This week seems to have both crawled and flown by. It's been busy, not with anything very unusual, but with the usual preparations of classes, marking, teacher's meetings and so on.
We're reading Animal Farm in English 10 just now - it's read every year, but seems to have taken on new significance just now. Today's discussion on double-speak and manipulation of information seemed particularly appropriate, and we didn't even discuss current politics.
The above bird, a Sparrow, is perhaps a Song Sparrow, but I didn't get a good enough look at its head and breast to really tell. We walked around Rithet's Bog and I captured these bird images.
The Red-Winged Blackbird's song was heard along the path where the birds lurk in the bulrushes, or sing perched atop a swaying rush. On this particular day, the males were sulking in the rushes and didn't want to be photographed. The female above fluffed up her feathers for me, arched her pretty neck and seemed to say, "look at me!"
Plenty of mallard ducks paddled in the water, but there was also a pair of American Wigeons. I've never seen these particular ducks in the Bog. They seemed quite content mingling with the mallards.
In my own garden, the snowdrops are fully opened, clean and white against the green foliage. I'm hoping to move a few more of them. The patch is hidden in a corner and I'd like to put them where I can see them from the kitchen window. I transferred one clump, in the green, last February, and they are doing well, so over the weekend I'll move another.
When we had our big snowfall a couple of weeks back, I noticed the rosemary buds getting ready to open. I wondered if the cold snap would delay the flowering, but it didn't. The blooms are just opening, a lovely bit of colour in the winter garden. There are no bees to enjoy them yet, and I hope the rosemary will bloom again later.
Linking with Five on Friday hosted by Amy of Love Made My Home.
I love how you thaw out earlier than we do, Lorrie...just to see it and enjoy the gorgeous photos. These are great shots. I've been disappointed with the incredible amount of house sparrows we have had of late. I had to take down all of my bird feeders down as they chased away all of the other varieties. I'm not as good as you in naming them and with the abundance of every sort of bird and waterfowl at the lake, I envy you!
ReplyDeleteJane x
Such beautiful photos in your five! And how exciting to have color in your winter garden!
ReplyDeleteA walk through Rithet's Bog this morning gave me lots of opportunity to watch the birds and ducks and to marvel at the branches already in bud. What a gorgeous day it was.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos.
ReplyDeleteMy Rosemary doesn't seem to mind any weather and is full of flowers already. I have three growing in pots, all from cuttings.
I love the wigeon. What a pretty duck. Not sure we have any rosemary flowers yet, will have to go and look. Have a restful weekend. B x
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos, we've just taken some cuttings of rosemary from the mountains near us so hopefully we'll be able to get them to take root :)
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful photos. The Rosemary is looking lovely, a real delight to see it in flower.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you enjoy the challenges of teaching, but I'm glad that you have the opportunity to take walks and photograph the wild life in your area. Your photos of the birds are beautiful and interesting to see. It's good to see the rosemary in flower. Ours is now out, but there is some other flowers popping up in the garden at last. It's cold out there, but the sunshine today is uplifting after the strong winds of the last few days. Wishing you a relaxing weekend.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are wonderful and I enjoyed seeing some of your native birds as well as the flowers. I must see if our Rosemary has any buds or flowers on it. Have a lovely weekend:)
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos! So very spring-like. No flowers growing around here yet - still too early! but I did actually here birds while I was out walking. The weather was glorious so they must have thought Spring was coming.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your Five on Friday!
Hello, Lorrie,
ReplyDeleteThey look like they are patiently enduring this winter cold, but they know how to keep their bodies warm. Especially, I like to see the Red-Winged Blackbird fluffing up its body and quietly hiding at the branches. How lovely to see new flowers come out! Have a good weekend,Lorrie!
Lovely photos, and a reminder that spring is approaching. The rosemary looks particularly pretty.
ReplyDeleteSnowdrops! Spring must be coming! Enjoyed seeing your feathered friends -- each so different. Have a lovely week!
ReplyDeleteWow, this time is perfect for an "Animal Farm" reading/study. The title is actually a good choice now for reading again.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos
I don't think I ever read Animal Farm, only saw the movie, disturbing enough in itself.
ReplyDeleteI certainly would love a walk at Rithet's Bog though, wish some of those American Wigeons would come to our neighbor's pond, have never seen them in person. Happy weekend to you, Lorrie, hope you get a chance to transplant more snowdrops. The view from a kitchen window is the most important one!
Lovely post. Those fat birds look so happy, perched on the branch and reed. Beautiful duck. I have always loved snowdrops, but we don't have those this far south. So, I always love to see photos of them. Seems your lavender is thriving despite the cold snap; again, it is too hot here for lavender to be very happy unless it's in a pot that I can bring indoors. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the photos! So lovely! When my hubby runs, usually the Red Winged Blackbirds chase him...LOL Too close to their nests I imagine. My only sign of spring is the day lilies coming up next to my neighbors home. :) Kit
ReplyDeleteGreat photos to describe your week and beautiful color!
ReplyDeleteOh I wish rosemary was a perennial in my zone...alas. Sounds as if the turn toward spring has been taken so let us hope for a nice, long spring rather than a return to winter.
