Wednesday, January 11, 2012

January stillness

I realize it’s been several days since I’ve posted and I’m not sure if you’ll run from yet another missive about birds. But it’s my blog and I can do what I want, and in January around here, there’s not much else going on at the manor house on the hill.

I took these photos over the weekend. The beautiful, balmy weekend.


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I was thinking of using this as my new header but this is as far as I got on it.


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I was wondering if it were winter that has got me down at the moment, but I’ve never been too bothered by this season. There’s so much beauty in it, you know.

I’m down for other reasons, but this little poem makes me smile.

If I were a bear,
   And a big bear too,
I shouldn’t much care
   If it froze or snew;
I shouldn’t much mind
   If it snowed or friz—
I’d be all fur-lined
   With a coat like his!
For I’d have fur boots and a brown fur wrap,
And brown fur knickers and a big fur cap.
I’d have a fur muffle-ruff to cover my jaws,
And brown fur mittens on my big brown paws.
With a big brown furry-down up to my head,
I’d sleep all the winter in a big fur bed.
~ A.A. Milne, “Furry Bear”


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I bought a new bird feeder and some seed to go with it on Saturday. I thought it would be ever so much more photogenic for capturing bird images than some of the old ones we have and my husband promptly hung it up for me.


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The birds don’t care how pretty my feeder is however, and preferred the old rusty standby with the nice perching spot over my new purchase.


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Photogenic it is not.

But it was a lovely day, and after doing things that needed to get done, I spent some time sitting outside and enjoying the weather.

I read some more of my camera manual and learned a bit, putting some of it to practice.


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I caught some wing action on this female house finch.


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And the male looking backwards.

: : :

I went to a baby shower after school today. We held it upstairs in the faculty break room, which is actually an apartment on the 3rd floor of the building. It was lovely, but I think it left me melancholy for some reason. I’m very happy for my young co-worker however, and for her mother who works there as well. I took the photo below last Friday as I was walking through the old courtyard to the other side of the building. It was quicker than going all the way around to get back to the office.


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Such a pretty sky.


Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

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36 comments:

Country Gal said...

Beautiful photos ! I never get how you put it missive of your bird photos, I love photographing birds they are quite the characters as is our Miggy which I photograph a lot as she is my best subject and loves to show off for the camera ! Have a good day !

Mary Lou said...

I prefer the old feeder as well but like the new one too. It just needs a bird.
I'm down too. Dreary here.

Chrissykat said...

Always love bird photos! They'll get used to your new feeder in no time. The bear poem made me smile too. :)

JC said...

Love your bird photos.
The old building reminds me of when I worked at a boarding school. Huge and you could get lost. Luckily, I worked in the front office.

Reena said...

I never get tired of your bird photos! Love that first one. I think the female cardinals are so pretty this time of the year.

Kim said...

Your bird photos are amazing!

Nellie said...

I love the wing action you captured!
I'm hoping you will feel perkier very soon!
xoxo

Jeannelle said...

Those first two are just gorgeous! Love the poem...our forecast is finally calling for snew!

Andi said...

Love A.A. Milne! And much prefer the "rustic" feeder too. I can see why the birds like it.

GailO said...

AA Milne and birds will always get me smiling too:)

I've been wondering how to get a long thin image for the header but maybe I just have the wrong template...

I've been working on baby shower invitations for my youngest daughter...now that will make one a bit melancholy! My baby will be having a baby!

Low Tide High Style said...

I love your beautiful bird photos and could never tire of them, truly I mean that. The male house finch in flight, looking backwards, well it's perfect!

I think we all have our ebbs and flows, it's just part of life. And that poem is such a sweet one, thanks for sharing it. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be beautiful again, I'm looking forward to it after the grey day we had here today.

Kat

Jamie said...

I love bird photos and Milne. I'm looking forward to being able to watch the birds at the feeder at my mom's when I move back in. Just yesterday I caught a hawk sitting on the deck railing, hoping to snap a few pics of him

Cloudia said...

sweet little birds,
sweet puffy clouds-

Idyllic!


Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral

> < } } ( ° >

Lili said...

Awww Kate you always have such sweet birdie pics and fun things to keep us all cheery despite this January stillness. I just love that description. You could have almost predicted that those little creatures wouldn't take to that new bird feeder right away though. I suspect they feel comfortable with what is familar, as do we all. I don't believe I've ever even noticed a birdie looking backwards in flight like that before, now that is a gift to have captured that. xo ~Lili

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

I can give you several reasons for being melancholy after that shower, or rather i can give you reasons that I feel melancholy in similar situations. Regardless the photos are magnificent; I love the birds.

