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)

What to do? What to do?

AKA  GEOGRAM WEEKLY

What to do?  What to do? while social distancing alone in the shelter of your home?

TRY....

The Great Woosaloodle (woosanudeln?)  Challenge! (water noodles in German?)

Saturday, one of my sons texted to ask if I had a recipe that their Grandma Rose from Park Falls made for family many years ago....
I dug out my musty 50 year old cookbook of personal recipes.  I couldn't find it, but decided I could probably come close...(most of those recipes were various proportions of flour, egg, milk, salt).  I found a recipe for homemade noodles in an older cookbook.  Sunday I experimented.
Basically the dish is thick fresh noodles, boiled and then cooked with scrambled eggs.  I used butter, but Gram Rose probably used lard or bacon grease.  A meal to sustain one during an afternoon of farming, hand washing laundry, weeding the massive garden or logging.  
Enjoying the food for brunch, I thought it pretty much resembled what I remember from many, long years ago....my son/sons have not yet responded that they have tried making it.  

I didn't use all the noodles so Monday I experimented again.  This time with my original "what to do while social distancing" recipe.  SO....
Using the cabbage left over from last week's cabbage rolls, the remaining noodles, butter, salt  and a hunk of kielbasa from the freezer I came up with SDSD!  
 Grate cabbage and saute in pan with butter and little salt, mix in warmed up noodles, keep sauteing, then mix in fried pieces of kielbasa.  Add pepper to taste.  WALA!!   SDSD!!
SOCIAL DISTANCING SKILLET DINNER! YUM!! 
Pairs well with whatever you watch on the telly.

"Apple Betty" for dessert! YUM again!!

I have discovered an inexpensive do at home COVID-19 test.  Don't shower for 3 days and if you can smell yourself, you probably don't have the virus.  This works best if you live alone.  I'm quite sure I don't have it.  

Sunday afternoon was chilly, but partially sunny.

A good time for a 2 mile walk in between our several days of rain. It is our season of pink snow.

                                                                                                                                                                                    

I also got a visual of year 20/20... Equal amount of bad and good....dark and light....thinking about this later on I realized that the dark comes and goes; the blue sky remains forever!

Proof my little finch  parents have returned to grow a new family!  Hope not to scare them off and quietly observe their progress!  (Each day's sneak photo up to today, Thursday, is a repeat of this one.  She does move...I unintentionally scared her and she flew away for about 15 minutes.)

I have been handling self-quarantine, social distancing, sheltering at home alone quite well.  Though the other day I caught the Cheshire Cat staring at me from the neighbor's roof!

Tuesday was a cold rainy stay inside day.  We even had a moment of throw back Christmas as the hail collected on the back deck!

I took the day off today, Wednesday.  I took it off from listening to the news and latest reports.  I needed a break to rest in the familiar and routine.

I talked with one of my sons to schedule future travel and family activities.  The sun came out later in the day so I could walk 2 miles in the crisp air.  Watched some Star Trek while stretching and relaxed to the old movie, Stand By Me. It was filmed in this area and I hadn't seen it before.  I am feeling restful and ready to face the present realty come morning.

I had decided to order groceries for pick up.  I can pick them up a week from tomorrow.  Guess I will rethink that approach.

I invite you to read the second chapter, part 1  of

I Will Not Leave You....(2. My Foster Family)

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

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord,'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust'...You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday." (Psalm 91:1,2-5,6)

EXTRA! EXTRA!!

AKA   GEOGRAM WEEKLY EXTRA

There are advantages and disadvantages to us "sheltering at home".  
Advantage to me....you are a captive audience desperate for entertainment...your disadvantage...
(news photo compliments of FaceBook)





Saturday presented a little bird watching; a little bird (finch) courting ritual on my front porch...this is a sequel from last spring after a little bird flew into my studio one evening. 
(see post June 11, 2019, Has She Gone Bonkers)    

Oh!  She's over there....








  

Hmmm, he's over there...

Maybe she (he) is interested

Well, hello there!!

 
Beautiful day, hey?







Maybe, if I look buffed....

Is there anyone watching?














How about a little kiss?








Hey, who invited them?



There's our cozy house from last spring.....

Wednesday, March 25, there was a flutter when I walked by on the porch!

They are back!

To be continued....


How is Gram G coping?  So nice of you to ask...here's a couple entries I've made 
Monday March 23
Rain has set in and probably for the next 10 days.  Time to find a healthy balanced routine for self distancing.  Right now I don't plan to venture out until Tuesday March 31 to get a few groceries.
Time to plan an interesting food menu!  I plan to work from my "magic freezer" (frozen left overs) that my local family makes fun of...

Today I am going to make hamburger/quinoa stuffed cabbage rolls. I bought a head of cabbage last Tuesday as part of my sustaining food supply.  I ate vegetarian quinoa cabbage rolls last  summer at the writers conference and they were quite tasty.

Pairs nicely with black olives....if you like black olives...

I substituted basil for parsley.  The cabbage roll is quite tasty, though I will alternate other dinners the next few days.   

I find these tactics help me keep balanced:
1. Reach out through texts and phone to family and friends.
2. Exercise by walking, home equipment, stretches.
3. Enjoy your hobbies...whatever they are.
4. Try new food recipes and enjoy favorite foods.
5. Drink plenty of water...
6. Make a list of goals for the day, even if you don't achieve them.
7. Plan some future fun things to do/places to go.
8. Chill out with your favorite TV shows...mine are recorded episodes of Star Trek and Victoria.
9. Record what you did or didn't accomplish  that day....it will help you see what adjustments you might want to make either in goals or efforts.
10. Lift up your heart, worries and trust to the Lord who loves you and your family so much!




I walked 2 miles  Wednesday afternoon when the sun was warm and blue sky overhead.

I had also walked 2 miles Sunday afternoon and enjoyed watching an eagle (maybe a hawk) soar higher and higher into the clouds.



    



This has been a good 5 "GeoGram Weekly" days in the life of Gram G.

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."  (Isaiah 40:31)