Friday, December 31, 2010

New Year's Eve

Planning the garden.
No bugs, no weeds, perfection.
Optimism reigns.

After Christmas

Bill and I extended our Christmas  celebration with a trip to Paris...Paris, TN, that is. We met David & Trisha, Laura, Mike, Claire and Amanda at a cabin at Paris Landing State Park. The weather was dreary, but spirits were sunny. Wednesday afternoon we took a wet drive through the Elk and Bison Prarie in Land-between-the-Lakes Park. It was thrilling to see the animals up close from our car. They were peacefully grazing just a few yards from the road, not bothered by our presence.




Friday, December 24, 2010

Tennessee Sandhill Cranes

By thousands they come
Hiwassee winter refuge
Sandhill sanctuary

Yesterday (12/23) we visited the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge for the first time. This area, near Cleveland, Tennessee, is managed for waterfoul and thousands stop over on their migrations. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes spend the winter here and thousands of others stop over to refuel on their flight to Florida. My little camera cannot do them justice. We were surrounded on all sides by these magnificent birds and the sound of their bugling was magical. For more information: Tenn Watchable Wildlife

Friday, December 17, 2010

Lunch at Laura's

Oven-warm, homemade bread
Spicy peach jam, taste of summer
Feed body and soul.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Snow Day

Host of cardinal
Feast with nuthatch and titmouse.
Proclaim the season!


At my feeders and trees today:
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Cardinal - male and female
Tufted Titmouse
Nuthatch
Carolina Chickadee
Chipping Sparrow
Junco
Eastern Bluebird
Rufous-sided Towhee
Mourning Dove
Song Sparrow
Crow

Thursday, December 9, 2010

December's breath


December arrived
With frozen breath, darkened days,
Too much cold for me.