For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Good morning everyone! The second day of December is here, the last month of the year. This year has flown by amazingly fast, even though I don’t get out as much as I used to prior to this pandemic. Actually, I don’t go out much at all, not even walking, since the end of July especially. Yet the time still flies by quickly. I hope that means winter will also go by quickly again like it did last winter. Heavy clouds are out there again today, so it remained dark a lot longer than normal this morning. But I went out at 7:20 anyway, turned the deck light on and brought out the feeders.
I put up the first feeder and heard a noise, there was a chickadee on the feeder already getting a seed. I said good morning and he chirped. Then I was surrounded by several chickadees waiting for me to hang up the feeders. I’m thinking that turning on my deck light is waking up the chickadees. “The light is on guys, wake up, it’s breakfast time!” And they come flying in from across the street. That’s where this early group is from. Actually most of the chickadees come from across the street, but some come, and go, from other directions.
And it wasn’t long before both species of nuthatches also showed up, though the white-breasted nuthatch was first of the two. It was melting quite a bit yesterday as the temperature climbed to 36F (2C), which is not overly warm, but with the wind it helped cut the snow down quite a bit. Now everything is frozen again with a temp of 23F (-5C) this morning, and that’s as warm as it will get today, with colder days ahead. But still not bad for this time of the year.
Well, I was hoping that little redpoll that was here a couple days ago would bring some more with her the next day. It didn’t work out that way and she never returned either. So I only have 6 different species this winter, at least so far anyway. But I am very thankful for all these little birds that come around to brighten up each day. While I was putting the feeders out this morning a small flock of goldeneye ducks flew past heading down to the river for a day of fishing. I wonder how many ducks decided to stay this winter? It’s time for more coffee, also time to put out more peanuts. Thank you for stopping by, have a great day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin. (the top featured image is a raven)
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
Hello Steve, Muffin and friends, thank you for your beautiful views. AmitiΓ©s π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Francefougere and Bonjour! Thank you for coming and for your nice comment, merci! Have a beautiful day!ππΊπββ
LikeLike
Good Morning πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning Dusty!ππββ How’s your day going?π€
LikeLike
Great! Working from home today! I had a sleep doctor appt. This morning so I decided to come back home and finish the day here. How is your day?ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you have a good sleep at the doctor’s?
Colder today and LOTS of ice out there! I used up half my sand today, will need to get some more soon. I nearly killed myself getting the trash to the curb this morning.π² After falling twiceπ²π€ I am very sore and not moving around much.ππ But I’m off to write the start of my next story!π
LikeLike
Try gluing the sand to the bottom of your shoes! It will go farther!!π€£π€£π€£
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only as far as my boots!ππππ
LikeLike
Ya caught that huh??π€£π€£π€£π€£πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
ya huh, shore did!ππππ
LikeLike
I thought it was a pretty good idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kinda goes against the grain though.π€£π€£π€£
LikeLike
Only if you’re wearing wooden shoes!!ππ€π€π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sand has it’s own grains.ππ
LikeLike
Wheat, Oats or Barley?π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can only have oats.π
LikeLike
Definitely not good for traction when wet!!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who cares about traction? It’s delicious for breakfast!π
LikeLike
Rich in fiber!! That’s fir sure!!π€£π€£π€£
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who cares how wealthy it is?π€ It tastes good!π
LikeLike
New dentures would be one thing to care about.π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why do you need dentures to eat oatmeal?π€
LikeLike
Have ever tried chewing Oatmeal with no teeth??π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, you must have hard oatmeal down there. Ours is soft. I don’t even need to chew it with real teeth.
LikeLike
I’ll have to find some Canadian Oatmeal then..πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be easier on your dentures.
LikeLike
Ha!! Don’t have any…ππππ a few crowns but no dentures!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooooh, I didn’t know you were royalty!π
LikeLike
Ah huh…. I didn’t know it either!! Your amazing! How did you know??ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
All those crownsπππ you keep talking about kind of gave it away.π
LikeLike
Oh I suppose sure very logical! You you’re pretty at following g them clues!! Are you sure you’re not a real life PI??π€π€π€π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, you guessed! I’m just a mild mannered writer by day and a sleuth by night!
LikeLike
I knew it!!π€¨π€¨ You are a sneaky character!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A PI has to be tricky, sneaky, underhanded, overhanded, slippery, sly and of course, nice.ππΊ
LikeLike
Yeah… I agree with all if that except the last one!! That not so much in your caseππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yeah? I can be as tricky as anyone!ππ
LikeLike
Now that I am absoposalutely certain of!πππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Of course!! π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Naturally.
