BIRD HEAVEN

This morning we received a new covering of snow. While it was only an inch or so, it created a time when the birds took shelter. As soon as the snow subsided, the birds came out to our feeders.....and they were busy.

Up to 5 or 6 chickadees would be sitting in this forsythia bush at one time. But it's nigh impossible to get a picture of them all at once. They sit for a moment, flit up to the feeder to grab a seed, and then return to this bush or travel to a nearby red pine to eat the seed. They travel in and out quickly.

At our suet pole, we have a variety of birds stopping by. This is the downy woodpecker. Others enjoying this "beef kidney fat" are hairy woodpeckers, red bellied woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatches, red-breasted nuthatches, chickadees, and sometimes bluejays.

The northern cardinal always seems to be the beauty of the forest. Red in winter stands out in the white of the snowscape.

I love this shot.

Grandpa Selle always used to call the black-capped chickadee the "tomboy of the forest." They are playful and full of energy. And their call is almost mesmerizing.

How can you not help but fall in love with this bird.

The forsythia bush provides wonderful protection from the frequent visits of the hawk.

Mourning doves have begun to make the north their home even in winter. Years ago, every last one of them headed south. With more and more people feeding, they simply like to stay here.

Sunsets over our neighbor's home are often beautiful.

And, yes, I'm still making bowls. Except that when I began turning this piece of black cherry, I decided it shouldn't be a bowl, but a candle holder. Flexibility is good!

This petite bowl is out of black cherry, only about 1" in height. Maybe it could be used for a personal portion of Valentine M & M's.