Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Flicker

When I first saw this bird I thought it was a confused woodpecker. Maybe he found the ground softer than a tree. Then I turned to Birds of the Northern Rockies and found out he was a flicker. He probs for ants and grubs rather than actually drilling wood like other woodpeckers do! Sorry for the shaky video, I couldn 't risk grabbing my tripod. (Warning: turn your volume down, loud clanking of spoon on bowl sounds of children eating breakfast.)

Thursday, July 24, 2008

As clouds go by....

An amazing sunset just out my front door.
David, these cloud pictures are for you. I wish I had a little bit of artistic talent to try and paint them, but alas I don't think I got that gene.

Anybody home?
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Thursday, July 17, 2008

Fresh food always helps...

Here are some of the amazing wildflowers that we have been finding.

We bought this humming bird feeder the week we moved here but have had little luck with getting the birds to come to it. Then we went to the self check out library. (That's another post all on it's own.) We found a book about humming birds. It had a check list of things to do if your feeder is not getting much activity. We hadn't changed the food for about a month. That is where we were going wrong. Humming bird feed needs to be fresh. That means you change it every 2-3 days. Our feeder is in a really high spot on the edge of our roof next to our picture windows. You have to get a ladder, extend it out, and climb into the sky. But the work is worth the reward. Since I got them fresh food we have seen them at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We see a constant foray of little winged creatures. Now I have to get them new food everyday. Here's to hoping I don't fall off my ladder.
Here is why I haven't posted lately....
I have been making cherry jam! If you come to visit me I'll let you try some!
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Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Eyeballs in a jar!


With soooooo many cherries on the tree I decided to try and bottle some. We may not even like how they taste. Sometimes the skin can get tough and rubbery. I felt like a mad scientist in a laboratory while poking out the pits. I could not, for the life of me, find a grandmother to loan me her cherry pitter. I ended up inventing my own using a shishkebab stick. When the final product appeared on the counter to cool my DH said, "Those look like eyeballs in a jar."

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Hi Ho Cherrio!

If your tree gives you cherries....




make pie!



Since I can't just go down to the grocery store and pick up a pre-made pie crust, which is what I usually do, I had to whip out my new Better Homes and Gardens cookbook that my brother gave me for Christmas and find a recipe. The pie turned out to be incredibly delicious.
If I can make a pie, anyone can!