Thank you for picking out the GREATEST cheeses.

Christie - Fine Lines said...

I found myself wondering where you were yesterday. It's nice to have you (and all these amazing birds) back today. I thought of your photos as I was driving to tutoring this afternoon. The sky was filled with crows, all circling and cawing. The finally settled in 2 extremely tall palm trees and one shorter leafy tree of some kind. It was spooky -- kind of like the movie, The Birds!! I was wishing for some of your cardinals or finches or actually ANYTHING but crows. We have so little variety here in Southern California -- I depend on you for that!!! Thank you.

Annie said...

That photography is amazing Kate! I also prefer the old rustic bird feeder but the new one is very nice and the birds and I will get used to it! Feel better soon.

Krystina said...

Don't get me wrong, I love your new bird feeder! But there is just something about your old ones that add a little something to your pictures. I personaly, love the rustic look and feel. Guess thats just my country roots...

alphabet soup said...

The old bird feeder looks great; it adds a sense of time & history to the photos; the cardinal is beautiful and the bear poem? Wonderful.
Ms Soup

thecatalanway said...

More lovelinesss from you - the photos, the words, the poem and the emotional honesty. those picture of the wings in flight make my heart jump. It makes me think - I wish I could take photos like that! And then I stop myself - no, I just am so glad that you take photos like that and I can see them! thank you K x

Anonymous said...

Not every day is an up day. Some are just melancholy and that's okay. :-)

The pattern on the new feeder against the color of the bird seed is very photogenic.... It's nice to spruce things up a bit sometimes, even if the birds don't get all chirpy and happy about it.

Kerri Farley said...

Little sweet birdie wings ..... can't get enough of them.
I LOVE the new feeder but I LOVE the old one as well!! and I'm sure the birds will get used to the new one :)

The JR said...

Love the pics. Mine seem to be blurred all the time now.

Mental P Mama said...

Silly birds. xoxo

Mary said...

Milne and wings -- totally lovely! I always feel January is a naturally quiet time of year, after all the bustle and socializing of the holidays. It's fun to watch the cheerful socializing at the bird feeders, the jockeying for position and the sheer joy they find in feeding... Thanks for bringing it to us in such beautiful images! xoxo

thotlady said...

Lovely photos as always. The winged action is beautiful. Melancholy is a great word it fits one's mood perfectly.

beth said...

bird us to death i say.....i LOVE them !!!
especially in flight. i think i'm jealous they can fly.
xoxox

beth said...

ps....yes to that new banner with that photo. i think it's perfect !

Anonymous said...

I too deal with a chronically ill hubby. One that was so alive so productive and now is well not. So I understand the sadness. Find the joy where ever you can. Your posts are a joy to me

Rachel Spinuzzi said...

Give me your birds every day, I won't get tired of them. Like, ever.

mrs mediocrity said...

I always love your bird photos! And I love the rusted look...
The flight captures are wonderful.

sharon bric said...

Please keep the wings coming.Every one is unique and helps us with learning about photography. When all I am getting at my feeder lately is starlings I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This time of year stirs up many thoughts and with that come reflection and new direction. You will move forward ;sometimes the pace does not agree with our plans :) but we all get there. I truly enjoy all your pictures they give a dull day here a sparkle to look forward to.

Bluebird49 said...

Melancholy is a good word for 'January Me', too. It always makes me feel a little better when I visit with you, though. That house finch facing backwards--the wings are spectacular! Last night, my friend--who is in her early 70s --had a new grandbaby--and her daughter, (newly married again), is almost 40 and already has 14 and 16-year-old daughters. It reminded me of my late daughter when she was born and how sweet and beautiful she was, and how much I miss her everyday. This new little baby is gonna be so spoiled and loved.:) I was happy for them all and the baby is a beauty (as are they all), but I thought to myself, "I'm not going to have anymore grandchildren...and one is grown, and the other 2 are growing up so fast!" I couldn't help but be a little melancholy...(and truthfully), okay..drumroll: envious! And I shouldn't be that. I could be without grandchildren--and, since I know what a blessing they are, that would really make me sad! Bluebird49: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, darn it!;) God bless you, Kate!

LL Cool Joe said...

I'm sorry you are feeling down, I think it's a general feeling in the blogging world at the moment. Your bird shots are beautiful. One can never get tired of beautiful shots!

Unknown said...

I don't know what else to say anymore. Gush Gush Gush.
You rock .

Jibz Actions said...

Your images are just stunning!