Thursday, January 01, 2009

Welcome to the New Year!


“A new year is unfolding – like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within.” ~ Anonymous

Dawn brought us a brand new year this morning.
The temperature outside was a frigid 7ºF (-13C), and the hungry birds arrived for breakfast shortly after 7 AM, as the darkness gradually gave way to light.


Gold finches, tree sparrows......

.....house sparrows and more, crowd onto the tray feeder to fill their tummies. Chickadees and dark-eyed juncos are usually the first to arrive.

The female hairy woodpecker came early today too. Posted by Picasa


But the smaller downy woodpecker (left) was here before her.
There's a tufted titmouse on the line above the hairy woody.


I went out in my old barn coat, and several layers of clothes, to fill the feeders, and the chickadees came to meet me, as usual. They come very close and don't seem to be the least afraid. Friendly little creatures they are, flitting back and forth continually, which makes them very difficult to count, but we managed to count about 18 this morning. My dear husband was handy with the camera to catch this chickadee grabbing a seed from the dish as I held it out.


Here's a closer look.



They perch on the tray feeder within inches of me and seem to be greeting me with great enthusiasm. It's a happy way to start the day! Posted by Picasa

A little tufted titmouse came with the chickadees today and perched on a feeder inches away from my hand. They're related to the chickadees. I love their cute round shape and tiny topnotch.

The downy woodys are friendly too, and will come quite close.


A few days ago this tiny chickadee flew into the sliding glass door and was dazed, but otherwise OK. It sat for about 10 minutes to gather it's wits on the electric cord attached to the Christmas wreath hanging on the door .

And who do you think was right there, on the other side of the door, noses to the glass for the entire time? Oh yes, Jasmine and Molly......no doubt thinking, "There's breakfast, right outside our door!"
But not within reach, thank heavens.
Posted by Picasa


This blue jay's feathers were being blown about by the strong, icy winds we had yesterday.


They love to fill up on the corn we put on the tray for them.


Warmer temperatures this past weekend melted most of our snow, but Tuesday covered the ground with white again, and yesterday brought us another 6 inches.



There are no blooms to be seen at the end of the year in the rose/clematis garden. Posted by Picasa

The smoke from the furnace weaves it's way between the snow covered buildings.


The plants are sleeping in the pink garden too.

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience
can instill in us. ~Hal Borland

Wishing you contentment and joy in your surroundings, and many blessings throughout this new year - 2009.

This is what we can look forward to after a long winter's nap! Oh joy! Posted by Picasa

41 comments:

Sunita Mohan said...[Reply]

Happy New Year, Kerri! Looks like those birds really love you... I'm not surprised!
How on earth do you get such beautifully clear photos? They're really lovely.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Happy new year to you and the birds Kerri. We have got loads of snow here and the birds love our food.

What a cute photo of the two cats :-)

Anonymous said...[Reply]

I really love your Christmas-postcard winter scenery. While I don't know if I could live it, I do love to see it.

Happy New Year, Kerri!

cherry said...[Reply]

I love seeing all of the snow pictures and if I were there I would be sitting right there with Jasmine & Molly taking it all in.
Thanks for sharing
Happy New Year to you and yours.

F Cameron said...[Reply]

Kerri,

I just love this post! I showed my husband all of your photos as I read this morning.

Chickadees are so cute and friendly! I'm sure they think you're the seed angel and rely so much upon you for getting through the winter. They are with us all the time in the garden and we talk to them, too.

I hope the weather warms up for you.

Cheers,
Cameron

Dave said...[Reply]

Happy New Year! Those birds are all over your feeders. They must be hungry. Your cats look very interested!

Giddy said...[Reply]

And a very happy new year's wish to you and yours, dear Kerri!

We still have a bit of snow on the ground, but it's been so cold that ice is beginning to form in the cove and we are seeing the sea smoke nearly every morning. Brrrr! Spike and Sluggo send greetings to your kitties.

Lisa at Greenbow said...[Reply]

What beautiful photos Kerri. Our chickadees aren't nearly as trusting as yours are. I love the kitty picture. They are enrapture of all the feathered entertainment.

I wish you the Happiest New Year too. I am looking forward to seeing all the Color of your Garden.

Tabor said...[Reply]

You have lots of feeders and lots of birds it seems. We have only two feeders this year. We got a small batch of red-winged black birds for the very first time this morning. They were eating both the sunflower seeds and the niger thistle seed. They stayed only briefly.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

How lively your garden looks with the birds gathering around the feeders. Chickadees are such fun to watch, with their bubbly and friendly personalities. I love the photo of the blue jay with the rumpled feathers, definitely caught on a bad feather day.
Jasmine and Molly seem hypnotized by the cat television show, but a little disappointed that it is not more interactive.
Have a great 2009.

