Hummingbirds in Snow

I couldn't believe it. During some snow flurries today I had a hummingbird come to my feeder. What makes this so exceptional is that I haven't seen one all spring, summer, or fall. I got a new feeder this year, filled it up in early spring, and never saw one bird. Until yesterday a little green-backed, pink throated fellow came whirring to the feeder looking for food. There was a residual food which wasn't even frozen I was surprised to see, and he seemed to be getting something, so after he whizzed away I quickly refilled it with fresh sweet red liquid. And what to my wandering eyes should appear but a little tiny bird in wing on the air. He was back today and I was so excited to have something waiting for him to encourage his venturing.

Another sight was the golf course nearby covered with mallard ducks, heads all tucked in their backs during the snowfall. Usually there are Canadian geese, but today there were maybe 100 Mallard pairs.

I have been setting food out for some darling Chickadee mums and dads, who share begrudingly with the pair of gray squirrels who chat with our cats. They stalk but never pounce the messy squirrels. I did however find a small feather in my kitchen yesterday...

Lovely wild birds! I have my own Wild Kingdom.

Chickens

Chickens as pets... what a strange concept, yet it is catching on! I'd be tempted to say, "only in America" except a lovely urban chicken coop was designed in England. Why not? Pets that actually earn their keep, right? Dual purpose.

They do require attention, although they are relatively hardy. They cannot be housetrained, so they are best kept outside, and in a coop structure to protect them from raccoons and rats--. Both of which are in my neighborhood, I understand. Plus you have to clean the coop about weekly, and lock them in at night and open the coop in the morning, and collect the eggs by 11am--which can include a hunt for them if they are free-range in the back yard.

Not forgetting the fact that they do not like being wet... and this is the Northwest. When I decide to take the jump it will be as a "hobby," I think, more than as a pet.

Compared to the lazy cozy inside kitties this might need some planning.

November Musings

We are having a fabulous fall week!

Loads of rain, wind and colorful leaves falling. Every night was, "a dark and stormy night." Which gives me plenty of reasons to stay cozy inside instead of finding exercise outside, except for the raking of the leaves, of course.

The weather has prompted my to get my winter (snow) boots out of storage, much to Aaron's dismay, to don for my 8:30am bus accompaniment. I walk Benji down to the bus stop at the bottom of the cul d'sac and wait with him and the other kids (I am making many new friends).

I never knew there were so many nice kids around here. And parents, should I choose to be the first one to reach out. Parents in general are each so wrapped up in their own kids' worlds that they are pretty content smiling and waving congenially to perfect strangers each morning, a complimentary, "Mornin'" sufficing as a relationship.

When I can muster the energy or convince myself of a good enough reason I will break deeper below the pleasantries but for now I am content to return the greeting and shuffle back to my cozy den.

I think I may be relapsing into shyness.

I almost had a panic attack when I faced calling acquaintances on the phone to invite them to a recent Partylite candle party. I hate it on the one hand, and want to justify it and embrace it on the other.

Is it possible I was designed for isolation? It can't be so! Yet I enjoy my little family world. My sister, my parents and extended family (for the most part). My wonderful friend Becca, was a lovely reunion of friendship during a brief visit. I almost forgot what it was like to have friends like her.

The holidays will be a blur...

What does the new year hold?

Recipe with Veg Kids will actually Eat

Pumpkin Muffins
Mix together:
1 Spice cake mix
2 eggs
2 c. canned pumpkin
1/2 c. water
1/3 c. oil

Pour in greased muffin tin 3/4 full

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 min.
Makes 18 or so muffins

My kitchen

It isn't much. It isn't fancy. It is actually outdated and brown. It is perfect. It is small and compact which basically means it is easy to say "no" to Costco, and to stockpiling. It holds everything we need and not much else. This also helps me to say "no" to every kitchen gadget and machine known to man, and instead be resourceful, which appeals to my creativity.
For now it is all we need, and if and when it can be updated, that will be swell, but for my needs and sanity it is perfect, because as we all know, every counter will be overrun with papers, and clutter if not guarded morning and night. So, the secret to keeping the counters clear, as with a junk drawyer-is not to have one (or many) at all.

My Kindergartener! He is waiting to be discovered as a singing and Dancing sensation. Right now he is building the most amazing marble tracks all over his room. He is discovering he can read things in everyday life, and his vocabulary is so surprising! We are very proud of Benjamin David Royce!

