Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
They’re Back! Pleasures…Part 2.
Hello again everyone and welcome to part 2 of our look at “pleasures” that abound around us. And if we take the time to look at these “pleasures”, it will be a real blessing to us. They may not be the same as the ones that I am sharing with you, but I know you can find some no matter where you live, just look around you. One of my favorite little birds has also shown up now, and that is a “dark-eyed junco”. They are a very friendly little bird and just make a small ‘chipping’ sound, or an extended ‘trill’ song. Not a real melodic type of song, but nonetheless such a nice sound to hear in early spring.
A little chickadee sitting on my hand, that is a real pleasure indeed. I have had many different birds sit on my hand, but unfortunately not many pictures of them. But it’s always a joy and a real “pleasure”.
And then there is having a little chipmunk sitting on my knee filling his cheeks with his prized peanuts which I give him abundantly each summer. Actually, several chipmunks get this treatment. And I always get great joy out of having them show their trust in me. They will go into my pockets, crawl under my jacket, sit on my hand, and they actually can get quite excited to see me. Skamper especially will come running over to me and jump from the deck onto my hand. That’s a real “pleasure”.
The white-throated sparrow is another of our earlier bird arrivals and a very beautiful little bird. They haven’t come back yet however, at least not here. There was some evening grosbeaks here this morning though and that was a real “pleasure” as well. Just seeing their bright colors is a real joy. There was 2 male red-breasted nuthatches out here this morning doing their best to get the attention of a female. She was more interested in getting some sunflower seeds to eat however. But that didn’t deter them from trying, flying all around her, fluffing up their feathers. It was such fun to watch them. Another of those real “pleasures”.
Just having a beautiful sunny day is a real “pleasure” as well. The sun brings such warmth and joy with it. For us it means the snow melts even faster and warming up the ground that is now showing so much in places. It won’t be long now and the snow will be gone completely. And sitting on the deck in the sun enjoying all this beauty around is also a real “pleasure” right now. I don’t have a yard of my own here at this apartment, except a small patch of grass about 8 by 12 feet that I walk on from the driveway to my deck. Soon the beauty of bright flowers will begin to show, another “pleasure”.
And there is my river path that will soon be free of snow and ice so I can once again use that for some exercise and enjoyment. That is a real “pleasure” for sure. And something I have not been able to do since my accident on Oct. 3 last year. But I think my leg is ready to handle the walk now, though probably not the entire walk just yet. Walking through the forest, enjoying the trees, and soon some mushrooms, more “pleasures”.
But “pleasures” come in different ways, like Muffin, she is a big pleasure for me. Right now she is enjoying some sunshine by the door. This morning we enjoyed a great play time with her fuzz ball.
Family can be a great pleasure for those of you who have families. Your home, apartment, house, flat, wherever you live is a real pleasure. Flowers are a definite pleasure. Just look around and I’m sure you can find so many “pleasures” to enjoy. This got a little longer than I expected, sorry about that. I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday, the week ahead as well, and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
© 2020 Steve McLeod.
They’re Back! Pleasures…Part 1.
Good morning once again everyone! This promises to be another beautiful day with abundant sunshine. And…Sir George and his mate Lady Pearly returned yesterday morning. I looked out my window and Sir George was sitting on top of his pole looking around. So I went out with food for him and that’s when I noticed that Lady Pearl was also here, sitting on the roof. So I put the food on the feeder and just barely stepped back when Sir George came down, so I stood there talking with him for a bit. Then he filled up with some food while Lady Pearl looked on, not quite sure if she should come down. She did decide to come down at a different time, along with Sir George.
To back up briefly, I cut up a wiener for them, 12 pieces, and Sir George picked up 8 and flew up to the roof, bowed to Lady Pearl and then fed the pieces to her which she accepted, meaning that she once again accepts him as her mate. A ritual performed each year. They are one of those birds that “mate for life”, a term that means staying together until one mate dies, then they will pick a new mate. So nice to watch them go through this ritual each year. This is one of those “pleasures” that I like to talk about at times.
This is probably a good time to stop and take a look at all the amazing “pleasures” that we can find around us. It’s a good idea at any time, but when stressful times really come along as right now with this Covid-19, then it’s good to remind ourselves of all the pleasures that abound around us. This will help give us a much brighter outlook on things and help us day by day, if we will allow it too. Like the beauty of this flower below, a definite “pleasure”.
We get thousands of gulls back each spring and they are here right now. I was on the deck last evening and the gulls were flying around, some low, some high, I am sure probably 2 or 3 thousand just in the area I could see and all of them squawking away having a great time. A lot of people hate those noisy gulls, but for me it is such a wonderful time, letting me know that spring has come once again. The clouds of a cold, long winter have been put behind and the sunshine of spring returns. I wish I could have gotten a picture of these gulls, but it was getting late and not much light left in the sky. But it was another “pleasure” for me.
And then yesterday morning I could hear the chirping of a robin but couldn’t see it right then. But a little later, there he was, sitting in the birch tree behind my apartment, singing so beautifully as he warmed himself in the sun. And I got a pic, but unfortunately not while he was in the sun, but later in the day once the sun had set. But it still turned out rather well. Robins are another bird that really signals spring for us here in the north and another real “pleasure” to enjoy, both by sight and song.
I am going to stop it right here for now, but there will be a part 2 coming up a little later. I hope you will come back for more “pleasures” to be shared at that time. Until then, I hope you have a beautiful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
© 2020 Steve McLeod.
