BIRD CHATTER POST - IMAGINATION

 

And that's how it goes on a 

Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder.

Thanks for stopping by and 

have a great weekend.

A LITTLE HUMOR TODAY - IF A CUP OF…

 

If a cup of coffee doesn’t fix it, 

then it is officially time to add chocolate!

(With thanks to Pinterest for today’s inspiration)

AIRPLANE WATCHING

A few weeks ago, when our family from Germany was visiting, we took them to The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Not too far from the gates but just outside the complex, we noticed cars parked on the side of the road.  There had been a space made for them to park on each side.

There were several people watching planes landing on one of the runways at Dulles-Washington International Airport. We all fully intended to go back to see this for ourselves. Unfortunately, we ran out of time but...

last Sunday we decided to drive out there and see the planes land. We checked on their flight patterns and we were in luck.  

We both said this was a lot of fun and that we could see ourselves driving over here again.

Gregg has an app on his phone that tells where these planes come from, and where they are heading. He also looks at the app (flightradar24) as it shows all the planes and he could see what direction they were coming in. This one was an Air India flight, out of Vienna, Austria.

This is the information given on our phone for that particular plane.

(The app is free with ads. If you are a plane enthusiast and want to pay the $44 a year you get no advertisements, but we don't mind a few adverts.) 

When we are out sitting on the deck at home we see planes overhead, quite high up. Gregg gets his phone out and tells me which airline, where they are heading and where they flew out of. The novelty hasn't worn off yet. He tells me this app works no matter what part of the world you're in. Below is what you get on your screen.

We spent half an hour or so before the planes stopped coming. I think the wind changed direction and they were maybe landing on another airstrip in the opposite direction. 

Only a few other people were with us watching, a mother with her children and a couple.

We took a lot of airplane photos between us, and here are a few of them.

We had so much fun and I'm not really a plane enthusiast, but I certainly enjoyed these and seeing them land. I wonder what Amelia Earhart and all those other hardy adventurers who started out in the old biplanes on those first flights would think?

I found an old poem that I thought would fit, even though the young man who wrote it flew planes a little further along from the biplane days. It struck a chord. I seem to remember reading it when I was very young during my school days. Does anyone else remember it?

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings’

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlight silence. Hov’ring, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air…

Up, up the long wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew –

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

High Flight

By

~John Gillespie Magee, Jr.~

When I think of planes, I think of biplanes and that leads me to thinking about Amelia Earhart. I came up with this, with no particular reason other than I liked it and wanted to share.

Thanks for looking and 

I hope your week is going well. 

I HAVE A NEW PIECE OF ART ON ...

the bedroom wall. They are of three quilling cards my niece gave me when she was visiting a few weeks ago. She knows my love for birds, and she couldn't have given me a more perfect gift.

It's hard to see the workmanship of each one in these photos, but I can't pick a favorite. I love each one.

After she left (sad day that was), I took all three to the framing shop at Michaels and asked to put them all in one frame. There was a real nice lady who helped me. I told her basically what I was looking for. I asked for a none-too-fussy frame as I wanted to focus on each picture, not the frame. She showed me several, and the same with the matting. She picked out colors in the cards themselves, which made it easier for me to choose. There was an inner and an outer matting, a lighter green outside and the darker green inside. She suggested a 'raised sink' which would prevent the glass from pressing on the quilling and leave it untouched. One final thing I had in mind was to get a non-glare glass. 

After admiring my niece's card choices, this lady told me that she had a few quilling cards she had framed at her home, and we talked about those for a few minutes. I appreciated the fact that she didn't rush me through or try to persuade me to pick parts I didn't want and when I left, I felt comfortable with what I had chosen. It's been years since I had anything framed and it all worked out really well. Even the man Gregg spoke to when he picked it up and who showed him the finished piece, took a few moments to admire it and said, "Now this is really nice."

And we have something lovely on the wall that will remind us of the special time we all had together with our family. We surely did have a wonderful time with many good memories made. I will share more of them as time goes on.

Thanks for looking and 

I hope your days are sunny and warm. 

MONDAY MORNING RECIPE ON TUESDAY INSTEAD - EASY POTATO AND CORN CHOWDER - SERVES 4

The weather has turned decidedly chilly. I didn’t think I would be making any soups again until the Fall, but here we are. I found a recipe for an easy potato and corn chowder at Cook2eatwell hosted by Elizabeth Rodriguez. Thank you Elizabeth, it is a delicious soup. You can find her original at this link. She has great tips to make this, along with more delicious recipes.

This soup was a ten out of ten. I made it while Gregg was out of the house for the day, and when he came back and smelled the aroma, he couldn't wait to have a bowl. 

