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ContessasHome formerly ContessasGarden and Gift, LLC

~ Vintage fine and decorative art, lamps, mirrors, chandeliers, small occasional furniture pieces, classic "hard cover"books, vintage "smalls", and handmade decorative art craft

ContessasHome formerly ContessasGarden and Gift, LLC

Category Archives: Birds

December….Birds and Blooms

02 Monday Jan 2023

Posted by ContessasHome in Birds, Blooms, Sharing, Today's Update

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Our favorite winter bird. They always come round in pairs. He travels fast. She follows. But often you will see him scouting for morsels. Two things are going on. She is very independent and she may still have a “yungin” close by. But her demeanor suggests she will always join him. Her coloring is subtle but his is blazing red. We love to watch them. Our cover certainly shows his majestic prowess.

And this photo below…..was captured during a huge snow storm. This northern cardinal is puffing up his feathers to keep the damp snow from settling on his plumage. Then when the snow packs down he can ruffle his feathers and shake the snow off. And the puffed up feathers helps to keep  him warmer. 


We think this December copy is fantastic.

••••••••••••

Birds and Blooms reminds us not to forget to provide water for the birds in the winter months.
…….and to decorate low hanging branches with bird treats that you’ve made yourself. Make sure to include some peanut butter on a pine cone. They love it.
Very helpful and sweet ideas children can do indoors, and then the family can visit a tree in the yard together, to string the garlands where they can be seen from an indoor window. Family fun and a learning opportunity too.

••••••••••••

Also published in this issue was the Grand Prize Winner of the Annual B & B Photo Contest. Literally thousands of entries were sent to the magazine. This one was the winner. Very cool. I mean how often could this “pose” be possible.

Butterfly photos are featured on page 48 and 49.


Finally,  a Kale plant left over from a summer garden, turns pink in the cold.

I don’t often feature so many photos in my B & B posts, because the magazine photo copy doesn’t really do justice to these great photos in this publication. What I see is not what you see, unless you borrow our copy. But…. I hope your curiosity is keen enough to even order this magazine for your family. It’s $10 a year. You will improve your knowledge of birds, flowers, indoor plants, berry bushes, and insects,  and the readership is from all over the US.   It’s a fantastic and compact way to educate yourself and the members of your family. I grew up with books and publications of all these pictures in my home. It’s a fantastic way to take the natural world and bring it into our lives. We need to appreciate our natural world…. way more than we do. I hope you will take the time to do this with your family, or even just for yourself.

“
Contessa” says….it’s  all a very….very…good thing!

Birds and Blooms

28 Wednesday Dec 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Birds, Blooms, Houseplants, Sharing, Tonight’s Thought

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November, 2022 Issue


What’s your definition of “getting out into nature?” Maybe for you, it’s sitting on your deck in your very wooded neighborhood watching for the birds to come to the feeders you’ve placed around. Your favorite feathered friends love to come so they can grab a morsel. Or….is your favorite adventure a hike to a national park. Both of these experiences can bring you the sense of peace we all enjoy and deserve. Carve out some time to enjoy the bounty of nature. Your soul will heal and be lifted. Nature is so healing and it may come to you with a sense of “peace” that you deserve and were secretly seeking. 

If you are looking for that same peace and a soothing atmosphere indoors, bring nature into the house by having a few houseplants. Very often your very own mental health can be lifted in your “inner soul” by placing some greenery indoors. Plants can nudge your brain into mindfulness and they create a relaxing and cozy atmosphere in your personal space. All of us need this in the winter months, so that we can keep a “healthy balance .”

I myself bring about ten…end-of-summer plants indoors for the winter. I have taken a few pictures of examples of a few plants from the magazine that you might consider. Plants help to purify the air indoors….so consider one in each room.  Houseplants do make for a healthy and pretty home.  


Tomorrow I will feature the December issue. I thought it worthy to post today on a few features of the November issue.

(We regret the glossy cover photo, but the hard copy of this magazine is “high gloss” and difficult to photograph).

We cannot stress enough, the modest cost of a subscription to this quite informative publication, and if you wish to view it in person, we always offer to drop it by your location for a one week viewing. And then we can pick it up and pass it to another viewer.

“Contessa” says….. it’s a very good thing!

Birds and Blooms – Oct/Nov/Dec

02 Friday Dec 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Birds, Blooms, Helpful Tips, Sharing, Today's Update

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We have copies available for “lend.” Just send us a txt or call us. We are happy to drop them by your location.
703/548-1882

• October features the Barred Owl
• November, the white Breasted “Nuthatch”
• December, the Northern Cardinal 

These wonderful publications feature beauty in your backyard and beyond.

