How Fast They Grow!!

AKA THE GEOGRAM WEEKLY

Two weeks ago on Friday, April 10, I noticed my little bird mum was fidgeting in her nest.  Later in the day when she was gone I peeked inside and saw ugly little blobs in the nest.  Over the next few days these blobs starting looking more like baby birds.  Throughout the next 10 days I observed the little family as the babies got stronger, and mum and dad would fly in and out to feed them.  Then Friday morning about 10:15 I recorded a short video as they

were bobbing around in the nest.  At one point both mum and dad were chirping at them from the porch railing.  Soon mum came in for a meal.  I went away.  Two hours later I went back to check on them... AND... they were GONE.  Just plain GONE.  As the article said; baby finches stay in the nest

14-16 days.  These were there 14 days.                       Late afternoon Saturday I went walking, listening to the noisy chirping all around the neighborhood.  I observed several little finches joyously flying around, landing here and there. I want to think that my little finch family is still hanging close to Gram G's front porch wreath nest!  I've had such a fun time observing them the past 4-5 weeks.  There are 2 disappointments. I will be disposing of the well used wreath soon.  AND, I thought self-distancing would be over about the time the birds flew off, but it seems we humans are still suppose to be nesting. 

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I want to let my family and friends know that Gram G is doing just fine with social distancing..
tea party with my favorite gnomie homies....they were screened for Hobbid-19. (That is son, Al's, joke)

Ready to take on the old dried leaves in the hobbit yard!






Old tiger grass and haircut...

a great SDSD
Social Distancing Skillet Dinner....in the outback....rice pilaf,peas, carrots and chicken

 A shopping trip with proper fashion....I had a great time checking out garden needs on a sunny, warm morning.....

 Our weather has been quite nice so I get out walking almost every day...usually for 2 miles, but I did reach 3.03 one day!  


one tree has a split personality...white on one side, pink on the other....

With social distancing alone, I find it necessary for me to keep phone and electronically connected.  I've been calling friends I don't normally call.  There has been a few more Skype piano lessons. 
I've been sorting through tons of older pictures to find some for my life story.  It is easy to get lost in memories and more pictures!
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One of my grandsons just started a job with a company that does maintenance on high structures....such as cell phone towers....He is about as high as one can go!  He's getting up in the world!!

I found this photo of him while I was searching through pictures.  Adventure is in his blood!
He is studying a book titled 
How to Stay Alive in the Woods
Speaking  of woods....I promise you my rabbit story next GeoGram Weekly.  It is a bit lengthy for me to write, but worth waiting for.  

Check out chapter 4: An Unfamiliar Life on my page, "I Will Not Leave You....
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I pray that you all are coping well, or at least well enough, with our self quarantining.  I admit that it takes some meditating and praying for me before I can get out of bed, knowing that the day will be good because our God is good!

This has been a good GeoGram week in the life of Grandma G.

"I [Jesus] have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  (John 16:33)

Birds and Chicks and a Rabbit, Oh My!

AKA THE GEOGRAM WEEKLY....

First comes love....

Well, you know the rest..

Then come babies in the birdie nest!!

Behind the wreath hanging on Gram G's front porch....



Last year's nest is in the back.   At that time I was gone when the finches nested and didn't know the outcome, but this year I get to observe from behind my blind on the front door.

Mama nesting on Friday. Moving around a little bit.

Papa checking in on her....







Mama was gone on Saturday so I peeked in above the nest.  I saw these unsightly blobs in the nest.  They were not moving.  Oh. I was afraid I had disturbed the parents and now they abandoned dead babies.  I felt bad.  Very disappointing.  
Sunday I didn't see any activity.  
Monday I saw a tiny yellow thing moving around!  And watched mama feed it!

I checked the nest again on Tuesday while there was no parent around.  I saw tiny blobs with heads taking a nap.  Shortly mama bird flew in with lunch and several little heads were reaching up!  And then dad came to help serve the meal!

 

It is such fun to watch new life happening right outside my front door!  Springtime!  Easter!!
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 I have an Easter chick story from when I was probably 12.  

I must have been living at home in Indianapolis that semester of my 6th grade.  My younger brother, Nick 11, and I wanted to go to Park Falls, WI, where our aunt lived for Easter.  What I remember is that we were at a store in Indianapolis and saw pink or blue dyed live chicks for sale quite cheap.  We decided to buy 3 to take to Park Falls.  I put them in a shoe box.  We took them on the Greyhound bus with us.  Occasionally we would peek into the box to watch the peeping chicks.  At some point the bus driver, a kindly elderly looking man, came back to us and asked us what we had in the shoe box.  We excitedly showed him our colored Easter chicks.  He responded,"Well, I'm not suppose to know you have baby chicks in a shoebox here on the bus.  Keep the cover on so I can't hear them."  He then went back to driving the bus.  
     Once in Park Falls, our aunt and uncle were pleased to see them.  They said they would take them to the family farm to be cared for.  That is the last we saw of our beloved Easter chicks.  I have a feeling that they tasted delicious to the folks at the family farm as time went on. 
The End....
I also have a great rabbit story, but you will have to come back next GeoGram week!
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This has been a busy 4th week of self distancing.
Tuesday evening, April 7, presented beautiful views of the pink super moon.  It appeared orange in the sky. 

