Scary movie...
But i wasn't going to tell you about that movie, i was going to tell you about my adventures with birds here in America...
In Holland I never saw many different kinds of birds (but maybe I didn’t pay enough attention), here you have red ones, blue ones, yellow ones, big ones, little ones and all the “normal ones”. We even got a book (!!!) so we can watch the birds and try to figure out what it is we are looking at.
I just think this is one of the cutes
pictures ever...
Maybe there are just more birds here, now that I think about it…
While on chemo I had no energy or strength to do most of the normal stuff (see: What cancer does to somebody like me) like everybody does from day to day. I spent a lot of my time during treatment in bed and a lot of those days I would hear a strange sound. First I thought it was just in my head that I was hallucinating but then I figured out it would happen EVERY day around 9 o'clock...
Everyday around 9 am there would be a ticking sound. It was like there was somebody or something, hitting tapping, ticking to the outside of the house. Not very loud but persistent and usually by the time I would get out of bed and into the next room I didn’t see or hear it no more. I couldn’t figure out what it was that made that sound, and it drove me nuts! So I would check up on our cats, maybe they went looking for some mouses and somehow were making that sound with their claws.
But it wasn’t…
See the little drop of water???
One day Bastiaan stayed home a little longer than normal because he worked the night shift at the farm the night before and we were lying in bed together. Around 8.30 am the ticking noise started again.
I pushed Bastiaan out off the bed and told him to go find out what on EARTH was making that noise!?! He went downstairs and he saw a sparrow sitting in front of one of the basement windows, ticking with his beak against the glass. He or she flew away as soon as he/she saw Bastiaan and flew to our guest bedroom window (which is on the same side, just higher up, on the house) sat down and pretended to be a woodpecker again…
Bastiaan and I discussed this whole crazy bird theory:
These yellow birds kept us company
during the summer
Maybe he/she saw the glistering of the light in the glass and decided he/she wanted it…
Maybe he/she figured in our basement is some good stuff for him/her to munch on…
Maybe the bird always wanted to be a woodpecker and a crow at the same time and decided to pick (as in hammer) at shinny things…
Or maybe he just lost it…
Whatever his/her motive was, that same bird kept me company for the 64 weeks I was on chemo, and because of that, I love my birds here in The States!
Humming
birds have a special
place in
my heart
Have a great weekend and have fun at the Farm Friend Friday at Verde Farms!!! (I know, I'll get the hang of that button thingy sometime soon!
...
Birds are such interesting characters, they actually peek in the windows here, may be asking for more or fresh seed, I don't know. It's quite cute!
ReplyDeleteHave a good day!
another great story, that first little guy is beyond cute, i enlarged to see his sweet little face. birds see their reflection in the window like a mirror and think it is another bird. also they try to fly through them if they are mirrored, we had a couple hit the window and knock themselves out, we picked them up and put in a safe place and they flew off in a few minutes. they like shiny things, not all of them, but some
ReplyDeleteI have a special place for humming birds too. I'm always excited to see one!!
ReplyDeleteWhat great photos! Glad you found some comfort in them during your treatment.
ReplyDeleteThe yellow ones are golden finches and they stay around most of the year. In the fall/winter they lose their color, but it starts coming back in a month or so. They love thistle seed, and you can buy special feeders just for them where they will hang upside down and eat.
ReplyDeleteSo glad God was with you in the guise of a little sparrow to keep you company. He works in the most mysterious ways sometimes!
I love birdies of all kinds. I'm glad you had the chance to develop a fondness of them - even if it was while you were sick. :) I liked Lana's 2nd paragraph above... So true.
ReplyDeleteLots of male birds tick against the window. They're actually fighting their reflection, thinking that it's another male invading their territory. That's why the bird always came at the same time, because that's when he could see his reflection.
ReplyDeleteJust be glad it was a sparrow. Every Spring I have to go around and soap my basement windows because the Tom turkeys start fighting with their reflections if I don't. I've actually had them break the windows.
What a lovely story. The photos are beautiful.--Inger
ReplyDeleteI too love hummingbirds!! They are just so spectacular!
ReplyDeleteWat apart van dat musje! Je hebt trouwens ongelofelijk mooie foto's gemaakt zeg. Ik geniet er echt van hoor!
ReplyDeleteYou asked what a Tom Turkey was. A Tom the male of the Wild Turkey. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Turkey They're a beautiful bird, but not the brightest things around. I have five female, or hen, turkeys that come around fairly frequently. I call them, rather unimaginatively, "The Turkey Ladies."