You can learn how to attract these birds, learn about their typical habitat and what you can do in the outdoors to find and photograph these wonderful native species.

We traditionally drop these copies off for one (1) weeks time….to your door,  and then we can pick them up to pass on to our next reader.

“Contessa” says..it’s a very good thing to do!

A Nature Walk

28 Monday Nov 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Birds, Blooms, Reflections, Sharing, Today's Update, Writing

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It’s time for a nature walk. I will rise early tomorrow and find a place. A place to clear my mind and find my soul. Nature calls me now.

It’s my comfort. It’s where I can really listen to creatures calling each other. It’s the earth and everything that grows. It’s the tall trees and their falling leaves. It’s the sun shining through the clouds. It’s the sound of the wind. It’s listening for the birds. 

i need to see and feel nature. How can I forget to do this. Too busy, too distracted and too focused on “things” and whats next. In nature it just happens. No plan. It does itself proud to be open, bare, exposed and beautiful. Often only seen by itself. But I want to go there. Tomorrow. I will. And I will go looking for the calm and looking out for my inspiration to capture pictures in my memory….to write about. And I will. Tomorrow…….

Tom Turkey Strutting His Stuff

21 Monday Nov 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Art, Birds, Sharing, Today's Update, Vintage Smalls

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                   Thankfulness! 

…. that he didn’t get picked for Thanksgiving dinner.

(vintage digital post card, Circa 1940)

Gallery

Autumn happenings…..

20 Sunday Nov 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Art, Birds, Blooms, Reflections, Sharing, Today's Update, Tonight’s Thought

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This gallery contains 24 photos.

My Sabbath Sunday

13 Sunday Nov 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Birds, Evening Prayer, Faith, HOPE, LOVE, Scripture, Sharing, The Sabbath, Today's Update, Tonight’s Thought

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How Great Thou Art

 

Oh Lord, my God

When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art,
……how great Thou art.
My Prayer For SUNDAY

Oh Lord My God, thou art gracious, kind and loving. You are always there for me….always watching over me. All I need do is call your name, Jesus…..my Lord and my Savior God you are my steadfast love. The birds of the air are everywhere and you are watching over them as well. Assurance to know that no matter what comes my way…. You are there to bless me, to catch me if I fall, to love me with a greater love than I can possibly imagine. So when trials or difficulties come, all I need to do is connect with you. All I need to do is to call out your name Jesus, confess my sin and vow to follow you as my Savior God, and you will find me and save me. How great thou art!

I once was lost….but now I am found.

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Gallery

Fall at a Glance…..a week

21 Friday Oct 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Birds, Blooms, Reflections, Sharing, Today's Update, Tonight’s Thought

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This gallery contains 20 photos.

Rest and Trust In You

06 Thursday Oct 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Birds, Evening Prayer, Faith, HOPE, LOVE, Reflections

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Good Evening my Father God….

I choose to rest in You. Please bring your peace to calm me tonight. Please give me new strength to face my many challenges. I need your “spirit” by my side always.
Jesus….I now seek you and I ask for your strength to help me through my hard times. Today was hard. I want to achieve. I want to serve others. I want to always try to be and do better. I wish for my “true love” to be so proud of me. I know that I can do nothing…. without You by my side. Tonight….I confess my sin and trying to be too perfect. This is not realistic and it can keep me from being who I really am, and it keeps me from loving you in complete submission. You alone guide me and nourish me with your great love and encouragement. I surrender to your will and I humbly confess trying way too hard at times. Help keep me humble and to always rely completely on you. I love thee Lord Jesus and I need thee. Thank you for a favorable test result today. I have another six months to go for complete results and I place all my trust in you…for that outcome. Amen my great Father God.

• AMEN •

October….Birds and Blooms

04 Tuesday Oct 2022

Posted by ContessasHome in Birds, Sharing, Today's Update, Tonight’s Thought

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Featured are the shy Owls. We hardly ever get to see them but if we do, it’s such a huge treat. Dark fall nights are a great time to go out walking and to look up high for them. If you listen carefully you may hear them making their “oohing” noises in the woods. Very often they will roost in a same spot each night. They are shy flyers. And they can take off so quickly. It’s such an honor to spy them. They often come out looking for insect morsels for their young.

Great Grey Owl


Snowy Owl

Again we remind you that we are happy to drop off this magazine to your home for a weeks read. And we can then pick it up and pass to our next reader. Everyone is so polite about this passing along process. 

Trust us…..it’s a quick, but a very good read. It is such a treat. It definitely takes you to a place that makes you want to go out and do some owl/bird watching. 

Enjoy!

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