Saturday I held my first Skype piano lesson.  It went quite well, was very refreshing to interact with a student again.  I had a second one today, Wednesday, through Facetime.  That was a little more difficult.  I am very pleased with myself to be up with the digital era!!

Saturday was also "let's bake a carrot cake day"!

Cut in two....
one for me and 
one for you....
if you are part of the Miller family...

Easter Sunday was enjoyable and self-distancing busy.

Online church service..

  Had virtual visits with some of my kids....

Observe the snowstorm in northern Wisconsin!!

Went for a walk around my neighborhood....

Later in the day I took a ride to Debbie's home.

The ppe Easter Bunny showed up!!




Check out my "I Will not Leave You" page for chapter 3.....My Foster Family (part 2)

This has been a good GeoGram week in the life of Gram G.

Sunrise on the Sea of Galilee, November 26, 2007
(photo by Gram G)

"Don't be alarmed, he [the angel] said, You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him, just as he told you.' "  (Mark 16:6-7)

Self Distancing Week 3....

AKA THE GEOGRAM WEEKLY




Sunday I went for a late afternoon  walk.  The sky was mostly blue with sunshine.  Tiny birds were twittering, crows cawing and a distant mourning dove was cooing her solo.  A few folks were out mowing their lawns so the fragrance of fresh mowed grass lingered in the air mixed with

perfumed scent of spring flowers.  It was a glorious stroll in the midst of challenging times.  

This has  been an active time for me during this season of  social distance.  Actually that is physically distant and socially connected.  

I took time to reserve plane tickets for summer travel with trust that public life will be more normal by then.  Check back early June to see how that has played out.  

I also made reservations at a British B & B in Victoria on Vancouver Island for August 2021 to celebrate my 75th B-day.  That way I can say I simply stayed in Vancouver for my B-day.
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On a more solemn note, I have been reflecting and mourning the passing of my sister-in-law and good friend, Betty Jarosinski on Sunday, March 15.   She endured Parkinson's disease for several years. She was a dedicated elementary school teacher and church organist.  
She and I spent over 30 years raising our families in Park Falls.  She had 6 boys and I had 5 boys and 2 girls.  When they were younger we had many family adventures together.  Our favorite memory is the kids (along with 2 other boy cousins) making home made pizza on New Years Eve...15 cousins partying in my house until midnight! (We may have had a few neighbor kids in also.) 
Betty is dearly missed by me.

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 I received word last week that I did NOT win in a song writing contest that I submitted to last November.  I thought I had a real winner.  However, I am encouraged because all the judges are professional song producers and there were over 1800 songwriters from 40 countries that participated. I will heed the advice of my "judge" and work on the changes he/she presented.  Don't quite know what that is but I will work on it!  To be continued into 2021.  Big win next spring!!
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What does one do if one wants to send Easter cards and one is not suppose to venture out to the store?  How about free download from the internet?
Hmmmm, I have card stock on reserve for the past 8 years, color ink in my printer (hopefully),regular mailing envelopes and colorful "celebrate" stamps.  Arts and crafts time!  Perfect for self distancing....






Which brings me to something I am grateful for this particular situation in life.   DIGITAL ERA!

We are blessed to be able to communicate instantly with family and friends, to find entertainment, check info, create, etc.
Sometimes I find it confusing, frustrating and a very demanding learning curve, but it is the way of now and the future.  Besides, I find it so fun to be using "devises" that were presented, but only Sci-fi, on Star Trek in the 80's and 90's.  I still feel like a Star Fleet officer when I Skype with anyone from my star ship....

My little finch mum stays the same from day to day when I peek in on her.  I looked up some info on finches.  The  mum nests on the 2-6 eggs for 14-16 days.  Once hatched the birds stay in the nest 11-14 days.  This should bring me to the end of April and the end of "self nesting" for us humans in the Pacific Northwest. On one occasion I did get to see the daddy finch feed mum.  I wonder where he goes during the day and at night. 
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I had a really fun Monday afternoon!  I sent this picture out to my 7 kids and their mates, and most of grand kids.  I

had them guess who it is.
After several hours and random comments this is the guessing they came up with.  (Jack is an imaginary person.)

No one guessed that it was mom/grandma G!
They were astonished it was ME!  1956 at my Aunt Emma's house.  I can see a resemblance to my sons....if I were a boy.

This has been a good GeoGram week in the life of Gram G.

"Peace I [Jesus] leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  (John 14:27)