Waiting for Spring

So, the robins are singing, the juncos are singing, the goldfinches are turning bright yellow.  But where is all the beautiful spring weather?  I guess I should be happy that the birds are becoming more active and not worry about the weather.  The birds know what time of the year it is.

Matthew is waiting for his red-winged blackbird to return.  We've seen them in the fields, but the one that frequents our bird feeder hasn't been around.  I'm waiting for the return of my hummingbirds.  The feeders are ready.  In another few weeks, I'll make the nectar and then start putting them out for the hungry little birds that arrive after such a long flight. 

I did have a new bird in my backyard this week.  A brown creeper.  I haven't seen one of those since Alaska.  They are everywhere in Far North Bicentennial Park in Anchorage.  But this is the first one I've seen here.  And I haven't seen it again.  Or at least it isn't around when I'm looking.  The red squirrels destroyed yet another bird feeder (plastic one, not expensive), so the lack of extra seed may be keeping all the migrants away.  I think I'm going to need to spend the money and get a really good metal one.


In other news.  We have a new puppy.  Flora.  She's a lab/chow mix, is pitch black, and is only 5 months old.  She's a bit of a bed hog, but she's fitting in fine.  She needs a little training, especially when it comes to her name.  But other than that, she's all ours. 

I still haven't found a job.  I don't want to talk badly about the area I live in, but around here things are a bit backward and not completely up to date.  If you aren't from around here and they don't know you, they don't even look at you.  I still get stares when I go to my local grocery store, even though I've been going there for over 3 years.  It's a weird place.  I have met some nice people, though.  I just wish they could find me a job.

I guess that's it for now.  I'm just hanging around waiting for the birds and looking for a job.  And playing with the new puppy. 

Bye for now!

May your next bird be a lifer!

Spring!

Hello all!

Today I heard the first songs of a junco.  They had been quiet all winter with only little peeps here and there.  But this morning, sitting high in a tree, was a male letting his trill be heard for what he probably thinks was miles.  It made me think of Spring.  Even though the robins are singing and doing their crazy suicidal crossing the road thing, for some reason the junco feels more like spring.  

It's a gray day here in the northern tier of Pennsylvania.  It rained all day yesterday and we're supposed to get snow showers toady.  That's the thing with spring.  It can't seem to make up its mind if it wants to turn warm or stay cold.  I hope it makes up its mind soon.   Matthew and I want to go to the park.

Anyway, before I babble your ear off......

Enjoy your day!

Of Birds and Bears

Happy Pi Day!

Of birds....

The amount of goldfinches/pine siskins/redpolls had dwindled considerably.  I can only think that they were passing through.  Now I'm back to my everyday birds:  chickadees, titmouses, juncos, downy and hairy woodpeckers, white- and red- breasted nuthatches, my cardinal pair, and an occasional mourning dove.  I haven't seen any blue jays lately, which is fine, since they always take the suet.  Oh, and yesterday there were 2 crows checking out the seeds on the ground.

Of bears....

Last weekend while driving on Route 15 just about at the Bloss Mountain sign, I spotted a black bear crossing a road.  I'm going to have to start taking my bird feeders and suet feeders down every night now.  The one I have that frequents my back hill always seems to to know when I leave them out.  It doesn't always come by at night, though.  It's been seen in the morning and in the evening.  I just don't like having to replace my feeders.  It's gotten to the point where I get the cheap ones now.  

Of life.....

So, potty training is hit and miss.  Can't wait until I no longer have to change diapers.  He no longer runs screaming from the room, but some days he just doesn't want to be bothered.  He did, however, use it 3 times today.  And we're using training pants now.  We'll see.  

I'm still unemployed and it is putting a lot of stress on me.  I can't find anything around here. I've had interviews, but no job offers.  I'm beginning to think someone is giving me a bad review.  I also have 3 black marks against me.  First, I haven't worked in over a year.  Second, I'm not from around here and that seems to make a difference to the smaller companies around here.  And third, my age.  I just can't prove that one.  But when you are interviewed by someone who could be your child, you know you're not getting the job.

Meika and Eugene are hanging in there.  They are getting older and it's become obvious.  I don't know how much longer they will be with us.  

So, I guess that's all for now.  If I don't see you before then, have a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May your next bird be a lifer!

Laura

 

Wordless Wednesday

Let's try this again

One more time....

I really like blogging.  I really do.  I'm just not very good at it. I'm not good at time management.  I think that's the problem.  Before I had a child, I had more time to do things like this.  Now, I'm lucky I can find time to shower.  I know many of you can relate.  But how to others do this?  

So, what exactly have I been up to?  First of all, I'm unemployed.  Not by choice.  And finding a job around here is near impossible.  It's getting to the point where I am going to have to start at the bottom and work my way up again.  And I'm starting to think I just might be a victim of age and mother discrimination.  But how do you prove it?

Second, Little Man is now 3.  3!  Can you believe it?  He's really into cars.  Any kind of cars. His favorite are mustangs, camaros, and corvettes.  He's a typical hellish pre-schooler.  Favorite word is NO; won't eat anything; stubborn.  Did I mention his use of the word NO?  

Let's see.  I'm still into birding, however, I am starting to forget my birds.  I really need to get out more and get back into the mode.  I noticed this when I thought that I had over 60 goldfinches in my yard.  Turns out I have over 80 pine siskins. I was so upset with myself over that.  I should have known what they were, but I'm out of touch with birding.

I'm crocheting a lot lately.  Almost too much.  I like it, but it's not my favorite craft. But I really started crocheting with Matthew.  It's easier to sit and crochet around him than to have him tangle up all my cross stitch supplies.  Plus he doesn't let me do this for long periods of time and crocheting is easier to stop and start.  But I prefer cross stitch.

I really wish I could figure out how to do this blog thing, along with the craft thing, for a living.  I would really like that.  

So, I'm going to try and do this at least once a week.  (Heard that before, haven't you?)  We'll see.  If I don't, I'll apologize now.

Until then, may your next bird be a lifer!