Now Goes the Golden Autumn Far Away, Now Nearer Comes the Winter to My Door

The Title, I have quoted before. It is from a poem I love by that wonderful poet, Anonymous. The concept suits the mood of the time. I'd love to quote the whole poem to you, but, no, that would never do. Sigh! I am writing about my garden and surrounds. I must get on to my little world of activity. Autumn truly has gone. This young Goose has yet to mature for his flight south.Actually, there has been little activity in my garden of late, since we seem to be on the edge of events. The snow did not come last night, but is said to come today. The weather gradually grows colder. The nights dip below zero. Mostly rain patters down onto our roads. We have been spoiled.The Birds come and go--the little ones. Summer birds have long gone, but the Winter birds must be collecting and filling their storehouses for the coming days. They play 'least in sight.' The Spiders and Insects have long since hibernated--if that is the correct term.Soon all will be covered by layers of that white stuff, so the Birds will have some difficulty finding food. I must get a friend to refill my large feeder. The thought of dragging out my ladder tires me. It will be good to see my feathered friends come seeking once more. The BLUE JAYS have 'chewed me out' for not putting out more peanuts. I only managed to fill the ledges once. They kept up a natter I tried to ignore, I got so busy. I will go out and give them their treats eventually.Yes, Autumn has surely gone, and Winter hovers here in this area. Those of you in warm climates in the south must be pleased to miss our changing seasons. There is charm, and drama, dare I say it, in these changes? The Seasons become a Part of One.What are your Seasons like?

MY ROBINS FOR ANOTHER YEAR

My ROBIN sat on her same nest above my bedroom window. In two weeks the nest appeared to have eggs. Two weeks later, three baby ROBINS appeared. (Her first lot were four.) With two weeks of worms, or insects from Mom and Dad ROBIN, the birds became fat. I kept the Wild Grape vines away from the nest, and soon the nest was too small for them. Mom and Dad kept bringing food, but the largest baby wanted to fly. He kept trying his wings. I could see he was "itching" to go. The birds were sitting on top of one another, there was so little space.

Yesterday, they "flew the coup," so to speak. I had visitors. I had shown them the nest and the little ones, then we went on with our work. They had come to cut the overripe chokecherry fruit, which my friend was going to use to make jelly, and I went on with paint stripping my window. By the time I had said goodbye to my friends, there was a ruckus in the back.

I went in, and sure enough, I saw from my back door, the little ones had fledged. Mom ROBIN was squawking like mad on the back fence. I could hear the little ones chirping loudly on the ground somewhere at the back. I went to the garden side and walked around. The Male ROBIN, squawking on the roof, flew off when he saw me. I stayed back, but the mother was unafraid of me. She continued squawking, and pointed with her beak to the yard behind mine.

Sooo, I said, "Okay, Mom," I'll go after the cat. I grabbed a stick, then trudged down the road, across the cross road, and up the next road to the area behind my house. Sure enough, a cat was stalking the birds. Mom ROBIN was still squawking up a tree. I yelled and banged my stick and the cat ran under the shed of my neighbor, who was away. Sooo, I trudged back home, and got small boards to fill in the area used by the feral cats (I wrote of them earlier), now used by that street`s cats to stalk birds. My neighbor had tried to fill it in, but not well.

With things quietened down, I went in and relaxed, but soon the squawking began again. I went and looked out. There, was my neighbor`s cat from across the street, stretched out leisurely on a tree stump, watching the activity in the yard. I could hear the little ones chirping. Mom and Pop ROBIN were squawking away again. I rushed out and yelled at the cat, whom I have chased many times, until he toddled off down the drive and back to his house. He has been successful at times with birds, and I often chase him from my yard because of the feeders.

It was a busy, but sad day. The birdlings are gone, as are the parents, and all is quiet again. I can watch the small birds at my feeder, but it is not the same with the ROBINS gone. I will have to wait until next year for more such excitement.

NEWBORNS, or NEWLY HATCHED

I have been watching a ROBIN for some days now. She built a nest on the top of my bedroom window. It was a wise choice. The roof overhung the area, protecting the nest from rain--and cats. I noticed the nest at first from the inside of my window, by the trailing fronds of twigs and straw hanging down.

The ROBIN came back regularly and finally stayed, sitting presumably on eggs. I understand the male assists, but I saw that later. She, or he, sat.

Then, one day when she was gone, beaks stuck up from the nest as I looked from the back window. I watched daily as the little ROBINS grew, their beaks open expectantly for their parents to come with food. Usually they settled down inside the nest after they ate. I tried to be as unobtrusive as possible. A few swung their heads my way and watched me.

