My Little Chickadee

Yesterday was momentous, to say the least, wasn't it folks!? We are elated to say the least. Remember, there's more about that here if you're looking for the politics.

Another happy event is the little birdie's have taken over our yard this year. Our large Southern Cedars produced so many berries that we have more than enough for the migrating Cedar Waxwings and Robins.

The year-round resident Chickadees are having a feast too. They had been sharing the thistle seeds we put out with the Gold Finches but now they are dining on the Sycamore tree seeds. One Chickadee got carried away and flew into our 6' x 6' plane glass windows. Hubby and I rushed outside and began reviving the little guy.


Come on little fellow,
you can make it!
Isn't he pretty?

After a few moments of cradling and gentle caressing (and me whispering a prayer), he flew off into the Confederate Jasmine along the front walk. That made me feel so good to see the little guy make it. I love our big picture windows but they are deadly for the birds.


Cleared For Take Off!


Hummingbird Nest
Oh, and a few days ago, while strolling around the property, I found my first Hummingbird nest! This one is nestled almost at the very top in the other Sycramore down by the gate. I have a habit of looking up into the trees each day to see who's visiting, and lo and behold there was an abandoned nest. I was so thrilled! The hummingbird's we have here every year are Ruby Throated Hummingbirds.

I hope y'all have an exciting and happy day too! Thanks for stopping by.

Oh Deer!

Our feeder has been attracting some interesting nocturnal visitors. It's mostly been 'coons but we've had a few rabbits and possums.


"Maybe if I shake this thing
it'll give me more."
During the day the squirrels have a free feast too. The woodland floor is littered with the little shaky tailed critters. However, finally, a few nights ago, deer have been approaching the feeder.

Take a load at this nice looking 6 point.


"Did you get my good side?"
There is also a 4 point and several does with yearlings. Of course, this is all just in time for the end of hunting season. [sigh] Oh well. We both just enjoy looking at our woodland critters anyway.

I would like to construct a tower stand near the feeder just for viewing. It could also double as our observation post for our amateur astronomy. Many of our neighbors have made it a point not to add to already too much light pollution in our country, so, our area stays wonderfully dark.

I sure appreciate living here.

Southeast Georgia Fall Flowers

Fall. Autumn. Harvest time.

I think it's time for a walk in the country.

We both love this time of year: the cool crisp mornings, the azure blue skies. Southeast Georgia' Fall flowers are waking up from their long summer nap. Their little faces are smiling at the sun and waving in the wind to passersby.

When the wind slowed down, I got a few of them to pose for my friends.

Enjoy!

(click photos to enlarge in new window)

Beauty Berry

Blazing Star

Cotton Flower

Cotton Field

Cypress Vine Morning Glory

Meadow Beauty

Wild Mint

Pitcher Plant

Unknown

Red Morning Glory Vine

Sulphur Butterfly
amoungst the morning glory

Unknown

Unknown

Wild Poinsettia
Not as pretty as the domestic,
but not without it's own charm.

Our Day In Pictures

We lost another giant pine tree to lightning. So, I snapped a few photos of "our tree guy" taking care of the problem of a deadly monster on the driveway. One wouldn't think it to look at them, but dead trees can be deadly. We've personally known of too many instances where people were killed by falling trees, especially in heavy winds.

So ...

The tree had to go!

"'Bye, 'bye savings!" (me waving to the money I'd saved from not eating out for one month). Aw well.

At least the Stock Market has been up this past week, inspite of congress and the Magic Kenyan trying to wreck it.

Good Stock Market = Happy Face!

Here's some photos:

Tony Hudson, Tree Monkey


Topping the tree ... "Watch out below!!"


A neighbor stopped by to say hello and be nosy ... [wink]


Kablooey!!
Please tell me that's not my pretty driveway reflectors under there?!? [groan]


Hubby oiling the chain on his Triumph.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope y'alls day was cheaper than mine. [sigh]

Don't Tread On Me Postcard

Don't Tread On Me
“In my weak judgment, a government is strong when it applies to the most important end of all governments – the rights and privileges of the people.”
-- Patrick Henry

These postcards are new and are available through an Internet company called Zazzle. They are also fighting for our 10th Amendment rights (States rights).

Rattle Snake
And kinda on the same subject, a real "don't tread on me" wandered into our country backyard a day or two ago. I was mowing and luckily missed the visitor with my multiple cutting blades. Being good stewards of the land, we didn't kill it, but shooed this little bad boy into the neighboring woods. Pretty, isn't he? He had just shed his skin and was all shiny.



Join us every Friday for Postcard Friendship Friday hosted as always by the lovely and gracious Marie at Viola! Vintage Postcards. Everyone, even snakes, are welcome.

I'm Just Wild About Wildflowers

High Power Lines
Hubby and I went for a little drive close to the house late last week. We were suffering from a severe case of cabin fever from all the rain (but I didn't shoot 6 holes in it ala Jimmy Buffet song). I figured with all this moisture there had to be wildflowers worth photographing. Thank goodness we have a Jeep! Our poor clay dirt road is a bit messy now.

We also rescued a water turtle from the road on Sunday. Poor thing was covered with mosquitoes and nearly got run over. Hubby put him in a pond close by but away from traffic.

Well, without any further ado, here's some local wildflower photos.


Butterfly weed with a Hoverfly
Butterfly weed is a prolific spring wildflower in Southeast Georgia. Yep. The butterflies love it! This one had a Hoverfly (Syrphidae) paying a visit. Hoverfly's are non-stinging and are very beneficial. They eat primarily Aphids. You'll usually see them 'hovering' very close to the ground in groups.


European Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
The Elderberry is not only a lovely addition to the spring wildflowers, but the berries are used to make [hic] Elderberry Wine. Don't worry Pappy, we're not selling it. "So, don't send 'dem revenuers around here! There's nothing to see behind that barn ..." [hic]

It's not advisable to eat the berries raw. The Elderberry must be cooked to fully remove all the toxins. I don't think they'll kill anyone but you'll get an upset tummy for sure. Elderberries contain potassium and large amounts of vitamin C, and have been proven in quite a few recent studies to shorten the duration of cold and flu symptoms, as well as strengthen the immune system. Also, the dried leaves mixed with lanolin help relieve burns and sunburns.

Some folks make jam from them too. Anything that makes pie works for me! :o)


Lizard Tail (Saururus cernuus)
Now this nifty looking little plant is commonly called "Lizard Tail". It likes wet feet. You'll find them growing in profusion down near creek bottoms and anywhere it's wet but not too sunny. They're also easy to find because Lizard's tail has a distinctive orange like-smell.


Goat's Rue (Tephrosia virginiana)
And this is my Jewel In The Crown today, a Goat's Rue! You heard right Margaret, it's named after a Goat (but not in panties). It doesn't smell like one though. [giggle] This is a very uncommon site. I even e-mailed my fellow Georgian, Mildred, and asked her "What is THIS??!" Because although all the wildflower plant books say it is a native here I have never seen this lovely little plant before.

The Goat's Rue is in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). It has several common names: Rabbit's Pea, Hoary-Pea, Devil's Shoestrings and Catgut. They sound like alibi's to me, like it's on the lamb. I guess this one is hiding out because there are no other Goat's Rue near it.

Goat's Rue and related species may have been used as a fish poison by Indians in some parts of the Americas. Cherokee women used a root decoction to strengthen hair and Cherokee ball players applied the decoction to their limbs to "toughen" them. It was given it to children as a tea to make them strong. It was used by the Cherokee and other tribes in various medicines for treating conditions ranging from worms to urinary problems and tuberculosis.

There's a warning too, apparently this plant may irritate the skin and the seeds may be toxic.

Ya think???!

Medicinally, European Goat’s Rue is mainly used to increase milk flow, both in nursing humans and in dairy cattle. It is also one of the herbs which can be used to lower blood sugar levels. It is an appetite stimulant and digestive tonic which promotes production of the various digestive juices, and is extremely useful for treating chronic constipation.

And now you know.

Hope you enjoyed the 'walk' in the rain with us.

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm No Stranger To The Rain

Looky what all this lovely rain has brought us!! Yay! Thank you blessed God and Father for all this rain.


Sensitive Brier (wildflower)


Confederate Jasmine (domestic)
And southeast Georgia has many Hummingbirds. I call them "hummin' bees" because they sound very similar to bees in flight. We had a few earlier but now there must be dozens. Little rascals won't hold still for a photo shoot, so, I apologize for the poor picture quality. Aren't they adorable!?


Ruby Throated Hummingbirds
Hope you enjoyed the visit to our home. Thanks for coming by.

Sam And The Snake

Sam Jr. and Maxie
Our miniature Schnauzer, Sam Jr., doesn't know when to quit. He's really bad about pushing an issue with whatever animal life is in front of him. He's so contentious that he always has to be Boss Dog in every situation. He darn near got killed by a German Shepherd that lived next door to dad in North Carolina.

For the newbies at my blog, Sam was my father's dog until he died in 2006.

Today, Sam encountered his first snake.

Well, not really his first. The first one that I know of was a Coral Snake in the back yard. I caught him flipping it up in the air one day and put a stop to that! Coral snakes are poisonous. I picked it up and put it out into the woods.

Yeah, I like snakes. So, I saved the little guy's neck (if he has one).

But this time, before I could react, Sam approached the snake, it instinctively coiled and struck Sam right in the throat. Ouch! Now he has two bloody tooth marks on his throat. Rat snakes have very sharp, needle-like teeth.


Actually, this is a good thing. We were hoping that he would mess with a non-poisonous variety first. Southeast Georgia has multitude of Rattle Snakes and they are pretty deadly. Whenever I go strolling in the woods, I'm sure to wear my snake proof boots. They don't always rattle, you know.

So, now poor Sam is laying on the floor, trembling and licking his feet. I put an antiseptic salve on the wound and comforted him as best I could. He'll feel better by morning. But that'll larn 'em. He was lucky ... this time.

Spring Has Sprung And I'm Undone

We had a really productive day today. The weather is so pleasant that we just had to 'play' outside. :o)


Here's hubby burning debris that has gathered all around the property. The ashes can then be spread on various areas. Our soil is so acidic from the pines that using wood ashes 'sweetens' the soil. Flowers and centipede grass grow like crazy after spreading this around. And contrary to what some say, burning is good, for too many reasons to list here.


Maxie stopped to have a drink from the bird's little watering hole before I started ...


"Let's go Mommy! Make this thing move please."
... while Sam Jr. looked on ... riding in the golf cart is his favorite place when I'm working in the yard. Lucy, the boxer, is off somewhere chasing rabbits, real or imagined.


"It's Shake And Bake, and I heped!"
Remember that silly old commercial for Shake and Bake and the kid with the fake southern accent? That's what Maxie looks like she's saying. Yeah, she helped alright. Helped getting in the way! :o) Good thing she's so cute.

Now I'm tired from all that work. But, it's a good tired from achieving something and being productive.


Oh, and an FYI for anyone living in the SE Georgia / NE Florida area. There is a new classic country music station now and it is superb! The location on the dial is Country Legends 100.7 FM. I listen to it all the time. It's fun to listen to a song with a good Texas swing.