Well, time for bed.π₯±
Good night Dusty!πππ΄
More chattering tomorrow!ππ
LikeLike
Good Night π π΄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well ok!! Maybe a little nice!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of nice around here, that’s why I fell!π³
LikeLike
Well that explains it right there!!πππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactomundo!
LikeLike
I could not have said it any better!!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Naturally.π
LikeLike
Try and eat sand for breakfastπ€£π€£π€£π€£
LikeLiked by 1 person
What does it taste like?π€ππ
LikeLike
I don’t know… I’ve never tried it.. I would guess that it’s dry and coarse!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of coarse it is!πππ€£π€£
LikeLike
Like 80 grit course??ππππππ€£π€£π€£π€£
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think I could eat that much!π²
LikeLike
I sure hope not!!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh good, had me worried for a minute.
LikeLike
That was quick! I wish I could do that!π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was in a hurry.ππ
LikeLike
You can be pretty quick when motivated properlyπ€£π€£
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s for sure!πππ
LikeLike
How wad your day?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I thought…and then that…but later…then after that…but before…I don’t want to talk about it.π
LikeLike
Sounds confusing..π that would make for a bad dayπ
LikeLiked by 1 person
My thoughts exactly.π€―π€―π
LikeLike
Well you made it through the day anyway! That’s a goid thing! The falling down part not so much though..π¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m still screaming in pain from that.π²π² Sigh.π³
LikeLike
I can tell!! I thought it was the wind for awhile then I recognized scream!!πππ€£π€£
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ice cream, ice cream!!!πππ
LikeLike
Mmmmmm…..Rocky Roadπππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rock didn’t come along, remember?π€π
LikeLike
Oh yeah… that’s right!! Too much on my mind to remember detailsπ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe you need a hair cut?π€π
LikeLike
I got one of those last weekend.. there’s something this weekend I need to figure out how to mentally deal with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, oh, those are tough.
LikeLike
Yeah… yeah they are…π
LikeLiked by 1 person
π³π¬ππ
LikeLike
Yeah, I’m just not sure how to feel about it…π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning Dusty!πβββ
LikeLike
Good Morning
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, where is that big smile?π€π€¨
LikeLike
I forgot to brush my teeth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here, have a fresh out of the oven coffee cup cake! That will put a smile on you in a hurry!π§π
LikeLike
Gonna take more than a cupcake
LikeLiked by 1 person
ππ
LikeLike
It may be a few days before I feel much like eating anything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be offline for a while I drive home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you make it home yet?π€π
LikeLike
Yep
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh good, had me worried there for a minute.π
LikeLike
I don’t know why you would be….. I’m good at getting home on my own.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s why I only worried for a minute.ππ
LikeLike
Oh good!! For a minute I thought someone caredπ€£π€£π€£π€£
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I did, but I was busy today so could only spare a minute.πππ
LikeLike
That’s all I ever need anyway
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, me too.π
LikeLike
No need to worry now
LikeLiked by 1 person
How did you do that when I hadn’t answered your first comment yet?π€π³
LikeLike
Magic
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing!π²
LikeLike
Yeah, it’s amazing what someone can do….. especially me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will agree with that!π I think.π€π
LikeLike
Careful…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who, me?π³π
LikeLike
Yeah, I know…
LikeLiked by 1 person
ππππ
LikeLike
Muffin got your tongue again huh?πΉπΉ
LikeLiked by 1 person
She isn’t that hungry!ππ
LikeLike
Lucky for you!!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Speaking of Muffin, she told me 2 weeks ago that my eczema would break out on the back of my hand, and it did so this week. She has done that many times over the years and has never been wrong!π³πΈ
LikeLike
Too much stress from all the reorganizing do you think?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t really know, something triggers it at times but I have never been able to point out what exactly does it.
LikeLike
Yeah, me either… I think it just comes and goes without any triggers… just me though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apparently there are things that can trigger it, but it’s different from person to person. I know mine is always worse in the fall and winter.
LikeLike
Yep, mine too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry.. too much.π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Speaking of too much, I have had muscle spasms in my back for 3 hours now. Hope they stop before I go to bed.π³
LikeLike
I hope so too! Those are miserable to deal withπ£π£
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, and oddly enough my RLS started up at about the same time and is now getting worse. Sigh.π³π
LikeLike
I’m sorry about that. The only thing that settles it down for me is the Oxycidone..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I use Pramipexole, and it does work most of the time, but sometimes it just gets so bad that nothing helps. I need to talk to my doctor about it again because it has been worse than normal since Sept.
