Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
It’s Coffee Time #92. Spring Returns but…
Good morning everyone! Help yourself to a cup of coffee and relax with us! Well, it actually didn’t freeze last night which is nice and it continues to be very windy from the south. But the forecast was a bit wrong, it was supposed to be sunny today, looks cloudy to me. Still, the sun keeps shining no matter what, really it always shines, we just don’t always see it. I was expecting to see or hear some more spring birds this morning, but still nothing. That’s kind of odd, we should be seeing them by now, perhaps later today. Freddie (squirrel) comes around more now and he has encountered my chipmunks.
He spotted one yesterday and the chase was on! It was Pocket he was chasing, so Pocket went behind a box quickly and Freddie trying to do so kind of slipped and slammed into a post. He came back shaking his head. One for the chipmunks. Then a little while later Skamper showed up and Freddie went after him. Skamper jumped off the deck, followed by Freddie who landed on a couple of stiff raspberry plants and they kind of flipped him over onto his back. Freddie returned, scratching and shaking his head. That’s two for the chipmunks. Freddie grabs a peanut and leaves. A short time later Jasper shows up so I sit and talk with him. “How’s your day?” Loud chip. “Oh, sorry I asked. I see Freddie comes around more.” Chip. “Oh, you decided to let him come sometimes. Good choice, he’s tough.”
Loud chip. “Oh, yes, you are tougher.” So I told Jasper about Freddie and the chipmunks. Several chips in a row. I almost got the impression he was laughing. “You should make peace with the chipmunks and let them deal with Freddie.” Jasper looks at me. Chip. “Oh, it would make you look bad with the other squirrels because squirrels are supposed to chase chipmunks.” Chip. “Yes, I realize the other squirrels are already giving you a hard time lately. But do you really want to fight 3 squirrels and 5 chipmunks?” He looks at me. Loud chip. “Yes, there’s Pocket, Chester, Skamper, Skitter and Coffee, although I haven’t seen Coffee for a while now.” Chip. “Time to leave? Here, take a big peanut with you.” Chip. “You’re welcome.” And off he goes through the trees and back to his home. He certainly lives a long ways off, so strange. I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve’s Bird Of The Day #45.
Hi everyone, today we have a little bird to show you, the “brown creeper”. This little bird breeds right across Canada and down into the U.S. and a little up into Alaska. They prefer areas with large mature trees and are quite unique in their feeding. The start at the base of a tree and work their way up the tree by spiraling around the trunk, then it flies down to the base of another tree to start over. It always moves up a tree. Because they blend in quite well with their favorite trees, they are often heard more than seen. The female builds the nest and the male brings the nest material to her. And he often sits close by singing while she builds. The female usually lays 4-5 eggs and the young leave the nest about 20 days after hatching. They don’t migrate far for the winter and even here they often stay all winter. There was at least one that stayed here this winter down close to the river. Insects make up nearly their entire diet year round as many insects hide behind the bark of trees in winter. I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