There were four, one always bigger than the others, and fat like his father ROBIN, I saw him in my garden on the other side of the house, and one day after mother had fed her brood, along flew father ROBIN with food as well. Mom was slimmer. Soon the fat little guy was always standing in the nest. There couldn't be much room for four. I knew they would fledge soon. The other birds grew, but usually hunkered down in the nest. He sat high, or stood.

Surprisingly, there was little noise. It only occurred when Mom and Pop came to the nest, then they all competed for the worms. Guess who got the most. I wanted to watch carefully because of that fat little guy--but I missed it. Circumstances called me elsewhere, and within an hour or so, all of the birds had gone.

I heard a lot of chirping, or cheeping from the next yard, but I could not see them. How deflating. I saw little sign of any young ROBIN, with its spotted breast, as one usually did, pecking away for worms, Mom not far away. No, it was not the case this time. They had all flown up into the trees. When will Mom and Pop teach them to catch worms?

Now, I must look up into the trees in my garden and listen to a baby ROBIN cheep away. That leaves the three neighborhood cats frustrated, myself also for different reasons. I cannot see any sign of my newly hatched fledgling ROBINS.

SPRING IS SPRUNG

"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." Song of Solomon 2:12

Well...not the TURTLE--at least not around here. I saw one at the pond when I used to walk up regularly some years ago--although the point is, SPRING has finally arrived. The past week was cold and rainy, but the last few days have been sunny, not exactly warm. We are promised good days and more heat this coming week.

The BIRDS are off building nests. Above my bedroom window a nest hangs down. The ROBIN parent comes and goes. She saw me today as I shut the window, so I hope I didn't disturb her. That area has been the ROBIN'S territory for some years, but it is the first time a nest has sprung up on top of the window.

An AMERICAN GOLDFINCH and her mate have been active outside my den window on my Chokecherry tree. How drab her coat is. CHIPPING SPARROWS with their red caps find the tree interesting as well, perhaps with the buds coming out. I Saw my first young CEDAR WAXWING, and the CARDINALS are around. My feeders are empty because of the presence of the BLACKBIRDS, so it is pleasant to see different BIRDS flitting about the garden.

The sun shines, a good sign of SPRING, and for the BIRDS, who are more active on sunny days.

Has SPRING sprung in your area?

A SAD TIME FOR US ALL

It is Sad that the BLACKBIRDS have returned to this area. One day last week there was food in my two feeders that my birds were enjoying, and then I saw one or two BLACKBIRDS, whether RUSTY, or BREWERS, they were here too short a time for me to determine. Soon all of the cousins were there as well: the PURPLE GRACKLES, the RED WINGS, the COWBIRDS, and of course, their mates. Always there were only a half-dozen, but in two days, my feeders were stripped bare. Nor are they friendly feeders. Everyone else is pushed out. I especially do not like the COWBIRDS, because I understand they lay their eggs in a small bird's nest. Instinct causes the mom to feed the healthier chick to maintain the species. Ugly, that. I have heard that JAYS do the same thing as well, but have not verified it. It is a Sad time for me because I have determined not to feed BLACKBIRDS.

As I have said before, we are on a flight path for the birds, seeing we are near The River. I used to walk miles up into the woods and saw the BLACKBIRDS, both spring and fall, mass by the thousands in the tops of the tall trees of the woods. In the fall, before they leave, they come down near the river, and mass on the trees here. No, I will not feed them.

Which leaves me with few BIRDS in my garden. The JUNCOS and SPARROWS come scrabbling for what they can find, but the DOVES and JAYS have gone. I hear the CARDINAL'S glorious song, but they only fly through, or sit high up in a tree and sing.

Sad also, is the fact Spring is truly not here. This morning it snowed, not much, but areas a little north of here have quite a bit on the ground, and further west they are grappling with not only snow but floods. We have had mostly rain here. It is cold and dull, with leaden skies--mostly windy.

No, it is a Sad time for us all. When will Spring come?

Ah! I am looking at an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH sitting on my tree outside my window. No doubt he is just passing through, but a good sign, no?

WE ALL REST IN HOPE

Most folk I speak with are hopeful Spring is on its way.

I am unsure what my BIRDS think about all of the NOISE and SEWER WORK going on around here. No doubt THEY feed in the early morning hours when all is quiet and still. I am not up then. I saw a few BIRDS on the weekend when the machines were still and silent. I then had the large feeder re-stocked. When it is nearly empty, a pair of DOVES come, sit, and set up a watch. Hopeful?

I damaged my car by the heavy ruts and large gravel on and around my road as the men worked, AND, they knocked down one of my lovely pine trees. Sigh! I am hopeful the men will soon be finished and gone, and Spring truly on its way. I will be glad when the DYNAMITE blasts are gone as well. After this, the pipes must be laid, the road must be covered....

