Birds and Stuff

Meanwhile during the snowstorm. 

We spotted a bluebird!

The bird never turned around for me and I had to get this hind end shot.

I couldn't help myself.  I had to go out and mess around looking for some fun in the bright white snow.

I thought the guy who plows would have showed up, but he didn't. The snow was supposed to melt quickly. Under the white snow, we had dirty slush from the dust in TX I think. This is the second time we've had dust and dirt in our snow/rain.

I decided the driveway might be too iffy for the visiting Home Health person to go up and down, so we cancelled that for this week.  My 'Ru could handle the hill and the snow, but maybe not the cars they have for Hospice workers. Though, I did notice that three of them drive Subaru CrossTreks. 

While I let Charlie wander the yard looking for mice or voles, I thought it would be fun to 'shoot' this Pegasus on a snow covered stump in the yard. White on white.

The hood of the Subaru provided a nice ski slope for my minifigs. They enjoyed using it over and over again!
I wish I had their energy.

While my minifigs were playing, I heard a 'goose' like sound in the sky east of me. I looked up and saw swans! I've missed many opportunities this year to go watch the Eagles on the Mississippi or hunt for Sandhill Cranes and Swans at the KVR.

So, I was quite tickled to watch these guys fly overhead.

With nothing on my schedule, I waited for hubby's afternoon nap to take a walk.  Charlie is being such a good boy, but he does need some hiking time too to keep up his musculature and health.

We went east through my favorite woods and ended up in a round about way in the valley and then followed the creek back up to our land and up different trails to get back to the house.

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So the day before the storm we had this going on in our yard! I never really saw until I shot this series ... that Robins actually get airborne to dive into the ground! Like a fox catching a mouse under the snow!

Such a common bird, but still so great to see them appear to let us know spring is near...

The snow melted quickly and when I went out to check the meadow and the fence, I came across dozens of Cedar Waxwings.

The photo isn't great, but I didn't have a long lens ... but there you go. Birds are moving about and it is so pleasing to hear all of their songs again.

....

I still have to get to the rest of the fun photos I am doing for the new minifigs that arrived from Aurora!

Here is a taste...

I'm not ready to be

nice yet.

After the circus came, I was tired. I was exhausted and woke up with what felt like fire and glass in my throat.
Imagine that? For 3 days my throat raged against me with intense pain. I put on a mask and drank tea to help calm the shards of glass in my throat.

I spent most of the day napping in the upstairs bedroom. I napped and I read. I did chores and made meals but tried to stay away from the other half.

I had no fever, no cough, and only a slightly stuffed up nose. 

By yesterday, I felt un-tired enough to get some groceries and take Charlie to his vet appointment. I was nice at the vet's office. Charlie had some blood drawn and his toenails clipped [I hate that job!]. 

I warned them that he would be vocal about the whole thing.

Oh and he was vocal, he has a yodel-ish voice to express his displeasure when he is removed from the same room I am in. For such a tiny dog, he has a big voice.

The vet brought him me and told me that the whole time they were with him, he was wagging his tail [I think she thought I may have worried about all the noise he made]. 

I laughed and explained that he got like that when I stop and get out of the car to fill it with gas. Usually, it only lasted about two minutes. I imagine it is a separation thing?

Charlie is now considered to be a late middle aged dog who is in great physical shape. Doc told me he was nicely muscled up!

I'm coming out of the Grumpy -- I feel Icky Stage and becoming more human again. Just in time for another group of visitors for this weekend. 
I don't know if they will come tomorrow or not. As usual, we haven't heard a word about their plans.

Me as a Grumpy Person:

Good news also. We've been seeing a lot of bluebirds!

This morning we woke up to the predicted snow fall. We may have gotten about two inches so far so we are happy with the moisture and happy it isn't a blizzard.

I'm going to work more on my being nice. I can't walk around with a fierce Grumpy Face too long. My mom once told me, my face would freeze like that if I did it too long.....