Saturday, January 09, 2010

F.A.C. and my Little Red Bird

"Oxygen into your lungs, brings fresh hope into your heart." - an Anonymous Smart Person

Does anyone have a recipe for homemade Finch food? Now that red bird and I are BFFs I'd love to keep him fat and happy.

I was madly trying to get my work done by high noon on Friday because it was the kick off to another fine year of fooling around for myself and KC.

As I pounded away on my computer, I heard a noise, glanced up to see that my little red bird was back again. This time, peering through an open window so I could snap a better shot.

 Morning frost sprinkles sparkly diamonds on the snow.

Allow me to repeat what I typed up above, just in case you missed it. Red Bird was peering through my open window.

While it's 26 BELOW zero at my brother's house, (he gets no sympathy from me; I told him to move) and miserably cold in all corners of the blogosphere... We're blessed with bright skies and comfy temps.

Which prompted us to don our snowshoes and hit the trail on our first 2010 FAC snowshoe adventure.

* FAC is short for Friday Afternoon [Hiking] Club, invented last year to stave off boredom, get in shape and embrace the wild world that surrounds us.

After 12 solid months of regular meetings we still only have 2.5 members: KC, Bad Dog and me. As I type this, all stiff and sore from yesterday's hard work, it's dawning on me as to why it's so hard for us to recruit new members!  :)

PS: This is my backyard. Those tracks behind the always stylin' KC is proof positive we actually left the yard. Dig that bright red flower adorning her cap!


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32 comments:

Gail said...

Beautiful shots! I love the tree. I am not to thrilled to get out in the cold but snowshoes might tempt me.

Unknown said...

Fabulous photos! We feed our finches niger seed, millet, suet cakes, and they seem to do just fine on them. We have gold and purple finches regularly, house finches and assorted finch relatives at times. They all make me happy.

Anonymous said...

Hi !
Finches eat sunflower seeds, as well as peanuts and other seeds, ( don't know about corn) They also eat suet, but I have put out bacon grease in small dishes and it was mobbed. -your brother
PS it's only -1 here.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Gail!
Just ride your horsie bareback. She'll keep you warm. :)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Jodi!! I'm shocked, I tell you. Shocked! To discover that you are a horse owner. I'm just amazed that I've read your blog for years and somehow missed this super fantabulous tidbit. :))

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hello, Bro;
Minus 1 degrees? A heatwave! According to the weather underground you were -26 last night. Nebraska Sue says it's gonna get -28 tonight...

Thx to both of you for finch food ideas.

jan said...

Love the photo of the bird! I looks like a xmas card! Isn't it amazing how such tiny things can stay warm? The snowshoes seem to be a great way to get around the country side!

sweetbay said...

Wonderful snowy shots! I think I might be willing to stomach cold winters if I lived someplace that beautiful. :)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thanks, Jan! I keep hoping I can catch him posing when I'm outdoors though I love the fact that every time I look out the window he is spying on me!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Oh.... I don't know if I agree, Sweet Bay. Perhaps that proverbial grass really is greener. I think you live in a very pretty place. :)

Noelle Johnson said...

Please share if you do get a recipe for finch food. I have a little yellow one that keeps me company from the window at my kitchen sink. I love how the snow laden tree looks.

thismngardener said...

Whoops-I tried unsuccessfully to post from my mobile. What a beautiful little buddy you have! Your photos are breathtaking! I can't imagine a nicer place to go snowshoeing! wowie-
Jane

Granny J said...

Lovely picture of your finch! As well as that frosty tree. As for the hiking, all I can say is BRRR!

Liisa said...

What a beautiful spot you have! I do find myself missing the mountains out west. Here in Vermont we enjoy the vibrant and lush green of the rolling hills in summer, so there are benefits to both the east and west. Enjoy your snowshoes!!

Rose said...

No open windows here! It is 12 below zero this morning. Beautiful photos--I love the tree all covered in snow and the view of the mountains in the background. It must not be as cold there as it looks. No matter the temperature, I applaud the two of you for getting out and hiking at this time of year. Maybe these pictures will help you recruit a few new members for the F.A.C.!

joey said...