ReplyDeleteI love this story and the photos are stunning. Take care. B
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post :) 64 weeks--that bird was your guardian angel :) I do love birds too--they are fascinating and so colorful. I’m glad this one kept you company Leontien
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to FFF !
I really like your pictures of the hummingbirds. They are so fast they are hard to get pics of. I have feeders in my back yard for birds, but can't get any to come eat. I would love to have some gold finches and cardinals.
ReplyDeleteLove your pictures of hummingbirds. We have a hummingbird feeder just outside our kitchen window and so enjoy watching them. I agree with you that they can be very inspirational.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a sweet story. There are many stories and symbolism associated with birds and their healing powers.
ReplyDeleteWe have a bird book too. I love trying to figure out what kind of bird I'm looking at.
ReplyDeleteI love the thought of that little companion-bird, keeping you company on your chemo journey.
ReplyDeleteVery nice, beautiful birds, especially the last one, the Humming bird.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in Atlanta, our home was on a very large, heavily wooded lot. My office window had the best view of all manner of birds, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, frogs, etc, etc. It was the most incredible entertainment to just sit and watch for hours. I got a book that described the various kinds of birds and it kept me occupied for as long as we lived there.
ReplyDeleteI like your blog very much and now follow you---thank you for following me! God bless.
Thank U for visiting. I so enjoyed UR blog. Those look like some cold days. Milking cows in the cold is not fun. Enjoyed the photos of the birds. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteJoani
http://mysouthwestramblings.blogspot.com/
Love this and the photos are sublime!
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasure meeting you today and I thank you for letting me single you and your blog out today. I really appreciated your experience and input more than you know.
I look forward to following you and hearing and seeing more. Keep up the excellent work!
That first bird is my favorite.
ReplyDelete64 weeks! No wonder you were in bed and tired. All those birds were watching over you.
Re: Your comment on my post,...I was wondering,..Could we tip them?
ReplyDeleteI stopped by for Farm Friend Friday. I really enjoyed your story about the ticking bird. I can see how that would be puzzling.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are finished with Chemo and are on the road to recovery.
Thanks for stopping by today. I am so glad to have a new friend. I share your love of all birds. I love my hummingbirds and the yellow finches are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are feeling better and can get out and enjoy our beautiful outdoors and esp. the birds.....
What a great post and amazing pictures. And yes, that first one is the cutest thing ever! Thanks for your visit to my blog as well. :)
ReplyDeleteOh I loved your story! A bird for company just for you.
ReplyDeleteSo many kinds and I wonder if I'll ever get to know them all.
They have personalities often lie people:)
Hi! Thanks for reading my blog, your welcome anytime!!
ReplyDeleteWhile I sought out your blog, I have been reading some of your older stuff. I like it!
Really sorry to hear of your Cancer troubles. But very glad to read that you are on the up!! Well done you!
I hope you dont mind if I pop back from time to time?
Beautiful post! Love the pictures as well as your writing.
ReplyDeleteI also love birds and feed many use only sunflower seed they will all eat it. And of course sugar water the tiny birds they are so quick.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post about birds , they're wonderful creatures. My post for " Farm Friend Friday " is about guinea fowl. They love seeing their reflections in a mirror or window , they actually think it's another bird and will stand there pecking at the window and chattering. Your bird friend may have been enjoying her/his reflection.
ReplyDelete~ Feather Blessings ~
I have a picture posted of the guinea fowl at my basement window , check-out " Natural Pest Control " on the " Farm Friend Friday " list.
ReplyDeleteI love birds too. Every spring, the hummingbirds come back to my porch and, if I am slow at hanging the feeders, they come and tap on the window till I get out there and get busy hanging them up:) Very sweet. A couple of times, one has flown into my open door, and wedged itself in the corner of the windowframe. Gently, I cupped my hands around it to carry it back to the porch railing - such a lightness, like carrying a few feathers - then I opened my hands and away it flew. Beautiful little creatures! And soon they will be back!
ReplyDeleteGlad you finally solved the mystery. The little bird in the tree is a cute tiny little thing. Love the hummer with the drop of water. I can't wait to see the 1st hummer of the season, but since I am in Iowa, it will be a while.
ReplyDeleteHi Leontien, I'm a backyard birder --so if you ever need to know the identity of one of your birds, let me know. Of course, we are in Tennessee--so yours may be different from mine.
ReplyDeleteI do know that, during mating season, a female bird is protective of her area. The little pecking bird probably had a nest nearby your window. She looked in your window and saw her reflection. AND--because of that, she 'thought' another female bird just like her was hanging around her area.. She pecks to try to get rid of that reflection....
Hugs,
Betsy