Picture of the Day for April 16, 2013

The robins have had their tails snowed on more than three times already so it is time for spring to come. On the news last night, there was a question wondering if all the robins were finding food since there are no worms for them to find. A local bird expert said the robins were on a Ramen noodle diet right now and not a Filet Mignon meal plan as they were eating spider eggs and any remaining berries.

The birds that eat flying insects, like the tree swallows and purple martins, are in trouble since it is too cold for flying bugs. So the wrens better stay south as they won’t be finding caterpillars to eat right now like this wren.

Hungry Wren

Hungry Wren

Picture of the Day for April 15, 2013

The RMS Titanic, a British passenger liner, sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in the early morning on April 15, 1912 after colliding with an iceberg the previous evening just before midnight during her maiden voyage from Southampton, UK to New York City.

Yesterday it wasn’t an ice berg, but ice did cause a ‘sinking’ when the power lines and trees became encased in ice. When the heavy limbs broke from the freezing rain, it took power lines down causing a power outage.

The remaining passengers and crew aboard the Titanic when she sank were plunged into lethally cold water with a temperature of only 28°F. Almost all of those in the water died of hypothermia, cardiac arrest, or drowning within minutes. Even though the temperature was below freezing yesterday, at least my house didn’t get that cold before the power was restored.

Icy Day

DSC06306msw

Picture of the Day for April 14, 2013

On this day in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth while watching a play called Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. After Lincoln was shot, they carried him across the street to the William Petersen’s boarding house. They had to lay him diagonally on the bed because his tall frame would not fit normally on the smaller bed in the first floor bedroom.

When I visited the Peterson House thirty plus years ago, I remembered seeing the blood stained pillow and the quilt on the bed. The pillow and pillow case are the ones used by Lincoln but the bed and other furniture are replicas. I don’t know if the quilt is the same but the one displayed in the museum has some color in it, but not as much as this quilt. And after seeing the snow coming down outside this morning, I need as much color as possible!

Colorful Quilt

Colorful Quilt

Picture of the Day for April 12, 2013

Mother Nature is playing a late April Fool Day joke. It is snowing and I thought the saying was April showers bring May flowers. I have no clue what April snow brings besides cussing and sore backs from shoveling the heavy, wet snow. It definitely is not bringing flowers but it has brought a lot of birds to the feeders (and other critters too).

I probably should have posted a flower picture but maybe by giving the snow its coverage as the picture of the day, it can go hibernate for a while and let spring come!

Cruel Joke!

Cruel Joke

Picture of the Day for April 11, 2013

The birds and critters must have been listening to the weather forecast since there were lots of birds pigging out at the feeders, even the cardinal (which some say brings the snow). And the chipmunk came out of hibernation to stuff its cheeks full of seed to carry off to its den. After the fourth trip, I went out to the feeder and the chipmunk just sat there waiting for me to leave so it could continue stealing my seed.

Seed Bandit

Seed Bandit

Picture of the Day for April 10, 2013

Last March there were many different flowers blooming but this year there is no sign of any flowers in April yet. And if the crocus had popped its head out, it would be covered with the fresh snow over night with more snowing coming so I guess the flowers were smart not to poke their heads up. But the robin will definitely get snow on its tail three times at least!

Missing Crocus 

Missing Crocus