining.

A few years ago there was a little drought here. Even with the sprinkler the grass got a little yellow. Big deal.

I guess that some people don't realize that grass can turn into a golden hue (like in California) when there is no water. But, it isn't dead and will revive after some rain.

What a waste to keep our lawns looking like golf courses. It's one of those things I usually keep in my peripheral sight line so I don't have to dwell on it.

    
 

What's the Morton Salt old slogan..."When It Rains It Pours?" 

 
Well, that's good for salt, but not for sprinklers.

 

I want a green lawn, truly I do.

But green in the environmental sense... not the color of money.

Here, Birdie, Birdie, Birdie

A Boat-Tailed Grackle on Patio Fence

In case you haven't guessed yet, I love watching birds. The one above I was just calling a blackbird, but after investigating I think it is as labeled. The purplish iridescence of the feathers is so beautiful in the sunshine.

The Chief did put the other feeder up for me, filled with safflower seeds. He has already filled it twice, the birds love it so. In no time at all the cardinals did arrive. I could barely contain myself.

Below, you will see some of the many pictures I took of the cardinals and others. I hope you enjoy them as much as I. But, remember all these pics were taken through my windows, with a camera that would hardly be called professional. And by me, old shaky hands.

 Male Cardinal on Feeder

 

Male Cardinal on Feeder

 

Male Cardinal on Fence

 

Male Cardinal on Post

 

Male and Female Cardinals on Feeder

 

Male and Female Cardinals Feeding Each Other

 

Finch and Cardinal on Thistle Feeder

Watching the birds is something both the Chief and I learned to enjoy together. It is "our" hobby. Not something we brought with us into the relationship, but developed between us.

I really must say that when the Cardinals came for the seed, again and again, I knew they had found a new home. When they sense danger they fly right into the Linden tree. A perfect setting it is: water, food and shelter.

And me.

An Update on Our Mourning Doves: Ménage à Trois

Sorry no photos. Privacy is respected.

The Chief saw the pair of Mourning Doves I blogged about the other day. They were both sitting on the fence. I said, maybe the chicks have hatched?

So, the Chief went out with my mirror to the patio to see if he could look in the nest. Would there be babies - alive or dead? Shells not hatched? What?

He came back rather quickly and said: There's another dove sitting on the nest!

He couldn't see anything else. So, what stories can we make up about what has happened to our lovey doveys. Maybe there were two males who each thought those eggs were his. DNA testing requested. Or, maybe they're all just friends.

So far, they're aren't talking.

...Won't You Be My Neighbor?

I have two neighbors I can not longer restrain myself from commenting on.

Prince Charming is the newest. Well, I don't think he actually lives here, but he IS here. He dresses like a young stud construction worker/farmer with bib overalls and maybe a t-shirt with the sleeves cut off during the winter.  But he is NOT a young stud. He is probably in his late paunchy 50's or 60's. His muffler is tied up with a rope. Take that anyway you want.

The other is Mr. Wonderful. He's been here a long time. Recently he purchased an ATV and lately he's taken to wearing a camo jacket with black sweat pants, a bright yellow hat and white tennis shoes. He drives around the club house with a rifle and fishing rod. Just in case.

I don't think his muffler is tied up with anything.

No UFOs, Yet

Our Prairie Crabapple Tree Budding in Spring

I live in a condo.

 We moved in 10 years ago when the subdivision wasn't even complete. The Chief wanted something on one floor. He found this place by accident (on one of his "drives") and told me about it. At the time I hadn't even thought about moving… farthest thing from my mind. But I went with him to look at models. Really nice. The community atmosphere was great. Club House, pool, across from a park. Next to an interstate for easy travel for commuting to train. The layouts were nice, everything was handicap accessible, though for us not needed. We closed in February 1999.

Many people assumed it was "senior citizen" resident living. But it wasn't. There are a lot of seniors here, but also other age groups.

With spring here, people have slowly started testing the outdoors. Much like testing the pool water when first, tentatively going in...first the big toe, then the foot, and bits by bits. So, the other day looking out my window, here is what I saw…all at the same time: Walkers, motorized scooters, canes, & cars. All of which kind of go with the "senior" image.

But, along with those, I saw: baby strollers, bicycles, skateboards, ATVs and joggers.

I can hear my scooter, Rosebud, calling out to me!

Winter Begins

Winter Falls on Patio 2009

 

Crabapple Tree in Holiday Bloom 2009

I decided to take these pictures today because the snow has finally begun here. Just in time for the holidays. It's a very gentle snow and if one didn't know better, one might be moved to say "Winter? What's the big deal?" Don't believe me? Just cast your eyes on the thermometer.

If you look closely at the red globes you will see quite clearly an image of our home. For some reason Bob decided this year to decorate in celebration of the Winter Solstice. It has been years since we decorated for anything. Wait, I take that back, we do, every spring, decorate our outside with flowers of various colors (as you have seen in pictures previously posted).

He did this quite on his own with much surprise to me. At first I worried about him, which is my nature, but then I decided to just enjoy them and his enjoyment in the doing.

Hoping your holiday of choice is also enjoyment filled. It's the little things.

My Red Scooter "Rosebud"

I love my little red "scooter." It's true I haven't used it much...just to the park with The Chief and dog. But I know it's there,waiting.

I bet as baby boomer's age you will see many of them having a grand time just toodling about on one. So cute it's easy to forget that we need them to get any where. Mine, as many do, comes with a choice of 3 colors: silver, blue and a razzlematazzel* red. I can color coordinate my clothes and baseball caps accordingly. Heaven.

I saw one of my doctors today. With his back to me while writing in my chart: "How is your pain? Any better with the new medicine?" After I did some thinking: "I don't know." Turning to face me: "What do you mean you don't know? Your have to know!"

"Hmmm." I searched and searched for an answer. OMG! I should know the answer to this, clearly I should. After me mumbling something, he said: "See you do know!" Harrumph...I hate pop quizzes!!!

 

*Spell check did not have any suggestions for correct spelling, but you get my drift.