the last and the first....

It was definitely cold yesterday! Throughout the day the moving water on the rock started to freeze over so I knew it was time to turn it off. Among the last birds to use the rock for the season was this downy and a sparrow and in the photo below, 3 chickadees and a white breasted nuthatch.
Jeff didn't get home until 6:30, so I bundled up and out we went with flashlights, a torch and an air tank to unhook the pump and blow out the waterlines.
This morning at dawn's first light, the chickadees were the first on the scene looking for water so I brought out the heated dish and one actually came to drink while I was still standing there. Wish I had the camera in my frozen hands but alas I went back inside and took some more shots through the windows.

Here is the new water set up and the remants of yesterday's frozen water flow.

As soon as I stepped away, 3 chickadees and a sparrow moved in so I guess you can say they are the first and the last...

This is November...

Ice on the puddles,
Trees are bare;
Mornings are chilly,
Breath on the air.
Squirrels are still busy;
Where nuts can be found,
Hiding their treasures
In hollows around.
(Harriet Whipple)

This morning is definitely chilly as we woke up to the first 0 degree temp with -15 below wind chill. I am so thankful I don't work outside all day like Jeff does!

This squirrel is one among many that are now visible high up in the bare trees. the problem is this guy has taken a liking to the bird feeders. I can't believe how brave he is getting even coming to the one closest to the house. I guess it is the best place "where nuts can be found".
This is what happens when you forget you hung something on the tree. We have lived here for 26 years and the place was an abandoned farmsite for many years before that. I wonder how long this tree has been growing around this chain...

Sweet Repose...

When lacework on the leafless trees
Is etched on graying skies,
And, with swiftly moving clouds,
November winds arise,

Nature falls asleep. Another
Year comes to a close.
The solemn side of nature reigns
And rules o'er sweet repose.
(Anna Reynolds)
This morning when I went out to refill the bird feeders, the western sky was reflecting pink from the sunrise and the almost full moon was still visible through the grove. I thought it was a pretty sight through the "lacework of the leafless trees"!

I still haven't the heart to turn off the rock as the birds (especially the chickadees) are constantly using it. It will probably be soon as the splashing water is freezing as it falls and the surface of the pond is frozen except for a "volcano" looking opening where the water falls into.

Happy Thanksgiving....

Give me a grateful heart, Lord,
For each small favor granted.
As years unfold, may I behold
Life, still, through eyes enchanted.
Let me find beauty in all things,
Not be too blind to see
The goodness in my fellowman,
That he would find in me.

Let me rejoice in simple things;
I need no wealth to buy
The scent of pine upon the wind,
A burnished copper sky,
Scarlet roses through the trees...
Oh, grant that I may not outgrow
Affinity for these!

Give me a grateful heart, Lord;
Let me be satisfied
When days are less than sunny
And plans lie at low tide.
Life is a sweet adventure
That will lead to who knows where,
So, give me a grateful heart, Lord,
That I may always care.
(Grace Easley)

This Thanksgiving & everyday I am grateful for all things in my life! May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

November...

No shade, no shine,
No butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers,
No leaves, no birds,
November.
(author unknown)

This quote is not entirely true as there are still lots of birds around. I think the migratory ones have all passed through except for a robin or two that stick around to clean off the last of those dreaded buckthorn berries. This guy still frequents the rock daily.
It amazes me that as cold as the water is, birds still bathe daily. Here a bluejay is enjoying what will be one of the last baths of the season as we will be turning off the fountain and winterizing the waterlines this week. I will put out the heated water dish for drinking but it does not have the room for a good old splishing and splashing bath. Luckily, I have lots of those photos from this summer to share over the winter months.


Where's the Goldie?

Autumn fires...

In the other gardens
And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfires
See the smoke trail!
Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
the grey smoke towers.
Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all,
Flowers in the summer
Fires in the fall!
(Robert Louis Stevenson, Autumn Fires)




Today was a beautiful afternoon so I worked in the yard. There was some firewood left by the chimenea so I decided to have a fire to use it up. I even threw in some leaves to get the smell of autumn bonfires...that brought me back to my childhood when we used to rake the leaves into piles and burn them.

Smelling that fire made me start thinking...boy, wouldn't a smore be good about now?
The marshmallows were toasted to perfection.
and I used both on one yummy smore...
it was such a gooey and guilty pleasure...
but sure was a great way to spend an afternoon. Autumn fires with smores...it's a good thing!

A long fish story...