Easy Potato and Corn Chowder

Serves 4

3 tablespoons butter

1 medium yellow or white onion, small dice

1 stick of celery, diced

2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt, plus extra at the end if needed

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

4 cups chicken broth

2 (16 ounce) cans cream-style corn

10 ounces frozen corn, defrosted (cooked to approximately half suggested cooking time on the package)

1-1/2 pounds potatoes (russet potatoes preferred but Yukon gold, yellow potatoes, or red potatoes will also work)

1/2 cup half-and-half or whole milk

4-5 bacon slices, cooked crispy for garnish (optional)

1 tablespoon chopped chives or green onions for garnish (optional)

Preperation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

Preparation times above are just a guideline. It always takes me longer as I do everything in stages. Start early and make sure I am awake enough to prepare veggies, which I usually do sitting at the kitchen table. I take breaks to drink a cup or two of coffee. I try not to have any more after the noon hour, and have a cup of green tea in the afternoon, and in the evening have a cup of an herbal caffeine-free chamomile, honey and vanilla tea, which is my favorite at the moment.  

Instructions:

Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. 

Once the butter is melted and foamy, add the onions and celery. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent.

Add the garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring often.

Sprinkle in the flour and cook and stir to mix together for at least two minutes to remove the raw flour taste. Stir almost constantly.

Gradually add the broth while stirring briskly with a whisk or wooden spoon. Continue adding and stirring until the flour is fully dissolved.

Stir in the creamed corn.

Raise the heat to bring the soup to a simmer, which will take about 5 minutes.

Once simmering, lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.

Stir occasionally, adjusting the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.

While the soup simmers, cook the frozen corn enough to defrost—usually about half the recommended time on the package. Drain well.

Add the potatoes and defrosted corn to the pot. If the soup doesn’t begin simmering immediately, raise the heat slightly. Then, lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the half-and-half (or milk), cover, and cook gently for 2–3 minutes, until heated through.

Taste the soup and add salt if needed. As a reference, ½ teaspoon was added to ours.

 Ladle the soup into individual bowls and garnish with crispy bacon and chopped chives or green onions for garnish.

If you have to watch such things, our blog host suggested using reduced-sodium ingredients like unsalted butter, low-sodium broth, and low-sodium bacon for garnish. We always use low sodium chicken broth.

I wondered if this soup might have been a bit bland but we both agreed it was very tasty. We served it with a crusty roll but feel that it is hardy enough on its own. 

I had whole milk in the fridge especially bought for this recipe. It was one of the ingredients, that or half-and-half. I thought of using my regular 2 percent and might try it next time but my dear other half says I wouldn't mess with it, that's how much he enjoyed it as is. When I went to the fridge this morning I saw the milk I had put in a measuring jug that I was going to add along with the rest of the ingredients. Just saying, because if you ever find yourself without it, we didn't miss it one iota.

We added the bacon and green onions. Gregg ate his on the side while I added mine on top. I ate another bowl without cooking any bacon, just adding the green onions. I think it would be fine without those too.

Other half also suggested a tablespoon of sour cream on top for garnish sometime.

The first bowl I added a few dashes of Siracha hot sauce, the second time left it off. Great either way.

I also made a double batch of soup, so there will be leftovers for the next two or three days.

I left the blog address out in full below, just in case you prefer to cut and paste rather than to use the link I provided above.

https://www.cook2eatwell.com/easy-potato-corn-chowder.

I always try to reread everything to make sure I don't have any typos, but sometimes they get in there. If you have any questions, please feel free to put them in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by, 

have a great day and 

Bon Appétit!

MEMORIAL DAY - MAY 26TH, 2025

Remembering our Heroes on Memorial Day, never forgotten. 

(comments are off for today)

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - A THANK YOU TO…

 our dear blogging friend Ann, who sends many of us these wonderful cards. Always a pleasure to go to the mailbox and find one there.

The month seems to be flying by and I am late in doing this, but I didn't want June to appear before I thanked you for your latest card Ann.  Thank you so very much!

In case you haven't met Ann, her blog is Ann's Snap Edit Scrap. She not only does her handmade cards, but also makes a lot of other special projects that are always fun to see, and I mustn't forget to mention her sweet pup Gibbs. I have left a link on her blog name.

Thanks again Ann!

And thanks for looking everyone. 

May you day be a great one.

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - LOUD?

 

Blue Jay had his say!

But so are you my dear Blue Jay. The experts say your calls can be very loud, and can sound like a scream, especially your alarm calls which alert everyone. So good for you Mr. Blue Jay! 

Another hero! Well done my fine feathered friend!

He would have had his answer, but Camera Lady tripped over the Froggy Zen Master. After many utterances which raised Zen Master's eyes to the ceiling, he thought it prudent to leave and let her practice more Zen on her own.

But first he left her with this, "A Zen state, also known as mindfulness, is a state of calm attentiveness where one is fully present in the moment, free from excessive thought or attachment to external stimuli. It's about being aware of your surroundings and inner experience simultaneously, allowing you to respond consciously and effectively. This state can be cultivated through practices like meditation and mindful living." And he then said, "You have a long way to go. More practice!"

And that is how it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder. 

A POEM

Another long one but worth the read I think.

