Red-bellied Woodpecker

Now is the perfect time for bird watching. Foliage is thin in bushes and trees, and birds can be very noisy and visible at this time of year  They enjoy these cold temp days and if you are inclined to walk early mornings, you may be lucky enough to discover them flitting about and chirping away. Woodpeckers are very vocal and can be noisy, once they get your attention.  They will fill your ears with their banter. This is their “season.”

Why not take a walk today near a wooded area. Surely you will discover one or two. They will love your company, and they will let you know that.

January, Birds and Blooms

Our January issue is here. Once again we are happy to share our copy. Txt us (703-548-1882) if you would enjoy spending an hour looking at very nice photography in a 58 page publication,  and learning about winter bird identification, migration,  feeding and habitat. We are happy to drop it by your location, as a “lend” for one week, and then pass it along to our other followers.

These bird photos are not limited to our area of the country so it’s a good way to identify birds in an area where you might next visit or vacation. Here is a collection of a few photos we are pleased to share.

Bird Tales

Birds and Blooms us a very well done and inexpensive monthly publication. We enjoy its arrival so much, and we do recommend it.

Enjoy……

”Contessa”

Birds and Blooms, December 2021

Our December copy of Birds and Blooms arrived yesterday. A glimpse into berries, birds and their winter presence. If you are lucky enough to have colorful red berries on your property, now is a very good times to watch for the birds to come and grab a morsel. Early morning, or the later half of the afternoon you can find Cardinals especially foraging. In fact, we find the color red is a dominant color to look for in the bushes. Birds love to congregate and you will surely hear and see them when you are outdoors and taking a walk. It’s very thrilling to hear and see them  

We spied this beautiful berry bush without any leaves on our walk yesterday. Each day we pass it, and hope to get a glimpse of a bird in pursuit of a berry, but we’ve not been quick enough to get a snapshot. We will keep trying.

Walks now are perfect times to see the birds. They are singing up a storm especially in dormant Rose bushes.  Yesterday there had to be at least twenty sparrows in one bush as we walked by. They we’re chirping up a storm as we are having very mild temperature days.

November, Birds and Blooms, 2021 (extra)

Isn’t this just the most dear hummingbird perch you have ever seen?  As if a tiny bird who flaps its wings a gazillion times an hour could take out time to perch on a branch. One could only hope to get a glimpse of this phenomenon. It would be spectacular to witness. Oh’ I would love to see this. How bout’ you?

Sparrows

Matthew 10: 29-31

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father…So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

                    FOR YOU……..

Birds and Blooms, October, 2021

Our October issue arrived  today. We are approaching “Suet” season. Seeds, Fats, Fruits, Nuts and more. This one article provides 13 ways to serve your birds with Suet. Peanut Butter being one ingredient that the birds Love. And you can create your own “suet” concoctions. The article provides recipes and how to prepare them. We are going to do this as a fall project.

This publication is a beautiful color issue with many bird photographs and the dried flowers and plants they forage for.

 

GREAT HORNED OWL

It reminds us that there is so much beauty outdoors in our woods. And lucky are we to live in Parkfairfax with so many trees, scrubs and wildlife   In fact, if you sit long enough quietly in your yard you will surely discover one new bird you didn’t know lived nearby.

Back Cover

We can lend our copy out if you’d like. Just txt us and we will share it with you.

”Contessa” – 703-548-1882

Sunday Morning – This Is My Father’s World

 

Verse 1
This is my Father’s world, and to my list’ning ears,
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

Verse 2
This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere. 

AMEN

When It Rains It Pours

Ha….. the mail has been so unpredictable of late. Mail from Richmond VA  taking 12 days. And yet, I mailed a Birthday parcel to my grandson in Colorado and it arrived in three days.  

So……Saturday we received our Birds and Blooms Magazine. Rather magazines. May, June, July and August arrived all the same day. I suggest something is amiss at the Post Office

The good news is we do love this magazine….. so tonight we have an evening of reading. It’s an inexpensive publication but some good information, and the bird and flower pics are quite nice. We honestly recommend it, if you aren’t inundated with too many magazine subscriptions. I’ve learned a good bit of new things, that I did not know, about birds in particular. This is very nice.

 

Birds and Blooms, April/May

Just Arrived…….

This  publication is a useful reference guide to help you identify birds, it provides useful gardening tips, and it’s a one evening read. But what it really does is get you excited about spring, with its wonderful, all color photography.  It’s a great resource for identifying plants and it’s a super bird identifier as well. This particular issue has articles on Mealworms, new plants for 2021, gardening for a greener earth, amphibian I.d., which birds are just beginning to show up in your garden spaces, food/water/shelter for birds, and debunked garden myths.

The Garden Contessa recommends this magazine if you like learning new things about birds and plants  It’s a mini crash course on both topics, and it’s simple but informative.

We love it when it arrives. It means we have an evening ahead of relaxing reading that brings new knowledge, beauty and simplicity into our mind.

Day 29, Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

LOOK FOR THE SPIRIT

If we are going to practice a real spiritual life, we can only live it in the  core of our current pains and joys. If we have a feeling of longing for “the spirit” we need to look at the way we think, speak, feel and act. If we have a slight feeling of dissatisfaction and an indefinite desire for “things spiritual,” our lives will continue to stop developing and become stagnant.

First, we need to take a critical look at how we are living our lives. Honesty, courage and trust will lead us, not to despair, but to heaven and a new earth.

Matthew 6:25-27, 32-33

Prayer

My Lord, please chase away my sadness with the gift of your Grace.  Help me to actively pursue your spiritual gifts. Help me in truth, and with an honest heart, to make great efforts to seek only the kingdom of God.

Lenten Action

Today, in honor of my Heavenly Father, I will feed the birds and place some fresh seeds and nuts outside to attract the birds and the squirrels. And with little rain recently, I will put out some fresh water for them to drink in a clean container.