SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD BATH/FEEDER - WHO’S A PRETTY BIRD.

 

That’s how it’s going on a

Saturday Morning at the Birdbath and…

thanks for putting up with these two while they are having their diva moment. 

Have a great weekend!

ANOTHER OLD FAVORITE - ELK MOTHER AND HER CALF

 

You may remember this photo as I have shared it before, though a long time ago. We weren’t as close as it seems as we had a zoom lens on our camera, but still relatively close. However we were in a protected area at Lake Jackson Lodge, where we were staying for a few days. It had a great view high off the ground, overlooking the Grand Teton and between us, this large area of land where elk would pass through, and other wildlife. 

There were several people out there already, but still lots of space to comfortably take photos without being elbow to elbow. When I reached my spot and looked down, this mother elk and her calf were a sight to behold. I can’t remember how long I stayed just looking at them, taking many, many photos. And then I couldn’t move for the longest time. I was mesmerized! It seemed a very long time but eventually mama elk stopped posing and munching on the long grasses, ambled out of sight with her calf trotting behind her. 

There was plenty of seating, along with tables if you wanted to have a hot drink or a cocktail. I felt a bit chilled and ordered a pot of tea. 

If you want to take a look at the Lodge, you can copy and paste the following into your search engine.

https://www.gtlc.com/lodges/jackson-lake-lodge?

I borrowed this image from their website. The rooms were wonderfully rustic (we were last there in 2007 or maybe 2008). They were clean, comfortable, cozy and what a view! This was the same vacation where I saw the dawn rise listening to the wolves in the distance. I had awakened and wondered what I was listening to, and then I realized. I made myself a hot drink, grabbed a blanket, wrapped it around me and sat outside listening for what seemed a long time to them ‘talking’ to each other. It was misty out there and it felt magical. Our room was in the far left building, facing the mountain range. I added the red arrow. 

I hope all goes well with you and 

thanks so much for your visit today.  

A FEW HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

I am starting with these. My favorite house for Halloween decorations.

They always have a wonderful display. There are a lot of new ones here. Below is in the same front yard as above and the scarecrow would be to the left. The  scarecrow with the raven sitting on his shoulder is new. Their eyes light up. I am looking forward to going back at night.  

There are a lot of these balloon-type decorations, and I have noticed these are where the younger children live.

“Halloween is more a state of mind. I don’t necessarily do anything. It’s more of a private, year-round celebration.” 

~Tim Burton~

“When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.”

“Author Unknown “

Lastly, a jigsaw puzzle from my iPad. 

That’s all for the neighborhood. I have more taken on our drive and I will share those in a few days. 

I wish you all a great day 

and thanks for visiting. 

A MOTH AND A BEAR - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, 2026

We had a lovely time yesterday, starting late after 1.00 p.m. We were going to run an errand or two, deciding to stop for lunch and we enjoyed the drive. Not driving in heavy traffic on the freeway but that was later.  

Rush hour going home. This was a quieter patch. 

I had it in mind to see if we could take more photos of Halloween decorations in this quaint little town we have been to. It was not too far out of our way. But first, as we were rolling out of the driveway, I saw a dark shape at the side of our front door. Curiosity kicked in and I asked hubs if he would stop so that I could get out and take a photo. Whatever it was I knew by the time we got back, as has happened many times, it would no longer be there and my curiosity was zinging. 

The double vision that I have, has been corrected by my relatively new prism glasses. Hubs was amazed I had spotted it. I jokingly told him “I miss nothing!” and in a joking way he answered, “Oh I know that!” He knows my peripheral vision is excellent too and now, sorry for tooting my own horn but I am grateful that my vision was taken care of by one visit to the ophthalmologist. I know others are having their own serious eye issues, in our family and elsewhere, so not intending to make light of this by any means. I got out of the car to see this interesting creature.

Here it is! Google identified it as a Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar. The photo below was borrowed from this website if you would like to learn more.

I read that several species of black, hairy caterpillars can be found in northern Virginia, particularly during the spring and autumn months. While many look intimidatingly spiky or fuzzy, most are completely harmless, though particularly sensitive individuals may suffer skin irritations. Our Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar (Hypercompe scribonia) is the most strictly all-black caterpillar you will encounter in Northern Virginia. They are large, up to 3 inches long and densely covered with stiff, jet-black bristles. When they feel threatened, they roll tightly into a ball. This behavior reveals bright red or orange bands between the body segments. These caterpillars are harmless. Their bristles may be stiff but they lack stinging venom (though see previous red lettering).

