More Hummingbird Action

It was too icy and slippery for me to venture outside in the yard, but I didn't miss it. I loved watching the bird feeder action from my perch on the stair landing or at the kitchen table. The temperature had dropped below freezing, the snow piled up and I wondered why hummingbirds with any sense remained in town when they could be basking in the SW sunshine and warmth. Then the sun came out and our two resident Rufous hummingbirds appeared pretty content, fluffed up for insulation against the cold wind, but as content as two irascible hummers ever look. 

Hummingbirds can be extremely territorial when it comes to protecting a food source and these two were no exception. I wish I had a video of their dive bombing runs and dizzying aerials as each bird sought to drive off the competition and claim the feeder for itself. There were brief moments when both birds paused, sipped from opposite sides of the feeder, and then resumed the battle. The dominant bird finally rested on a branch or rope, maintaining a vigilant guard against interlopers.

Bird Feeder Action

This morning's snowfall was a treat, especially since we didn't have to drive anywhere today. While I gazed out the kitchen window, marveling at the beauty and leisurely enjoying a cup of tea, a flurry of motion caught my eye. One of the resident hummingbirds did repeated fly-bys, checking out the empty branch where he expected a winter feeder. Oops! how could I forget my bird feeder duties?!

RL did the footwork on the snowy deck, and will have to do early morning duty for the rest of the week. The feeder will freeze overnight, and a backup container is ready to be swapped in. The problem? the birds wake up hours before we do, and they get a little noisy and aggressive when you keep them waiting. I know that feisty feeling, if my breakfast and that first cup of tea are delayed. 

The View from the Window

I have been home for two weeks with my brand new knee, spending most of my time exercising, applying ice, walking laps around the house, napping a lot and sitting in a chair for no more than 30 minutes at a time. Limited to one or two trips downstairs per day, I spend a lot of time gazing out the second story windows. This local eagle looks like a kindred spirit, favoring his right leg but ready to launch.

I may not be ready to fly for a while (or run or jump or dance), but I can hardly wait until I can drive! 

Home Again

Happy Halloween,

October has been a traveling kind of month; on the boat, back at home, on the boat,back at home, on the boat... You get the idea. I love being in either location, but I could do without the six-hour drive each way. Why? when the scenery is terrific, full of NW greenery and Fall color, beautiful shorelines and interesting boat traffic. Could it be the alarm clock at 05:30 a.m. that is so annoying?  

Even an early-morning wake up couldn't diminish the dramatic beauty of a Campbell River sunrise on the morning we left.

Then we drove, and ferried, and drove some more.  OK, we did pause for a delicious lunch at El Cazador in Burlington - I had threatened the driver with physical harm if he didn't stop and feed me. And then we kept on driving while it rained, and rained, and rained. 

The flower-filled pumpkin above was waiting for me on the front porch, a UPS delivery that really said "Welcome home." (Thanks, Mom!) Today the sun is shining, the car is unloaded and most of the stuff has been stowed where it belongs. It is good to be home again.

(Small giggle to self over tonight's Halloween math: subtract a very small number of trick or treaters from one bag of Snickers and what's left? Answer: too many tiny candy bars for the freezer and/or me! OMG, how I love frozen Snickers.) 

Gone Cruisin'

We're back aboard Rhapsody, doing boat stuff and having fun. Check out this year's cruising or even cooking at the other sites.

This was the view out the pilothouse port window early Saturday morning. Since then we have seen rain showers and downpours, blue sky and heavy overcast and felt a gale blow through the area. It certainly feels like Spring in the Pacific Northwest - just wait a bit and the weather will change! 


The Grass Project is already a dim memory, now that we're out of town and afloat.

Grass Project Update

A few days ago Ron added more grass seed. Since then we have seen more sun than rain and the daytime temperatures have risen a bit. All good things. In the encouraging warmth of today's sunshine you can watch the grass grow... well, almost. Those vivid green shoots are getting taller by the hour, except in those annoying bare spots where they haven't even sprouted yet.

Patience, besides grass, I really need to grow some patience.

Green Grass Report... sort of

That's it, the new lawn after three weeks of mixed weather conditions. We have seen downpours, windstorms, nearly freezing overnight temperatures and the occasional sunny day that approached sixty degrees. This is Springtime in Seattle, with its notorious "just wait 15 minutes and conditions will change" weather. Skiers revel in several inches of new snow dumped on nearby mountains while joggers run in the parks dressed in tank tops and shorts. Myself, I vote for warm and sunny.

Sigh, I really wanted magic. Instead I have an invitation to develop patience, to embrace delayed gratification, to visualize green. Give me patience... nah, give me green!!