Fun in the garden.................

I was looking out the window and I saw a bunny. So I rushed to get my camera.

He is a bit blurry because I took through the closed window. This one sits there and looks like a bunny. After a bit I realize he/she is not alone. I watch for awhile and they start to play. Chasing around the front garden leaping and bounding and then I see there are three of them. They race off down the road. I am afraid they will be hit by a car.

I went and watched out of another window and saw one cross the street. Pretty soon they again raced through my front garden. I wonder if they were courting?
Looking closer I wonder if they are Snowshoe Hares? They seem to have white fur that is changing to the summer brown? Look at the back feet they look like hare not rabbit. They are the size of my small poodles.

This one laying down certainly looks as big as my poodles.

After a rest and a few more laps they ran off across the road and down the ally. I hope they come back, I hope they have a nest and raise babies. I hope the parents beat the crap out of any cats (including mine) that go near. They are big and strong enough. We have had babies here before and I love how they will face the wall and stay still. Seems they think if they cant see us then we cant see them. I put out seeds for them. I think our local Skunk was indulging last night.
The next picture is of our Mourning Dove who is nesting on the porch

This is where the nest is. Above where I hung my friends hoops. She lands on that and then pushes her way into the nest

Cardinal is singing his heart out on the garden post

Well not much excitment since then but I do hope th bunnies come back. I must be sure to have seed down so they dont eat my flowers. Hmmmmmmmm they look like they would eat a lot.

A new bird in my garden............

The last few days I have seen a stranger in our midst. I have not been able to get a good picture because every time I see it I dont have my camera. Well I got one very blurry shot.

A little research and I think we have it.

This is the one. They are indeed thrushes. My first guess. They are smaller than my English thrush but a thrush none the less.
A Hermit Thrush.

I read about it and that confirmed it. This delighful little chap has been hanging around for several days now. Two in fact, a pair of them. Male and female. I am hoping for a nest. They stay low to the ground, hopping around in shrubs and in the flower beds. They like old leaves where they can get bugs and things. Aha competition for the Robins. This little chap is not shy either. I was sitting by the pond and she was sitting in the tree next to me. I got a good opportunity to study her and get the details. Like the ring around the eye. I examined her colour a lovely rich brown with a pale breast. The male had speckles, I could not tell if she did or not but she was so pretty. She went down into the garden next to me and found bits to nibble on. Or maybe bits for a nest somewhere close by. I will keep my camera handy.

Mrs Robin.....................

I went out into the garden today, I wanted to see if I could find something to write about. Well I did take a few very boring pictures. Nothing is more than an inch above ground. Still there was a Robin feeding, or at least looking for worms. So I waited and hoped to get a few pictures.

Then I noticed he was gathering nesting material. The nest is on our porch. Oh no. Every year the Robins nest on our porch. Do they not see the cat?

Well she was certainly determined, but we had one who was pissed off every time we went out the front door. She eventually left. I had one who woke us up in the middle of the night. Her kids were jumping out of the nest and fluttering off down the road. There was someones cat after them. There I was in my nightdress, middle of the night chasing baby Robins down the road and popping them back in the nest. Robins can be a pain. After that she came back for a 2nd batch and we have had at least one Robin nest there every year. Most do not make it. Has to be hard being a Robin parent.

Last year some Blue Jays nested out back and they had 4 babies. Something got them and they all died. Its such a shame. Must be heartbreaking to get that far to loose them all.
Meanwhile as we were looking around the yard for growing things, we noticed the pile of snow still on the side of the garage.


Well there is a few crocus popping through. They came from Bud's yard, thank you squirrels.

Beautiful arn't they....wont be long and Spring will be bursting out all over. I hope.....

It's here, it's here...........

That clean up time of year..........and oh what a mess it is. Gerry went outside today to do a litte raking. I swept the deck and paths. So much mud. Well, especially because Tristen has been playing out there in it. The snow broke the fences. I am actually happy about that because it means I have to do something about it. We have wanted a higher fence for a long time but could never aford it. Now we have no choice. Meanwhile things are starting to grow.


The poodles are just soooooo happy to get off the deck and recheck their territory.

Bodicea enjoyed the sun

Can you see Bijou on the snow?

Then someone came to Buds house and everyone went to check that out. We had a poodle path there but took it out.

Boots the cat came with the poodles and showed them around.


This is Boots after a reprimand for watching the fish. Hmmmmmm

I can not wait till all the snow is gone so all the old leaves can be raked up and the tidy up can begin.



Boots has been able to go where she wanted all winter but the poodles were confined to the poop deck. That now needs a good hose down. Next week mayb we can get that done.

