Humming Birds

They were out in full force tonight. Senior, NW and I sat as still as we could in the graveled driveway of the estate. I waited patiently with my camera.  I love these little critters...so amazing to watch, and full of personality.

NW told me he wished to be a hummingbird for just one week so he could live with them, and fly like they do.
ND said he wanted to be one so he could justify drinking straight sugar water...lol 

 

 

 

Then the clash of thunder was heard off in the distance...  rain began to sprinkle and our playtime with the little friends soon ended.. 

Bird Houses Of The Estate

When Senior and I were dating and I first began what would be many trips over the past 20 years to the Carolina Estate, my in-laws were heavily devoted to the wild bird population that made its home in the trees.
My Father in Law , a contractor by trade constructed many houses for the local winged ones to reside in.You stroll about the hill top and you see the fruits of his labor everywhere. A simple walk down to his old work shop, and you see an unlimited supply of plastic ones still on the top of his work bench where he last put them.

A funny story about it was after Senior and I were first married, we were up for a visit, I went into one storage building and found hundreds of pounds of bird seed. I inquired with Senior, who got a big smile and told me that the Estate was deemed a wild bird refuge by the state, and monthly they got sent bags of the seed to feed the population. I was amazed.
Later that evening at dinner, with every one around the table I congratulated my in laws on the honor of being named a state refuge, and how great it was they would save money by having the state pay for the bird seed.
My step mother in law looked at me strangely, Senior began laughing. She said they were not a refuge, and made me feel about an inch big. I wanted to slap Senior then crawl under the table.
That story has lived on in our family's folklore and the subject of numerous dinner time discussions.

Today, the boys and I cleaned out some old hummingbird feeders, and filled them with red nector. I was reminded of another moment  during another visit, I went to the fridge for something to drink and found what I thought was fruit punch. It was in a regular pitcher.. I poured a large glass full and proceeded to refresh myself.
My Step Mother in Law once again gave me that strange look, and told me I was drinking the Hummingbird Nector.  Good Lord! I thought to myself, she must think  I am the ultimate twit...
I had never seen the stuff before, my parents never placed out feeders...Well she should have labled the pitcher !  lol   I can look back on both these situations as a good sport and laugh.

After my father in laws death, the bird population suffered a bit, no one was here on a regular basis to fill the feeders. I am happy that the boys and I have taken on the task during this summer. We have cleaned out feeders, and hung them through out the trees, the feathered population is once again returning to the trees they once called home, and to the feeders they always relied on.

-JUGM

Roses and a Sunday Morning

My coffee is perked and in my cup. Both boys were up exceptionally early playing with monster trucks. ND decided to once again scare mommy-my little "Mootie Moot" is gonna get it one of these days.

Let it be known that I love roses. I mean what girl doesn't right ? So,I cleaned out my nice concrete flower box, and started with my Knock-out rose bush that the boys gave me for Mothers day. Then I saw long stem roses at Home Depot. Yellow roses are my absolute favorite, so I chose one called " Gold Medal".  Then, a couple days later I found some smaller sizes, and got a nice blood red one.
I have room for one more, and would love a Bi-color bush--so if anyone out there EVER wanted to buy me a present..that would be a nice idea..just saying...  : )

The boys love the roses, their insightful comments never cease to amaze me though, NW said " Now we don't have to buys you flowers anymore, whenever you want a pretty rose, you can just come out here"...  hmmmm

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During our ride to school the other morning, we noticed how beautiful the sunrise looked, and thinking of Kymber and all her Sky pics, I took this one..Looks like God took a paint brush across the sky:

 

 

 

My Father in law has a complete family of Hummingbirds, there were dozens of them playing and fluttering around his feeders..So I stood as still as I could to snap this picture :

 





Now, we are off to start our Sunday, we are having a Labor Day weekend Shrimp boil with neighborhood friends. So, we are off on another fun adventure.....