Sweathogs and THE BIRDS

Although I am happy to know that I am not the only one to sweat like a friggin race horse ( I have used that line more times than I can count- though I knew not from whence it came- sometimes I like to use real snazzy English...I'm versatile that way) I am sorry if you too are afflicted. Yes, I AM truly a sweathog ! hehehe

The only sweat reference I use more is the dainty "sweatin like a French whore in church" ....don't know where it came from but probably a western.

Seriously, it has not felt like much of a winter.Today will be the blessed exception. High of 33 degrees (that was at 6:30 when I got up), winds howling and temps dropping like a rock!

Yippee! I may get my "snow day". I am off work today and plan on spending the day at home with the only outing to be one to the woodpile and to refill the quail feeder.

The most memorable mockingbirds have been the ones in the spring nighttime ..almost always from 3 to 5 am. The little birdies were singin' their sweet song and it sounded like a jackhammer outside my window. When I have mentioned the mockingbird relocation project most people look at me like I have just threatened to blow up a nunnery or something....guess they must be sound sleepers or else sleep with windows closed year round.

I interrupted this post long enough to make biscuits and gravy. The kind others refer to as pie-dough gravy....actually mine is almost thick enough one can eat it with chopsticks.....mmmmmm.

The air was oozing itty bitty moisture particles that started to freeze on the porch. Mike and I brought in firewood and fed the critters, put the Jeep in the barn. We are all set.The moisture prompty ended just as we finished , but I have hope for more throughout the day.

Speaking of birds, I remain terrified of the movie by the same name. THE BIRDS. I must not have been very old when I peeked around the recliner to watch that movie as a kid.

It was one of the most horrifying things I ever saw (probably mild and hokey by todays standards). I still strongly censor the movies that I watch so as not to be frightened or shocked by what I see. I am a Wonderful World of Disney fan to the core.

Kill a mockingbird

What the crap is wrong with our country? My yard is terrorized by a mockingbird. He chases away everything with feathers, dives at the cat and rabbits, and when the weather is warmer this spring will certainly serenade me at 3:00 am just like his kind always does.

I waited for several weeks for birds to eat from the feeder. Normally they empty the feeder about every 3 days. There was no activity at the feeder. I sat and watched out the window and saw that the nasty mockingbird was chasing everyone else away.

I went to the Magic Box--computer----to look up sugestions for ridding the yard of a nuisance mockingbird. This is the BS that I found.www.wild-bird-watching.com/singing-at-night.html

Don't get me wrong, I love birds as much as the next person. But dang, the stupid bird has all the rights and I should just change my habits to accomodate him....I don't think so!!

Hackberry Flat

Hubby and I recently decided to take advantage of a typical Oklahoma winter day (70 degrees...not exactly my idea of winter) and check out the local wildlife area. We loaded up on the four wheeler and headed south.

Then we returned home before we had barely gotten out of the driveway. Four wheelers and dry winter days with contact lenses are not a good combo so I changed into my glasses and we headed out again.

Within just 3 miles of our house is the Hackberry Flat Wetlands Area. There we encountered a snag. Who knew that wildlife management areas don't allow four wheelers? ..not even on the roads. We didn't know the rules... but the friendly, smiling ranger-dude nicely informed us without ever losing his very broad smile. So we went home, got the truck and went back to Hackberry.

Millions of dollars have been spent returning this farmland to a "marsh for the sanctuary of waterfowl". Hubby and I wanted to see what that entailed.

We saw a bunny, some red-winged blackbirds, geese, cranes, ducks and a few other birds. And acres and acres of grass. We listened to the wind blow thru the tall grasses. We listened to geese and cranes honking overhead. We watched a dazzling sunset while looking at the full moon glowing overhead.

I walked out onto a long pier to an "observation station" - a wooden structure open on two sides with small openings in the enclosed sides so one could observe wildlife without being seen. I listened. I observed. I appreciated....all the wonderful things that I already see and hear every day at home.

Then I knew what all the fuss was about. This was a place for people not as fortunate as me to be able to go and enjoy all the awesome things that I was blessed to be able to enjoy everyday from the sanctity of my own home.

Today I drank my coffee and watched thru the window while the bunnies played tag in the front yard. I saw a huge hawk land on the branch of my cedar tree, and listened to the wind chimes in the always-blowing wind.

Nature...it's a great place to visit......but even more wonderful to live there.