A BIG THANK YOU...

 First of all, I wanted to thank you my very dear blogging friends, for all your very sweet comments, and those from family and friends here and across the pond, on our 50th Anniversary. Gregg and I appreciated that more than we can put into words. It added to a very special day for us. Gregg was needed out of town for a few days and I didn't expect him home, but thanks to two very special people, they made sure we could spend most of the day together. Those very special people also sent us some beautiful flowers which I will share when they bloom. Heart is full at their kindness. 

 Above you can see part of a bouquet that Gregg had in hand when he walked through the door. I told him that Peruvian Lilies were in the first bouquet he ever bought home after we were married. I had never seen them before and have loved them ever since. He said, "Of course, I remembered that! Well, let's just say I remembered that." We had a chuckle of course. 50 years is a long time to remember such things, but I did and yes, another chuckle, as he often says where my emotions are concerned, I have a memory like a laser. True! I just read him this paragraph, "100 percent true!" he said with emphasis, and with yet another chuckle. Personally I believe it's a girl thing.

Our son and daughter-in-law were coming over to keep me company that evening, and when they found that Dad was coming home early and would be with us, we told them to go ahead with what we had originally planned. They treated us to a wonderful selection of Empanadas from one of their local eateries. I was asked if I would like to try them as it was a new food to me. I've heard of them and was not disappointed. The above photo he sent me to let me know they were on their way. The empanadas were wonderful, and we had such a fun time.

So that was our 50th Wedding Anniversary. The following photos are what we took on the 18th, when we were out and about. And here you go, my first doggy fix of the week!

As we were driving along, Gregg said to me, "Get your phone ready!" I wondered what was up. He had seen this little cutie a few cars ahead of us, changed lanes (no traffic coming up behind us) so that I would get a good view. As we went by, I was able to take a photo. We were just starting off on our journey heading out to run some errands and, lo and behold, when we were driving home, and as we turned left at the traffic light, who should pass us as they headed straight, was this little dog again, still with its head out the window. An hour had gone by since we had first seen cutie here. How about that for the strangest coincidence? I didn't get a photo that time but cropped the one from above for a closer look.

We stopped at the drive-thru coffee shop and this mysteriously made its way into my hand. He may be making another appearance in a day or so.

Next a photo taken while driving home through the neighborhood.

I am finishing off with two photos Gregg just found while on his iPad. These popped up and I asked him to send them to me so that I could share them again. This blog is getting so old that I seem to keep doing that, don't I? The photo was taken about 10 years ago (just guessing but it seems a long time ago). We were on vacation, and I had it put on an ornament.

The last one is of an old-fashioned Santa that I cut out of wood with my bandsaw (a birthday gift from husband I kid you not, and actually asked for). We used to joke that other people were asking their husbands for jewelry and there I was, asking for a bandsaw and a sander, and other things that I needed. In my craft show days, I used to buy several sheets of balsa wood and have the wood company cut them into 1-foot squares, so that I could more easily trace designs on them and cut them out. 

As I got older Gregg asked me to get rid of it, and the sander, which was on a stand. My hands and especially my fingers were not as steady as they used to be and cramped easily, and he feared for my fingers, lol! In all those years I had never had any mishaps but he saw the writing on the wall. 

I had quite a cottage industry going for about 15 years. To add to the fun I took painting lessons and met lots of good people. It was a fun time selling all my ornaments at the many craft shows I participated in, not just ornaments but things like four-foot Santas and Angels on stands. The painting was my favorite part, seeing them come together, but I didn't mind cutting and sanding either. 

I had grown up with my Dad who was a hobbyist carpenter. His full-time job could be very stressful at times, and this was a great way for him to destress. I think wood dust was in my veins from an early age as I used to help Dad a lot, and I have always loved things made out of wood. His were things like tables and chairs, and when they bought a caravan for visits up to the Midlands to visit with relatives, he built bunk beds for it. 

One of his favorite things he made for family and friends were bird houses on a stand. He used to give those away as gifts. We knew a lot of people who were birders before we knew what the term meant. Us too as we were always checking to see which feathered friend landed in our garden. Living near the ocean as we did, we would get a lot of gulls by the dozens flying in.

These, as you can see, are great memories for me. Something I think more and more about these days. I can almost see my Dad smiling as I joined him in the garage. He was always grateful for the interest and help with his projects, and I used to get him things he needed, plus a very important cup of tea when Mum shouted she had put the kettle on and yelled that it was ready through the window. To this day, I still enjoy watching YouTube videos of how things are made out of wood, from log cabins to the smallest of projects. Dad started it all and I believe his father was the same.