I am hoping the caterpillar was heading up to the overhang over our door to find a crevice to pupate. It would be very interesting for me to see this process.  I found a great website here that tells all about our moth. It is called ‘Dave the Bug Guy’. Dave has excellent photos. You can just about see his front lens in the next photo. 

The other news I had today was that we have another bear moving through our area. It was seen eating out of someone’s bird feeder. We have been asked not to fill ours until it has moved on. The last sighting was a couple of years ago. At the time it was said to have been kicked out of the den by its mother. I am assuming this is the same situation. Nature’s way of telling the young bear it is time to move on and find a place of its own. As the weather gets colder I will resume feeding. Hopefully our young bear will find a nice safe place to hibernate for the winter.

In my next post I will have several photos we took today. Here’s a peek! 

Thanks for looking and 

take good care of yourselves.

A DINNER INVITE THAT LED TO A FAT LIP

I read a story about a parakeet flying through the doors of the Chicago O’Hare Airport recently. Apparently, the poor bird flew through the terminal, landed on people’s luggage and on people’s heads several times, and spent several hours near the Air France check-in line, according to the article. 

I can’t help but be sorry for the poor bird. It must have been very scared. People tried to catch it, but it followed the old fight or flight rule and did both. When it was chased and people tried to catch it, its stress increased and actually bit a few of those well-intentioned souls. Eventually one of the staff managed to throw her coat over it and she took the bird to a vet to make sure it was okay. Now it's being well taken care of and hopefully stress-free.

Advice given: “Trying to catch a loose bird may be an instinctive response, especially when it lands on you or your belongings. But chasing it can make the situation harder to resolve. Wildlife Illinois advises staying calm and quiet around the animal trapped indoors - Quiet? In O’Hare Airport? It went on to explain that yelling and chasing can increase their stress and make getting them back outside more difficult. Stay calm and quiet - again, in O’Hare Airport? The animal is already frightened from being in an unfamiliar place. Poor bird! 

I did not know that Chicago has Wild Monk Parakeets living in several Chicago neighborhoods. Two students from the university did a study and found that there have been bird sightings from 2002 to 2016, in 43 states. Of these, 25 species are now breeding in 23 different states.  Many of them were escaped pets, or their owners released because they couldn’t train them, or made too much noise??? For goodness sake, it's a parakeet! But many of these species are now living outdoors and have established populations.  

All this being said, the wild parakeet at the airport has not been identified at the time the story was published. Native to South America, Monk Parakeets have a long history in the pet trade and have lived in Chicago for decades. The Chicago University says a breeding colony established in Hyde Park (Chicago) in the 1960s and likely originated from pet birds released into the wild.  

So, with this interesting story in my head, having much sympathy for the bird, and being surprised that we have these exotic birds in the outdoors throughout the country, it reminded me of our one and only encounter with a pet Monk Parakeet. I can’t remember its name but I will call him “Pip” and not that 'ruddy thing'!  

When we moved here from California in 1990, we made acquaintance with a couple who invited us for dinner. We were new to the neighborhood and were very grateful. We arrived promptly, were invited in and it started off very nicely. I did notice a large bird cage on the other side of the room near the window but didn't really pay too much attention. I suppose I thought it might be decorative as it fit in with their lovely surroundings.

We sat down on a sofa chatting away when all of a sudden...

this bird - Pip - landed on Gregg's shoulder, coming out of nowhere. Gregg was so startled that he slapped at it, much to the horror of our new friends and Pip screeched and flew away, with them leaving for a few moments trying to find it, to make sure it was okay. Gregg and I were still wide-eyed and looking at each other. I whispered to Gregg before they came back, "You nearly killed it!" Oh dear, oh dear oh dear!

They returned, it was then explained to us that in the evenings Pip was allowed to fly around. It would have been nice for some kind of warning but neither of us remember them mentioning it. I suppose they thought it was safely tucked away in some other part of the house. We probably looked at each other because my heart was doing a drumbeat and I know Gregg's must have been too. He felt bad he nearly flattened the bird, but it was a complete shock and came out of nowhere. Not a good start to the evening. 

And so, we settled down again trying to get the conversation going before sitting down for our meal. Gregg was being shown a collection by the husband, and wife and I were chatting. Wouldn't you know it, our feathered friend turned up again this time on the bottom part of my arm. I definitely wasn't going to swat at the thing, and new friend said something like "Oh there she is, as I watched the bird hop up my arm a little bit at a time.

