wordsfromanneli

Thoughts, ideas, photos, and stories.


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The Food Filcher

I brought some hazelnuts out to the squirrels and put them by the post in the middle of the woodshed.

Crispin helped himself, and then nearly choked on his food.

 

“Yikes!” he mumbled through a hazelnut. His teeth chattered.

“Wh-wh-what’s Henry doing here?”

 

“I heard about all the free food,” Henry said.

“I’m comin’ up there to get me some of that, and you’d better be gone if you know what’s good for you.”

 

But Crispin had already stashed away most of the hazelnuts, and only a few sunflower seeds were left.

*****

Watch as Henry roots through the wood chips and dirt to try to find leftovers. Notice his fingers and the toes on the end of his long feet. But he’s a dainty eater when he does find a morsel.

Having eaten his fill of leftover sunflower seeds, he climbs a tree to look for a safe place to have a nap. Must check out the now-vacant birdhouse on his way up.

When he gets beyond the birdhouse, watch how he looks down and then decides to risk a little jump to the next branch for a new grip. He’s fussy about which branches to pull himself up on. One is rather skinny and dead, so he contemplates it only for a split second before moving on to a thicker branch.

And up at the top he found a very fat branch that provided a cozy platform for him to have a nap in the sunshine, out of reach of lower level dangers.


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Tote Bag

Another sewing class; another bag.

This one was not quite as easy to make as my usual straightforward bags, but I like how it turned out and I’ve learned a few new things. These handles stitched onto the side of the bag hide the stitching of the outside pocket.

 

This was a different way to add handles to a bag, but as you can see in the next photo …

it also has D-rings sewn into the sides for clipping on a longer strap if I want to carry the bag over my shoulder.

Inside the bag, I have a pocket for my phone and my keys, or whatever else I want to have handy so it doesn’t get lost in the depths of the bag.

The zipper is one of those that you buy by the meter and cut to the length you need. You just have to be careful not to lose the zipper pull before you get the zipper sewn into the bag.

Now I’m ready for a short trip where I only need to travel light. Not sure where I want to go when the best place is home, but who knows? I may think of something.


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About Awards

My thanks to fellow blogger, Thomas at leonbergerlife.com  who has nominated me for a Sunshine Blogger Award.

While I am flattered to be thought of in such a positive light, I can’t help thinking that the award itself is a bit like a chain letter. Remember those from the old days?

So after pondering many aspects of this award business, I’ve made some decisions about how to respond.

First of all, I appreciate very much that Thomas felt he wanted to nominate me for this award.

Then I thought about the length of the post if I had to answer ten or eleven questions.

I also wondered if anyone I would nominate really wants to do that much work.

 

So, I’ve decided to compromise.

I will make up my own questions (and answers). There will only be five of them.

I will nominate five other “victims” (as Thomas called them, tongue in cheek).

Those “victims,” if they are willing, would answer the same five questions (and/or make up their own),  and then name five more “victims” of their own. Please visit those nominees to let them know of their award.

Copy and paste the Sunshine Blogger Award logo onto your post.

*****

Here are my deepest, darkest secrets, told in the form of Q and A.

Questions

1.What is one quality you consider extremely important in a person?

Empathy. If you think about how another person or animal feels, and have empathy, it will make you a better person yourself.

2. What advice would you give a child or teenager?

Keep your ears open and your mouth shut. This has to be said in a kind way, and of course it is not an absolute rule. Generally though, it is good for people to listen to each other before jumping in with their gums flapping.

3.What advice would you give to a young couple who are about to spend their lives together?

Talk to each other!

4. Where did you get your love of animals?

My mother. She was always kind and compassionate to all animals. She continually reminded me that animals have feelings too.

5. What are five things you are passionate about?

Good music, puzzles, languages, writing/editing (shaping language), and nature.

*****

And now for my five victims, whose blogs I hope you will visit:

Pam at roughwighting.net

Brad at writingtofreedom.com

Belinda at belindagroverphotographydotcom.wordpress.com

Mags at littlethingsmatter28.wordpress.com

Lauren at baydreamerwrites.com


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A Tale of Two Dogwoods

Big Dawg

 

Big Dawg has been here forever, growing naturally from some seeds that birds probably brought in. It has revived from being almost crowded out by other trees at its base. My friend Pat cut away many of those small shrubs and trees trying to steal Big Dawg’s nutrients and water. He freed the area around it so it got more sunlight, and it is saying thank you now by reaching up tall and blooming its appreciation.

 

Little Dawg

Little Dawg lives in a shadier place and is a more recent planting, bought from a nursery. It is slower to grow in this semi shady spot, but it seems to be quite healthy. You can see Little Dawg if you click on the dogwood posting  I made two years ago. I still am fascinated by what I found out at that time about the Fibonacci number sequence and how it relates to nature. It will be familiar to my faithful followers from that time, but the robin sitting in the arms of Little Dawg is worth a second look.

It’s Dogwood Time


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Robin Robbin’ the Garden

I’ve hired some help in the garden this year. She’s done a beautiful job of sorting out the weeds and making a lot of bare soil ready for planting. I love it, but the robins love it even more.

When they see a patch of newly disturbed soil, they move in to mine it for food to feed their children.

“Look what I found under the rhubarb plant!” 

But wait! There’s even better shopping along the fence. Watch the video and see what the robin comes up with.

 

“Want a closer look at what I found?”

 

“What? You feel sorry for the worms? We don’t worry about that. The kids love a feed of fresh earthworms.”

“I’ll be there soon, my darlings!”

Welcome to the world, babies!