November.... Blah, blah... ah ha!

Hi there dear reader,

How are you?  I have been fighting to not come down with a virus called the 'November blahs'!

First, I am banishing the line from an old John Denver song that sometimes runs thru my mind, "So you speak to me of sadness and the coming of the winter..."  Yep, that's not very uplifting.  Switch that to, 

"Great is thy faithfulness, oh God my father.... 

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love".

That's better.  

Things do slow down in the natural world this time of year.  It's easy for me to look at that as a sad thing.  I need to remember it's not sad, it's just different.   

When I was looking thru the photos I've taken-- starting November 1st, I realized there are still wonderful things happening in my Father's world.  What's happening, you ask?  

Well, there are birds, of course.  Not as many as in the warmer months, but lots of them are coming to my feeders.  Chickadees, woodpeckers, finches, titmice....

I'm still trying to get a good photo of a tufted titmouse.  They are so bouncy and constantly on the move that while it is fun to watch them, they're a challenge to photograph.  Even though there are lots of them right outside my kitchen window, I wasn't really happy with any of the numerous photos I had taken.

I started thinking they are one of those birds that you have to watch in action to see their full cuteness!

Then one did this while I was snapping his picture:

Cute!  (He was scratching an itch, not laying down to go to sleep.)
Next on my November list of wonderful happenings is another thing I see right outside my kitchen window.  That is watching the red-bellied woodpeckers defy the 'large-birds-cannot-eat from-this-feeder-rule'.

It's no problem for a smart bird like him.  The next two photos are from a different day (did you notice it was raining in the last 3?)  After he takes a seed from the feeder he flies over to the apple tree to eat it.  

See the seed in his bill?  Now, in the next photo, you can see his tongue.  Woodpeckers have pretty amazing tongues.  (but that's not what this post is about, so if you want to read about them, click here).

Okay, dear reader, I changed my mind.  I have to show you another photo of the red-belly's tongue, even though it was taken October 28th and I was only going to use photos from November.  Hey, it's my blog and I can do what I want, right?  Thank you.

Alright.  The next thing that happened in November (getting back on track) was that it snowed.  Yay!  It is so pretty.  Well, definitely prettier than a gray, rainy day, right?  We're trying to think positive here!

 The mourning doves didn't seem to mind.

So why should we?

I can see lots of things from my windows, but not this:

He made it worth going for a walk on the cold morning of November 8th.  He and I watched each other for awhile!

He may not have a trophy rack, but he was gorgeous to my eyes.  (I only 'hunt' with my camera.)

It's a little harder for me to get motivated to go out for a walk this time of year, I admit.  But I still try to, no matter the weather.  The doggies in my life enjoy it, so why not me?  

Although, some days I think Ruby would just as soon watch out the window!

And I have to admit, that often, the most activity this time of year seems to be happening right outside the windows.  

The following photos were all taken from our bedroom window.  It had snowed overnight, and the next morning our little flock of bluebirds appeared about 8 a.m.  So, it was not very light out yet... hence some of the photos are not the best-- but I enjoyed watching them so much I thought you, my readers might enjoy them, too!  

First, a bluebird finding a magnolia berry (seed?) on the ground to eat.

Then, the siblings... I think, being curious about their first snow (the three that fledged from a nearby box this summer)? That's what I think anyway.  

Perhaps one of them is going to be cranky in the winter time?

Too bad I can't invite him to come into my sunroom for a little while and enjoy the flowers on my geraniums.

Yes, that's snow outside the windows.  It's a very pretty way to set off the greenery, right?

I'm feeling more happy about November now, how about you?

Sincerely,
Nancy
PS - I am heading out now to see what other wonderful things I can see in November. 






 

Our Giving Tree

When I first starting thinking about this blog post, I thought the story was going to be about white-tailed deer.

Specifically, about the white-tailed deer which have been eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner in our yard lately (and most likely some mid-night snacks!)

Doe eating apples for breakfast

Young buck eating lunch

The more I thought about it though, I decided the story really should be about what is drawing them to this spot... the apple tree.

It's been here 'forever' as far as I'm concerned.   Thirty-six years -- the number of years I've been living in this beautiful spot, and who knows how many years before that.  Maybe it grew from a seed from an apple that someone who lived in the long-gone farmhouse tossed there.

Over those years, our apple tree's strength has held up a hammock for our family; and its shade made it a comfortable spot to spend a relaxing afternoon.

Ruby even enjoyed it back in her pup days before she became a Phd.  If you missed the story about Ruby's Phd, you can click here.

My girls enjoyed swinging in the hammock as kids and still did after they grew into adults!

Even though it didn't even get to be in the photos with the hammock it supported, it has been a backdrop for many family photos over the years.

Including this one that was taken of me in a snowstorm to send to our Compassion kids in the tropics. I wanted to show them what snow looks like, how we dress for it, and the snowshoes I wear to go for a walk when it gets deep!

Our apple tree has provided shelter for birds and their nests in spring, as well as a stop-over on their way to our feeders in winter.

Male and female cardinals

 I don't have any idea how many containers of applesauce I've made over the years from its early yellow-transparent type apples.  And, apple pies....  delicious!  (one is sitting on my kitchen counter right now - the second one I've made recently, because my husband and I ate the first one in less than 24 hours!) 

The apple tree has survived many storms, including the one in September 2010 that knocked many leaves off but didn't bring any of its limbs down.

Yes, that's hail on the ground with all the leaves it tore off the trees!

 Which is pretty amazing, really, because even though on this side its trunk looks fine...

 the back side of it reveals a different situation:

 A look directly down shows how hollow it is!

That apple fell in there all by itself!

Shel Silverstein's children's book, 'The Giving Tree' always makes me cry and I have a feeling that someday, if our giving tree topples over, I might shed a few tears as well.  Meanwhile, I'll be thankful for it and enjoy the things it provides.  I think, so will the deer!

"These apples are the BEST!" (talking with his mouth full!)