Vacation

It's Friday afternoon.  Mom's safely home in Virginia, I've taken a nap, and Portia is out on the deck watching the Grounhogs, our neighbor family.

Yes, you read that right.  Family.  Turns out I've gotten quite a few things wrong about our neighbor.  I originally thought a male groundhog had taken residence under our shed.  Last weekend I noticed several little noses peeking out from the burrows under the shed and it turns out that Mr. Groundhog was actually Mrs. Groundhog (now separated from her mate) and she has four little groundhogs.  These little ones have grown even this week and from what I've read, Mama will issue an eviction notice sometime around my birthday in July and they'll find new homes.  As long as it isn't in our house!

Mom and I enjoyed sitting on the deck and watching the Groundhog family and the many birds that visit our feeders.  Deer visited too.  I keep my Audubon bird and mammal guides handy -- a necessity here!

We've spotted the following birds at our feeders here:

• Blue jays
• Red-winged blackbirds
• Goldfinches
• Juncos
• Black-capped chickadees
• Cardinals
• House sparrows
• House and purple finches
• House wrens
• Flickers
• Downy woodpeckers
• Red-bellied woodpeckers
• Rose-breasted grosbeaks
• Ruby-throated hummingbirds (at their own feeders)
• Cowbirds
• Starlings (usually in winter, other birds drive them away in late spring)
• Bobwhites
• Mourning doves
• Juncos
• Tufted titmice
• Robins

In the skies above, we've seen blue heron, vultures, red-winged hawks, and of course, Canada geese.  Unfortunately I've not seen any bluebirds around - they are not seed eaters and I'd need to have mealworm feeders for them (plus the mealworms!).

We also have squirrels that love to torment us at the feeders -- hanging upside down and eating/throwing out food on the ground.  At least the ground feeding birds love it.  Mom would throw out in-shell peanuts for the squirrels to eat, and the "thievin'" blue jays would swoop down to snatch the peanuts, then light on the lawn and cover them with grass clippings!

I've had a mostly relaxing week.  We didn't go to Iowa to visit the Fons and Porter store, but we visited yarn and quilting stores in the KC area.   Mostly we just sat on the deck and watched the wildlife.  I knitted and have about 2.5 feet done on a prayer shawl for my aunt. 

I'm working at the Studio tomorrow.  Reading Sunday's lessons in Russian to help our parish celebrate Pentecost.  And hope to relax Monday before I face a week of catching up from vacation. 

Comments

[Suzanne]

I love hearing about the birds that show up in other yards and in other parts of the country! You've got quite a variety, and we have some crossovers. I confess the jays are my favorite, they're aggressive, stubborn and creative.

[mosker]

I'm so pleased you and your mom had a great visit. She is great for convincing to you to relax.

[Rustee]

Hurray! It sounds like you and your mom had a wonderful week together.