Pam said...[Reply]

Our cats watch the birds through the glass door also. Cat television.

Robin's Nesting Place said...[Reply]

I absolutely love this post, Kerri, (even if it does make me a little envious)! How incredibly special to have the birds eating from your hand like that! I love the little chickadees, and to get that close to one would be the highlight of my year! Thanks so much for sharing this.

Your cats look like my dog and cat, nose to nose, staring out the door.

Happy New Year to you!

verobirdie said...[Reply]

A Happy New Year to you Kerri!
This post is absolutely lovely, with all those birds pictures. Thank you for this joy!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Wha wonderful holiday bird photos, Kerri! The lights look so good out on your porch, and to see the birds with them is just delightful.

Love that teaser flower shot, too!
Happy New Year to you and your family.

whoistracy said...[Reply]

I always love when you post photos of the birds that feed in your yard. How do you keep the squirrels away from your feeders? In my neighborhood, they will tip the feeders over to empty them, then eat and leave. Leaving no seeds behind for the birds!

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...[Reply]

They really are tame. We had chickadees in Akron and they would sit in the tree and scold me until I'd go inside becuase they had the poor sense to make their nest on my porch. I love all the pictures. Mom doen't get anywhere near the variety of birds that you do and they fly away if I try and take a picture.

Happy New Year to you both! I hope it warms up again soon.

LostRoses said...[Reply]

Kerri, how pretty! Your birds have Christmas lights! Great shots, and those two darling kitties...gotta love it. Happy New Year to you!

Pat said...[Reply]

Wow,Bird heaven !
Great pictures. Had to giggle when I saw the 2 cats. The birds have to drive them crazy.
Best Wishes,
Patsi

Annie in Austin said...[Reply]

You make it look like fun to feed the birds in winter, Kerri! I'm amazed at the way they come right up to you. I love those chickadees, too.

Our birds come fairly close for water but with all the yards in my neighborhood so full of berry-laden trees and shrubs and plenty of bugs and seedheads around, they're not dependent on us to live so our birds seem more shy.

You have a lot of wisdom instilled in you - happy going on in 2009,

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

(The verification word is "conecuni" ...can't decide if it sounds like an exotic bird or a dessert from a foodie blog.)

Merle said...[Reply]

Dear Kerri ~~ Great photos and the birds are so trusting. I have a couple of cats belonging to my neighbors who come in and try to kill one, but they do not succeed too often. I chase them away madly
as I love the birds. Yours are so pretty. I am glad you liked the story of Molly and she inspires lots of folks in hospitals and rehab. centres etc. Glad you liked the jokes also.
Take care dear Kerri, and spring will come befor you know it. Happy
New Year and Love, Merle.

Val said...[Reply]

What lovely photos Kerri. The light is amazing and the snow makes a wonderful background.

Our two feeders (one with peanuts and one with mixed wild bird seeds) are too far away for me to get good closeups. Yours inspire me! A new camera is not a goer, so I shall think of a way to put a feeder closer to the house!

I hope the new year is a wonderful year for you and yours.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...[Reply]

Love the bird photos--I've seen all of them in my own garden except the tufted titmouse. So cute! My cats are equally interested in birds, but they walk back and forth byt he window and do that weird ack-ack-acking sound they make!
~Monica

em said...[Reply]

kerri, great bird photos! i have got to start putting out some different foods. this year i'm just not getting much bird variety - it's all sparrows and the odd cardinal. i love the jay with the wind in his feathers! we had a bunch of snow too, but now it is mostly gone. happy new year!

Roses and Lilacs said...[Reply]

I loved you bird pictures. The Christmas lights festooned around the feeders makes them look so festive.

You have two lovely cats.
Marnie

Sharon said...[Reply]

Kerri, As always your pictures are wonderful. I like the birds and Christmas lights together and love the cats siting at the window looking out at the birds. You must have a good camera and a talent for photography. So glad you came to visit me. I lost you along the way but you are again in my favorites.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri,

Brrr, just thinking about it chills me to the bone. I love the photos of the birds eating by Christmas light. Happy New Year.~~Dee

Midlife Mom said...[Reply]

Don't feel bad Kerri, I am always playing catch up too. Just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get around to visit everyone out there in Blogsville. Always good to have a comment from you and get caught up. Love all your bird photos. I must get my tripod set up again and get some pictures of my birds. I think we have all the same kinds that come around. I have always wanted to get the chickadees to eat out of my hand but always get too cold to stand there with a bare hand with seeds in it. Years and years ago when my Dad worked in the woods he said the chickadees would come around each meal time and set right on his shoulders and wait for a treat! What great pictures that would have been! We're expecting some snow tomorrow but I don't think it's supposed to amount to much. Not enough yet to snowmobile, would be hitting rocks all over the place. Take care and have a wonderful new year!!!! xoxo

Alice said...[Reply]

No matter how cold or bleak the weather gets, a multitude of birds are always assured of a warm welcome and generous feed at Kerri's place. I'm sure the sight of these delightful little creatures brightens your New Year too, Kerri.

