Works Every Time

The sky this weekend was a little gray...but last

Thursday morning's sky was blue with clouds that

looked like pieces of fluffy pink cotton.

It was about 7:00am...sun not quite up...but

you could tell we were in for a sunny day.

.

Within minutes the sun was sending warm rays...

down through the branches of the bare trees...

creating ribbons of light in the field.

.

The nest box in the field was made
by our grandson Grant...
We've been keeping our distance...
hoping the Bluebirds would call it home...
...success.....it now holds 5 Bluebird eggs.




For now...here's a photo of the male Bluebird sitting
on the fence.....

-most photos enlarge-


Speaking of eggs...these plastic ones had to come down...
with help from Alivia...but before they did...




a Chickadee helped himself to some fibers from the
yarn...then flew over to a bird house a few feet away...
to line his nest.




Alivia always finds something to do...if only smelling the flowers...




but I have to be on my toes and think of things to do...
because not everything she thinks up is good
...for Gramma!
Here she wanted to lock me in the dog pen...I cooperated
a few minutes...but quickly suggested we bake a cake!




"Works every time!"

This is a 'Coffee Cup Cake' I found on Jennifer's Blog.

I thought Alivia might enjoy fixing it!

Alivia stirring an egg...


...adding some milk and oil...

...stirring in the flour, sugar, and cocoa...

...pouring it into 'coffee cups' !!!




After baking in the microwave...

Alivia poured melted icing over the top...




Alivia had already set up her tea party table...

it's a routine....she does it all..."works every time."




Afterwards...it's usually back outside...

Here she thinks she may possibly catch a bird

at the feeder.

.

Here I captured a Red-bellied Woodpecker...

with my camera...



Then I noticed he had a visitor...can you see?...
Make it easier.....enlarge the photo by clicking on it!



Then I caught three with the camera...in just the next moment!




Sometimes I just sit on my front porch with a camera...

...ready and waiting...for things to appear...

"Works every time!"

First there were two...

...and then...

there were three!

I went out to get closer photos...

on the way back I saw this sparrow with a moth...

the moth actually got away and flew off!

While in the area I took photos of the "Spring Beauties"

They are small wild flowers...

that attract bees...

-enlarge-

and are very very very plentiful!

I'll leave you with "Beauty and the Beast"...

Beauty = Double Daffodil !

...and...


The Beast = ???

Some type of fungus...I have yet to look up!!!

If you know what it is.....let me know!!!
~

After doing some research....it's a Brown Cup Mushroom!

Miscellaneous

I thought some miscellaneous pictures

would do for a post today.

These are two Northern Flicker Woodpeckers that visit often.

These squirrels hang around and guard the trees like this all the time.

Here is a Pileated Woodpecker from the heavy wooded area
that surrounds us.



This fawn was aimlessly running down the yard straight towards me.




This was the smallest squirrel I've ever seen on
the property. The body of the bell is about 4 inches.



I think this chipmunk is wondering just how he can get that home !




A Scarlet Tanager could easily be mistaken for a Northern Cardinal.
We just have a few Tanagers, but at least 8 pairs of Cardinals.




This baby Bluebird peeking out was the last to leave it's nest, and
was offspring of the last Bluebird family to occupy it.

Here we have a Chickadee pulling fibers from a pair of drapes on the porch.

I've seen them in the past, pull hair from our sleeping dog's tail.

These are small Carolina Wrens from a nest on our porch.
They graduated to sleeping on this blind at night.

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a feeder on the porch.
Sometimes there's three or more darting around recklessly.

This small fawn was just a few feet away before running off.

A few baby foxes shyly come around once in awhile.

Unlike baby foxes, baby raccoons aren't shy, they even pose for pictures.

I want it to warm up so it will green up!

Hurry Spring!