Bird. Watching.

These recent avian visitors to my rooftop garden (pictured above) have been one reason I believe this animal type is behind the term "bird watching." The bird varieties included within the images here (along with many other bird types) are featured my books.

My intrigue with wild birds continues to bring me joy. Tuesday's Truths WK 232

Yikes! It's been a week since I returned to my Tuesday's Truths series (with no post in between)! Not the best of practices for returning to this blog but all I can say is Neurofibromatosis health issues continue to interfere. GRRRRR!

But fortunately, in spite these obstacles, my intrigue with wild birds continues to bring me joy.

The other day a female cardinal who visited my rooftop garden caused me to spend quite a bit of time just watching her apparent interest with something on a pole (or near to it) that's in the northeast corner.

I took photographs of her antics and two of those images are featured atop this entry.

This scenario of the cardinal mesmerized by whatever was on the pole or near to it, along with me being enthralled by the whole scene caused me to think of the quote within the text based image seen directly below.

Image Credit

In any event, and as many of you know, my fascination with female Northern cardinals has been going on for a long time and this type of creature is featured in my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak, where the stories are told from the perspective of this bird type. 

Tuesday's Truths WK 231: Determination Helps

My return back to blogging (although I don't know how long I'll continue) is fairly recent, but for now I'm here, and back in the day when I was more active here on Blogger, I had a series that I called Tuesday's Truths.

The last time I posted something within this series was February 2, 2022 after I had endured a surgical procedure on my brachial plexus which was prior to subsequent Neurofibromatosis-related set backs. 

Today I'm adding this episode to the series.

It is inspired by a determined American robin who visited my rooftop garden this afternoon.

The creature became an inspiration for me to persevere, for as I was looking out my back door to my garden, and didn't see "a giant doin' cartwheels" [or a statue wearin' high heels]," I DID see a robin whose eyes were bigger than his beak, as evidenced by the photos atop this entry which feature this creature grappling with Concord grapes that had been on a plate atop a table in may garden.

I was determined to take photos of my avian visitor even though it was a bit hard to hold my DSLR and maintain my balance since I'm still wearing a soft-shoe cast and need a cane to get around, but I did what I could (albeit with a blurry result) knowing this bird was accomplishing what he/she could in an attempt to grab a grape.

Moreover, this "entertainment" was a great distraction from the rhetoric occurring on this Election Day and it was a nice "respite" from my ongoing battle with the recuperation from my August 14th 2024 foot surgery.

FYI, American robins (as do many other birds) always add delight to the atmosphere in my garden.

As you might recall, my garden is the setting for most of my bird-themed books and American robins are just one of many bird types included within my stories. 

Not so fast, Youngquist

In my last post here on Blogger that was much overdue, (the delay was unavoidable due to my having very serious medical complications), which were mostly as a result of my having Neurofibromatosis (NF), part of what I state in this post is, "Depending on the outcome of that appointment, I'm not sure how frequently I'll post but I will begin sharing content re my amazing space and the birds I observe from my window, a nice thing to be able to do when recuperating from foot surgery and a mastectomy."

The appointment I referred to was one with my surgeon who reconstructed my foot this past August. A photo montage atop this post feature my progress. The outcome of that particular doctor's visit indicated this: 

Although I will still have to use a soft-shoe cast, I can now switch out of it and a wear a special sneaker part-time, and if I use a cane I am able to walk outdoors, albeit minimally. I will return to the surgeon in November for X-rays and hopefully bandaging can be removed and restrictions on mobility will be lifted.

Monday's (11/29/2021) Memo

On this Monday after Thanksgiving, I am pleased to announce that, for a limited time, APPLE is offering a 50% discount on all of my books that are in their on-line bookstore.

These include, WORDS IN OUR BEAK, THE APPLE BOOK VERSION VERSION... as well as BIRDTALES, and IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS.

You might NEVER have an understanding of life's secret! (Tuesday's Truths WK 228)

Have you ever walked along the shoreline and felt as if you were really approaching an understanding of life’s secret, when suddenly you spot shorebirds using their long orange beaks to search for food and are immediately humbled into an understanding that you might never know life’s secret?

