More of Our Garden Friends~

~Above and below is an Eastern Towhee, also known around here as a Rufous Sided Towhee.  The black ones are the males and the cocoa brown the females~

How has your week gone?  Have you gotten much snow in your area?  We had three inches with some freezing sleet first and then two days later got another 4 inches of fluffy snow.  I took a fall and hit both knees on the pavement when going to photograph a Red-tailed Hawk across the lane.  I have bruises and ache all over, but am thankful no broken bones.  My camera also hit the ground, but fortunately it was saved from any damages this go round.  I enjoy snow for one reason only...it makes for a lovely backdrop for nature images.  

I shall warn those who follow my blog now, that next week, I will be sharing the Red-tailed Hawk mentioned above with a fresh kill of a Gray Squirrel.  For the very squeamish, I would not want to upset you and hopefully you shall see this alert before I post them next weekend.

In the meantime, here are just a few of the garden friends that have visited my little side garden this past week.  Sadly a Cooper's Hawk too a Cardinal, but that is the way of nature, all of the time, every day~

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slideshow presentation after you have read the narratives~

I will be linking up with Judith for:

www.lavendercottagegardening.com

Mosaic Monday

&

Stewart for:

   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

Cardinals, all of the ones shared this week are females~

The rarest bird to visit is the Fox Sparrow.  They only come in the Winter and usually only one of them~

Poppy, I hope that you will get to see this.  Blue Jays~

White-throated Sparrows~

Dark-eyed Juncos~

Mourning Doves~

Black-capped Chickadees~

Snow Pup-cubs and Snow Birds~

I wanted to thank everyone who wrote messages of encouragement this past week.  I read each one and took mental notes as well as a few written ones too.   We all need people who are positive and uplifting to get us on the right track to better health and life change, especially as we get older.  While I have a very good support system, not everyone knows how to translate their thoughts  into positive encouragement, but rather the opposite and all you want to do, is run and hide under the covers, though that is not my style.
Take this blog for instance, I have made so many friends and you all are so supportive, but my family very rarely sees my blog posts.  It is not that they do not care, they do, they just do not take the time.
Time...I am tardy every week in getting my visits made to many of the blogs that I keep up with and I have only the truth, life just gets busy.
We need to take time to encourage as often as we can, it does make a difference!
Thanking you all again so much for everything.
We got our first snow, just at 3" and it was bitter cold 9' and so I took the photos of birds through the window, looking out into the side garden.
Have a wonderfully blessed week~

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slideshow presentation after you have read the narratives~

I will be linking up with Judith for:

www.lavendercottagegardening.com

Mosaic Monday

&

Stewart for:

   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

Above, the opening selection is of a Red-Bellied Woodpecker.  Beauties and also quite naughty to cedar wood homes, likes ours.

Below is a male Cardinal.  They are the state of Kentucky bird~

Mourning Dove~

Black Capped Chickadee~

Tufted Titmouse~

Large buck walking in my back yard after having eaten corn I place in trays. He was limping.  Hopefully he will heal and be OK~

Downy Woodpecker~

White-throated Sparrow~

~These fun pup-cubs~

White-throated Sparrow trying to stay warm~