Robin Redbreast...........

Robin Redbreast.....cheeky chap
Will eat the lunch right from your lap.
Garden friend on spades he rests
Proudly showing his bright red breast.
Awaiting worm or maybe bug
Examines the ground the gardener's dug.
He fixes him with beady eye
unafraid, he does not fly.
Follows him to each new chore
Always hoping to find more.
He knows the man goes home to rest
and so he flits back to his nest.
Another day comes to its end
A day spent with his garden friend.
JKS Jan 2012



Photo by Gerry Allen (http://www.redbubble.com)

More Squirrels....

The locals are running out of supplies in their stores I think because we are getting a bunch of them now at the feeders. This cute one was here yesterday and got into a tiff with the black ones. We had two grey and two black. They look very healthy and fuzzy



check out the long nails on front and back.

Dew Drop Diamonds...............

To see a rainbow reflected in a spiders web
A hawks feather on the forest floor
Take the time to help a turtle across a busy road
See fairies wings in a long dead leaf
and a diamond of a dew drop clinging to a branch.
These are the little things that bring such pleasure
They are free to the rich man and the poor
and worth more than anything made by man.
JKS 2012

(all pictures from photobucket)



A Quiet Walk
JKS 2012

A quiet walk on a well worn path
Thru woodlands lush and green
Solitude and silence echo only the birds sweet song.
Creatures bustle with their daily work the only things to be seen

The whisper of a falling leaf
As my foot falls on moss so soft and giving
Pungent odor of long dead trees
Bring sustenance to all things living.

A few from Today..............

Today the poodles just enjoyed themselves outside, it was cold but not freezing. The little ones seem to enjoy it the most. Then they love their warm blanket and heating pad when they come in. They don't stay out long.



Bodicea loves to put her face in the snow and cool off.



Then we had the Junco's come in for awhile. We had so much snow the last couple of days that the birds seemed to stay away. Today the regulars were back. I wish I could have got some pictures of the starlings the other day and I have yet to coax the Crows to come down.



The Cardinals came in, Mr and Mrs. She always seems so cute and he always seems so grumpy. I don't know what it is that gives me that impression. Doesn't she look cute?



He is so bright he should be cheery but well, he always seems to have attitude.






I told the cat it was too cold but she would not listen, went out anyway.

Winter is finally here in my garden.....................

The poodles are having a great time here in the garden now the snow has finally arrived. Bodicea declined to go out and stayed on the couch.


Bijou is the white poodle, she does not look so white next to the snow, more a creamy colour with Apricot. Anyway, she is seen above playing with one of the small ones. They are hard to tell apart but with snow all over its impossible. Below are the two horrors Brea and Bella



The snow is just beautiful and fresh, and we have a lot of it now. Still not what we have on a normal year as there is no accumulation. The Burning Bush is about to crash with the weight of the wet snow but it sure looks pretty.



One of the birdhouses looking all decked out

The plough making winter sculpture now, not to be seen when the flowers are out.



This is a night time shot.

January..........

January Cold Desolate



January cold desolate;
February all dripping wet;
March wind ranges;
April changes;
Birds sing in tune
To flowers of May,
And sunny June
Brings longest day;
In scorched July
The storm-clouds fly
Lightning-torn;
August bears corn,
September fruit;
In rough October
Earth must disrobe her;
Stars fall and shoot
In keen November;
And night is long
And cold is strong
In bleak December.


Christina Georgina Rossetti

The Cat's Out.................

Boots is an inside cat. She has decided that she is not any more. Once she decided there was no keeping her inside. I am the boss. I have decided to go along with it for now. She thinks she is so cool and so in charge, she is not.She has been de-clawed up front so I was at first concerned about her. Then I found that she was hanging around the house and not really getting into too much mischief. She sits below the deck watching the birds. From there there's not a lot she can accomplish. She would need to jump up through the shrubbery and she's too clumsy for that, grace is not her forte.



She loves to watch the birds. One reason I took her in was because the neighbours were plotting her demise because of the birds. She hunted the Cardinals. Well they have thrived since she has lived with us and so if I see any sign that she is not living up to her side of the bargain she will be kept inside one way or other. Meanwhile I let her think she has the upper hand.



Today Boots went out on the deck, snuck out she thought when the poodles went out. Well there was a squirrel at the feeder who totally ignored her. It could probably have beat her up in any case. She has got the nerve to actually ask to come in by sitting on the door step when she knows she is not even supposed to be out there. We will see what happens come Springtime and the weather is warmer.



Meanwhile she thinks life is good and she has the best of both worlds. Hmmm We shall see. We shall see.

The Wheel Barrow sleeps........

My poor wheel barrow is sleeping, guarding over my fish pond. The pond lies under chicken wire and I am hoping that the two fish that live there will survive the winter. They should do because we have not had a big freeze yet. Not to say that we won't but they did survive last year OK.
The weather has been mild enough that I am really hoping that it continues. If it does then maybe we can get a handle on things and make an early start with Spring clean up. That is my hope anyway. Meanwhile the squirrels are eating as much as they can and visit daily.



Anyway, there is not much else to talk about until we can get outside again. This coming Spring as soon as I can I want to get out walking in the woods and on the beaches again. Maybe then I can get some pictures worth posting here. We really do need the snow but I must say I am grateful for the reprieve non the less. The weather will do what it will but I can not say that I have not been grateful for this mild one because I am........wooooo hoooooo ............ah but not to celebrate too quickly March is sometimes our most bitter month.

Christmas Cactus...............

There's not a lot to cheer the gloomy days indoors at this time of year. The Christmas Cactus is bright and beautiful and comes in a variety of colours. I seem to always choose the pink for its vibrant hue. It's different from the reds of the Christmas season, maybe that's why. There are many good things to be said about it, they are easy to keep (don't overwater) and easy to propogate.



If you look at the individual flowers they are exquisite, like orchids.

January 2011

I had to add the Cardinal couple who posed for their picture today





Mr and Mrs Cardinal were here today. The snow brings out their colour very well. This male Cardinal is not as brilliant as the other one who comes. I did manage to catch the little red breasted finch today though.I think they are called the Common House Finch. The yellow one is the American Goldfinch.



One of my favourites is always the Tufted Titmouse........just had to get him in the picture.
Look at that fluffy tummy, how cute is that?



Then the Junco........I always favour the small and cute birds.



The tiny birds flock together and do the rounds. They probably stay together for protection and warmth because I believe they huddle in the crook of a tree branch at night. So I have read anyway. I do hope they take turns because the outside ones would have cold bums all the time.