Yesterday was our 42nd wedding anniversary. We enjoyed the day at home. We ate at the our favorite restaurant (home). Enjoying our favorite menu selection. Sixth Street Market steak,shrimp, mushrooms pea pods and baked potato..

We prepared for the day and the treat (calories) by walking a 5K Run/Walk race.  Today we need to walk off the desert and get back on the better health program.

What a difference 12 hours makes. 62℉ @ 10:00 am. Snow @ 10:00 pm.

10:00 am - 62℉

10:00 pm (22:00) - SNOW!

Changes at the kitchen window. Hummingbirds welcome.

Our backyard outside the kitchen window has seen some major change in the last week. First we decided that it was time to have the spruce tree(s) cut down for safety reasons. Their root systems were to shallow and the trees visually lifted the root system in strong winds.  We decide a controlled toppling of the tree(s) was far better than a storm driven event.

The loss of the trees included the loss of the bird feeders and the wildlife that visited them. So it didn't take long (two days) before we decided we needed our feeders back. 

A few dollars worth of hardware, a twenty inch long 2 1/4" auger bit and a nice new spruce tree stump provide the solution. Drill one deep hole in the center of the stump. 

Add a 2 1/4" eight foot metal pole. Level up the pole with a couple of wedges to secure the pole in it's new home. Add a 2 x 6", 48"long board. Creating a T. Add 3 bird feeders and ....... build it and they will come.

Add one..... no maybe two new window hummingbird feeders and get out the camera.

Enjoy our new visitors.

It begins...seasonal decorating.

We have graduated to this wonderful tree.  It is about 7 feet high in a very large clay pot.

The Christmas Village. Church.

The Christmas Village. Bed and Board.

The Christmas Village. Ice Co.

Chirping here. Chirping there. Chirping, chirping everywhere.

For several years now we have had a male and female Northern Cardinal pair (maybe two pairs) in our neighborhood. We have watched them and listened to them nearly everyday as they spent their days in and around our yard. We have listened to them communicate back and forth from perch to perch.

Today we heard something distinctly different. Chirps. Short sharp chirp, chirp, chirp. Something was different. Following the sound lead me to a lilac bush and eventually the source. The first fledgling Northern Cardinal we have ever seen.

The fledgling was calling out to mom and dad and they were close and answering. After jumping from perch to perch within the lilac the fledgling finally made it to an upper open branch. Several more chirps back and forth one small leap, flapping new wings and a semi controlled flutter to a lower bush and out of sight.

For the rest of the day into the evening we heard chirping between at least three different locations. We look forward to seeing a new adult taking up residences in the neighborhood.

Mom perched over the lilac bush.

Dad... with lunch?..... mac and cheese?

Right... mac and cheese?

Fledgling Northern Cardinal.

Mom watching closely from nearby birch.

Dad still carrying lunch.

Hollyhocks... Mom's favorites.

And the grapes are growing.

The garden(s) continued to grow and bloom while we were away.

Hibicus.

Clematis.

Our new grape arbor and shaded spot on the deck.

I'm reposting these from below. After a little yard work and truck maintenance I sat down in our new shaded corner on the deck. The sun was shining and  I leaned back in the chair and looked up..... see the picture below for the peaceful view.

This is the results we hoped we would get. A natural shaded area where we can sit and watch the grapes grow.  Now that is a view I could get use to.

Here is what it looks like from above.

Some of the potted flowers growing on the deck. Begonia

Pansy.

Petunia.

Getting back to fun things.

Although I have not been away (on vacation) I have been at other tasks. Getting the yard and garden ready for summer. Doing some home upkeep projects. Doing some home improvement projects. Spending time with family and friends. The camera was never far away.

Killdeer adult with one of three chicks.

Mom and Dad Killdeer.

Young Killdeer chicks.

Twelve annual Kid Fishing Day at the local visitor's center.

Fish were caught.

Herbster Wisconsin campground. A beautiful day until the fog rolled in from the southwest.

photo taken by Carol "Birthday Girl" Seago.

The birthday girl.

I took this photo in one of my neighbor's yards. Look close see what caught my eye.

A recent gathering of Scott's drumming students and Scott's West African drumming teacher and Kellie's West African dance teacher Fara. Donna far left, Scott (red shirt), Fara kneeling (L) and Kellie kneeling (R)

Dance drummers. Fara (l), Donna (m), Brian(r) and Scott.

Here is one of the home improvement projects. We finally built an arbor for our grapevine. At the same time we are providing a shaded area on our deck.

This is the view from the second floor looking down on the new arbor.

A stay at home day. Tree care service. Sunny and warm.

The annual first sign of spring. The Croci not the snow.

Nature.... yes nature. Bromeliad.... almost pineapple. See it.

 

Can you see it. It's in the pineapple family. Bromeliaceae

I want to photograph plants, birds and wildlife.  Ice out should be soon (30 days). Sanity can't be far behind.

It isn't camping weather. It's John Deere green machine weather.

This and the photo below were taken by my wife Donna with the new 7D Canon. Oh! ya!.. and she was also the videographer on the video below.

The Little Guy is tucked in for winter.

If ONLY.. it went this fast in real time. 2 minutes 15 second.. DONE!

House plants. It's that time of the year.

When the weather changes and you need some color to photograph it's always nice to have the option to move indoors. This plant is now 28 years old and still offers great beauty each year at this time.

This plant is the youngster. Some call these Christmas cactus others call them Holiday cactus which is probably the best description. Here we are a few days from Thanksgiving and they are in bloom. In a month they will still be in bloom at Christmas.