Robins form Posse, "We're Gonna Lynch That Groundhog"

We have a whole flock of ROBINS in our yard! This is Illinois where there’s almost 2 feet of snow on the ground and the temperatures are in the teens! I don’t think I ever remember robins coming back this early (in February), especially with it still being so cold.

Hmmmm. Maybe they know something we don’t!

The interesting thing too is, when they do come in the spring, usually there’s a few of them. I don’t remember ever seeing so many at once like this; there were about 30 or 40 of them out there.

My Bonanza Booth:
http://www.bonanza.com/booths/CALsBookInn

Editors Note:  Maybe the Groundhog fooled the Robins too? 

Is anyone else seeing signs of an Early Spring??? Or is the Groundhog wrong again?
Post YOUR signs of Spring, WE'D sure like to see some!   

The Crow: Ole Sneaky Beak

Today's Photograph of the Day...Ode to the Crow. Why the Crow? BeCAWs... Crows are the only Birds that I know of who actually know how to make Tools and use tools. They know how to solve complex problems. They have a broad vocabulary. And they are oh so sneaky... 

I was in a car once waiting for someone when I saw a murder (an appropriate name!) of crows in a tree watching something. After a while, I saw a squirrel on the ground, looking about furtively... but never UP, the direction he should have been looking. After a while, feeling safe, it dug a hole and hid a little morsel of food in it, carefully burying it before running off with visions of savory treats in its head. Not a chance!

For here comes old Black-Eyed Pete as sneaky as one gets, with his posse of black-hearts (and feathers) keeping lookout for him. He lands a few yards away, looking around to see if that buffoon's going to come back. Nope, coast is clear! He saunters nonchalantly over to the squirrel's treasure and unceremoniously flings dirt all over the landscape as he retrieves lunch, then flies off with it towards his cohorts to a fiendishly fresh feast. 

You could hear them cawing delightedly, mocking that poor squirrel. Imagine his surprise later. "You know, I could SWEAR I buried it right here!"

As a well-fed sparkling black eye looks on.

Folk Art, Handmade Bird Brooches

Folk Art Shop Grand Opening. I create Original Hand Embroidered Folk Art Jewelry using my own designs. Each piece is a work of Art and is signed and dated on the back. I consider each piece of Jewelry to be Heirloom Quality. 

Birds are a favorite subject matter of mine. But I will also be offering Flowers, Cats, Insects, and other Animals. I will be adding new Folk Art Jewelry on a regular basis, so be sure to check back often. These make Great Gifts for the Lady who has everything!  

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Update:

My Hand Embroidered jewelry is now available as Necklaces here:

http://www.zazzle.com/SublimeHues

Photograph of the Day, Ostrich

Today's Photograph of the Day. For the Early Birds in the Crowd. Judging by his face, I'd say he's already gottten his worm.

Photograph of the Day, Snowy Owl

Birdwatching. Birdwatchers. Birding. This Beautiful Snowy Owl is perched high on top of a utility pole over seeing its territory. The rodent population in the Arctic, Alaska, and Canada is decreasing. This forces Owls like the Snowy Owl, Grey Owls, and others to travel farther South in the lower 48 states to try to find food.

Bird Painting, Abstract Bird Art Print Art Prints by Wanda Edwards - Shop Canvas and Framed Wall Art Prints at Imagekind.com

Bird Painting, Abstract Bird Art Print Art Prints by Wanda Edwards - Shop Canvas and Framed Wall Art Prints at Imagekind.com

Womens Hoodie Bird Art from Zazzle.com

Womens Hoodie Bird Art from Zazzle.com
Bird Top. Long Sleeve Bird Top. Hooded Sweat Shirt. Long Sleeve Top. Birds.

Bird Shots by cardartfromtheheart

Now I'm not talking about that pellet ammo that drops a bird from the sky, of course.  I hunt birds with my camera. 
While I am limited in my mobility, the birds I seek are not.  They are wild and free.  I do however have something they desire: a food supply.  I can't tell you how many times a handsome feathered friend has landed on (my) various bird houses and bird feeders.  Often, I have captured his likeness on film, but... Gosh, I really don't like the looks of that bird feeder for a professional photo.
So yesterday, I went shopping for a new birdfeeder/birdhouse pole (and cedar feeders.)  I plan to sink it in the ground just outside my office window--right beside my computer (and desk) so I will be sure to capture a lot more shots. 
That's part one of the plan.  Part two is where I will hopefully find the greatest satisfaction.  I plan to cut Fir boughs and weave them for a blind of sorts.  Not to blind me from the animal in this case, but rather blind the cedar feeders from my camera lens.  This should allow me to capture some outstanding close-up shots of my winter birds 'in the wild.' 

If you decide to try this yourself, please leave a comment and let us know what you did and how well it all worked out, okay?  Thanks!

Click on the Title to this Post to visit my Greeting Card Shop.

Wetter is Better by cardartfromtheheart

They always want to pigeon-hole us, don't they?  Are you an A,B,C or D?  Perhaps I'm none of the above, or perhaps I'm all of the above.  I have found within both my writing communities and my photography communities, most of us have overlaps.  This hub will center around these two niches of mine, as I cannot separate one from the other.  So whether you are a Writer or a Photographer (or both!) you should find food for thought in these pages.

My first tip for the Photographer is to "Get your feet wet!"  Take a close look at my first photo, the Sharp Shinned Hawk.  He's cold, wet and hungry... Which is exactly what the photographer had to also be in order to capture this image.  The brilliantly colored autumn leaves hint at the coolness of the day, while the evergreen boughs dripping with raindrops, accentuate the cold; almost make you shiver.  Don't worry about it being a cloudy day; the wetness of everything gives your film much more saturated color to work with than any old clear, sunny day.  Then too, don't be afraid to use your photo software to best advantage.
The bit of wisdom my Sharp Shinned Hawk has, I hope, impressed upon you is this:  Wetter is Better!

Click on the Title to this post to visit my Greeting Card Shop.

Bird Chronicles part 1

Are you a Duck lover? Had any Duck encounters? I'd love to hear about it! Post here...

I know of few people who don't like to see a mother duck and her brood. There's something sweet about the protective mother chaperoning her chicks through a field, in a stream, even in a city. I had the opportunity to watch this little family happily swimming about.

Bird Lovers

Just Launched my NEW Art site which Showcases my Bird Art! YIPPEE!

Check it out: http://www.zazzle.com/SublimeHues