If it gets too hot here, I'll keep coming back for a cooling twrawl down your blog - I may even have to transfer a pic or two to my screen - I know you don't mind me doing that.

Regardless of the weather, you bring warmth and joy to so many lives, Kerri. I hope we can bring some to yours in return.

May you and Ross experience God's blessings every day of this new year.

Cris said...[Reply]

Happy New Year Kerri!!! Wishing you and your family all the best! Oh I had a warm Christmas... as I read your posts and look at your pictures of the Winter it makes me think that a warm Christmas is a total different story... just the reason for the season remains the same. Blessings. xoxoxo

Jan said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri! I read this post a few days ago, but it looks like I didn't leave a comment:( I remember thinking how exciting it would be to be able to have a chickadee (or any bird, for that matter) eating out of my hand! That has got to be the coolest thing Kerri! Our chickadees are a been skittish and go up to a feeder, grab a seed, and fly away. They finish it and then fly back but don't stay on the feeder long. I imagine your birds feel more 'needy' with so much snow all around and are therefore willing to take little risks...?? Seems like a good explanation, anyway:) But I'm sure they also recognize that you are a kind soul who poses no danger to them:)
Well, if I haven't already wished you a Happy New Year on your blotanical plot, or on another post, I send my best to you and your family for a wonderful 2009! If you want to send us a few inches of your snow, my son would be thrilled--he really wants to go sledding! Take care, Jan

Sharon said...[Reply]

Kerri..........I am having a give a way at the cottage so please come over and sign up when you can.

Corner Gardener Sue said...[Reply]

Wow, Kerri,
Your pics are beautiful, and those birds look like models, giving you their best poses! You really should print and frame some of these.

Happy New Year!

David Spooner said...[Reply]

Hey Aunt Kerri. It's snowing here in Germany too. In fact it is just like upstate New York minus the relatives. I will post pictures when the house is presentable (and we have internet at home).

joey said...[Reply]

A most heartwarming New Year post, Kerri. So enjoyed both photos and script. Wishing you a blessed New Year and Happy Gardening!

Christy Woolum said...[Reply]

Happy New Year to you! Ahhh! The sight of spring flowers makes me yearn for April!

Barbara said...[Reply]

A little late but nevertheless all my very best wishes for 2009. May it be a healthy, joyfull, happy and good year for you and your dear ones. A few days ago we returned from the mountains, it was cold there but here it is even colder. I think we share the low temperatures all over the world ;-) !! It's indeed great to watch birds now when they come to the feeder. I am always astonished to see how many they are and how hungry too. Your last picture warms my heart... I am looking forward to Spring too. How good that one always has something to look forward too ;-) !!
Take care and stay warm, dear Kerri!
Barbara

Mountain Mama said...[Reply]

I love your post Kerri! I also love the birds and just this morning put some food out for them. I had sparrows and chickadees today, but if the squirrels don't eat all the food there will be Stellar's, and some others come soon.
Our snow is gone for now but we have had lots of rain and some serious flooding. I'm on a hill and thank goodness not bothered by it.
Your colorful flowers at the end of your post are a wonderful reminder of what is hiding under the snow.
Happy new year to you and yours.

Unknown said...[Reply]

Belated happy new year, Kerri! I got the biggest charge out of looking at the pictures of the birds, the Christmas lights, the feeders; what a happy group of photographs, especially while we endure what promises to be a long and annoying winter.

Wayne Stratz said...[Reply]

I was provided with tubs of peanut butter which the school can not use... I need to find a good bird mixture and it is time to feed the birds already here in PA.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...[Reply]

A wonderful heart warming post, Kerri. All the different birds you are feeding and they are not shy at all because they know, here comes the lovely lady with our instant cuisine. It is good to give them a helping hand to fill their little tummies when everything is under the snow. Love the cats behind the window very alert thinking what is our Miss Kerri doing out there feeding those birds.Great post I really enjoyed it. Trudi.

Naturegirl said...[Reply]

Kerri: This was a delightful post to view! I am amazed how brave the little birds are, exposed to the harsh
elements and yet they survive..but of course with a lot of help from their friend YOU..and me here at my space!
Happiest of The New Year sweet lady!
hugs NG
P.s.wow..eating from your hand!!