This has turned into another ramble. I will end by saying I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks so much for dropping by and sticking with me through to the end of my waffling.

A VISITOR ARRIVED YESTERDAY...

...a White-throated Sparrow. This is the first time I have seen one since the beginning of the year. I was delighted.

They are fascinating little birds and there is a wealth of information about them if you do a search. I read that "on average a female lays four pale-blue or greenish-blue eggs that are speckled with purple or chestnut. She incubates her eggs for around 12 days. Both parents feed the young birds, which leave the nest seven to 12 days after hatching. 

After fledging, these 'youngsters' still depend on their parents for an additional two weeks or so. White-throated sparrows occasionally mate with Dark-eyed Juncos, with the resulting offspring resembling extra gray White throated Sparrows. A hybrid's song combines the trill of a junco with the triplet notes of the White-throated Sparrow.

White-throated sparrows measure 6 to 7.5 inches (15 to 19 cm) long.”

You can read all about it at this website.

There is a very interesting article at this link telling us how it developed a new song. I added the following video from YouTube, so that you could hear its call. A word of warning, it sings very high- pitched notes. When I showed it to Gregg to listen to, he said something akin to, "Wow!"

If the link doesn't open for you, here's the full address that you can cut and paste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXsiA6wcdSA 

 

More information by asking Google AI Mode which I also found fascinating:

"Unlike many birds where males are bright and females are dull, male and female White-throated Sparrows look nearly identical. Their primary difference is not based on sex, but on a unique genetic trait known as color morphs.

The Two Morphs (White vs Tan):

Both males and females come in two distinct color forms, or "morphs".

White-striped morph: bright white stripes on the head, high contrast black stripes and a very crisp white throat patch.

Tan-striped morph: dull tan or brown head stripes and a less defined white throat.

Key Differences Between Males and Females:

While they share the same color morphs, subtle differences exist in behaviour and minor physical traits:

Subtle Coloration: males may have slightly darker head stripes and brighter yellow "lores" (the spots between the eye and bill) than females.

Singing: males of both morphs sing frequently to defend territory. While white-striped females also sing, tan-striped females rarely do.

Size: females are slightly smaller on average.

Nesting roles: only females build the nest and incubate the eggs. Both parents feed the chicks, though tan-striped birds (regardless of sex) are generally more nurturing and provide more frequent feeding than white-striped individuals.

The "Four Sexes" Phenomenon:

White-throated Sparrows are famous for a "disassortative" mating system. Almost exclusively, white-striped birds mate with tan-striped birds. This creates four distinct reproductive roles:

White-striped Male: highly aggressive, sings often, less parental care.

White-striped Female: more aggressive than tan-striped females, sings occasionally.

Tan-striped Male: less aggressive, focuses more on protecting his mate and feeding chicks.

Tan-striped Female: quiet, nurturing, and dedicated to parental care.”

Thanks for visiting me and I hope your day goes well.

IT'S OUR 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TODAY

All shared before but perhaps some have not seen them. Taken at my village church, in the County of Devonshire, U.K.

It was very cold and windy. We were married on the coldest day in the UK in 200 years.

You can see another photo at this link from our 49th. 

On our 40th anniversary we celebrated in Hawaii. That post can be found at this link.

This year we are spending it more quietly. We are waiting to celebrate in the warmer weather. 

50 years on from our wedding day. My goodness, how the time flew.

Thank you for visiting and 

I hope your day is a great one.

BACK TO THE GARDEN CENTER ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH, 2025...

and what a lovely time was had. I wanted to purchase seed packets to pop into the Christmas cards for gardening friends. The usual spot I always found them had other things on display. A lady came over to see if she could help and when I told her what I was looking for, she showed Gregg a place on the other side of the center. He disappeared for a couple of minutes, and I pottered around while waiting for him to come back. That’s him on the left just before he follows the nice lady. I really can’t say enough about the staff here. In all the years we have been coming, all have been super friendly and helpful.

I asked Bear if he would like to come home with me, but as often happens, he said no. He was far too busy greeting people and offering them refreshments. The deer below gave me the same answer. Ah well, there were other things to occupy my line of sight.

The raccoon was as interested as I was as he poked his head through a hole in the wall.

Hmmm.....he said. I know....I said.

Trinkets...I said.

How I love trinkets, like a moth to the flame...but I have more control than the moth as I left the flame and went on to look at other things.