They Made it through............

My fish, they all made it through what was probably one of the worst Michigan winters since the early 1970s. I am not sure how the records would agree with that but since the blizzard of 1978 I don't remember one this long with this much snow. So I was concerned. The pond was covered with several feet of snow and that is a good thing. We kept the pump going but could not tell if it stopped or not.
Today I went to check on them because Gerry said he had seen a couple of fish.

Last year we were shocked to find that the 3 gold fish, had a baby. I did not know that would happen in a very small pond. I was more shocked to find he made it through winter. I had to wait awhile because he is very hard to see.

My first couple of attemps at keeping fish, they all had names. It was just too sad when they died. Yes I get attached to my fish too. Well, I said if they lived I would name them, but I don't want to jinx them.

We will try to not disturb the pond too much this Spring, it will need cleaning but I do not want to disturb it too much. Hope if I can keep it going as it is then who knows, may have more babies this year,
I must ask my cousin how long the babies stay black. Good camouflage anyway, so maybe they stay black for a few seasons?


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To the Beach, March part 2...............

On my Bluebell Woods blog I was telling you about our Sunday trip to the beach. It was a beautiful sunny day. After being trapped inside all winter, when I felt the warm sun I made an instant descision. To the beach..........(continued).....and so after we left Empire Beach and the kids let off a lot of steam we headed off towards Glen Haven. One of my favourite beaches. We passed the old Dunns farm that was taken over by the park as were most of the farms in the area when they made it all a National Park.

Its a crying shame that this beautiful place is unused. I do think the park has plans for it but still.

Anyway we get to Glen Haven next and the kids let loose again did what kids do.

The beach is beautiful, the colours were as pretty as they are in summer, just different. Its a shame we didn't get a chance to look for stones because the ice had brought a lot up onto the beach.

I love this beach summer or winter. It was nicer before the Park took over. We used to bring our poodles here to run, now they have to be on a leash. The current crop of poodles do not travel with us so its not a problem for us and the local's do as they wish (smile). Having four poodles is restricting, they don't get to do as much as our others did .

Nothing like a brisk walk. The kids just loved running up and down the beach and exploring how differnt it is all frozen up. The stones slide and bounce.

There were a few brave souls out there braving the elements just like us. It was brisk but not really cold enough to be uncomfortable.

Well from there we went out into Glen Arbor where we saw some deer by the side of the road. They just stood there and let me get out and take some pictures. There were five of them.


We went and got coffee and drinks for the kiddies and then headed towards home. We went the long way around as we were not in a hurry. We intended to stop at a restraunt called the Hayloft before going home and it was still too early. This picture is of Big Glen and Little Glen Lakes. The Bridge across between them takes you into Glen Arbor. We are looking down from a scenic overlook at Aligator hill opposite.

On the way we saw turkeys feeding in someones front yard

Turkey's are not the prettiest of birds, but when you look close they have beautiful colours.

Well it was still only about 4pm but we had worked up an appetite and so we went to eat. When we got done I asked Gerry to stop up on Greyhawk Subdivision where we can look down over Traverse City. Took a couple of pictures but they didn't show up very well.

Sharing with Anything Blue Friday At a Dedicated House.
Also with Lavender COttage Garden

Cardinals.............

One of my most faithful visitors all year round is the Cardinal. We have at least two pair who visit frequently. I happen to like the female most as she is a lovely combination of yellow and red. Mr Cardinal is that beautiful red, but as bright as he is, he is quite plain besides her. This is a picture I took a couple of years ago

Mr C was a bit chilly it seems. See how pretty she is? Well they have nested around here for several generations. I doubt its the same couple but their kids and their kids are certainly thriving. We keep the feeders full all year. I just dont keep the tables full.

Mr C shows up very pretty against the snow and pines. Mrs C always looks good. I just love her colours.

One time we had two couples come in. The two Mr Cs were a bit iffy about it but the ladies just got down to chowing down.

Anyway, they are beautiful birds and brighten up the winter days

Downy Woodpecker...........

We had a new visitor today, well not exactly new. We have had the Downey's before. Still this little female was a welcome sight. I wish my birds would not be so jumpy. They have nothing to fear from me.

We know she is a she because she does not have the red dot on the back of her head.

I think she is very pretty, and fluffy and cute

She loves the fat I put out. I bought suet in the meat section at the grocery store. The birds have loved it.

This bird is very flighty and if it sees any movement at the window its gone, so I was lucky to get these pictures today. Maybe she was more hungry than usual,

I did get a few pictures of other birds today but will just leave you with the little Downey who seems to be hanging out with the Chicadees today.