Picture of the Day for May 5, 2013

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The bluebirds are probably wondering why they came north when it keeps snowing in May but at least the snow has melted off the branches so they have a dry place to perch. Most years they would have their nest built and sitting on eggs by now but it has been rather chilly for that. I did see a pair of bluebirds checking out the birdhouses before the last snow.

The male Eastern Bluebird ‘shows off’ at his nest cavity to attract a female. He brings nest material to the hole, goes in and out, and waves his wings while perched above it. That is pretty much his contribution to nest building; only the female Eastern Bluebird builds the nest and incubates the eggs. But at least he does bring food to the babies so that the female doesn’t have to do all the work.

Chilly Bluebird

Chilly Bluebird

Picture of the Day for May 4, 2013

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A few weeks ago, I sent my relatives a picture of showing how deep the snow was when I opened the garage door. And since the picture showed the inside the garage, one of my sweet, lovable aunts replied “For heaven sake, what is that shovel doing hanging on the wall. Shouldn’t that owner have been using it?”

Well that owner has been using it and used it too much this winter as I wore off several inches off the bottom of the poor worn out shovel. And I haven’t even shoveled all the snow from the last snow; the May snow.

Worn Out Shovel

Worn Out Shovel

Picture of the Day for May 1, 2013

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May 1st, often called May Day, just might have more holidays than any other day of the year. It’s a celebration of Spring. It’s a day of political protests. It’s a neopagan festival, a saint’s feast day, and a day for organized labor. In many countries, it is a national holiday.

There are many traditions for May Day, depending on what country one is in, including the May Pole and in some parts of the United States, May Baskets are made. These are small baskets usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone’s doorstep. The giver rings the bell and runs away. The person receiving the basket tries to catch the fleeing giver. If they catch the person, a kiss is exchanged.

Well this year, the May Baskets would be filled with treats and no flowers as this one stem is the only flower I found blooming at my place this morning.

May Day

May Day

Picture of the Day for April 30, 2013

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Well it seems that it wasn’t only kids playing hooky yesterday, as there was a small group of ducks playing in the pond yesterday. The Blue-winged Teal ducks were swimming and were napping in the warm sun. It was interesting watching one of the male ducks tuck its head on its back and go to sleep but the wind was strong enough, that it was pushing the floating duck to the other side of the pond. He would wake up and swim back to the other side and then settle down for another nap and ride.

When evening approached, then the some ducks explored the pond for food while others were bobbing their heads up in the mating ritual but it appeared some of the males weren’t too popular with the girls.

Blue-winged Teal Ducks

Blue-winged Teal Ducks

Picture of the Day for April 29, 2013

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With several nice days, most of the snow has melted and it feels good to be able to finally open the windows after a long winter. I think everyone, including the critters, has spring fever and I bet the kids would rather play hookey and play outside in the sunshine than to be stuck in a classroom today.

But I think this old school hasn’t had any children playing hooky in a long time. When I drove past it yesterday, I could picture kids, with their metal lunch pails, eating lunch and playing outside during recess. But now the sounds of laughing children have vanished from the school yard and its memories crumbling away like the building and soon will be erased from the landscape.

Old Rural Schoolhouse

Old Rural Schoolhouse

Picture of the Day for April 28, 2013

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A lot of the snow has melted but there are still no wildflowers blooming. The Jack-in-the-Pulpit also called Parson-in-the-Pulpit seems like an appropriate picture to post on a Sunday. Jack (or Parson) in the Pulpit alludes to the resemblance of the spadix (Jack) in the spathe (Pulpit) to a country parson perched on an elevated stand over his congregation.

One would think that they could have given the preacher a better name than Jack since it sounds like Jack-in-the-box. Now Luke, John, Paul, Mark, James, Daniel, Nathan or Peter would be a better sounding name for a preacher.

Parson-in-the-Pulpit

Parson-in-the-Pulpit

 

Picture of the Day for April 27, 2013

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Spring officially arrived yesterday when the temperature finally got above 60 and the warm wind brought the return of the bluebirds. The robins, red winged blackbirds, wood thrushes, killdeers, grouse, chickadees, warblers, woodpeckers, cardinals and finches were all singing announcing spring but the loudest voice was the chorus of frogs who had emerged from the cold of winter.

Another sign that spring had finally arrived was the pussy willows catkins merging. Before the male catkins of these species come into full flower they are covered in fine, grayish fur, leading to a fancied likeness to tiny cats, also known as “pussies”. The catkins appear long before the leaves, and are one of the earliest signs of spring. Even though I had to walk through snow to find these pussy willows, finding them is definitely a sign that winter may  be over.

Pussy Willows

Pussy Willows

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