Day Fifteen 2013

Randomness

I got this in my Christmas stocking~~a dark chocolate orange. I finally broke into it today and wondered why/how could I have let it sit there for three weeks?? Two slices~~that’s all I could eat. Very rich.

Got these in my Christmas stocking, too. Santa knows what I like, even though I tell him every year not to bring me stuff like this because I’ll eat it. Pistachios are supposed to be good for you/me. [Like dark chocolate.]

We recently got a big old bag of naval oranges at Sam’s. They are so huge I can hardly get my hand around one. They are sweet and juicy. These are mine. Neil’s are in the fridge. He likes cold fruit. I don’t. Plus he eats more fruit than I do. I’m too busy eating dark chocolate oranges and pistachios.

“Oh that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!” ~Psalm 55:6   I like this Bible verse. We recently refilled our bird feeders for the winter, and the doves have been all over them, which is odd. These birds are usually pecking around on the ground under the feeders. Maybe they don’t like having cold wet feet.

Today was the 100th day of school this year. Grandson Elijah has been talking about this day for weeks. His class celebrated by making these cool crowns and bringing 100 of something to class to show and tell. He brought a hundred Legos. Others brought things like cereal and gummies. It was a fun day for him, especially after going in two hours late because of potential icy road conditions this morning.

He played with those Legos most of the time he and Shelby were here this afternoon, building stuff, instead of playing video games on his 3DS. By the time he started with the video games, mom came to pick them up. Aw, Mom!

I leave you with a little visual warmth on this cold wet winter evening. We are toasty. Hope you are warm and safe and dry. (Or maybe cool and safe and dry if you happen to live in the southern hemisphere )

Day Ninety One 2011

The Mourning Dove. My question is how do they tell each other apart? I can just hear one of them now: "Honey, is that you? Oh, sorry, I thought you were...."

Here are some fun facts I didn't know about these creatures. (They've always seemed a bit dumb to me, lumbering around the yard, but since I read this, I have a new respect for them):

The Mourning Dove is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. It is also the leading game bird, with up to 70 million birds shot annually in the U.S., both for sport and for meat. Its ability to sustain its population under such pressure stems from its prolific breeding: in warm areas, one pair may raise up to six broods a year. Its plaintive woo-oo-oo-oo call gives the bird its name. The wings can make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing, and the bird is a strong flier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph). Mourning Doves are light grey and brown and generally muted in color. Males and females are similar in appearance. The species is generally monogamous, with two squabs (young) per brood. Both parents incubate and care for the young. Mourning Doves eat almost exclusively seeds, but the young are fed crop milk by their parents. (from Wikipedia)

Did you learn something? Good. Now go and have a happy weekend!

Day One Hundred Four

Lovey Dovey

It's mating season--the birds and the bees and such. These two Doves might be mates. Or just hanging out together on the deck rail. Their call always sounds mournful to me. Makes me think of that Prince song 'When Doves Cry'.