Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Daily Pics #219.
Good morning once again to all of you! It is a fabulous morning here, mild, with the sun shining so beautifully. The sky is such a deep, rich blue this morning. The tall ash trees in the neighbors yard are swaying gently against that blue background, it looks like thousands of emeralds glistening in the sun. Summer mornings. Such a beautiful time. Sitting on the deck with my morning coffee watching the goldfinches at the feeder with their young ones and the purple finch family at the other feeder. The hummingbirds join in showing up at their feeder periodically. There are at least 2 males and 3 females, though I’m sure there is likely more, but that is what I have seen all at once. Though no more than 2 actually are at the feeder at any one time. Any more than that and, um, some discussions arise.
I often wonder how people get pictures of 5 or 6 of these hummingbirds at a feeder all at the same time. I have never had that happen, usually only one gets on there at a time or fighting erupts. Or should I say, discussions erupt. A family of white throated sparrows are around daily now and the male sings his beautiful song every morning and evening. There isn’t much singing anymore among the birds, not even the robins sing much now. When I go for my walk it is silent. Two weeks ago it was alive with smaller birds, mostly warblers, singing all along the path. Now those birds are gone. Packed up and headed south. But the chickadees and nuthatches have flocked together, so they are usually around somewhere along the path, but not the large numbers that were around last year at this time. There are some flocks of sparrows too, they should be around for a while yet, but they are not singing, just little chirps here and there. And some days there is not a sound of a bird back there. Seems so strange.
Summer mornings. Coming to an end. For our pictures today are two flowers, same type just different colors, but I do not know the names of them. They are odd looking flowers, I call them alien flowers due to all the antennae sticking out in every direction. But they are interesting flowers, if you know the name please let me know. I hope you all have a beautiful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
Coffee With Our Friends! #8.
Hi everyone on this beautiful sunny day! It feels like such a long time since we got together for coffee, and that’s because it has been a long time. Three weeks to be exact. I’m not sure what happened there, except perhaps my brain wasn’t working. Oh my, good thing Muffin reminded me, she missed getting together with everyone and so did I for that matter. And today we have a nice spot to visit which is right on the shore of our big lake and in a nice sheltered bay. There is a nice sandy beach to use, though you might have to share it with the geese.
Part of the beach is sheltered from the sun and there is a nice gazebo to sit in to stay out of the sun as well. Plus we have some nice big beach umbrellas to use and blankets to sit or lie on. There is a large grassy area as well and even a play structure for younger kids. There is a few picnic tables to use as well. This is part of a larger park and campground and there is just a very short walk in from the parking area. Hi Renee and Tiffany! Glad that you both could make it today. Hi Sheree, wow, Muffin went straight for you, guess you have a good friend there now. Hi Sharon, Lydia, Eshal and Maryam, glad you could all make it out today. Hi Suni, Dee, how are you both today?
There is lots of coffee as usual, plus tea, herbal tea, regular lemonade and pink lemonade. Hi Eugenia and Callie, I see Muffin is already showing Callie around the area. Hi Correne and Teddy, there he goes to join to join Muffin and Callie. Here is Nina and Mr. Cat and…wow, Muffin tackled him and the chase is on! Hi Rossana and Mila! So nice you could join us again and Muffin is already showing Mila around. Looks like all the cats are on their blanket waiting for their goodies, guess I better get them over there! Just help yourselves everyone! Over there at the end of the path is a nice long dock to check out if you like walking on the water. It’s one of those floating docks so it moves a little bit when you walk on it. Oh, look here, beside the dock are some more of our geese friends enjoying the shade.
There isn’t a lot of wildflowers in this park, there is a lot more people traffic here and people like to pick the flowers. But there is a couple “pearly everlastings” over here by the lake. And across the grassy area by that rocky spot are some “harebells” still blooming. This is about the end of the season for them. There is some beautiful scenery here though so it makes a great little spot for coffee or a picnic with family or friends.
It really is quite nice today with a temp of 25C (77F), not much wind and beautiful sunshine. It certainly feels warmer sitting here in the sun. A white throated sparrow is singing over there in that bush and a song sparrow is further over by the lake. And there is a blue jay calling from that birch tree over by the little rock hill. The cats are really enjoying themselves now playing fuzzball. Oh, and look over by those bushes, a deer eating some leaves not paying any attention to us. Time to try for a closer picture, there, I got one. A nice ending to our coffee time today. I really hope you have all enjoyed getting together again. Until next time, I hope you have a wonderful week and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2020 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 