He was staring at me all the way up my arm, and then all of a sudden...

I couldn't believe it he gave my lip a good hard bite. Well, you know me and wildlife, I didn't swat at it like Gregg did, because we were new to the neighborhood for a start and I was trying to remain as calm as I could and not upset anyone further. His mama got off the couch, said something like "Oh you naughty bird, and took her away." For a few minutes I was on my own and I grabbed a tissue and dabbed my lip. A few spots of blood, holding handkerchief on my lip until she came back, and quietly tucked it into my pocket. There was no "Are you okay?" - nope! So, was not feeling too thrilled at all. My lip was throbbing and starting to swell. I could feel it. But we made small talk at the table, and I worked around the food.  Afterwards we sat back on the sofa, and made small-talk, and I was looking around I can tell you. 

I may have given Gregg the side-eye a few times, for starting this whole scenario. But it really wasn't his fault. I had just had enough, and my lip was playing the drumbeats in 76 trombones by that time. We left early, looking all around to see if flipping Pip was hovering. I was never more glad to have an evening end and get out of that house. We weren't invited again, and I'm sure they were worried for the safety of their beloved little Pip. Just as well! It took about a week for my lip to return to normal.

All in all, and to this day I bare no malice to Pip, we were after all in his territory and I was related to the man who tried to flatten him! When I read the story about the one in Chicago's O'Hare Airport to Gregg, we had one of those 'do you remember when' conversations. We had a great time going over that evening and we both ended up laughing.

So, there you go, that's the story of the dinner invite that lead to my fat lip.

Thanks for reading and I hope your 

week has started well.

(Illustrations requested by me in ChatGPT)

MONDAY MORNING RECIPE POST - BEEF STEW FOR…

these chilly evenings. It is described as ‘the most delicious beef stew of all time’. I don’t know about that, but it certainly was delicious and the first one made since last winter. Gregg got a great deal on chuck roast from Costco. It meant him buying a bigger than normal amount. We only have a small freezer at the bottom of our fridge, but fortunately we had done a good job of using up enough to accommodate his latest purchase. We used half of it today. 

I have several similar recipes on here for you to compare at this link, if you want to.  I was surprised at how many. I always enjoy trying new ones, even if it is the same kind of recipe. 

The Most Delicious Beef Stew of All Time - 6 servings

Today’s recipe can be found here at ‘thekitchn’. More to choose from at this link.

You will need:

3 pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces

1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more as needed

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 medium yellow onions, diced (3 cups)

3 medium stalks celery, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces (1-1/4 cups)

4 cloves garlic, minced (1 tablespoon)

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup dry red wine

1 (32-ounce) carton low-sodium chicken or beef broth (4 cups)

3 sprigs fresh thyme, rosemary or a combination of both

1 dried bay leaf

3 medium carrots, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds

1-1/2 pounds baby potatoes, halved or quartered if larger than a golf ball

1 cup frozen peas (optional)

Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish (optional) 

Toss 3 pounds cubed beef chuck roast, 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper together in a large bowl until evenly coated. 

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. 

Add about one-third of the beef and sear until browned on two sides, 4 to 5 minutes per side.

Using tongs, transfer the beef to a large plate. 

Repeat browning the remaining beef in two more batches, adding 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pot before each batch if the pot is too dry. 

Transfer all the beef to the plate.

To the same pot, add 2 medium diced yellow onions, 3 medium chopped celery stalks, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt to the pot. Cook stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes.

Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 

Stir in 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. 

Sprinkle 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour all over the vegetables, and stir until there is no more visible flour and the vegetables look evenly coated. 

Cook for 1 minute to cook the floury taste out.

Pour in 1 cup dry red wine and scrape up the browned bits at the bottom of the pot. Cook until the wine is reduced and thickened slightly, about 1 minute. 

Return the beef and any accumulated juices on the plate to the pot. 

Add 1 (32-ounce) carton low-sodium chicken broth, 3 fresh thyme sprigs (or rosemary or a combination of both) and 1 dried bay leaf. 

Bring to a simmer. 

Reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer. 

Cover and cook, stirring every 30 minutes or so for 1-1/2 hours.

Uncover and stir in 3 peeled and sliced medium carrots and 1-1/2 pounds halved baby potatoes. 

Cover and cook until the beef and potatoes are fork-tender, stirring halfway through, 45 to 60 minutes total.

Turn off the heat. Stir in 1 cup frozen peas if desired. Remove and discard the thyme stems and bay leaf. Taste and season with more Kosher salt and black pepper as needed. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley leaves if desired. 

