Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
End Of Another Week. Thankfully.
A big hello to all of you on this, well, cool, Friday! And I mean cool, as in cold, cool. Sigh. Well, we didn’t get too much snow anyway. That was nice. But now there is nothing but ice everywhere because it turned cold again after our nice days of melting weather. And I had another flying lesson. But this time it was due to ice, not my deck. And even though I spent the rest of the day with extra back pain, I could still think of what it must look like. Arms and legs flapping away in the air. The look of terror on my face.
My eyes popping out as I connect with the ground. I mean, it must look terribly funny. And as I think about that, it just gets me laughing out loud. And when I get laughing, it’s hard to stop! Of course, that does tend to make the pain worse. But then I think about it more. And I laugh more. But hey, laughing is a lot more fun than crying!
My readers…
Are a great bunch! I was talking with one of my readers this morning and she was telling me how much she enjoyed my animal photos. What a great way to start the day! And I will admit, up to that point, my day was not going so well. And it wasn’t even 8 am yet. Happens sometimes. But that made my day anyway! Thank you so much!
And thank you to all of you that have followed my blog, with some new people joining in this week again! I know my blog is a bit different than most, I kind of jump around a lot with what I talk about. Sometimes in the same post. And my grammar is terrible. My sentences are weird. And short. Sometimes. And can be very long sometimes. I managed to do a thousand words in just 3 sentences once. Don’t worry. I probably won’t do that again. Just wanted to see if I could.
One photo…
I’m showing today is something I have had a hard time getting. It’s an immature male pine grosbeak that is just starting to get his red color and so still has the juvenile look. Not an easy pic to get. At least for me. I’m sure someone with more experience could get a pic easier. But this is me we’re talking about.
Plus…
Some photos from last spring. I just needed to think more of spring. Especially since it doesn’t look much like spring out there. It has been a long winter. Very long. I’m looking forward to my chipmunks coming back. I hope they will be coming back. Some of them should for sure. But Skamper is getting old. For a chipmunk. He’s my friendliest chipmunk and enjoys digging in my pockets for his peanuts. Chester will do that too sometimes.
Simple country pleasures…
That’s what chipmunks are for me. So are the many birds that come around. The chickadees that sit on my hand. The pine siskins that like to sit on my head. One did that again today. Just sitting on my deck on a warm sunny spring afternoon. The sight of that fresh green leafy buds coming out on the trees, sparkling in the sunlight like little emeralds. Rusty, another chipmunk, sitting on my leg picking up his peanuts from the cup I keep them in. And, of course, there is Sir George when he comes back in the spring. His brilliant white plumage absolutely glows in the sun. Listening to the first robin of the spring singing joyfully from the ash trees.
Also the first junco returning in the spring, signalling that the warm weather is here to stay. Usually. Watching as the bald eagles come soaring in on their day in March. Should be soon. We do have them around all winter, but only a few. Usually on one day they come back by the dozens. A sunny day with a good south wind. A beautiful sight. Just a few of my favorite spring country pleasures.
Hot pots…
I learned something today. After boiling my veggies and transferring them to my plate, I put the pot back on the stove. Well, that was the idea. I picked it up by the handle, good so far, then grabbed the pot with my other hand. Why? Who knows? It’s me we’re talking about. I don’t really need a reason to do something stupid. Comes naturally. Anyway, it was rather hot. Naturally. So I dropped it. Naturally. And it splattered hot water all over the place. Including on me. So I started jumping around. Naturally. If you have read Muffin’s Mewsings you might recall she refers to this jumping as my happy dance. Well, there is really nothing happy about it. Honest. Now, there is a lot of floor space for the pot to land on. Okay, there is some floor space for it to land on. Does it? No. Lands on my toe. Sigh. Sore hand, sore toe. At least I didn’t hit my head. That’s something. I think. Sometimes. But not too often. Gives me a headache.
Guess I better stop. Weekend is coming, half over for some of you, but whatever you have left I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for reading and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
© 2019 Steve McLeod
Wednesday Wanderings…Spring Cleaning
Hello everyone on this very beautiful early spring day! I’m not saying that spring is early. Just that it’s early in the spring. Actually I’m not so sure that spring has really arrived just yet, but it is very nice, the snow is melting for the second day, and it didn’t even freeze overnight. Not bad. It’s possible to see a difference in the snow level too.
Although that might be hopefulness on my part. But there is a difference in some areas. There is lots of water around. So nice to see after such a long winter.
Winter…
Isn’t quite finished yet however. Another snowstorm is on the way tonight and tomorrow. Sigh. I know it will stop at some point. But when? I’m really looking forward to seeing green outside again. And warm weather. And Muffin. Hey, where did she come from? She likes attention sometimes. And sometimes those sometimes are odd times sometimes. Sometimes anyway. Poor Muffin. It’s spring. She knows it’s warmer outside. She wants that door open. She likes to sit by the screen door and sniff that fresh air. I don’t blame her for that. But…it’s still a bit too cool to have that door open. She doesn’t understand that. Poor Steve. Muffin doesn’t believe me.
And she looks at my feet. I don’t like the way she looks at my feet. If you have been reading my blog for a while you already know what that means. If not, well, it isn’t pleasant. It means me running for the bandages. Or make sure I have my slippers on. But they don’t protect my ankles. Sigh. Early spring can be dangerous.
Spring cleaning…
Time is here again. Sort of. I decided to attack that old kitchen cabinet I have. It sits about 4 inches off the floor. And that means it can get a bit dusty underneath. It’s also a good place for those huge spiders to live. I don’t like spiders. But there is normal spiders. And there is these huge monster spiders that are big enough to carry a mouse away. They are even too fast for Muffin to catch. I’m talking spiders that are 4 inches across, or more. That is just too big for me. So spring cleaning needs to start early so these creatures won’t be active. Hopefully.
But…
I don’t want to just put my hand under there. However, I can’t see under there neither. Unless I lay flat on the floor and look. I don’t really like that idea neither. Coming face to face with something like that is not what I want to do. Especially since I can’t get up fast enough. Of course, in a situation like that I just might be able to. Sigh.
Down I go…
With undoubtedly a look of terror on my face. I had to move a few things so I would have enough room. I had my nice bright flashlight ready. There I am, on the floor. I move carefully over closer to the cabinet. Flashlight on. Large stick ready. Rats. Forgot my cleaning supplies. I get up. Get supplies. Down again. Flashlight on. What a scary mess. I couldn’t see any spiders. But I couldn’t see the whole area under there. Oh well, here goes. AAAAAAAAAA!!!!! Muffin just climbed up onto my back. That wasn’t nice. I was nervous enough. She is sitting on my back. She seems to like doing that when I’m on the floor. I put my hand under, reaching all the way. Just dust. Thankfully. Muffin is lying down. I can’t get up. With my back this is not a good position to be in. And I can’t reach Muffin to push her off.
Muffin…
Must have gotten bored. She left voluntarily. Amazing. Now, however, I am getting rather sore lying down here. Which didn’t make it any easier getting up. Sigh. Whack. My head. How did I do that? Well, it’s easy for me I guess.
That’s enough for day 1. Next comes the hard room. My bedroom. Especially cleaning under the bed. My bedroom is rather small. And very full. Not exactly a lot of space to move around. But I have to get it done this month. Before spider season. Sigh.
Well, I hope you all enjoy the next few days and I hope there is no snow in your forecast. So, good bye for now and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
© 2019 Steve McLeod
Steve`s Country 