This question is posed in IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS, my newest book which is available in Apple's Bookstore.

On another note, the bird type I'm referring to and who can be seen in the photo directly above is an American oystercatcher and is featured in volume three of my hardcover book series, Words In Our Beak, which is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

Sunday's Sentiment (11-7-2021 Q.O.T.D.

 "Have you ever found yourself spending time in a garden but so preoccupied with your own worries and your ongoing concerns for those you love; that you almost miss noticing a bird watching you?" 

This question is posed in IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS, my newest book which is available in Apple's Bookstore.

Another reader gives "BIRD TALES" five stars!

 I hadn't noticed this review for BIRD TALES (seen in the image directly above) was posted on 10-28-2021!

Very grateful, honored and humbled that reader MK took the time to write such a heartfelt piece!

She purchased the iBook version of BIRD TALES, but for those of you who don't use Apple products, this interactive digital book is also available on Amazon.

Yet another chance to test your powers of observation!

Both photos atop this entry features the table in my garden where pumpkins and squashes are the centerpiece. The first image was featured in a prior blog post. The picture directly below it shows some changes that were made (this past Wednesday) to the centerpiece. 

Can you spot them?

Another chance to test out your powers of observation!

Two weeks and one day ago, in my blog entry for October 15th 2021, I posted a copy of the image which is atop this entry and I stated:

A few weeks ago, Juan V was here and arranged pumpkins and squashes which I received from a program at the Greenmarket. 

They are included in the photo on the left (which features one of my urban hedges aka garden shelving).

However, this past Wednesday he added something to the "installation."

Check out the photo at the right. Can you tell what's new?

By the way my garden is the setting for all versions of my books that have "Words In Our Beak" in their title.

Juan was here again today and made an "adjustment" to what is on the bottom shelf. 

Check out the photo directly below and see if you notice the chsange that was made. 

Wednesday's (10-27-2021) Widsom: American Robins probably don't make good outfielders.

An American robin (the bird type featured in the photo atop this entry) might not be the best outfielder.... 

Good thing this bird variety has other attributes which you can read about in my interactive digital book, BIRD TALES, as well as in volume three of my hardcover book series, Words In Our Beak.

BIRD TALES is available in the Apple Bookstore and it is alao available on Amazon.

Words In Our Beak Volume Three is available on Amazon or you can get it wherever hardcover books are sold by giving the bookseller the ISBN number which is 0996378545.

House Sparrows Eavesdrop! (Monday's Memo)

I am always humbled, honored, thrilled, entertained and educated when birds visit my garden (which is atop a roof extension in NYC). 

One dreary cold day (this past winter) I caught a glimpse of a lone Mourning dove having a conversation with a male House sparrow while they perched on the edge of a bird bath which was mostly filled water.

Another male House sparrow cocked his head to eavesdrop.

[Both of these bird types are included in all of my books which have Words In Our Beak in their  title and they are also featured in BIRD TALES. Info re all of these books can be found by clicking here.]

According to a page within Wikipedia, "The verb eavesdrop is a back-formation from the noun eavesdropper ("a person who eavesdrops"), which was formed from the related noun eavesdrop ("the dripping of water from the eaves of a house; the ground on which such water falls")."

This source goes on to say,  in bygone years, "an eavesdropper was someone who would hang from the eve of a building so as to hear what is said within. The PBS documentaries Inside the Court of Henry VIII (April 8, 2015) and Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace (June 30, 2013) include segments that display and discuss "eavedrops," carved wooden figures Henry VIII had built into the eaves (overhanging edges of the beams in the ceiling) of Hampton Court to discourage unwanted gossip or dissension from the King's wishes and rule, to foment paranoia and fear, and demonstrate that everything said there was being overheard; literally, that the walls had ears."

Not to be outdone by the House sparow who was listening intently to the chirping of the Mourning dove and the other House Sparrow, I cocked my head to eavesdrop, for whenever I hear what birds have to say, I learn something!

"BIRD TALES" is now also available on Amazon!

Breaking news: My latest APPLE book, BIRD TALES, is now also available on Amazon!

Sunday's (10-17-2021) Sentiment: Here's another chance to test your powers of observation!