Stunning photos, Kate, and also loved the previous columbine post, one of my favorite flowers <3 Had hoped to snowshoe last weekend at the lake but it was too cold (- 16 wind chill)!

Anonymous said...

An open window? How warm was it? No way, Jose`--not at my house!!

Snowshoeing--you are a glutton for punishment! LOL

As usual, your pics are gorgeous! I just love looking at them.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Noelle; I will definitely share if I find a homemade recipe. :) I only see red ones around here but I'll keep my eyes peeled for a yellow finch. They are so cute! :)

Hi, Jane! Good to see you over here. I can't figure out how to post from my phone either. Even responding to comments is a chore on the phone... Educate me! :D

Thanks, Granny - I'm still hoping to get a shot of him when I'm outdoors. This one is photographed through the window screen so not ideal...

Hi, Liisa; Vermont is a beautiful place. I have snowshoed at Stowe and it is magical!

Thanks Rose and Joey -- 12 below and 16 below??? Yikes! You would not catch us snowshoeing in those temps. We're wimps. It was 35 here (that would be ABOVE zero tee hee)

Linda J-H said...

I must have incredibly picky finches. Niger seed? Bah! Peanuts? Excuse me, ma'am... Is this all ya got? One of the local gardening centers sells premixed dove food. They like that some. But what they really prefer is the high-end, ultra pricey patio mix.

Melanie J Watts said...

What a beautiful place you have I love the openness of the countryside. I bet when the sun shines it is truly gorgeous. Cool that you have red bird peering into your window, almost as if asking you to come out and play. I love x-country skiing but this year I seem to have given it up in favour of running.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hey, Bookworm! Well, you're a whole mountain higher up than me! I'll bet it's freezing at your place. No wonder you're an avid reader!

Hi, Linda;
I think you've nailed it. That little red bird is nuts about me because I bought the expensive stuff. Plus, he really likes my granola... :)

Thx, Melanie;
I'm always impressed with winter runners! Don't you slip, slide and fall down a lot? I'm much happier slogging along in the old snowshoes... :D

Chloe m said...

That sounds like a fun club, I may have to start one up around here.

I hope you and Little Red bird continue your wonderful friendship..such a little tender bird. :)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Rosey;
I would think you could find some fabulous trails in the mountains around nederland. Could be loads of fun!

Marsha said...

I agree what beautiful shots! I especially love how you captured the sunlight reflecting on the snow - you live in a beautiful area :) Of course, your little red finch is a beauty too!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thanks, Marsha. I sure loved your blue jay photos from your most recent post. Amazing that you could capture an entire 'flock' of them!

KC said...

Wow, you are getting to be quite the celebrity! Thanks again for the fun day and yummy soup and bread. I loved it:)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Here's to many more snowshoe adventures! I was sore and tired the next day but I am ready to tackle a bigger hill this Friday! :D

Iron Needles said...

I am going to have to get off my behind and get out on my snowshoes myself! YOur trek looks too tempting, and my 'backyard' is pretty spiffy in its own right.

Kathy Green said...

As everyone has said, beautiful snow shots. Your tree photo is amazing - are you entering it in the Picture This Photo Contest for January? You really should. As far finch food - ours only get black sunflower seeds, and love them. Kathy

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Iron;
This is a great year for snowshoeing -- not too much of the fluffy stuff and perfect temps. Have fun out there. :)

Hi, Kathy;
Thx so much for the kind compliments. I am not familiar with this contest so I'll stop over to your place to learn more. However -- I think I'd feel weird entering my pics into a contest. They're not good enough for that sort of stuff...

Kathy Green said...

Hi Kate, the Picture This Photo Contest is held every month at the Gardening Gone Wild blog. You can read all about it there, and check out the current months entries. I really think your tree picture is more than worthy! Kathy

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kathy! :) I'll muster up the courage and go pay that blogger a visit!