Hello it’s me

Did you think I’d fallen off the face of the earth? I’m sorry, my friends, that I’ve been so absent. I think that, for a long time, blogging was such an escape for me. It also enabled me to connect with people and to make new friends. But I loved that iIt gave me something to do while in the same room with my husband, who was either watching tv or resting. And now that it’s just me . . . maybe I don’t need it for an escape anymore.

I still enjoy sharing my photos with you and apologize that it’s just on a weekly basis anymore. It’s true that May and early June were extraordinarily busy for me at work. Being busy is fine but when you couple it with the weekend housekeeping chores, I feel like I hardly have time to just chill.

 

My favorite thing to do to relax these days is to take photographs of the birds at the feeders. I’ve built this weird perching system at the edge of the patio, trying to mimic the one my husband built that was knocked down by snow and winter storms.

I have several shepherd’s hooks with flowering baskets and bird feeders hanging from them. I have two bird baths. But I also have 2 old and large tree stumps. Attached to them are a series of long tree branches, and across some of the branches, I’ve tied other branches for perches. It’s a work in progress. So – on the whole, it’s kind of weird-looking. (I’ll show you some day). But for bird close-ups, it’s nice.

 

 

There’s this, which I think is terribly cute.

The tufted titmouse really likes the fruit & nut seed mix, so when I’m taking photos,

I fill up this little seed holder. It almost looks like he’s found a friend.

 

 

A downy woodpecker.

At least, I think it’s a downy. Could be a hairy, which is a little bigger. But it’s hard to tell without the other to compare it to.

 

What I was really waiting ever-so-patiently for was this fellow - a red-bellied woodpecker. I can sit outside for an hour or more and catch a few good shots, but this guy waited to show up immediately after I left the patio to go back inside. I’d been waiting for him because I could hear him for quite some time in the trees. I shot this image through the screened windows of the breakfast nook which is why it looks grainy like this.

 

I haven’t been just sitting at home on my free time.

My son came down from NYC and we went to a family graduation party in NJ yesterday. That’s the Delaware Memorial Bridge you see there.

 

I also took a boat ride with friends last weekend to say goodbye to another good friend and co-worker who has retired. I’m happy for her that she’s moving to NC to be closer to her children, but sad that I won’t be able to see her as much.

And finally . . .

 

I am heading to Maine again. With my sisters this time! All four of us will be staying in a cottage I rented. I had booked with the same agency last spring because my husband wanted to go see Maine again one last time. But about a month after I booked it, he began failing quickly and I had to cancel. I couldn’t get my money back, but the realtor told me I could transfer the rental to the following year. I not only did that, but I chose a bigger place so that all of my sisters could come with me. They’re coming from California, Florida, and Pennsylvania. And I cannot wait.

 

I’ll keep you posted . . .

 

Enjoy your week, my friends and thanks for stopping by today.