The Ginzart Ramble

2012-02-05T15:52:00.005-06:00

Birds at the feeder today - English Sparrows, Cardinals, Chickadees, Juncos and this Nuthatch.

2012-01-29T08:07:00.000-06:00

Yesterday there were two Chickadees flitting around the birdfeeder. This one stopped moving long enough for me to take a quick photo.

2012-01-27T11:40:00.003-06:00

View out the west window - Starlings feasting on the cedar berries.

2012-01-18T10:11:00.003-06:00

As I looked out the kitchen window this morning, I noticed a flurry of activity at the fall aster flower bed - Juncos and a sparrow.

2012-01-16T09:20:00.001-06:00

Went for a drive yesterday - a sunny, but very windy day. Spotted this Kestral on a signpost.

2011-10-13T08:54:00.001-05:00

As it was raining last night, the sun came out and when I looked out the window there was this intensely bright double rainbow. It lasted quite a long time.

2011-09-26T08:03:00.003-05:00

In the Cedar tree.

2011-09-25T17:48:00.001-05:00

Saw and heard an abundance of activity today - the Cedar Waxwings passing through - hanging out in the Pine tree and a feeding frenzy in the Cedar Tree and Pokeberry.

2011-08-05T08:12:00.003-05:00

Blue, blue, blue. An Indigo Bunting sitting out in the sun so I could see the lovely blue color.

2011-08-04T07:55:00.002-05:00

The quintessential Iowa shot - three goldfinch in a cornfield.

2011-08-01T08:38:00.001-05:00

We've had so much rain the past couple of years that the back yard now hosts a resident frog or two.

2011-07-29T12:45:00.000-05:00

Cool shade.

Catnip City

2011-07-28T20:13:00.004-05:00

I was surprised when I looked out the window and saw Goldfinches on the Catnip plant. I hadn't realized it had gone to seed and I hadn't seen birds on the Catnip plant previously. Then the Cardinals joined them. It's a game of sorts - spot the four birds in the photo - two goldfinch (male & female) and two Cardinals (male and juvenile). The female Goldfinch is quite hidden.

2011-05-23T08:26:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I spied with my little eye, a Baltimore Oriole (and female) in the Azalea bush.

2011-05-22T09:16:00.002-05:00

Saw this female Orchard Oriole (and also a male) at the Flowering Quince bush a couple of weeks ago. Hadn't seen one in years.

2011-03-20T20:13:00.002-05:00

Look out ladies... This male Cardinal was busily preening for about five minutes - first in the Pussywillow bush, then to the Walnut tree. Then to the very top of the tree - singing away. Spring is here!

2011-03-01T07:26:00.001-06:00

This robin didn't look too thrilled with the snowy weather.

2011-02-27T09:29:00.003-06:00

Both an upside and downside of having a "delayed action" camera, is not knowing what I am actually capturing when I take the photo. I was pleasantly surprised with this one of a female Cardinal flying off.

2011-02-25T10:05:00.003-06:00

A junco waits to get to the feeder after the latest snow. The squirrel found its way onto the feeder, so the junco may be waiting a bit.

2011-02-16T19:45:00.001-06:00

Tonight when I pulled in the driveway and looked across the street to the neighbor's yard it was Robin-a-rama! They're back...

2011-02-01T18:51:00.000-06:00

Someone's been hanging out at the birdfeeder.

Bob, bob, bobbin'

2011-01-24T07:23:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I was looking out the kitchen window at the backyard and noticed a bird acting like a robin and yes, indeed, it was a robin. I'm assuming a tardy traveling rather than a harbinger of spring (but I can dream).

2011-01-23T10:13:00.000-06:00

The Nuthatch readies for its turn at the birdfeeder.

2011-01-22T15:48:00.000-06:00

The Ponderosa Pine serves as a launching point for the birds at the feeder. The Blue Jay is preparing for his turn.

First Visitor

2010-12-19T16:23:00.000-06:00

The first visitor to the feeder area this year.

2010-05-09T09:32:00.001-05:00

And then there were two...

2010-05-08T16:39:00.000-05:00

Enjoying a room with a few. Noticed this family of robins about a week ago. (Explains why there has been an abundance of activity early in the mornings.) They have grown quickly - they barely fit in the nest.

May-Apples

2010-04-17T20:33:00.000-05:00

Went for a walk in the woods today - encountered an abundance of wildflowers: a new one for my list - Greek Valerian in addition to Spring Beauties, Trout Lilies, Dutchman's Britches, Buttercups, Bluebells, Rue-Anemone, Bloodroot, Yellow Violets, and colonies of May-Apples.

Gorgeous

2010-04-14T10:30:00.000-05:00

Spring is here! Spring is here! Cardinals singing atop tall trees. Robins gathering last year's iris leaves for their nests. Spring Peepers! Redwing Blackbirds, Vultures, Bluebirds, Dutchman's Britches and the Ferns returning. Green, green green everywhere!

