wordsfromanneli

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Calm, yet Busy

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Dare I hope that this is one of the baby robins I rescued a few weeks ago?

I asked him if he had lost a leg, and he told me he was just keeping his toes warm, one leg at a time, while he waits for a bug to check out the  beans growing next to him.

Crispin has been at work high up in the fir trees, cutting down fir cones. They fall from a great height with a loud bang each time one of them hits the metal roof of the wood shed. Maybe I should get a hard hat for him. Then he comes down to gather the cones and stash them in secret places nearby. I made the mistake of helping him by bringing about 25 freshly fallen cones to the wood shed for him. I hadn’t counted on the sticky sap getting on my hands and had to go looking for some WD-40 to dissolve it. How do the squirrels not glue their mouth shut when they eat these sticky cones? I guess it’s like eating toffee.

Mrs. Hummer is resting on  the Florence fennel, watching the nearby scarlet runner beans. Their flowers are so bright red, and they must have some delicious nectar in them because there is a line up of hummingbirds waiting their turn to get at them.

 

While Mrs. Hummer watches the beans, Mother Rabbit is watching her. Do you see them both in the photo below?

Bunny Junior doesn’t have the patience to sit around watching hummingbirds. He’s on the lookout for any weeds that might still be green in this dry spell. Luckily for him, the weeds are the last to die of thirst, and rabbits love weeds.

Have you noticed that for each of them, it’s all about food?

If that’s what it takes, then “I’m some kind of animal.” Interpret that any way you like.

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Author: wordsfromanneli

Writing, travel, photography, nature, more writing....

31 thoughts on “Calm, yet Busy

  1. nellifant's avatar

    Such lovely pictures, Anneli. And, once again, how lucky that you speak various animal languages and can translate for us!

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  2. Writing to Freedom's avatar

    I can relate to you and your family of critters. I’m all about the food too Anneli! 🥗🍲🍔🍉😊

    Liked by 2 people

  3. John's avatar

    So cute! They are all always on a food quest. Crispin must have WD-40 on his face and mouth…

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Jacqui Murray's avatar

    What a busy yard!

    I hear Diana Peach is throwing in with Canada soon. You’ll be (virtual) neighbors! What fun for both of you.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Lynette d'Arty-Cross's avatar

    You have lots of bird and animal life in your garden, Anneli, but my, your lawn looks very, very dry. We are here, too. So great to see your photos, though. Crispin must have really enjoyed your pine cone present!
    I learned when I was growing up to use a mixture of butter and baking soda (that was the solution in my family for anything sticky) to get pine gum off my hands when I stacked wood to dry for my mom. I recently used it again to get chewing gum off the bottom of my shoe – because of the heat it was really on there. Worked well. Cheers.

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  6. Steps Of Purpose's avatar

    I thoroughly enjoyed this! Your observations always make me smile, and the way you give each little visitor its own personality is such a delight. I especially hope that robin is one of the ones you rescued. Thanks for sharing another glimpse of nature’s everyday wonders!

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  7. belindagroverphotography's avatar

    It’s nice to see and read about the goings on in your garden. A busy place and fun to observe I bet:

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Mags Win's avatar

    Great photos Anneli. There was a male cardinal at my place for a few years that did have only one leg. Pine cones are all over the place here. Wind and squirrels are knocking them down. The photo of the hummingbird and rabbit is amazing, Thank you so much for sharing your great wildlife photos. ❤️

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  9. roughwighting's avatar

    I love the creatures within your yard space, how you take care of them, and how they reward you sitting still for your camera. 🙂 My biggest tiff now is with our woodpecker families. We feed them (well) with hot pepper suet (keeps the squirrels off) but nearby we have a hummingbird feeder. The baby woodpeckers think that this sweet water is just for them. I watch them sucking it up with their baby beaks – in a few weeks they won’t be able to use it, but for now, the hummers are staying away. 😦

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    • wordsfromanneli's avatar

      It will all work out because the hummingbirds have lots of other things to interest them this time of year. Right now, mine are not using the sugar water that much, but they visit the scarlet runner bean flowers and all sorts of things on other plants (fir tips – maybe for insects? I don’t know). It all works out. Meanwhile it’s nice that your woodpeckers are thriving.

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