"When the bold branches
Bid farewell to rainbow leaves -
Welcome wool sweaters."
(B. Cybrill)

On Tuesday, I heard a cold front was coming in and nighttime temps would be dropping to the 20's. So I decided I better get the fish moved on Wednesday before the pond iced over for the season. Of course, Wednesday was 38 degrees with strong NW winds and I about froze my hands off and today is calm, sunshine & a high of almost 50, go figure!
So at BJ's request this is how I do it. First I gather my tools...a net to scoop out as many leaves as possible (more on that later) and then to capture the fish, a pail to carry them to the garage in and an antique fish spear. Yes, you read that right...an antique fish spear. This is the best tool I have found for grabbing onto all the flower pots and crates that they stand on from the pond. Before I learned to use this tool...I would have to put on waders and wade into the COLD water to lift out plants from their perches before trimming them down and sinking the lillies to the deepest part to overwinter and then discard the annuals. This spear is also used to grab onto and lift off sheets of ice on the years I have ice before capturing all the fish.
Now onto the goldfish...if you remember this post from last April, I put 43 fish into the pond this spring. In June, something got into the pond (we think a racoon since Ruger had one up the electric pole one morning) and soon we noticed fish missing. The 3 favorites I showed on the April post are all gone. I only have 19 original fish left. All the 12" ones are gone as well as all 7 fantails. I imagine it is because the bigger ones couldn't fit under the crates to hide and the fantails were much slower swimmers. I did have a batch of babies from this season and I am still working on catching as many of them as I can but so far only have about 6. More on why they are so hard to catch later but here is their new winter home...a 100 gallon stock tank in my garage. I still have to finish insulating around it and with the makeshift aeration pump it does not ice up except on the coldest nights. It is still amazing to me that they do not eat anything until spring when the water temp will finally be above 50 degrees. Who knew, fish go into a semi-hibernation state?
Now onto why the babies are so hard to capture. The garden and pond are surrounded by giant cottonwoods and guess where the majority of those leaves go? The babies burrow under the leaves at the bottom of the pond and are almost impossible to find! I'll keep trying until ice prevents me...running around with a net and telling those babies if they knew what was good for them they'd let me capture them hasn't helped so far.
It's hard to tell on this picture with the context of my little cabin and the pine tree showing in front of the photo but those cottonwoods are around 65-75 ft tall. I have a real love/hate relationship with these giants. They are so majestic looking and nothing is prettier than seeing them golden in the fall or covered with hoar frost in the winter. But, and that's a big BUT...those leaves all end up in my pond, everytime a stronger wind blows the lawn is covered with small branches and every June they produce a summer snowstorm of cotton flying down. The seedlings are one of the biggest weed problems I have in the summer garden and the cotton clinging to pots in the pond is one medium that string algae loves to grab onto. Let's not even talk about the mess of rotten leaves we clean out of the pond in the spring. But, then again that's where the kestrel's nest, tons of other birds are sighted, and the migrating monarch's cling too...yup, definitely a LOVE/hate realtionship!
If you look closely, or click to enlarge the photo of the cottonwoods look high in the trees just to the right of the pine. All those small black dots are these...I counted six crows.

Sunrise, Sunset...

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
(Fiddler on the Roof lyrics)

Since I have received the most comments via email & in person on the sunrise post last week, I thought I would share Tuesday's sunrise and sunset. I meant to post it yesterday but my typing fingers were frozen from netting goldfish all day on the coldest day of the season so far. But that's another long story...
This guy was so thirsty on Monday afternoon he didn't even mind a photo shoot while drinking. I love his reflection in the pond and the last of the yellow mum's reflections on the water.

the Last Dance...

It's the last dance, we've come to the last dance
They're dimming the lights down, they're hoping we'll go
(Frank Sinatra lyrics)

I finally finished the garden clean up yesterday by clearing out the angel garden. The little johnny jump ups are the last blooms standing and the "leave room for angels to dance" sign is on this garden's arbor.

It the last song, they're playing the last song
The orchestra's yawning, they're sleepy I know
They're wondering just when will we leave, but till we leave, keep holding me tight
Through the last dance, each beat of the last dance
Save me the first dance in your dreams tonight
(Frank Sinatra lyrics)

The angels all gathered together...ready for a good long winter's rest in the storage shed after a summer of dancing.
Cleaning up the gardens is a lot of work and I am very grateful for my favorite gardening tool, my Polaris Ranger with a dump box. I am always hauling loads of stuff in it. As you can see, it is Gabi's favorite too. She is the first in the seat and the last to leave (in between hauling loads, she naps on the seat while I pull and trim down plants).
My friend, Mr. Rust Oleum, gave all the hydrangeas their holiday attire. Now, they are ready for Thanksgiving, Christmas & Valentines Day and will be a bright spot in the winter garden.

November Joy...

Now shall I walk
or shall I ride?
"Walk," Pleasure said:
"Ride," Joy replied.
(W.H. Davies)

It got up to 60 degrees yesterday which in MN in November is t-shirt weather. Jeff & I were out enjoying the day doing some fall chores (putting away the patio set, blowing leaves out of the rain gutters) when all of a sudden he says "I should be riding my Harley".
That's all he had to say for me to respond "let's go!" We took a roadtrip along the Minnesota River where the trees have all lost their leaves but lots of the world's oldest rock is showing.

