Danielle Blog

Birdies!

One day, a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting at the dining room table and I saw a fluttering motion out of the corner of my eye. When I turned my head to look, I saw a black-capped chickadee. I noticed that it seemed to be looking into the windows as if to say “I’m out here, just like I was last winter. Where’s the food? I just know there used to be food here. I mean, sure all the houses look a lot alike and all, but this one has the 3 conifers out here that I like to rest in.”

Which got me wondering if our house layout here in Minnesota would be more conducive to a bird feeder than the one in MA. I started envisioning something that would hang off of the deck somehow so that it would be near enough for me to actually see the birds and to easily keep it filled without having to trek through the yard and the snow.

Now about this time of year, my parents ask for my Christmas wish-list. This would be the same wish-list that gets passed along to my seestor and my in-laws. And from years past, I’ve learned to not make any impulse purchases in Sept/Oct/Nov but to ‘save’ those things for my wish-list. And guess what item is perfect for the wish-list? You got it, a bird feeder!

I mentioned this to HB’s parents while they were here visiting for Thanksgiving, and HB’s dad looked at the deck and discussed the logistics/placement of a feeder with me. And when they all came back from their shopping adventure at the Mall of America yesterday they gave me my Christmas present early!

This is my view of it from the dining room table.

Yay!

It is made entirely of cedar. And the screws look like they are treated or something so that they won’t rust.

Isn’t it neat how the shepard’s hook clamps onto the railing? I was hoping for something that wouldn’t require permanent holes or anything in the wood of the deck, so this is perfect!

It was pretty late yesterday when we got it set up, and I wondered how long it would take the birds to find it. Everyone said “Not long.” I sure hoped not.

This morning when I started to wake up, I thought “Oooo! I wonder if there are any birds out there yet?! I’d better get up and see.”

Well, there weren’t any as I was boiling water or brewing my tea. None when I was cutting the bread or making my first piece of toast. But when I got to the second piece, I got my first bird visitors!

And guess what! One of them was the black-capped chickadee.

I took these pics through the sliding glass window, ’cause it is cold, yo. And well, I didn’t want to scare them off and stand there with the door open forever while I was waiting for them to come back just so that I could get a pic without the glass.

chickadee and finch (I think)

Guess I’m going to need to put a bird book on that wish list, huh?

I expect that I’ll be taking lots of bird pics this year.

I can’t wait!

In lieu of pumpkin pie

I’ve never been a big fan of the pumpkin. Now, I’ll be the first to state that they are rather lovely as a fall decoration or as a means to satisfy my need to hollow out fruit, carve it into an odd design, and plop a candle inside, as a turnip lantern substitute.

But turn it into a pie? bleck.

See!? Even the pumpkin says “bleck! don’t make me into pie!” This is assuming you are wearing your imagination caps and can envision the stem as a nose.

Where was I? Oh right.

No. Even though eating pumpkin pie may be a holiday tradition, I prefer to fulfill my holiday dessert calorie intake another way.

That would be the chocolate silk andes mint pie. It may not look as pretty in the pic as I had hoped, but let me tell you, with a little heated chocolate fudge sauce drizzled on top. *smacks lips* Can’t be beat.

Best eaten with a spoon, of course (one of my personal preferences that I mentioned on Squirl’s blog recently).

I know someone who needs a piece of pie right now. If you are in the mood for a funny story, go read how Sara spent her Thanksgiving evening.

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I hope your holiday is filled with friends, family, thankfulness and joy!

Texas brunch – part one

On the day after the Texas Seestor’s wedding to Trainwreck, we all headed out to Trainwreck’s parents’ place for a scrumptious brunch. Trainwreck’s mom really outdid herself baking and cooking and preparing a fabulous array of food. It was just terrific!

We took a lot of pictures that day, and because so many of the ones that I like are of animals or don’t show people’s faces, I can post them here publicly. Consequently, I’m going to highlight a few each day.

This was the first that I’d ever been out to his parents’ land/farm/ranchette. So, part of the joy of visiting was getting to see the sheep, dogs, and the guard llama that I’d heard so much about.

Yes, you heard me right, the Guard LLama.

See, he guards the sheep and protects them from coyotes or other predators.

He is rather oddly proportioned, but appears to be very smart, and is always watching.

“I am watching you.”

The sheep were being baaaaaaaaaa shful. But were lured out with hay.

That might be the sheep that provides the prize-winning wool. Trainwreck would probably know.

- to be continued -

Flowers for Friday – Texas Seestor’s

I took these pics while I was in Texas. They were on a table in the entry-way at Texas Seestor’s house. So, one morning, I carried them outside into the sun for a photoshoot.

I like the petals in this photo.

And the anthers on top of the stamens remind me of little fuzzy fairy slippers. Especially the one at 12 o’clock.

Tiny green fairy leg, pointed up toward the sky, ending in a little brown fuzzy slipper.

In this one, I like the white glistening fuzz and the green base of the pistil.

Here is the original photo from which that one is cropped.

I think that lowest petal (at 6 o’clock) looks like it could be a spoon.

Morning dew anyone?

I took all pics with Dee-Dee, my Nikon D-70.

Flowers for Friday – Texas Seestor’s

I took these pics while I was in Texas. They were on a table in the entry-way at Texas Seestor’s house. So, one morning, I carried them outside into the sun for a photoshoot.

I like the petals in this photo.

And the anthers on top of the stamens remind me of little fuzzy fairy slippers. Especially the one at 12 o’clock.

Tiny green fairy leg, pointed up toward the sky, ending in a little brown fuzzy slipper.

In this one, I like the white glistening fuzz and the green base of the pistil.

Here is the original photo from which that one is cropped.

