Saturday, January 17, 2009

More offerings from my husband

My husband borrowed my camera the other day and when I opened up these photos today, I was surprised to see all of his wonderful bird shots.

He must have been outside when he took these because shooting through the glass windows of our breakfast nook seems to distort the photographs. He took these with the Quantaray 70-300 mm lens he got me for my birthday in 2007. It is not a great lens, but for a hundred bucks, it's fine for now.

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At first we thought this was a little goldfinch, but what is that red mark on its head?

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Same bird with a different view.

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And this chubby bird that I don't know what it is has a little seed in his mouth.

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There. Now you can see the seed a bit better.

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Sorry. I just couldn't resist another George photo.

And now, for a word on Mr. Puppy here.

George is a frisbee catching, stick fetching maniac. Every day he and my husband play and he's becoming quite the fine-tuned athlete. However, do you notice that one side of his mouth is black? See it on this side in this photo? Well, the other side of his mouth is white and that side of his mouth is much more sensitive. George has actually developed a hard callus on his lower lip where he catches the frisbee. And my husband has been treating it with . . . well, um . . . he's been treating it with his own cherry ChapStick. When he puts it on him every evening, George's face puckers up and it's obvious this isn't his favorite flavor.

It's also funny that it's actually working to heal the callus.

Attention Newbie bloggers who have requested interviews: I still don't have e-mail addresses for all of you. Please e-mail me at katydid56@gmail.com so that I can send your questions.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

36 comments:

Mental P Mama said...

Maybe we should get George some Carmex. He's so cool. Love that goldfinch, and I have no idea why that red is there....

Flea said...

Please tell me he's not also using the Chapstick? And I don't think that's a mocking bird. He doesn't have the black mask around his eyes. I had a mocking bird in high school. Fell in the toilet and drowned.

Country Girl said...

Oh, yes. They both share the Chapstick. It's quite disgusting. And I'm not sure what the bird is. My husband isn't quiet as adept as he used to be, although that's coming back some. I'd thought it was a mourning dove but he said not.

~ C.G.

The Good Life in Virginia said...

lovely shots of the birdies and of course gorgeous george takes the star~
stay warm.

erin

shara said...

You have a lovely and talented family- You, your hubby and George!

Sue said...

What a cute mental picture of a man putting chap stick on a dogs lips.....and ofcourse he uses the same stick on himself...I know he must kiss the dog too....My husband is always kissing Boo on the nose.

Unknown said...

Love the pictures, especially the second one with the equisite feather detail. Is your last name Audobon?

Anonymous said...

It looks like George is carrying a baguette which made me laugh! But yes, it's a frisbee!

Country Girl said...

I think he's carrying it this way because his mouth was sore!

Jo said...

Oh, Kate, those picures are wonderful...! That little bird is as round as a tennis ball. Just delightful!

George is a character, isn't he? I just love border collies. Give him a little scritch behind the ear from me. :-)

Woman in a Window said...

I'm laughing really hard now that I read your comment here assuring us all that they in fact share the Chapstick. Your husband, one of a kind. (Maybe not so much. I could see mine doing the same.)

Egghead said...

I love those birds, especially the first one. Funny that hubby and George sharing chapstick...well I had a neighbor that used to give his dog alternate bites of his ice cream and the dog would lick the spoon each and every time. Yuk! Used to gross me out.

abb said...

That man of yours really needs to start his own photo blog!

Laura ~Peach~ said...

giggles at chapstick on Goerge will have to remember that next time squirts lips are chapped! Excellent photo and it is a goldfinch we have some with the reds on them too not sure why but ... still finches I think.

Mary said...

It must be pretty cold there, because that bird looks all puffed up. I don't think it could be a mourning dove because they are ground feeders. Tour husband is getting really good with that camera. And George needs his very own chapstick. Maybe Burt's Bees mint flavor?

Have a great weekend!
xoxo,
Mary

Ellen said...

How wonderful that your husband has taken an interest in photography. It's like he has found his own form of therapy after his surgery. And I bet George likes all the attention and walks too. And for us, we get to enjoy his time at home.

Anonymous said...

Your hubby is very good with the camera!

Anonymous said...

Those ae wonderful pictures!

My border collie Sadie is a soccer ball freak! She loves to play and is obbsessed with anything round. We have not gotten her to pay attention to a frisby. I guess when she started out with the soccer ball it ruined frisbies for her :)

Shimmy Mom said...

My husband would do the exact same thing. Men are so funny. Hope George is all healed up soon.

You must have good photographer juice in your water of something, I think I want to come hang out at your house for a while.

Lyn said...

Kate, love the shots. Hubby is a wonderful photographer as well and his love of nature is evident. Hope you are loving your contry life. My hubby and I have a dream of living on an acre or two - living a simple, authentic life. We have the authentic part - just need the patch of ground! Thx for sharing.

Amber said...

Great bird shots!!! My favorite is of George though, he's a beauty! But, im not sure i'd want to be kissin' on my hubby if he was sharing his chapstick with our Gus! hehehe

cottage farm villa said...

Kate, the photos of the birds are fantastic! I am also loving not just the birds but the branches! Your hubby did great!

I don't think we can ever tire of George pics. He is such a beautiful dog....and you always capture such gorgeous pics of him.

Our "sweet girl" used to be a frisbee fanatic too. She also loved when we would blow "bubbles"...and she would go nuts catching them.

Happy Weekend. ~Cheryl

Unknown said...

Your hubby is taking great pics and your pup is so cute and looks like he has so much personality.

Daryl said...

Aw .. go to Kiehls and get him some lip balm w/o a flavor ... or share some of the Sephora lip glosses

FAB bird shots

Maria said...

A male Ruby-crowned Kinglet? If you zoom in on the photo you can see just a hint of red...

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAbout
Birds/BirdGuide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.html

I love that chapstick story. Ha ha ha. Good grief.

I like looking at your husband's photos. They're completely different from yours. It's fun to see two different styles and viewpoints.

Country Girl said...

Hmmm, Maria. You could be correct. I also found these 8 photos:
http://10000birds.com/eight-shots-of-ruby-crowned-kinglets.htm
and am still not sure.
Our photos are that different? I hadn't realized that. In the least!

~ C.G.

Maria said...

Kate-look at this one...

http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Diversity/birdbanding/images/kinglets/ruby-crowned%20kinglet.jpg

Jeannelle said...

My goodness, your husband's bird photos are fantastic.....inexpensive lens and all. He could make a book of bird shots.

dlyn said...

I think George might like mint chapstick more - it is the flavor Riley recommends. I do think that is a goldfinch - maybe it has a boo-boo?

Tami Weingartner said...

Really want to know what that bird is....

Krystina said...

I always love looking at your (and your husbands) photographs! I am badly in need of a new camera. One day....

Anonymous said...

Ruby-crowned kinglet it is. The yellow band around the eye is one of the identifying characteristics. I've never seen one outside of a photo - yeah LH!
- Katie R

Country Girl said...

Thanks, Katie and Maria. Now we know!

~ C.G.

Tom said...

Just a thought on the bird with the red patch on it head.... here in the UK we have 'Fire Crests' and 'Gold Crests' these are very small birds and some arrive here to swell the numbers in winter... maybe you have some of these over there.. :o)

Thank you for a wonderfulcomment you left to welcome me back.

Tom

Deedee said...

It looks like a Ruby Crowned Kinglet. We have them in Massachusetts, tiny drab little things, but with a red spot smack on the top of the head. Peace!

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