We stopped to admire a herd of buffalo grazing in a pasture. We used to have some in our neighborhood and I didn't realize how much I missed seeing them all the time until we watched this herd a while.
We got back home just as the sun was setting and the sky was getting it's pink glow...November Joy for sure.

they've got rhythm...

What's that playing on the radio,
why do I start swaying to and fro
I have never heard that song before,
but if I don't hear it anymore
It's still familiar to me, sends a thrill right through me
(Those Magic Changes, Grease lyrics)
Zach, the Greaser...

Jeff & I took a roadtrip back in time to Rydell High (I mean Barnesville High) to watch my very talented nephew and niece perform in the musical, Grease. They sang & danced the night away and we were very entertained. When we left for the long drive home, we were only two blocks away and Jeff was already singing Greased Lighting! These two continue to impress us with their musical and acting talents...remember last year when they were in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat?
Emily, the cheerleader and a rock n' rolling party queen...

She's the girl that all the kids love,
They talk about her wherever she goes,
I could write a fan magazine,
About my rock 'n roll party queen
(Rock 'N" Roll Party Queen, Grease lyrics)

We go together like
rama lama lama
ke ding a de dinga a dong
remembered for ever like
shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de boom
(We Go Together, Grease lyrics)

Though they didn't interact with each other much on stage...I managed to capture them next to each other during the "Beauty School dropout" and "Born to Hand Jive" scenes. Yeah, a ke ding a de dinga a dong!

Exactly one year ago this happened, Congratulations Jayme & Scott, I'm sure you'll have a fun day remembering! You'll always be together...A wop ba-ba lu-mop a wop bam boom!

Today's sunrise...

This morning was the first day we had hoar frost on the trees. I went outside in my fuzzy pink robe to grab a few picks before the employees arrived at 7. Once I saw the sunrise...I quickly forgot about the frosty pics...Somewhere around this point I forgot about the employees all arriving, I'm sure they'll have stories to tell their families tonight about the boss's wife running around the yard in a giant pink robe with a camera this morning!
Around this time...the dogs finally spotted me and started barking up a storm...nothing like bringing more attention to me but seeing the clouds light up red from underneath was breathtaking...
then they became "ringed" with a brighter light...
and finally the sun peaked out over the horizon. What a beautiful morning!

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Use it or lose it....

"Irons rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind." (Leonardo da Vinci, Notebooks, 1508)
We often hear the modern day quote..."use it or lose it" referring to memory as we age. I found the following quote in a release by the National Institute of Health; "In recent years, many of us have come to believe that doing crossword puzzles or playing cards might ward off a decline in memory or help us maintain "brainpower" as we age. Now, a new study suggests there might be some truth to the use-it-or-lose-it hypothesis." I guess we didn't really need a new study as Leonardo already knew it in 1508...that would also explain why my poor fish are under a layer of ice this morning as I procrastinated on getting them out while I worked on an addicting crossword puzzle the last few days :-) The weather looks good this weekend...so today's the day to get the tank cleaned up and set up in the garage for the big relocate this weekend.
While staring out at the ice covered pond, I discovered a little downy taking a nap under the yellow mums. He hardly even woke up when I opened the window (notice his almost closed eyelid).
The downys love to hang out around the pond but last night a female was hiding her sunflower kernal on the pelican. Not an activity I encourage...

Scarecrows and siskins...

We're the farmer's scarecrows
We scare away the birds,
We keep the farmer's corn safe
Without any words.
(author unknown)


Not all scarecrows are scary as this fun little birdhouse proves.

At this time last month I didn't even know what a pine siskin was and now I have many visiting daily. They love the nyjer thistle seed and are very possessive of the feeders. Here one lonely goldfinch managed to grab on with 13 pine siskins, do you see him? Most of the goldfinches now feed at the perched feeder while the siskins have taken over the bags.
I hesitate to show this out of focus photo but it was just too exciting not to show it. Another "lifer", a golden crowned kinglet. He was flitting about the pond so fast I could not get him in focus before he moved to another spot (plus I haven't managed to wash those dirty panes yet).

Pumpkin, Pumpkin...

Pumpkin pumpkin
big and round,
I'm glad you grow
upon the ground.
I'm glad you don't
grow in a tree
for then you might
fall down on me.
(author unknown)

Tis' the season for all things pumpkin and even though the only pumpkins at my house are artifical ones I still love them. Lately, I am noticing the color pumpkin everywhere (maybe because I am in the midst of a huge decorating project using that color). First, the service berry bush turned a bright gold then shaded into a brilliant pumpkin...

which made an excellent pumpkin colored backdrop for this female downy and chickadee at the feeder.

and then the tamarac turned from bright golden to dull pumpkin and lost all of it's needles in yesterday's wind. Do you see the goldie? I love this pumpkin colored time of year!