LikeLike
Can you build a tolerance to it. I mean is it like Opiods where after a while you need to take more to fit the same help?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not suppose to work that way with this stuff, but who knows?
LikeLike
Good question to ask. Part of mine is neuropathy from the nerve compression in my back before the spinal fusion. Never going to go away..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, same here, it’s due to my scoliosis which causes a lot of pressure on my nerves.
LikeLike
Oh man that is hard to deal with… Falling down isn’t good for it either.π¬π¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of the reasons I’m not supposed to fall.π³π¬
LikeLike
I’m surprised they don’t have you in a brace of some kind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Every surgeon I talked to said it would be useless for me. I tend to agree, it would make life a lot harder than it is now. My spine is now curved at 80 degrees.
LikeLike
Whoa!! That’s gotta make it tough to do anything.π¬π¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, it does, and it’s getting harder all the time. I think there is going to be a lot of changes coming up next year for me. Which is why I want to get back to walking down to the river while I still can. I’m hoping to get at least one more summer walking down there.
LikeLike
You have the determination to accomplish it so you can get it done.π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure going to try! Thanks!
LikeLike
Anytime π
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLike
Good Morning
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning Dusty!ππ
LikeLike
Good Morning π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Im Walking right now. Can I reply in 15 minutes?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I probably won’t be around for another hour, maybe less.π
LikeLike
Okay, let me know when you’re free
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m finally back. My laptop needed to do an update, actually 3, apparently one didn’t want to work, so the other two couldn’t update. It took all afternoon to get that sorted out. Hopefully things will work better now.
LikeLike
Glad to hear you got to take! I thought maybe your clock battery was getting and your clock was running slow ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope, but my personal battery was running fast…with frustration!ππΉ
LikeLike
I can imagine..π I’ve had that problem before also.
Glad it’s working thoughππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it seems to be working good now, it was having troubles the last couple of days.π³π€π
LikeLike
For some reason mine will have the software for the LAN get corrupted..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm, never had that problem before. Today it gave me notice that my laptop is compatible to upgrade to Windows 11, but I’m not sure I want to do that just yet. It’s a lot different and some of my apps may not work on it.ππ
LikeLike
Yep, they sent that to me also, I didn’t do either.. maybe if I keep having Lan problems.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m back, I’m back, don’t go away!
I will probably upgrade after a while, but I don’t like to be too early with it.
LikeLike
Don’t worry π I’m not going anywhere
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just had to finish the dishes and feed Muffin.ππΉ
LikeLike
Both important to get done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, Muffin is anyway. But there wasn’t much dishes left and I had quite a stack there today!
LikeLike
I’m sure it feels good to have them done anyway
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, it was looking bad on the counter and sink with that mountain of dishes!ππ
LikeLike
I’ve had that scene in my very own kitchen!!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, it happens on occasion with me, just don’t know why I do it.π€π³ππ
LikeLike
Cuz it feels right at the time!!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, that’s it. And I get sore and tired by the end of the day and so I decide to wait “until tomorrow”.ππ
LikeLike
Yepperdidleydo!!!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yowerhipplyhooey!πππΉπΉ
LikeLike
Been practicing huh?π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, it’s in the dictionary.π
LikeLike
I’m afraid to ask what it actually meansπ¬π¬π¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
It means “overly happy”.π€πππ
LikeLike
It’s about the same amount of letters… I’m glad you’re overly happy π ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course it depends on the context. It can also mean “I have a terribly sore foot because my cat just bit me”. Context is everything.π€πππππΉπΉπΉ
LikeLike
So it’s more a universal word depending the situationπ€π€ good to know! I need one of those!!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are handy words to know.ππ
LikeLike
No doubt!!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, I like em!
LikeLike
I got my complete walk in today… it was very therapeutic.. although my legs are aching a little. Sorry I couldn’t type and walk when you were available. My fingers just get too cold. Not enough heat in them to type on my phone..