Spring popped its head out a month ago, then retreated into Rain, Sleet, and more Snow. BUDS are coming out, and BULBS poke their heads up from the ground, but THEY all seem frozen in time. That must be my imagination--or is it hope that things will grow soon.

With such goings on, the GEESE are noticeably absent. They are here, but are playing least in sight. I am in a fly zone. On sunny days I see THEM flying to and from the fields and The River. Surely THEY would hope for quiet days and sunny weather.

Today a TITMOUSE came to my window--in fact, flew against it, as did another. It was unusual, so I got up and watched. The TITMOUSE landed on a branch near the window, and I saw the crest.

Now, there is a Hopeful sigh of Spring!

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT DOGS

Lately, I have been thinking about DOGS. I spoke with a friend yesterday who has been fostering a DOG that was imprinted upon her. Sadly, the rules are that eventually she must give it up to a family. Sadly, not from her point of view, but the DOG'S. The ANIMAL was dreadfully starved for affection because it was one of a litter of PUPPIES abandoned in the woods of winter--the MOTHER and a number of the PUPPIES frozen to death. This, of course, is due to the cruelty of MAN.

I have acquired several older DOGS in my time. They never quite "settle" in. It is as though they cannot forget.

We are given ANIMALS to nurture, feed, and love. When we do, that love comes back to us. I am disgustedly aware of CRUEL MEN--AND WOMEN, who selfishly abandon these ANIMALS for their own twisted reasons. Life is not fair--definitely not fair for some ANIMALS.

I have been thinking about DOGS because I intend to get one again, after a long period of time, and--certainly from an ANIMAL SHELTER.

Look around, people. There are hundreds of abandoned ANIMALS who require love. For all your expense and care, THEY will return you back TENFOLD in LOVE and LOYALTY.

I will try to do my part and get an abandoned DOG from a SHELTER. I am definitely thinking about a DOG.

Are YOU?

THE STORMS OF THIS WORLD

The STORMS we thought would never end have come and gone--in this area. Out west is still struggling. Only last week we glumly shovelled piles of snow. Surprising signs of spring are evident around us.

The BIRDS are busy finding sustenance, and perhaps cowed by the DYNAMITE explosions on the next street. (Sewer and water are going in.) The workers come to my street next week, and if I jump at a DYNAMITE blast from there--what willl it be like just outside my door?

With the devastation in JAPAN, and tremendous loss of life, one's mind cannot help but go to the ANIMALS. Many countries are now assisting the distressed country, and IFAW, (Inernational Fund For Animal Welfare) is on standby--to come when requested. What ANIMALS--let alone people, could have survived such a nightmare? Perhaps more to come. The mind boggles.

Yet here in my small corner, as one looks out and sees the BIRDS flitting about around the feeders, one cannot mind a STORM or two to ruffle all of our feathers.

We must be grateful and do what we can to help--if only to pray for those involved in the larger STORMS of this world.

What was your reaction to the devastation? Some of you are very near.

MY DOVES AND WINTER

This winter a number of MOURNING DOVES have come to my garden. They are fairly regular visitors. After most of the other birds have had their feeding, one, or two of the DOVES sit on the leeward side of the large feeder. Lately, I have seen them tucked into my large pine tree near my living room window--sheltered from the heavy snowfalls. I don't often look out there since I mostly 'live' in my den. Besides, lately frost has covered the lowest part of the panes.

To my surprise, when I watered my plants the other day, my head came down near the pane, and I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. A DOVE head swivelled about as she sat on a (functionless) window box. We both stared each other down. So as not to frighten her, I moved away. I watched her covertly further along the window, and saw her mate with her. He had not seen me. She still looked about. The MOURNING DOVES usually come to the garden in pairs. They mostly vie with the squirrels as ground feeders. Birds attract other birds, so that when the smaller birds, CHICADEES, NUTHATCHES, JUNCOS, as well as CARDINALS and JAYS feed, the gentle doves go to ground. This ground is littered with seeds scattered by these other birds.

I am reminded of DOROTHY PARKER'S comment when she was asked why she called her parrot, ONAN. "Because 'It spilled its seed on the ground.'" She was a marvellous wit, and writer. Onan is Biblical, and you will have to look the story up. (Genesis 38) It is rather indecorous of me to mention it, but it is humorous. Whenever I see scattered seed I think of her comment, and smile. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QI_(BSeries) Look under Birds. How my mind wanders.

The birds have had a rather strange winter, with lots of snow, now rain, but endless wind. Somehow the birds adjust. My DOVES always seem to find a place out of the wind, and I admire them for it.

Winter is gradually fading, but still here, so we, and the birds must make the best of it.