Below is the address written out in full, for you to copy and paste if you prefer doing that to the link above. 

https://www.thekitchn.com/beef-stew-recipe-23846522?

Website’s notes:

You can use yellow or gold potatoes, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces. These can be substituted for the baby potatoes.

Make ahead: this stew can be made up to 1 day ahead, cooled, covered and refrigerated. Reheat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

Storage: refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 

(Nutritional information can be found at their website.)    

Our thoughts? 

Definitely a keeper. It was delicious, and as mentioned in the notes on storage, even better the next day.

We thought of having rolls on the side, but this is a stand-alone meal and extras were not needed.

You can always change around the veggies.  

That’s all I can think of right now. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments and I will do my best to answer them. 

Thanks for visiting and 

I hope your day is a great one. 

Bon Appetit!

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HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - OLD FAVORITE - KEEP YOUR DUCKLINGS ALL IN A ROW

 

Five little ducklings, all in a row,

Following Mother wherever she’d go.

Through sunshine and shadows, 

with footsteps so small,

She leads them with love, 

keeping watch over all.

Another old favorite from a vacation going back almost 20 years. I watched as mother led her babies to a hole in the fence.  There was a river on the other side. It seemed as still as a pond. I quietly leaned over on the opposite end of that fence, and watched each duckling follow their mother. 

It wasn’t a gigantic drop into the water, but for little ones that small, I wondered if they would be brave enough to follow. Instincts kicked in and it took a while, but mother jumped first with a quack. She waited patiently as each of her babies slowly followed. Away they paddled behind her and were soon out of sight, keeping close to the long grasses growing out of the water next to the riverbank.

The old photos I find always give me a smile. Another one of those memories I hold dear. 

Thanks for looking and 

I hope you all have a great Sunday.

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER / BIRD BATH - ESME’S VISIT

It wasn't long before Esme disappeared into the distant blue of the sky. They noticed that a flock of three dozen geese appeared, honking their way south. Esme veered off on a slight detour, but still flying in that general direction. 

I came across the name Esme and thought it a very pretty name, a good fit for our little witch. I also found the following information. 

The name Esme (also spelled Esmé or Esmée) means "loved" or "esteemed.

Origin and History

French Origin: it derives from the past participle of the Old French verb 'esmer', meaning "to esteem" or "to love," traced back to the Latin word 'aestimare'.

Historical Usage: originally a masculine name - popularized in the 16th century by Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox - it transitioned over time into a predominantly feminine name.

Alternative roots: it can also function as a short form of Esmeralda, a Spanish and Portuguese name meaning "emerald", or connect to the Persian word "esma" ("beloved").

This part is for our overseas friends to translate photos using my translation widget on the sidebar.

Photo 1:

House Finch on the right: "Hello, who are you? You are a lot friendlier looking than the other witches I have seen."

Photo 2: 

"Hello, my name is Esme. I am flying south to visit with my family. I am resting here."

Photo 3:

Finch on the left: "Flying south? Shouldn't you be traveling with the geese?

Esme: "Good heavens no! Have you heard the noise they make? I'd never get a moment's peace."

Photo 4:

House Finch on the left: "Where's your broomstick?"

Esme: "I parked it behind the bushes over there. I didn't want to frighten your neighbors."

Photo 5:

Esme: "Well my Lovelies, if I am to be with my family for Halloween, I must go now. It was very nice meeting you both."

Photo 6:

House Finch on the left: "That was a nice visit. 'She of the House' will be miffed she missed meeting Esme. I wonder if she has her own broomstick?"

House Finch on the right: "It's probably parked behind the other bush."

She of the House out of sight: "I heard that!"

House finch signature says: "And that's how it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder. Thanks for flying in and wishing you all a great weekend. Hugs from Denise"

AROUND AND ABOUT - ONE DAY - VIENNA, VIRGINIA - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, 2026

Thursday, October 15th, 2026: I'm writing this way past midnight on the 16th. We went out today (yesterday) to go to the Pure Pasty Company in Vienna (Virginia). It's not too bad of a drive but a good job it's not right round the corner as those Cornish pasties draw us in like a siren song. They are that good! (We did run a few other needed errands.) 

I didn't take any pictures of lunch as I have taken dozens of them over the years. You can see one visit at another 'around and about' at this link if you haven't seen the place before. 

We also bought a couple of packets of British Bangers, also mentioned on other posts. They come frozen and when we got home, we put one out to thaw and another in the freezer, as son is coming over for breakfast and we want to surprise him. 