You stand and face the mirror

And you magnify your flaws

You focus on the features

That are so uniquely yours

But their uniqueness doesn't matter

For they simply don't conform

To the criteria of beauty

They've convinced you is the norm

They make believe that beauty

Doesn't go beneath your skin

That you simply can't be pretty

If you have a crooked grin

They say your eyes can't be too small

Your nose can't be too big

That your lips must be just right

Not over full and not too thin

They say your ears must not stick out

Your hair can't be too wild

Only those with tick-box beauty

May be physically admired

But those obsessed by beauty

Are the ones who can't be free

Because they're limited by what

Somebody else says they should be

So next time you face the mirror

And you smile your crooked grin

Remember beauty's just a tower

That society's trapped you in

And you think you can't escape

Because you think there is no key

But you simply need to re-define

The walls of your beauty

by

Becky Hemlsey from her book 

Talking to the Wild - The Bedtime Stories We Never Knew We Needed

Poem: The Tower

Preface: "What is a beautiful face without a beautiful soul?"

Page 27

Becky is wise beyond her years. 

Becky Hemsley is an author I discovered last year and am so happy I did because when reading her poetry, I find myself saying, "Wow!" Becky lives in Leicestershire, UK, with her husband, two boys and their dog. She was formerly a primary school teacher for 15 years but now writes full-time and has written four collections. The first - entitled 'Talking to the Wild', which features the poem 'Breathe'. Also, another book now which is a follow on, 'What the Wild Replied. I treated myself to these two books. She also has two further regular collections, and one of loss and grief poetry, as well as three children's books, one of which is an illustrated version of 'Breathe', which I have also shared here, and a children's book of the poem 'Starlight'. She is drawn to, and moved by, nature and its consistencies with human emotion (this I can attest to). In her words, "I often think the phrase 'human nature' is a good one to describe my thought process when writing. I aim to make a difference with words by helping people realize they are not alone."  She really is an amazing poet!

FAIRY GARDEN AT MEADOWLARK GARDENS

Well, from yesterday's blog post on bees, to fairies today. We were at Meadowlark Gardens on Wednesday, May 7th. It felt good being back as it is the first time this year. I walked around the fairy garden next to the visitor center. It was a real tonic to see them. There were old and new, they gave many smiles. 

The flying pig taking a rest from his flying schedule is always a welcome sight for the fairies, and for me. No doubt he has been busy these days. In this fairy world they enjoy telling him about what they have been doing between his flights.

The gnomes too! They always hold the welcome sign out.

This little dragon...

is about to take his first flight and join Flying Pig in the sky…

and the gnome told the little dragon to be very careful. Mr. Gnome has been taking care of him since he was a wee egg. 

The fairy on the snail nodded in agreement.

As did the other.

This is a similar photo to the one I took the other day. There were two different shades of Columbine growing next to each other.

The old shoe has been around for many years…

as have these fairy houses.

This one even has a bird house on its roof.

Some of the fairies were having a quiet snooze. It had been raining hard so all were a bit muddy. 

What a pretty leaf! I haven't seen one like it in this part of the garden before. In fact, the fairy garden has filled in quite a bit with plants and bushes. It is called Caladium, and also Elephant Ear with thanks to Linda at Linda’s Relaxing Lair - thanks for that ID Linda - botanical name Caladium bicolor. I found more interesting information, "Wild caladium has evolved with a deceptive defense mechanism. The plant's bright leaves signal toxins to ward off hungry insects - biodiversity's version of a 'do not eat' sign. Additionally, Wild caladium can hibernate, with leaves wilting in tough climates, giving it the illusion of death. Yet, this clever plant resurrects once the environment turns hospitable, showcasing its enduring spirit." Also, "While Wild caladium is well-known for its ornamental value, it has a unique, lesser-known application as a bioindicator. In scientific studies, Wild caladium’s sensitivities to certain soil metals can be harnessed to gauge environmental pollution levels, such as arsenic. Although not yet widespread, this application could revolutionize environmental monitoring, offering a cost-effective and natural means to track soil health." 

And that was it for the fairy garden for this trip. When we arrived there were two large school buses, and the children were just getting off them. We were also noticing four legged friends on walks.

My first thought was that they were service dogs but there were no vests identifying them as such.

When we stepped into the visitor center on our way to the exit, this joyful little soul was wagging his tail at us as we walked by.

We found they have started Pup Stroll Wednesdays. I was very surprised and delighted at the same time.

The weather was perfect that day.

As it was lunchtime and it was on our way home, we headed to our pasty shop for a car picnic. We drove by this place with all the garden art. It was on the way.

Here is The Pure Pasty Co. We have been coming here off and on for years.

There are the other stores nearby and they all share the same parking lot.

Best of all, here is our pasty. Car picnic time! I forgot to take a picture before I had a bite, or two.

It was a fun day and we look forward to keeping company with a few more dogs on our next visit there, and the fairies of course.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your day is a great one.