2010-01-07T13:53:00.000-06:00

Another snowy, windy day. All the better to watch the birds at the feeder - Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Cowbirds, Juncos, a Grackle, Sparrows and Starlings. Haven't seen the Nuthatch or Downy yet today.

Redwing Blackbirds

2009-07-15T23:39:00.000-05:00

I have finally gotten started walking this summer and for diversion I take my camera along with me. Every route I take Redwing Blackbirds are busy protecting their territory. My goal is to get what I consider a classic shot - something like "perched on a cattail stem." After the last several evenings, my goal is to get a photo of one sitting - anywhere. One bombarded my head the other night - I could feel his breath - or more likely the flap of his wings. They certainly are audacious, but I love 'em.

Glechoma hederacea II

2009-06-02T23:06:00.000-05:00

This spring I've changed my mind and decided not to have such a critical opinion of the ground ivy (aforementioned Glechoma hederacea) - the bees love it so.

Gardening

2009-06-02T22:44:00.000-05:00

Since spring has sprung most of my free time has been spent trying to garden. Right now the garden consists primarily of (fairly straight) rows of rusted Hi-C cans sheltering the little seedlings I started in March and an abundance of little shoots of grass coming up in between the rows - which haven't yet been weeded because of all the rain. Having recently read about the downfall of civilization due to the shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture, I'm thinking that might explain why I kind of enjoy the "adventures in gardening" I experience due to the weeds taking over the garden - it returns me to "forager" mode.

One Bad Apple

2009-05-06T20:38:00.000-05:00

I was working on a crossword puzzle and had entered an incorrect word. I was having a difficult time coming up with answers that would work in the surrounding boxes. It occurred to me that in the "bigger picture", if I am convinced of a thought or belief and if that thought or belief is inappropriate or not working for me, I am limiting the possibilities that might be helpful to me. Not that I have a lifelong habit of beating a dead horse or anything... Hand me an eraser, please.

Augusta Carrots

2009-04-26T10:57:00.000-05:00

I did not know carrots could be so delicious. I like carrots, and I've had tasty carrots before, but never like this. We went to Augusta for dinner last night. They were out of the stewed greens, and since I was going for the warm bread, I decided a vegetable would be a good choice. I opted for the carrots. They came on a little side plate. It was a real carrot - not one of those rolled and tumbled baby carrots. The first bite was incredible - cooked but still crisp - a buttery and flavorful mouthful. The best carrots I have ever tasted. The creamed corn was pretty darn tasty, too and well as our entrees. But the carrots - who knew?

Bull Robin

2009-04-15T09:02:00.000-05:00

Easter Sunday I spent the day in the garden. It is one of the activities that helps me to get into a Zen mode and stay focused on one activity at a time. It also made me think about how each type of plant has certain requirements to thrive, and so do people, and myself, I need to see the ocean soon. As I was gardening, I had the pleasure of the companionship of this robin, getting plumper by the minute as he gobbled up worms and grubs.

Glechoma hederacea

2009-03-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

I am very grateful it is cloudy and a bit rainy today. I am thrilled to be able to get started on the yard work so early this Spring, but my body is still working into outdoor mode after lots of couch sitting and reading this winter. Oh, the discovery of those muscles being triggered by the weeding experience. The lawn has an abundance of Ground Ivy. What survival skills that plant has. It is the greenest plant in the yard - it must spread its runners under the snow cover. I remembered reading it was an herb - I think its "quality" must be persistence.

The Last of the Mohicans

2009-03-13T22:18:00.000-05:00

I was in the doctor's office and there was a 90-something-year-old man in the waiting room. He reminded me of my dad - soft spoken, but friendly - talking to another fellow about tractors, I think. But it was the manner in which he spoke that made me very nostalgic for my childhood when the adults around me were rather genteel in their manner. I loved their stories. I recall my dad on his 83rd birthday saying, "Eighty years ago we were moving from Kansas in a covered wagon." Both my parents would comment on how much things had changed in my lifetime, and I thought my lifetime!? My dad would have be 101 this month if he were still alive. He died in 1999.

Cotter Pin

2009-03-05T10:03:00.000-06:00

Years ago I used to do a lot of work with my dreams and I decided that it was time to try that again. Especially since I have been dreaming a lot, although I haven't made a point in remembering them. The other night the only thing I remembered was a pin in a wheel - lynch pin, key pin - so I Googled images and there was the cotter pin or cotter key which made me think of Leo Kottke who I hadn't thought of for years. We used to listen to him when I worked at Dugan's Deli. And there was a great video on YouTube from the 70s.

Another Birthday

2009-03-02T22:31:00.000-06:00

My birthday present to myself this year is to quit procrastinating. I'll start tomorrow. Ha.