Life is a balancing act. . . . . . .

I wasn't going to post today.  

It's unbearably HOT!  

Already heading toward 96F high by noon, and another whole week of the same.

Our a/c upstairs is on the blink - just throwing hot air around. I grabbed a

 small portable fan from the potting shed and am running that. Of course it's

 really just assisting by swirling the hot air, unless one sits with it blowing directly

 on the face, as I'm doing now! Thankfully downstairs is cool - I should go down there!

We'll be leaving town soon and there's no way our HVAC guy will come before

 then - too many 'real emergencies' to deal with in this sweltering weather.

So, heading north is in the plan - please let there be cooler weather in

 New England and Canada. I'll let you know when we get there!

Today I have a ton of stuff to get done. 

Have already changed and laundered bed linen. Trip packing is almost completed.

 Quick run around with vac and floor mop later - don't like to leave a messy house!

 Granddaughter Jasmin coming for supper - big salad, small pasta (easy, quick

 penne with Gorgonzola made in one pot). Far too hot to eat in the gazebo but the
 dining room is cool and comfy.

Have to cut basil - it's tall and beautiful - and make pesto today. Will freeze and enjoy

 in July.  Must organize potted plants, such as herbs, and place them together at side

 of house so kind neighbor will slosh some water on them now and then if no

 rain - which looks doubtful around here!

Last evening we kicked back, Bob with a cold beer, me with a very chilled glass of

 French rosé (well OK to be honest, two glasses!) and watched 'The Greatest Showman'

 with gorgeous, multi-talented Hugh Jackman (something about those Aussie men!). 

Loved it. Who doesn't love childhood memories of the circus - but are also glad they

 are mostly now history and the animals are saved. 

The music was wonderful and the performers magnificent, including the trapeze

 and aerial stars.

This morning I noticed my own aerial star performing circus feats as it gobbled up

 the birds' suet. It was so hot even at 7 AM I didn't even bother to open the door

 and shoo it away - so all these pix were taken through the windows.

This guy preferred ground feeding on dropped sunflower seeds from the feeder 

in front of the cottage. A couple of seeds have even germinated and have

 a chance of growing if left alone.

The blackbird has been visiting for several days, drinking from the birdbath and

 trying to hang on the feeder and steal a few seeds - looks like it's found a friend.

Enjoy a restful Sunday!

Such a handsome bird. . . . . . . . . .

Yesterday I was out early morning hanging a new suet feeder to replace the one

 gnawed by the dastardly squirrels.  

Back in the house I turned around to look out the window and noticed this handsome

 male Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus - already feeding!

Easy to recognize the sex of this woodpecker - the male has a black mustache.

Grabbed the camera. . . . . . . . .of course. . . . . . . . .and by then it had flown from

 the feeder and was scuffling about in the leaves at the back of the garden.

When I looked through the viewfinder I realized there was a second Flicker on 

the ground, thought it was its mate, however then realized it was a much smaller

 bird and definitely another male with a mustache.  Papa, with suet in his beak,

 was feeding his son!

The young bird didn't seem too sturdy on its legs, not unexpected if it hasn't

 been out of the nest for long. Both parents do incubate and feed their young

 who fledge from the nest (usually in a cavity in a tree) when about one month old.

Guess this dad was living up to his parental responsibilities. 

They were there for several minutes and then flew off together.

5-8 eggs are usually laid - perhaps mom was busy with the rest of her brood.

In flight the Flicker flashes golden yellow under wings and tail, undulating deeply

 while giving a loud "wacka-wacka" call. It is a non-migrator in the Carolinas so we

 are able to enjoy this very attractive large bird all year round.

. . . . . . .and you enjoying the sunshine in that pretty fur coat - don't get any

 ideas - you had best stay down there on the ground away from my new

 suet feeder - I see you eyeing it already!

Things are looking up - a little . . . . . . .

Today the sun is bright again. This little fellow was busy munching a Hickory nut 

for breakfast when I first opened the blinds. 

There were several robins on the grass and bird bath - and a lot of twittering and tweeting going on - 

it really sounded almost like Spring had arrived despite the cold temperature. 

Not complaining though, so far our Winter has been quite mild here in the southeast.

A note of thanks to each of you who have been thinking of me and sending

good wishes and positive thoughts regarding my health issue. I am so 

grateful that you took time to write such caring words of encouragement.

I'll save the details for later when I know which way I will proceed, but 

for now I have canceled the surgery scheduled for next week and have 

managed to get an appointment for a second opinion on Friday.

Off now to complete the eleven pages of medical forms

I've printed so I don't have to do it on arrival at the surgeon's office.

Filling out medical forms seems to have become my full-time job lately.

Don't you just hate doing all that when you get to the office - blood pressure

already elevated, hunting for eyeglasses so as to read all that small print,

pulling out insurance cards, trying to remember medication dosage, and dates

for when you had what done to your person over your entire lifespan -
that's a lot of years to recall at this age!

Birds of the Carolinas. . . . . . .

We may not have much in the way of colorful flowers blooming these 

cold days. . . . . . . but look how beautiful the garden birds are.

These I managed to catch through the dining room window yesterday. Many more 

non-migratory birds are busy in the garden, eating from the feeders, and drinking 

to keep their strength up for flight on these cold days. Early mornings we've been

boiling the tea kettle and using the water to melt the solid ice in the birdbath 

and fountain. As soon as the steam dissipates they fly in, obviously thirsty in 

this very dry - at the moment - climate.

European Starling, awaiting the ice to melt, dressed in dapper 

black and white 'winter clothing'.

Can you believe this surprise yesterday! After melting the fountain water, a beautiful 

male Eastern Bluebird flew in to quaff his thirst. He wouldn't turn around before 

flying off so you just get to see his handsome back. He, like all our visiting birds, 

looked very healthy - always a good sign they are finding enough nourishment.

Male Northern Cardinal - many in our garden, along with the brownish females.

They hang around in flocks of about twenty, coming to eat very early 

morning, always the last to leave the feeders at dusk.

There are several different sparrows in the garden 

now - I believe this is the Song Sparrow, all puffed 

up and happy to find water, and casting a chubby shadow.

Last but by no means least, the other visitor - one of at least a dozen living 

in our garden! Grey squirrels are omnipresent, probably eating more birdseed 

than all the birds combined. . . . . . but we put up with them because all creatures 

need to be cared for, especially in winter.

"I'm not a bird, and I'm sometimes naughty, but I am very cute and I do get hungry".

Below is a list of the non-migratory songbirds birds currently feeding in our garden.

Although January, the garden is still quite lively and all we need now,

dare I say it, is a little snow as I love to view/photograph these birds 

in freshly fallen snow!

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Black-capped Chickadee

 Northern Cardinal

Tufted Titmouse

Eastern Towhee

European Starling

Carolina Wren 

Blue Jay

Mourning Dove

Yellow-rumped Warbler

House Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

American Robin
American Crow

White-breasted Nuthatch

Assorted Sparrows

Do you have many visiting birds at this time of year?