[Cooking Up Art] Birdfeeder Buffet

[miladycarol]

Cooking Up Art website

… or, How To Make Dish Washing Exciting.

I am usually fairly dutiful about cleaning dishes. I choose not to have
a dishwashing machine, so it’s all me. Though it’s never, historically,
been my favorite thing to do, I have managed to make my mornings at the
sink some of my most magical. I have the fortune of a window over the
sink. This window overlooks part of my back yard, a part which I’ve
turned into my little piece of Eden. The central view of this window is
the Birdfeeder Buffet. I will often stand at the sink to eat my
breakfast and drink my tea so I can watch Critter Cinema. This morning,
I was rewarded by special guest appearances – American Goldfinches!
Last year, I had Lesser Goldfinches, so this is their first spotting of
these amazingly brilliant yellow birds.



I also found another new bird to my yard at the end of March which,
with the aid of the trusty bird ID book I keep on the window ledge, I
identified as a Red Shafted Northern Flicker.



Every day I grow more deeply in love with the little patch of land I’ve
cultivated and I feel rewarded by so many delightful visitors to
entertain and amaze me.

Breathe deeply,
Laugh with abandon,
Love wholly,
Eat well.

MiLady Carol
www.miladycarol.com
Dazzling jewelry that reflects sparkling personalities!

Comments

[darthsunshine.livejournal.com]

I've been watching a goldfinch flit around my yard this morning, too! :) I'm not sure if they've figured out yet that I finally restocked the little hanging sock-like finch feeder with nyjer seed, but they seem to be finding things they like in amongst all the mosses and lichens of the back apple tree. :)

Hooray for backyard birding! It's so much fun.

[miladycarol.livejournal.com]

Is nyjer seed the same as thistle? Those little, thin, black rice-like seeds? Perhaps I just don't pay attention as I buy it from the bulk bins.

[darthsunshine.livejournal.com]

Yes. And actually, your query led me to look up nyjer on wikipedia, where I learned much that I did not know before. I think I've always seen it labeled as 'nyjer thistle seed', so I've always assumed that nyjer was a variety of thistle. I was, apparently, quite wrong. Because those seeds aren't really seeds at all, much less thistle seeds (they're technically a fruit). And they come from Ethiopia (part of why they're so spendy). And they're used in some Indian cooking.

Yay! I learned things! :D

[miladycarol.livejournal.com]

How interesting! I had no idea, either. We both learned something! Yay us! I'm feeding them Ethiopian fruit! Who knew?

[mintogrubb.livejournal.com]

You get some lovely birds on your continent, i must say!

That Scrabble game I mentioned is on facebook and it's called
Lexulous.

Google it and see if it comes up.

[miladycarol.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've found it, now I just need the time to challenge someone to a game. *smiles* I love Scrabble, and I know it takes me a very long time to play a game.