Saturday, May 25, 2019

Vacation Photos

Justine over at Justine's Halloween ask to see some vacation photos.  I usually don't share them as I don't wish to bore you all.  But we did visit one place I think might interest you while in Suffolk.  This is St Peter's Westleton.  



His Lordship and I happened upon this while doing a village walk.  It would not be a proper British Church without a graveyard.


 I always find inspiration in these places for my yard haunt.  Look at the the varied shapes and designs of these stones. 

The mosses and lichens growing all over them just add to the character as does the carving.




This Graveyard inspired me to think of some new Tombstone names.  I mean how else is one to while away the hours of boredom during a long drive? They are:


Howie Suffered

May U. Weep

Ima Sue Screwd
Ivan Nished
Euell Greave

The last one was inspired by driving past the town of Youlgreave in Derbyshire.

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Tanager Invasion

Warning:  This post is not spooky.  If you are a Halloween addict, you are advised to close this page now.  This post contains pictures of cute, brightly colored birds.  Of course, you can always channel your inner Hitchcock and get through it.

We are now in our fourth day of the tanager invasion.  It started innocently enough on Sunday with just one female on the suet feeder.  But Monday the weather moved in and we were invaded properly.  Since then we have had snow and freezing temperatures and these poor little neotropic migrants are just stuck here.  Needless to say, I am making a lot of suet.  Here is the recipe for you if you ever find that you have a tanager invasion.

Homemade Suet

16 oz of lard
16 oz of chunky peanut butter
4 cups cornmeal
4 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups whole wheat flour

Melt lard and peanut butter.  Remove from heat.  Add all dry ingredients and mix well.  Place in a well oiled pan and refrigerate till firm.

Bullocks Oriole and 2 male Western Tanagers on the Suet.  The one on the right is a first year male hence a little more green.

Bullocks Oriole and a female Black Headed Grosbeak


 For the darker Suet at the bottom, I substituted some organic buckwheat flour I needed to use up.  They did not seem to mind.
Downy Woodpecker




If you do not have time to make suet, they like oranges too.


Female Western Tanager

Four days later - still raining and they are still here