I think that lowest petal (at 6 o’clock) looks like it could be a spoon.

Morning dew anyone?

I took all pics with Dee-Dee, my Nikon D-70.

Special Lunch

I had lunch today with Amber and Jonah.

The food was terrific, and the company was even better. It was a delightful way to spend my lunch hour.

Jonah was sooooo excited when he saw Amber’s burrito, but by the time I got my camera out, I missed the shot. He got this ‘deer in the headlights’ look at my camera. So, I set it back down and we went back to eating.

Then he got distracted by this toy and I popped off one shot.

But to get him to smile, I realized I just had to be more entertaining and shake his blue toy with one hand while taking the pic with the other. Just like I do with the Girlie.

And next time, I’ll remember to hold it over my head to get him to ‘look’ at the camera.

*grin*

brief slideshow here

First MN snow

I got my first MN snow last night, and it is our official first snow in our new house

This is part of the view as I ate breakfast.

I can actually appreciate the beauty of it too.

Why? Well, because it is the first one of the season. And the first one is always prettier than the 50th one, as you might imagine.

But you want to know the REAL reason why I don’t mind the snow?

No scraping for me!!!!!

And yes, that is a multiple exclamation point statement of Glee! Glee, I say!

I’d take a picture of me spinning around ala the intro to the Sound of Music it makes me so happy, but well, that would be difficult and perhaps just a touch excessive.

Happiness is:

Sitting inside a warm cozy house on a cold snowy day, knowing that
A) you don’t have anywhere outside the house that you have to go
B) if you do decide to go somewhere, you don’t have to freeze your patoootie off scraping the car.

very happy.

Do I look like I’m 40?

This was inspired by Amber’s post who blogged about a certain incident this weekend.

Basically, she and I, along with Andy and Jonah visited a church together for the first time on Sunday. The people we spoke to after the service were really friendly and nice and everything was going well. I quickly realized that I am Much more comfortable being chatty with Amber by my side.

And then we went to coffee hour. At that point, it was just Amber and I, because Andy was back with Jonah waiting for him to crawl and catch up (I think).

And this lady, who was also VISITING, I might add and as such, you’d think might be on her best (i.e. cautious) behavior was talking to us.

And she asked if Amber was my daughter!

!

Now, I know that I have gray in my hair, and yes, Amber has a youthful appearance, but ???!

I think the shocked look and dropped jaws must’ve given us away. Of course, at that point, everyone nervously laughs and tries to brush it off, but you just KNOW that conversation is going to be awkward from then on. Ugh.

You know, I didn’t mind it So Much, when a couple of years ago, I was at a scientific meeting and someone asked me if I was a professor or a post-doc. Because well, I _am_ a bit older than the average graduate student and I was wearing a wool jacket and looked a little dressier than the average student.

However, when I was at Texas Seestor’s wedding, someone asked if I was the older sister. (and she is 3 years older than me)

*sigh*

That little mistake at her wedding, combined with this lady at church makes me think several things

1) my gray hair is becoming waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more prominent

2) the extra weight I am carrying is also making me look older than I am *sigh*

3) the tired look/circles under my eyes from getting this dang degree are also not helping

I don’t even show my BIG gray spot. Cause I part my hair on the other side. I wonder what they’d say then?

Is Amber your grand-daughter?

—

My thought, is that when we visit churches, we need to wear nametags that say

Hi, my name is
Danielle and I am
Amber’s —->
FRIEND

She can wear one that says the opposite, and we can stand on the correct side of each other.

And then, just wait to see their faces when we tell them we met ONLINE!

mwahhhh ha ha ha ha!

Cause, you know, the internet *tsk tsk* is just no place to meet friends.

*grin*

Do I look like I’m 40?

This was inspired by Amber’s post who blogged about a certain incident this weekend.

Basically, she and I, along with Andy and Jonah visited a church together for the first time on Sunday. The people we spoke to after the service were really friendly and nice and everything was going well. I quickly realized that I am Much more comfortable being chatty with Amber by my side.

And then we went to coffee hour. At that point, it was just Amber and I, because Andy was back with Jonah waiting for him to crawl and catch up (I think).

And this lady, who was also VISITING, I might add and as such, you’d think might be on her best (i.e. cautious) behavior was talking to us.

And she asked if Amber was my daughter!

!

Now, I know that I have gray in my hair, and yes, Amber has a youthful appearance, but ???!

I think the shocked look and dropped jaws must’ve given us away. Of course, at that point, everyone nervously laughs and tries to brush it off, but you just KNOW that conversation is going to be awkward from then on. Ugh.

You know, I didn’t mind it So Much, when a couple of years ago, I was at a scientific meeting and someone asked me if I was a professor or a post-doc. Because well, I _am_ a bit older than the average graduate student and I was wearing a wool jacket and looked a little dressier than the average student.

However, when I was at Texas Seestor’s wedding, someone asked if I was the older sister. (and she is 3 years older than me)

*sigh*

That little mistake at her wedding, combined with this lady at church makes me think several things

1) my gray hair is becoming waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more prominent

2) the extra weight I am carrying is also making me look older than I am *sigh*

3) the tired look/circles under my eyes from getting this dang degree are also not helping

I don’t even show my BIG gray spot. Cause I part my hair on the other side. I wonder what they’d say then?

Is Amber your grand-daughter?

—

My thought, is that when we visit churches, we need to wear nametags that say

Hi, my name is
Danielle and I am
Amber’s —->
FRIEND

She can wear one that says the opposite, and we can stand on the correct side of each other.

And then, just wait to see their faces when we tell them we met ONLINE!

mwahhhh ha ha ha ha!

Cause, you know, the internet *tsk tsk* is just no place to meet friends.

*grin*