I See It...Spring Is Here
Friday, April 24, 2015 at 03:09PM 
Oh how slow spring has been this year...or at least that is how it felt after such a horrible winter...but no looking back, it has arrived in all it's glory of color and song. It awakens my heart to new growth and new life...everything is easier to deal with when the sun is shinning and the birds are singing. The miracle of spring happens quickly when it decides to show it's face and I never want to miss a moment of it.
Yesterday Liam and I were in the driveway and we heard this beautiful song...Liam asked me what it was and I told him it was a bird. So we looked and wait and then in his excited, little boy voice, he saw it..."look Nana, over there, it's a red bird. A cardinal had landed and was singing a love song to his mate. That's what we decided anyways...and it's our story. Next, Liam was yelling again, "Nana the red bird is in the tree with the pink flowers."..that's when I went to my car to get my camera...fortunately the cardinal waited for me to return. I had to return my little love bug to his own home, five minutes driving time from mine, and after kisses and hugs and high fives, I told him I would be back today to take him and Jaxson to tea..and off I went with those birds on my mind.
Back in my driveway I saw some motion by this tree...amazing how many holes are in it. It seems that I have missed many woodpecker photo ops...this tree was full of holes and some a very good size...I moved my car out of the driveway, positioned it to be able to shoot out the window, directly at the hole..then I turned the engine off and waited..
I didn't have to wait long...in the quiet, except the singing of the cardinals, along came this chickadee. He took a quick look around, I think he could hear the shutter button on my camera, then quickly moved into this hole...now at first I thought he was building a nest in there but not so....
There were two little chickadee's and they were tag teaming a clean up and taking the saw dust to a different nest...using it for their family that will soon come...I kept seeing them flying off with this stuff instead of just dropping it and making a nest right in this old tree...but they have their reasons I'm sure...now, I'll have to watch the back of the house to see where they are residing...let me tell you, these two were busy for quite some time...and then all of a sudden...everything went deadly quiet. Coffee break and siesta for the birds...
Put the car back in the drive-way but now I have the bug. I have been in the house so long with only my still life to work on. It was so good to be out again...even if it was only in my front yard...but my house is a happening place you know...so I just walked across the way...and found me all kinds of nature to shoot and I forgot all about the time and the bathrooms that were waiting for cleaning...
Blossoms, buds and wonderful bokeh at the edge of the road...I love this bush in my neighbors yard. The color is gorgeous and it seems not only the cardinals enjoy it...it's an early bloomer and so we stayed together for awhile...
This is the truth about spring...these tiny yellow flowers, so fragile yet so strong...they arrive first. They stay for awhile without requiring much attention but from me they get a lot of attention...I appreciate the good news that they bring..whether they are standing tall or laying on the ground. Their appearance each year tells the story of Spring...and reminds me once again...that life is good, hope springs eternal and that even the longest winter is short when spring arrives...
In the dull pasture where I strolled
Was something I could not believe.
Dead grass appeared to slide and heave,
Though still too frozen-flat to stir,
And rocks to twitch and all to blur.
What was this rippling of the land?
Was matter getting out of hand
And making free with natural law,
I stopped and blinked, and then I saw
A fact as eerie as a dream.
There was a subtle flood of steam
Moving upon the face of things.
It came from standing pools and springs
And what of snow was still around;
It came of winter's giving ground
So that the freeze was coming out,
As when a set mind, blessed by doubt,
Relaxes into mother-wit.
Flowers, I said, will come of it.
Reader Comments (14)
Cheryl, I am so glad you let the cleaning go and took these beautiful bird photographs. As much as I enjoy the still life photography, there really is no substitute for getting outside! Love every single view! Such a beautiful poem - I added it to my collection of favorites.
Ah, I want to come visit your neighborhood, so I can get some great cardinal shots! We have them, and plenty of them, but they sit on the highest branch of the tallest trees. I'd need a 600mm zoom lens to even get a glimpse of them, and then they fly off so fast. Well, your spring is finally arriving, and I'm so happy for you to see flowers and colors, birds building nests! So exciting, and I can smell the fresh spring air there too...and the snow melting or now gone! Thank goodness! A beautiful post, beautiful photos, and a beautiful poem! I walked out again today to get more photos of the cherry tree, since the wind was still too much yesterday. Two walks in two days! That's something! Enjoy the cardinals singing and the chickadees building their nest! xx
Oh I enjoyed this! I haven't been able to stop by for a while, what with all that studying again brings, but I've been missing out! I'll have to go back & read your posts to find out what you & the boys have been up to over the winter... Your long, l o n g, l o o o o n g winter!
I too love spring and, while we've been in spring for several weeks, this week the sun came out & suddenly it was full on SPRING! Blossom & new leaves & colour everywhere- just beautiful. But I don't have the variety of birds you've got... Your cardinal photo is just great! And I loved your woodpecker stakeout :-)
I feel refreshed by a taste of New England spring & a peek into life with Nana & Liam. After the endless cold & snow I wish you a marvellous spring. Xx
Well Spring has definitely sprung in your neck of the woods I had to go a long ways to find spring and you have it out your window. Lucky girl! Love that greedy Chickadee...so funny! Enjoy each day! Oh, did you take all these with your Mark II? Impressive either way! And your writing gets better and better!!
Yes, Marilyn with the 7DMrk 11...Tamron 16-300 lens...I use that lens on that camera a lot...LR crop. I literally never left my driveway...LOL
Gwen it's o.k. if you don't get to stop by...I understand that you are busy with school and that always has first priority...thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit of spring with me...the cardinals are the prettiest but no always easy...they are very fast and don't sit for long...
Donna sometimes we just have to make a choice and with the lousy winter we had, I told my husband that if the sun was shinning I was outside...Still Life inside and toilets will always keep.
Hey Beverly, you come on over anytime...that cardinal was a lucky snap because he went into those bushes...they do like to be high and mostly in the pine trees which is hard to focus...but somedays, if your there, you get a chance at a shot...Liam was fasinated by them...thanks so much for your visit and wonderful comments....now off to finish what I should have done on Thursday...
How I love the little Dee's. Another missed sound of my home. How wonderful to see and hear the world as a child. Thanks for bringing us into your world once again. One day my friend, one day... :) <3
I'll be here waiting for you Chris...when your ready...xo
Couldn't wait to view this series on my large screen! Took a quick peek on my iPhone and thought I was seeing a new phenomenon with chickadees nesting in a woodpecker's hole . . . until I read your description!!! Fascinating that they would have found the sawdust! We saw a nuthatch grab some alpaca fiber off the ground where it fell from our hanging tree ball of fuzzies! Love sitting on our new porch watching the fabulous wildlife . . . especially this time of year! We actually have the neighbor boy make sure the feeders are full when we are away! Counted 12 cardinal pairs today! It's taken years for them to establish their home here, and we can't abandon them! Always LOVE hearing about your precious adventures with Liam . . . what a little love. I had my granddaughter "fix" while we were in MIchigan . . . but it was way too short. Blessings all around. LOVE these captures! Wonder what the woodpeckers would do if they found a chickadee in their hole, stealing some nesting supplies! Once I saw a squirrel pull its babies from a similar hole! Oh, BTW, HAPPY SPRING!!! (Although the past few days have been pretty cold down here!) xox
Wonderful photos!! I love that you captured that little chickadee working on his nest!
Awwww, so much gorgeousness, Cheryl! Just fabulous:)
All these photos are beautiful! And yes,maybe spring finally has arrived!