It wasn't a big purchase today and didn't get anything else, except for the pasties for our car picnic outside. 

I have it in mind to make a nostalgia meal for us sometime, Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy. When I do I will put it on one of my Monday Morning Recipe Posts. 

We passed this market run by Depaul's Urban Farm. I haven't stopped here yet but it's on the list. Usually we are heading elsewhere - the siren song thing going on - but need to make an effort to look around here next time. The Halloween Dog was outside a pet shop on Church Street. 

I have been wanting to take a photo of the following sculpture for a very long time, and I remembered to get my camera out beforehand. I took the photo when we were driving by. 

When I got home, I looked up who the artist might be. Google is a wonder for finding information. Its title is The Spirit of Community and the sculptor is Mark Stahl. I have always wanted to know the meaning behind these pieces, what was its creator going for. It said the following: 

"The piece features a stylized flame comprised of dozens of metal hands painted in a brilliant gradient of red, orange and yellow. The "flame of hands" is cradled by sweeping, curved ribbons of weathered Corten steel, which develops a stable, rust-like patina over time. It represents the warm, energy and collective diversity of people coming together to support one another, perfectly aligning with its title and its welcoming church setting." 

And now I know the meaning of this piece. I also read that the church welcomes everyone from every walk of life, no matter who they are. That was the message here and I found that very moving. I am very happy I took this photo finally. It truly is amazing what we can find out more easily than ever before.

We are now about halfway home. I also like to take photos of buildings, as you may know, and I saw the start of this one in the next photo quite a while ago. 

The building was almost completed and I had never seen the mural before. My reflexes were fast today as I reached for my cell phone. Okay, we were stopped at a traffic light, that helped. However, even when we do that, sometimes I am too busy looking. Then I suddenly decide to take that photo as the lights change, and the moment has past. 

So, what did I find out about this place? Another heartwarming moment as I read this was a faith-based shelter for the homeless. I will tell you more in another post. Today, as it's quite late, I'm going to talk about the mural, designed by artist Sarah Berry.

From Google: "The stained-glass style mural is a striking public art installation wrapping the corner of a multi-story brick building. The imagery heavily emphasizes universal themes of hope, renewal and community support, which align closely with the mission of permanent supportive housing and shelter services. 

Breaking down the core imagery, the mural presents a narrative of transition and growth divided across two distinct sides.

1. The Left Side: Night and Isolation: 

The Setting Sun / Full Moon: The upper-left corner features a crisp white orb against a deep, cool blue sky. This establishes a nocturnal or twilight setting. 

The Bare Winter Tree: A dark, bare-branched tree stands prominently on this side. It represents hardship, vulnerability and the cold "winter" periods of life that individuals experiencing homelessness often face.

The Yellow Bird: Perched alone on a branch, a bright yellow bird looks across the corner toward the brighter side of the mural. The bird represents the individual - isolated but looking forward with anticipation toward a better future.

The Warm Ground: Despite the cold sky, the ground beneath the tree transitions into vibrant shades of pink, orange and magenta, hinting that warmth and a foundation are being established even in dark times.

2. The Right Side: Day, Peace and Flourishing:

The Radiant Sun: A vibrant yellow and red sun bursts from the top-right corner, casting massive geometric rays of light across the entire scene. The sun is a universal symbol of a new dawn, warmth and hope.

The White Dove: A white dove flies dynamically near the center corner, carrying a green olive branch. This is a powerful, globally recognized symbol of peace, reconciliation and new beginnings.

The Flourishing Tree: In contrast to the bare tree on the left, the tree on the right is anchored by a sturdy, deeply rooted trunk and full green leaves. This symbolizes stability, growth, and the structural wrap-around support provided by the housing community to help individuals establish roots.

Blooming Flowers: Bright white and pink flowers blossom at the base of the tree, representing life flourishing once safety and resources are secured.

3.The Central Connector: The Pathway:

The Winding Path: Winding its way from the dark left side, crossing the corner, and flowing all the way down the green landscape on the right is a white river-like pathway. This serves as a metaphor for the journey out of homelessness - a visual representation of the path towards stability, recovery and home.”

I think this is the first detailed explanation of a mural that I have ever read and I am happy to know it.

That's all for tonight. It's now way past midnight and my day has ended. Tomorrow we are heading to the pharmacy to get our flu shots.

If I have any typos I will correct them tomorrow.

Take good care of yourselves everyone and thanks for stopping by.