As mentioned in a recent entry here on Blogger,  few weeks ago, Juan V was here and arranged pumpkins and squashes which I received from a program at the Greenmarket. 

However, this past Wednesday we discovered my autumn anemones are in bloom again. 

Some of them grow in a container that is on the ledge surrounding my garden and we altered the pumpkin/squash arrangement that is on my table (see photo at the bottom).

Can you tell what's new?

By the way, my rooftop garden is the setting for all versions of my books that have Words In Our Beak in their title.

TEST YOUR POWERS OF OBSERVATION!

A few weeks ago, Juan V was here and arranged pumpkins and squashes which I received from a program at the Greenmarket. 

They are included in the photo on the left (which features one of my urban hedges aka garden shelving).

However, this past Wednesday he added something to the "installation."

Check out the photo at the right. Can you tell what's new?

By the way my garden is the setting for all versions of my books that have Words In Our Beak in their title.

Thank you, Mr. Amsterdam!

Wow and Wow! I did not realize until it was brought to my attention last night, that Mr. Amsterdam who posted a gem of a review for my latest book BIRD TALES (which I shared on FB on 10/2 @ https://bit.ly/3iYbraC) had also posted a review for my very first version of Words In Our BeakThe iBook Version, which was published by Apple in 2015.

Evidently it during the time that Mr. Amsterdam was reading BIRD TALES, that he discovered the existence of my 2015 book Words In Our Beak Volume One, the iBook Version and bought it!

I love his heart felt review (directly above)!

Here's what readers are saying about "BIRD TALES"...

Very thankful to be able to say I've received two more reviews for BIRD TALES.

It features a number of birds participating in a variety of activities and is dedicated to all birds and everyone who loves them. BIRD TALES is an interactive book for people of all ages to enjoy together.

Wednesday's Words (10/6/2021): New selections are in my Fine Art America Shop!

I've added some new selections to my cards that are produced by FAA (Fine Art America) and one of my recent additions is titled Pumpkins Dress Up for Halloween, a copy of its image is featured atop this entry. To learn more about the specifics of this card as well as get info re my other greeting cards, please visit me on FAA by clicking here.

FAA can also render this (and a number of my other images) selection into a jigsaw puzzle  (a copy of an image of its box can be found directly below). For more details re this puzzle and to see my other selections, please visit me on FAA by clicking here.

This particular one is fun for families to work on together as each member could work on adding the pieces that belong to a particular pumpkin. 

The image, Pumpkins Dress Up for Halloween, is featured in volume two of my Words In Our Beak hardcover book series.

It's available on Amazon or by giving the ISBN number 0996378537 to a clerk wherever books are sold. This book makes a great gift at anytime, especially Halloween!

Update on "BIRD TALES"

Last Sunday here on Blogger, I posted a copy of my flyer that describes how to find my latest book BIRD TALES... 

... within Apple's Bookstore. 

A copy of this flyer can be seen directly below.

I thought I'd been clear in pointing out that one had to be on an Apple device to find BIRD TALES, but I guess not, for I received an e-mail from someone stating this:

"I went to Amazon and punched in your name and book title, but Bird Tales did not appear."

I'm not clear on how someone thought I referenced Amazon but because the sender of this e-mail interpetted my flyer in such a way, I was motivated to create a short video that is a tutorial on how to find BIRD TALES. A  copy of it is posted directly above and it can also be viewed on You Tube and/or Vimeo.

Meanwhile, I have now received a third review from someone who identifies himself as Scott Amsterdam. It can be read below along with the two reviews I received prior to Mr. Amsterdam's one.

If the reviews are too pixalated to read in this image, please click here to read them as they appear within Apple's Book Store.

Sunday's (9-26-2021) Sentiment

Someone mentioned to me that he had a snafu when he clicked on the link to where my new book BIRD TALES...

... can be found. 

The last thing I want is for people to have difficulty getting my book so I've created a how-to-purchase guide (a copy of it is featured image in the image directly above). The link looks pixalated in the image of my guide that is posted atop this entry, (but it looks good in the print-out version) so here I've taken the liberty of posting it here: https://apple.co/3oF2CX8