So far, I've captured a photo of a sparrow.
While visiting with my dad on the phone, a house finch, a sparrow, and a junco each enjoyed a drink. So, it's worth the effort.Why don't you try your hand at adding a final stanza to the Beverages poem at this posting?
School was called off this morning and children were taken home. Organizations have canceled meetings. In celebration of the weather, I've decided to try my hand at bread-baking. I haven't done anything like that for years, I think. If you're interested in seeing a recipe, I'll post it here. Later, when I'm done, I'll post a photo of the finished product. Hopefully it turns out! :-)
There's Been a Slight Change in the Weather
(sung to "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean)
There's been a slight change in the weather.
The wind has brought cold temp'ratures.
The snow is all swirly and twisty
and indoors pursuits provide cures.
Winter
Weather
Perfect for staying indoors, indoors!
Winter
Weather
Bread Baking beats scrubbing floors!
The temp'rature's now close to zero.
The wind chill must be mighty cold.
And Shady's the birds' brand new hero,
'cuz her water will never get cold.
Winter
Weather
Perfect for staying indoors, indoors!
Winter
Just hold the applause. ;-)
PS: A couple more photos:
The wind is wilder,
the snow is snowier,
and the birds are moving in
closer.
Look for 3 - 4 cardinals at
the feeder,
several on the ground,
and one on the bird bath! :-)
(sung to "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean)
There's been a slight change in the weather.
The wind has brought cold temp'ratures.
The snow is all swirly and twisty
and indoors pursuits provide cures.
Winter
Weather
Perfect for staying indoors, indoors!
Winter
Weather
Bread Baking beats scrubbing floors!
The temp'rature's now close to zero.
The wind chill must be mighty cold.
And Shady's the birds' brand new hero,
'cuz her water will never get cold.
Winter
Weather
Perfect for staying indoors, indoors!
Winter
Weather...
But how do I get to the store?Just hold the applause. ;-)
PS: A couple more photos: The wind is wilder,
the snow is snowier,
and the birds are moving in
closer.
Look for 3 - 4 cardinals atthe feeder,
several on the ground,
and one on the bird bath! :-)
A good poem and I love photos of the birds ( I wish we had cardinals in this area). One thing I do during Winter ( and I just completed it) is order my seeds for this year. I also picked up some today at one of the local garden centers today. I can't wait till they come in. Hope some warmer weather come your way.
ReplyDeleteall the best, Bob
How fun that the kids had to come home.. I love all the birds, i am sure they love the birdbath.. I have a few seeds already and scouring the mags I am getting.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see the birds are taking advantage of that heated birdbath - must be especially welcome, given your sudden bout of wild weather. Our temps are moderating to around 45ยบ today, with 50 mph winds. In the spirit of full disclosure, those last photos were of the Ipswich, MA area... about 20 miles from my backyard. My nearest body of water is a very large swamp, down the hill from my backyard, which, happily, attracts a variety of wildlife.
ReplyDeleteOh, how did the bread turn out?
Ohmygoodness. It smelled wonderful and tasted delicious... but I guess I must have rushed that "second rise." It's not photo-worthy (unless you want a laugh! ha!)
ReplyDeleteAh, but 20 miles from here you'd find more farm fields, woodlands, ponds and a bit of prairie, town and (yea) bicycle trails that are being wonderfully developed!
Bob, I'm glad you're back in "circulation!" ;-) You would certainly love the cardinals. I'll be watching the progress of your gardens.
ReplyDeleteDirty fingernails, Thanks for stopping. (I love your "name," and I'm ready to dirty my own pretty soon!) I need to return to my garden magazines! Keep me posted on your progress. :-)
Love the poem!
ReplyDeleteDear Shady Gardner,
When do I put my tulip and hyacinth bulbs in the ground?
Yours Truly,
Still a rookie & trying some new things this yar
Well... those are usually planted in the Fall, so they're ready to bloom in the Spring.(Do you have them now?)
ReplyDeletePerhaps someone could help us with a hint on that one... as far as keeping the bulbs fresh over the summer and into the fall? (Or check out some of these "gardening help" sites.) I'll help look, also. (I'm wondering about keeping them in a cool spot?)
Glad you are warm and cozy inside....seems old man Winter has hit hard in many parts of the country. You are a blessing to the birds in your neighborhood. :-) And what fun you must have watching them!
ReplyDeleteAs dellits is probably too late to get those bulbs in the ground, I suggest they be potted up & put in an unheated garage or basement in the dark, watered weekly, then taken out when they start to sprout. 4-6 weeks should be enough for forcing these bulbs.
ReplyDeleteShady Gardener - I could not be believe the temperature drop on Tuesday. It was 48F in the afternoon, then dropped from 38F to 3F in 3 hours. Yesterday was just nasty at -3, with wind chills around -20. I'm so glad we're warming up again.
Thanks Mr. McG's Dtr!
ReplyDeleteWhat about after forcing bulbs? How do you go about letting them rest so you can plant them in the Fall? Will they have expended too much energy in the forcing? (I suppose I should investigate myself, but I've got "homework" to do tonight.)
I thought about you on Tuesday! With all the wind and the sudden temperature drop - your Windy City was probably treacherous! We're having a lot of snow tonight. (1/31/08)
The tulips will probably be toast, unless they are 1 of the perennial types. If not, I'd probably toss them. The Hyacinths might be good for a few more years in the garden b4 they dwindle. After the foliage has yellowed & faded, the bulbs should be left to dry for a few days, then stored in a cool dry place until fall, when they can be planted. It's been a long time since I've forced bulbs, but I used to force Daffodils every year. They transplant well to the garden after forcing, although it takes a couple of years for them to bulk up again.
ReplyDeleteConnie, I didn't mean to ignore you! Thanks for your comments. Yes, it's fun to watch the birds. I'm amazed at the variety. :-)
ReplyDelete