Today, my camera and I saw something I’ve never seen before. Little flashes of blue about three feet off the ground. About 20 of them. Flitting and flying amongst the grasses and bushes. My camera was so excited, it couldn’t stop shaking (at least that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it LOL).
Male Mountain Bluebird
Female Mountain Bluebird
We’re having a “DO instead of BUY” birthday week celebration. The goal is to collect as many “DO instead of BUYs” and “SHOP at home FIRSTs” as we can before Friday. A marathon! I’ll start….
Have a great Monday – catch you later,
Cindy
I’ve spent all day sitting on the floor at my coffee table in my living room. It’s comfy – sort of. I am working on a new project and everything is spread across the top within easy reach. Including my camera.
At one point, I reallized my legs were falling asleep – it was time to move and stretch a bit. Then I looked out the front window across my porch. There, sitting in our burning bush, were two small birds (no idea what they were). I grabbed the camera and shot away.
The exciting part is that I was using a new-to-me lens that friends of my parents had no use for. WOW! I use a Canon 40D (several of you were asking). This lens is a Canon mount Sigma 170-500 mm analog lens. Honestly, it’s Greek to me (I’m just reading the numbers on the side). The reason I love my digital camera is because I can take a zillion pictures without really knowing what I am doing. Then I can find two or three that look OK (huge grin – the secret’s out LOL). Nonetheless, I knew this lens had power. My husband found a place that could do whatever needed to be done to it so it would work with my digital. Double WOW! The refitted lens arrived yesterday. Fully extended out with the sun-shield snout attached adds over 18 inches of lens to the front of my camera. It’s huge!
And today I got to take my first pictures… Here goes….
Male House Finch - A bird with reddish head and some red on it's back.
Female House Sparrow - crunching bits off my Burning Bush!
It’s funny the number of things that come our way at just the right time when we least expect it. This lens was apparently gathering dust for years. It now has a new life! (And I gave the previous owners a gift certificate to my favorite German restaurant as a thank-you – I am definately going to enjoy this lens! Triple WOW!)
Thanks Sue for the bird names!!
Take care of you,
Cindy
One of the best things we added to our backyard is a birdbath. It sits right outside my office window. All day long I get to watch various birds come and go. And of course, my camera is always ready….
This morning a cedar waxwing (oops – a Bohemian Waxwing – they looked very similar in my bird book – Cindy) dropped in on our fruit salad tree (yes, it really is a fruit salad tree….) and then he moved a robin out of the way and took over the bird bath.
Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwing - flying in for his bath!
Spring is coming!! This morning, my husband and I loaded up the dogs and went for a walk-in-wonder. We saw robins, magpies, red-winged blackbirds, chickadees, and waxwings (not sure which kind). It’s amazing the amount of noise one or two of those red-winged blackbirds can make. My husband said it sounded like summer camping!
For those of you who are new to our Walk-in-Wonder Scavenger Hunt – the goal is to head outside and go walking – as many days as you can this week. Take the dog, take your neighbor, take the kids, or simply take a water bottle (a refillable bottle – SHOP at home FIRST). And then enjoy – no matter where in the world you get to walk.
While you are walking, see if you can find this week’s scavenger hunt items – get the kids involved – they are great at spying things!
So what did I spy with my camera for this week’s scavenger hunt?
1) Pussywillows – woo hoo – spring is coming!
I was lucky to spy these – there were only a couple of branches. If you can’t find pussywillows, look for the next best thing – new buds on the branches. My blueberries are already starting to bud.
The pussywillows are out!
2) A “NO Parking” Sign
You are going to either be surprised by how hard it is to find this sign, or how many of them there are in your neighborhood!
No Parking Sign
3) Wildlife
This little guy was sunning himself in a pile of tree limbs along the trail on the way home. I can’t believe he held still long enough for me to get the photo! Wow!
One squirrel, posing just for me! (huge grin)
4) A Feline (cat)
Last week, we looked for a dog on a leash. Well, it only seemed fair that this week, we add a cat to the list (especially after I caught this one watching us from a third floor apartment balcony).
This little gal was watching us from a far - probably glad our dogs were on leash!
5) Bird House
Last, but not least – I couldn’t resist. This cute little birdhouse was just begging to be part of our scavenger hunt. It could be tricky for you to find one, but keep those eyes open!
Home made bird house - waiting for it's new spring family!
Enjoy! Remember, the goal is to get outside and get moving. Finding the treasures is the bonus.
Take care of you,
Cindy