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous pictures! Thank you so much for sharing... Have a wonderful weekend :)
ReplyDeleteBlissfully springlike with you, Lorrie! Isn't it lovely to hear the birds singing for joy and the prettiest flowers appearing in the garden!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
That must have been an interesting discussion around Animal Farm. Pretty images. Love the fluffy bird. Hope you have a restful weekend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty shot of the sparrow :) I heard a grackle yesterday down at the marsh, but didn't see any red-winged blackbirds. I was trying to see if my snowdrops were out today from the kitchen window. Couldn't tell. Mine are also in a back corner and need to be closer. Have a great weekend Lorrie!
ReplyDeleteHow appropriate to be reading Animal Farm, because we're all equal, just some of us more so. Great bird photos.
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely shots of your visitors! :)
ReplyDeleteVery pretty Lorrie! That second little bird looks fluffed up. Is he cold?
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend!
Such lovely photos. Love your sweet birdie pics. And my goodness, it seems a perfect time for an "Animal Farm" reading/study, considering.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a beautiful weekend...
Brenda
I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never read Animal Farm. Clearly, I need to remedy that! Have a good weekend, Lorrie!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, Lorrie! Flowers! (Here it has been snowing again and there's about 50 cm of snow now.)
ReplyDeleteIf there's something good in this era of alternative facts it's that books like "Nineteen Eighty-Four" have become bestsellers. "Animal Farm" is a must as well.
Have a sunny weekend!
Ooh you are ahead my snowdrops are out but nothing I can see on the rosemary here yet
ReplyDeleteSo pretty bird photos Lorrie. I have never seen maillard duck, so beautiful. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteSuch great photos. I never get good close ups of birds, they just dash off too quickly. Snowdrops are such a joy. 😊
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a duck like that - so pretty. I was wondering about the warm fooling the plants, glad to see yours are fine. Nice photos.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing the Wigeon photo, not seen one in person. Enjoy the weekend.
ReplyDeletebeautiful pictures.. the hyacinth has just started blooming.. so gorgeous..
ReplyDeleteSweet signs of spring there Lorrie. I love hearing the red-winged blackbird sing. Still lots of snow here and I'm sure more to come but I'll enjoy seeing your signs of early spring there. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteJust love the five photo's you've shared ...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful birds and beautiful flowers ...perfect.
Have a lovely weekend
All the best Jan
THe images are so welcome. WE have moved and i wonder if my old snow drops are up at the old yard. I'll bet they are. It is okay. No snowdrops here but I have the quiet and peace of the woods! We have seen the fox and heard more than one this week at night. THe sun never lies and it is setting later and later so SPRING will come to Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious to know how quickly the bees will be around to take advantage of the flowering rosemary. I was really surprised at the little video my daughter sent me the other day when she took her littles to their community garden plot -- the crocuses were blooming and bees were happily buzzing among them! We haven't anything here yet to attract them really early in the season, but I think I need to get a pot of rosemary going very soon!
ReplyDeleteDear Lorrie
ReplyDeleteI love all the duck and bird photos you snapped on your walk - you did well it seems to have so much luck at getting so close!
I must get a new camera with a good zoom - I have a big birthday next month so it could be a possibility haha!
The humble Snowdrop is my favourite Spring flower - it was lovely to see you enjoy them too.
I planted a few in my Grape Hyacinth planter last year but they were disappointing.
I always love your posts Lorrie - I wish we could travel to Canada one day as I'm sure our husbands would have much in common too! Ratty and Mole maybe!
Shane
Wonderful photographs. The detail, especially on the birds is wonderful. It is great to see life and colour returning to the garden. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteYour bird pictures are just so beautiful and so cute, these little sparrows !
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos - the wigeon is especially wonderful. This year we have massive flocks of wigeons - seems like thousands. Sometimes they are mixed with mallards and sometimes on their own - I love their little voices. I've never gotten such a close shot as that - lovely. We are waiting for something to bloom, close, but no flowers yet.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pics Lorrie, as always, and I just love them. And rosemary flowers in February! I have never heard of that. Hope you have had a good weekend to restore you for another busy week. x
ReplyDeleteYou always take such lovely pictures! Glad to see that spring is coming your way much sooner than ours, lol... we got about an inch or two of snow last night :)
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm late catching up Lorrie! But I'm glad I got here - as I loved your post! Birds, the woods, flowers - all things singing Spring - just feed my soul right now. ;) We got more snow over the weekend...and it had just really started feeling Springy around here! Looks like nice weather may be back in a week - here's hoping.
ReplyDeleteBlessings on your week ahead. xoxo
I'm catching up today and love the snowdrops and early spring and your polka dot wellies. It is quite amazing to be reading Animal Farm right now at this time in history. I think a lot of people older than your students should read or re-read it. /Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to be late visiting, but I wanted to wait until the link had closed and I could write to everyone who had taken part. Thank you so much for your support of Five On Friday this week and in the weeks gone by. I do so appreciate it and have really enjoyed reading your posts. I hope that you will enjoy going to the new link up just as much and will continue to take part. I hope that I will still see you at my blog sometimes, I will of course still be visiting you sometimes too! Best wishes and many thanks.
ReplyDelete