Still rabbiting on here…hmmm....shiny objects. What am I, a jackdaw? Not really but how I love browsing around shiny, glittery things.

I went through one of the double doors into the greenhouse and had a browse around there too.

You can see what drew my attention this time. I also like rusty animals…

and while getting in touch with my inner child even further, decided to look at fairy things.

Not buying anything but seed packets, just browsing today!

I wonder if Santa is visiting later?

So, with seed packets in hand thanks to my dear other half, it was time to leave. We had passed turtle on our way in. 

We made our way to our drive-thru and ordered a coffee. They were offering their snowman cookies and one actually did make its way home with me. I ate it while drinking my coffee and writing Christmas Cards. I'm late sending them as always. Maybe next year I will be earlier! But then again, snowmen may fly!

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great day!

MONDAY RECIPE POST - BEEF, NOODLE AND CHEESE CASSEROLE

You can brown the casserole a little more for a more golden appearance. We usually make it in the colder months.

This is another recipe I have long forgotten where it came from. All I know is we give it a 10 out of 10 every time we make it.

1 pound ground beef

1 small yellow onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce

1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained

8 ounces egg noodles (we used the butterfly kind)

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup cottage cheese

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celcius). Lightly grease an 8 x 13 inch baking dish.

Cook the noodles in salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium heat and cook until beef is browned and onions are soft.

Drain excess grease.

Add the garlic, salt, pepper, Italian Seasoning, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, mixing gently until well combined. 

Let simmer for 5 to 7 minutes. 

Assemble the casserole: 

Combine the sour cream and cottage cheese in a separate medium bowl. 

Put half the noodles into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

Spread all of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.

Add the remaining half of the noodles on top of the cream cheese.

Pour all the meat sauce over the noodles.

Put all the grated cheese on top of the meat sauce.

Cover the casserole with foil and bake 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, slightly golden and bubbly. 

Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. A little chopped parsley sprinkled over the top would add a little more color but I forgot this step.

Notes I jotted down.

You can use Rotini or penne pasta (or in our case the butterfly pasta) instead of the egg noodles. Directions/timing might differ a little. Try not to overcook.

You can pre-prepare. Assemble the casserole and cover tightly. Refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.

Freezer friendly.  You can wrap the unbaked casserole in foil and freeze, or make two, one to eat that night and one to freeze for later. You can freeze portions up to 3 months in an airtight container. Thaw overnight and reheat in the oven or a microwave until warmed through.

I prefer the oven for reheating, but microwave works if you want to put food on the table in a hurry for anyone who is super-hungry.

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

We added a veggie salad and a crusty roll.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT, CREATE A CAPTION?

 I thought I would ask if you would like to put a caption on this little dog. I found him on Pinterest and think that expression is adorable. 

I got the idea for this from a conversation I had with my dear other half a couple of years ago, when he read how wolves had become domesticated, maybe a cartoon added to my memory box also a few years back. So, it is not entirely my own idea, tweaked a bit, and thought about when I found this adorable photo.

Pup speaks:

“I am descended from wolves and once, a long, long time ago, on a very cold and wintry night, one wolf sought warmth from a human’s camp fire. He offered the wolf a treat and a nice, cozy bed and well, here I am, a descendant of wolves.”

Thanks for looking and may you be sitting by your own cozy fire on these chilly nights.

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - TOO EARLY?

No, no jokes today.

Oh you remind me of Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol dear little Cardinal. He said, "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."

~Charles Dickens

Well, my dear friends, Santa is a little bit early, so I'll keep knitting more red Santa hats (only in my imagination as I never learned to knit - shocking I know). It's been jolly cold around here lately. They do need them. 

And that as we say here, is how it goes on a 

Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder.

Thanks for visiting and looking at this week's attempt at a little bit of whimsy.

Have a great weekend!

For our international friends to translate the words in the photos:

Photo 1:

"I am trying to ignore the man with the white beard. He keeps asking if I've been naughty or nice. What a cheek! He is way too early! I need more time."

Photo 2:

"Offer him milk and cookies, and maybe a wee dram. No, don't do that, he's driving."

"Ho! Ho! Ho!"

Photo 3:

"I have heard he is a jolly old elf. Why don't you tell him a joke."

Photo 4:

"Where did these hats come from?"

"You have to ask?"

"I am hiding."

"Ho! Ho! Ho!"

Photo 5:

"I may be very naughty but I refuse to wear any strange looking red hats.

"He has always been a bit of a rebel."

"I don't have to worry. I was born with my own little Santa hat. I feel Christmasy all the year round."