Observations

 Sometimes I sit and just watch people and nature.  One of my favorite past times.  I think I get that from my daddy - he was a people watcher.  He always said you can learn so much about human behavior, just pay attention and watch!  It is true.  The same goes for nature.

I wish I had pictures of the birds I have been watching.  They are just so neat.

I sat and watched a black bird with a kernel of corn.  It was at the birdbath.   It dropped the corn in the water, stood there drinking, then picked up the corn.  It dropped it again, stood there, and picked it up ........over and over until it finally gobbled it down.  I am just guessing, but the kernel was large and MAYBE too hard to swallow - this bird was figuring out how to make it manageable.  SMART!

I watched a pair of cardinals out there eating.  They were adults - no baby bird.  The male would go and get a seed and then go over and feed the female! That just seemed so sweet to me.  They look out for one another.

The blackbirds and the pesky starlings have their place in the hierarchy as well.  The squirrels eat their corn and sunflower seeds and drop the hulls - well, those pesky birds come and clean up the area.  I am glad they do - as that lowers the chances of having racoons show up at night.  They clean up and fill their bellies and that keeps other animals away.

It is amazing to me that all the animals of nature are hunters and gatherers.  I mean the squirrels bury corn and nuts and I have seen blue jays grab peanuts and take them over to an area around a plant and hide them for later!  They aren't dumb.

Even if I were not feeding them - they would find food!!!  There are berries and nut trees around.  Some birds eat bugs.  There are the little pods that fall of various trees - they find food and they survive.

They work hard to make shelter and nests.  They work continuously to feed their young.  They are smarter than many people!!!!!!!!   

Today it seems many people want someone else to do the work for them and to provide for them - and they have no idea what good old fashioned hard work to survive is!  They need to watch the animals!  Just my observation!

The other night we had a very strong and nasty storm fly through the area.  It went through quickly, but it was a bit scary.  The dusk to dawn light turned on at 6:30PM (usually at 9:20)!  It went off later - but it got dark and nasty.  I had fed Blackie a little early, as I knew it was coming.  He stayed in the greenhouse afterwards, as it had started to rain.

Well after it was over, I saw him coming down the alley from checking things out - there was a groundhog on the other side of the alley.  Blackie stopped and watched - the groundhog ran and hid!  Now mind you in years past Blackie has never been bothered by these creatures.  I think this must be a male - and we had had females around before.  Every time that thing is even remotely close to my property - Blackie knows!  He goes out and sprays around on everything leaving a scent!  

I find it kind of funny - yet I am fine with it.  Don't want it here - eating garden or trying to live here. 

This from the kitty that could care less about the birds or the squirrels - he has never once tried to chase either.

Animals sure know their property and know how to defend.

Speaking of Blackie.  The morning after the storm - I went out to feed.  Here he comes running up to me from the greenhouse.  His head and face covered in mud!!!!!!  I figured he got splashed or something - there are puddles in the alley.  Well as he was eating, I start to try and brush - not all is coming off.  So I come in and get a wet cloth to wash his head.  I start cleaning him up and it suddenly hits me - it isn't mud!!!!!!!!

Yep, my boy went out and literally got himself s**t faced the night before!!!!!  LOL

How in the world does that happen?  No where else - just the top of his head and his face!!!!!  Oh the things these babies do!

 

So I leave you with that vision this morning!  LOL!!  

I sit here typing, window open, listening to a multitude of birds singing and I hear the chatter of squirrels.    The pup across the street is yelping at something, and the birds out front are having a morning feast and singing 'thank you' my way!

Blackie has had his breakfast and is curled up napping in a chair by the garage in the warm sun.

All seems right in the world this morning - at least for this moment!

Have a wonderful day.