Family Bike Ride

Well, recently we went on a family bike ride. Papa had the kids in the bike trailer, and I rode solo. We were zinging along the paved trail under the power lines for the city called the BPA trail and enjoying ourselves. Aaron was enjoying off-roading with the kids egging him on, and at the top section of a very steep section of the trail we stopped to evaluate our options. There was a dirt path going pretty vertical and ending in a busy street if you didn't navigate the sharp turn, or there was the lovely paved trail, wide and completely safe. You see where this is going?

Aaron eyed the dirt path and I expressed apprehension. He paused and agreed. Then Benji starts asking, "Is it to hard for you Papa?" Completely innocently he is taking his life in his hands and goading dad's masculinity. Ian thinks going along with big brother is always in his best interest and wants to go on the dirt path too.

Aaron is intelligent, and an athlete so I trust whatever decision he makes as I express my reservations. "You have my whole life there! Is the life insurance up to date?" I also get off my bike to make sure the kids are strapped in securely. Then I am about to head down the broad, safe, paved trail when I decide to watch them.

They descend carefully, but the trailler doesn't follow the bike's directions and hurls its weight down even as Aaron brakes, it skids and slides, and turns over landing on it's head and Aaron is thrown partially off his bike, jumping clear and jumping for the kids. I hate to be right.

I leap through the cloud of dust the trail kicked up and help him set the kids aright. "Are you okay?" I try to stay calm but I am glaring at Papa. I don't want the kids to be afraid that they were near death. "Can we do it again?" this from big brother the dare devil, and "I don't want to do that again!" From little brother banged into Benji. Thank the Lord for 5 point safety harnesses and a strong aluminum frame. They are no worse for the wear. Aaron starts waxing eloquently about the engineering of the tumble... I run back up to my bike and tell him I'll see him at the bottom.

Suburban adventures: we create havoc because there is little in our lives.

Cats

Lady Impaler, otherwise known as Mattie the Maine Coon cat. Adopted in January, she is very affectionate, with a kitten's curiosity and razor sharp claws. "Oops" she seems to say as she jumps unexpectedly into your lap, injecting her claws into your leg as she catapults onto the windowsill beyond.

She has a silent purr, but her eyes roll back in her head when you pet her. These are the coolest cats ever when they're not attacking your freshly bathed naked children as prey. The sort of 'trill' like a raccoon when they are excited, such as spotting a squirrel or bird.

Our smaller kitten, Jessie seems to be learning this unusual trait as she stalked a fly this afternoon chattering at it. She is a lover and will lick your nose with her sharp sand-paper tongue. We always hear her before we see her, because she has an extremely loud purr.

Thursday Thoughts

Today it was beautiful outside. I love my deck. We may live ten feet from our neighbors, but our trees are mature and gorgeous in the spring. My boys and my sister's boys abandoned their clothes and their senses and pummeled themselves with water, and when the screams died down they dug in the mug and threw mud and my mud covered nephew declared himself Mr. Poop.

The joys of watching in safety from my upper deck finally wearing short pants and a t-shirt resting in my lounge chair shaded by a green market umbrella. For two minutes. Then somebody needed something and soon we had two muddy cousins in the shower warming up, one playing a computer game and needing constant food, and my son outside in the puddle, "won't anyone play with me?" (I've only been in the mud for 3 hours straight, I can't believe no one is still here with me.) He is fascinated--fixated... well he loves water! And never gets tired of pouring and swirling and playing in it.

A few weeks ago we rented a rowboat at the University of WA water activity center. Ha ha! Wow! Anyone can see that 2 year olds and rowboats aren't the best pair... but we added a five year old too just for fun. Everyone did great, and Aaron took on all the rowing, which was tricky. As we were coming back inland I decided to try to help him out by rowing some... I was splashing him and uncoordinated and just as I was getting the hang of it Ian leans over and falls out of the boat in front of me!

Oars go flying (luckily they are attached by a short eye-bolt.) and I lean way over grabbing Ian back into the boat. It wasn't a warm day, but fortunately it wasn't horribly cold either, 'cause we didn't have any faster way to get back to shore than Papa's arms. Ian was shocked, but life-jacketed of course, and none the worse for the wear but very silent. His legs started to cramp with cold by the time we got to the dock. I stripped him down and put my warm cap and Papa's coat on him. It reached to the ground and he looked like a sand creature from star wars with the hoods, hovering up to the car. Soon he was back to himself, entertaining us with his new attire. I got completely wet from the waist down, from hugging him to myself, but it is amazing what the minivan holds! It had been an exceptionally long time since it had been cleaned (yikes) and there were blankets, a couple extra kid coats and a new diaper! Perfect! I now had a bright red wool kilt (afghan) and Ian was sporting a Seahawks blazer! Alls well that ends well.

Thank you Becca for inviting me to Blogger! I think I like this!