My Winter Hummingbird and Others

On Dec. 9 I thought I saw a hummer at my feeder, but the next day thought I had dreamt that I saw a hummer, looked out the window and there he was! I have lived in GA for 30 years and have never seen a hummer this late in the season, and it was not a Ruby Throat, it was a hummer I had never seen.  I know it's hard to see him in this photo.

And this photo isn't any better.  He is not friendly like the Ruby Throats, and when I come out to take his picture, he's off.  I immediately went online to find out more and how to keep his food from freezing and found this website GA Hummers

 

Julia Elliott from Ga Hummers and working with the Dept. of Fish and Game will be coming next week to band little "Prancer" and identify him since I am one of the lucky ones to have a wintering hummer.  She assured me I will be able to get plenty of up-close photos.  Right now I am keeping a log of when he is at the feeder.  She needs to get him early in the morning on a very cold day.  Looks like next Thursday will be the perfect day, our coldest yet with highs in the '30s (yuk)! 

These are some photos from the end of summer of the Ruby Throats, and there were so many it was like a swarm of bees.  I have a wonderful video to share, if I can ever get it up on this blog.

We also had a huge flock of Bohemian Waxwings, one of my favorite birds.  The berries are plentiful right now, and I can count on seeing them outside my kitchen window every year.

This one reminds me of the famous "mad blue bird" that has been around for years on everything from calendars to coffee mugs.  Next post we will know more about my little Prancer!

Christmas Day

Racing around Christmas day, forgot to take pictures of the pretty table set in front of a blazing fire, the guests or anything for that matter . . . except for Jamie Oliver's Winter Pudding Bombe.  Next, homemade lasgne for New Year's Eve.  Took 22 hours the first year to make it, the next year 16, but this year I hope to make it in half the time, fresh noodles and all!

Christmas Eve

Leila was the happy recipient of a chocolate sponge roll.  I missed making one for her birthday in June, so on a whim decided to whip one up and deliver it for Christmas.  She was so happy she picked up our tab at CPK!

After lunch and the movie, I came home to find not one flower arrangement, but two!  This one is from George & Patti . . .

. . . and this lovely one is from my cousin and his wife, Rich & Chryss.  One can never have too many flowers no matter what time of year!

This evening we drove around and looked at Christmas lights.   This house was completely whacky and the photos don't do it justice, but it is definitely in the holiday spirit.

                                  

Time to relax and open a few gifts before the big day tomorrow.  

 

  Merry Christmas!

Countdown to Christmas

Saturday night the couple buying our house came by for eggnog and cookies

A gift I received from a friend in North Carolina

Couldn't wait to give my gift basket a try at Trader Joe's

The cookies are baked and ready to be delivered

The chocolate sponge rolls are also baked and ready to be delivered

Big mistake making meringue cookies with the humidity we're having, but I did put a few in each container

Wrapped and ready for delivery!

Bob's tower of gifts await to be opened on Christmas Eve after dinner out and a movie.  This year we are passing up going to the Ruggieros' in favor of seeing "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo."  Been looking forward to this movie.

Christmas will be quiet with only my ex-pat girlfriend from England coming with her granddaughter.  New Year's Eve will be our big celebration this year, serving our homemade lasagne and seeing friends we haven't seen for quite some time.  This will be our last holiday season in this home, and we're looking forward to 2012~

27 Years of Wedded Bliss!

A docent at the solar house was kind enough to take our photo for our anniversary.

For our anniversay, we decided to go to a fairly new museum and planetarium instead of the usual dinner or gifts.

There was also a solar house to walk through to get some ideas for building.

Some items of interest inside the museum.

At this time of year there is a Christmas concert inside the planetarium while gazing at the stars.

There were cases of beautiful minerals in one of the rooms.

This quartz had a light inside and it had a wonderful glow.

We met an old attorney friend there who docents on the weekends and enjoys working at the museum, probably more than being an attorney.

It was a very nice anniversary.  What will we do next year??

The Holiday Season Has Begun!

A cherished antique pinecone elf from West Germany found by my mother at a yard sale almost 30 years ago is one of my prized Christmas curios I keep in my cupboard with glass doors year round.

Packages are ready to be mailed.  Somehow a theme started with elves and snowflakes.

My favorite wrapping this year with felt ribbons.

The tree is simple with it's own theme of mushrooms and icicles.

A glass hummingbird is my new ornament to add to my collection.

Saturday night was the first holiday party of the season at "Salt".

A beautiful old brick building with unique lighting newly added, which I was trying to capture in this photo.

Dressed for the holidays!

Fried garbanzos, ceasar salad and cappicola, all very tasty.

A good start for the first week of December!