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s understandable, I would be the same way. But I would be wearing gloves which would make it even harder!ππ
LikeLike
I did wear them.. I also wore my stocking cap! No sinus headache tonight ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aha! See? It works! I’m not so dumb like I look!ππ
LikeLike
Yeah, well I did with my hat hair afterwards!!πππ it’s supposed to be a high of 10 degrees here on Monday!!π₯Άπ₯Άπ₯Ά I can’t wait to get out of here!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, you’re going to have it mild. Here on Monday it’s supposed to be a high of -8F!π₯Άπ₯Άπ₯Ά
LikeLike
I’ll breakout the sunscreen!!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good idea! It is supposed to be sunny. I better bring out my sun umbrella!πππππβ
LikeLike
You better stay inside and keep warm!!πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
No choice on that one. By the time I got dressed warm enough to go out I would be too tired to go out!π€£π€£
LikeLike
That’s a good thing!!π€¨ππ
LikeLike
The last time I wanted to go out in the cold, by the time I finished getting dressed my arms were sticking straight out and I couldn’t get through the door!π€£π€£
LikeLike
Uh huh… I’ll call you Mr. Helicopter π ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
The biggest problem comes when you fall down and can’t get up again!ππ
LikeLike
I can do that and even be all dressed up to go outside!ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just think, soon you will be lazing by the pool under the hot tropical sun, beneath the palm trees!π΄π΄ While I turn into a frozen ice statue!π₯Άπ
Good night Dusty!ππ΄
Talk tomorrow!π
LikeLike
I hope it’s warm enough to do all that!ππ
A Stevecicyle huh?? You might be onto something there!! π€ ππ
Good Night! π΄π΄ π π π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good Morning ice statue Steve π₯Άπ₯Άπ€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning Dusty in the afternoon!ππ
LikeLike
Other than computer issues how was your day?
LikeLiked by 1 person
A little busier than I planned. Saw my new landlord today, he was showing the house to a couple who want to buy it. He hasn’t even bought it himself yet.
LikeLike
LOL thats crazy π€ͺ how can that be?π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have no idea. Unless he’s getting such a good deal that he can make a profit on it right away.π€π
LikeLike
That would be the only way. Huh, that’s gotta be kinda scary again..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, I just don’t know what is going on anymore.π³
LikeLike
That happens… just keep the faith..π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing else to do. I told my present landlord to either get a lawyer to do this transaction or don’t sign any papers until she has the money sitting in her bank account!
LikeLike
Excellant advice! That whole double sale thing just sounds fishy π π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, that did sound odd. Last night I heard a banging outside around 2am. The basement door was open at my landlord’s house. I figured she went out that door and forgot to lock it. It was so windy that it kept banging so I had to go close it and put something in front of the door so it wouldn’t blow open again. If it’s not locked on the inside it won’t stay closed and I didn’t want to go in the house that time of night, might have been someone in there.
LikeLike
Wise choice… ya never know.. not worth the risk for you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, exactly, we have had people walking around out here at night before.
LikeLike
Be sure you have some kind of tool for protection if you ever have to do it again!!π¬
LikeLiked by 1 person
I carry my little “persuader” with me. Although if the other guy had a gun it wouldn’t help me much. But if he doesn’t they will be carrying him away. Though I would have to try and hit him nicely so I don’t hurt him too much.
LikeLike
LOL π π hurt him nicely!π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not a good choice either way!! But you have to defend yourself!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, so I ask him to stand still so I can hit him nicely!πππ€£π€£
LikeLike
Do you have a busy weekend planned?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not really. But I am determined to finally get things finished in here and back to looking normal again. Really isn’t that much left to do so I want to get it done. Plus laundry tomorrow. And I want to do some extra writing as well.
LikeLike
Well take it slow and pace yourself..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I usually try, but it never seems to work. Sigh.ππ
LikeLike
I know… for me tooo… tomorrow impatient ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry spell check again it was supposed to be”to”
LikeLiked by 1 person
to or tooo, as long as the train is on time!
LikeLike
Tomorrow I think π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right now I think! Must go, just can’t sit any longer, time for bed.
Good night Dusty!πππ΄
Talk tomorrow!π
LikeLike
Good Night!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did it again!! Tooooo
LikeLiked by 1 person
train’s getting closer!
LikeLike
Is that what it is??π€π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep!
LikeLike
Good to know! Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most definitatively!
LikeLike
Yes I had a great sleep there.. she said I’m doing great and things will keep getting better over approximately the next 5 weeks…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Certainly nothing wrong with that!
LikeLike
Your feathered friends were glad to see you (and your seeds and nuts).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not so sure they are so excited to see me as they are the food! But it’s still nice.ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLiked by 1 person
How sweet the chickadees are ! Your bird photos are lovely ! βοΈβοΈππ»π On with your next investigation !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! Yes, the next story has begun and is now available to read!ππ±ββοΈπΊπΊπ±ββοΈπ©π΅οΈββοΈ
LikeLike
sounds like you’ve got those birds trained like Pavlov’s dogs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are they trained, or am I?π€π
LikeLiked by 1 person
it is hard to tell sometimes, isn’t it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, it sure is!
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Greetings Steve and Muffin! I am always amazed with the variety of birds who visit your diner on the porch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good evening Richard! Well, it’s a combination of good food and good service!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A winning combination indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
ππΊπββ
LikeLiked by 1 person