Mourning doves concur with Thoreau's sentiment! (Tuesday's Truth WK 226)

It's National Pumpkin Day and my visiting Mourning doves concur with Thoreau's sentiment (being quoted in the image atop this entry). 

As you may know, dear reader, National Pumpkin Day, Mourning doves and Thoreau are all topics I've covered on this blog.

When do my pictures say the words or when do my words paint a picture?

It is such an honor to have mockingbirds visit my garden (which one is doing in the image atop this entry), but today for my Wednesday Wisdom segment, I can't find the words to describe the feelings such visitors provoke in me.

Therefore, I will use the words that Henry David Thoreau used to describe when another bird type (a sparrow) how he felt visited his garden.

Here is what he said: “I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn.”

This quotation has been referenced in a number of my blog posts including one published on an anniversary of one of Thoreau's birthdays (July 12th 2017).

Usually I'm not one who is at a loss for words, which is a good thing since I'm a writer but today, when it comes to describing the feeling I had the other day upon seeing a lone mockingbird in my garden, I don't have much to say. 

Perhaps I'm thinking that my words about this have all been said by me (in prior posts) or have been said by writers whom admire.

Another possibly for lack of words might be due to the fact that I've taken a picture of what  I saw and it might suffice due to it being one of those picture says a thousands words things.

According to a web-page, "the idea that a picture can convey what might take many words to express was voiced by a character in Ivan S. Turgenev's novel Fathers and Sons, 1862: 'The drawing shows me at one glance what might be spread over ten pages in a book.'"

Attn! Peanuts may not be good for squirrels!?! Let them eat corn? (Wednesday's Wisdom)

THIS SQUIRREL IS FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

THIS SQUIRREL IS FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

THIS SQUIRREL IS FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

As those of you who follow this blog probably know, a alone squirrel, has been visiting my rooftop garden since July 8th 2020. He/she can be seen in the photo-ops atop this entry where he/she is spending his/her time at one of my bird feeders that I have to accommodate the needs of various birds who visit my place.

Friday's Follow Up to my 7-24-2020's Post

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR MY BOOK SERIES

Last Friday, I published a post here on Blogger which discussed Henry David Thoreau's well known quote, "The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest." 

In this follow-up post, I'd like to share with you what Thoreau had to say about this animal type in his essay, Walden 175.

I am prompted to do this upon seeing the squirrel (who has been visiting my rooftop garden since early July) enjoying peanuts from one of my bird feeders. He/she can be seen munching away while atop my ring-style feeder.

The reason I thought of Thoreau upon seeing this is I recently learned he was evidently known for leaving out ears of unripened sweet corn for these creatures during the winter.

I've never left out unripened corn in the winter (or any time for that matter) but during winter months, I have made sure my feeders (including my ring-style peanut feeder) are replenished during that season in order to provide my visiting birds with physical nourishment.

"The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest." (Friday's Fact — Actually Everyday's Fact)

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR BOOK SERIES

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR BOOK SERIES

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR BOOK SERIES

MY GARDEN IS THE SETTING FOR BOOK SERIES

Nearly a couple of weeks ago on the day of July 12th 2020, it slipped my mind to write a post in honor of Henry David Thoreau who as born on that day in 1817.

As followers of this blog undoubtedly know, I have written about him a number of times here on Blogger, and if you'd like to refer to those posts, please click here.

In the past (on a number of occasions including on an anniversary of his birthday that took place in 2017), I have confessed that "I think of the wisdom shown in Thoreau's writings on many times, but even more so when I encounter a house sparrow, which happens on countless occasions, given the number of this bird type that are living in NYC."

However, for the past few weeks, it is the presence of a squirrel in my rooftop garden which is the setting for my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

In any event, this squirrel (who is not included in my books as he/she came here long after their publication) has been causing me to ponder the writings of Thoreau; and from the pensive look on the face of the creature seen in the photos atop this entry, it seems I'm not the only one pondering.

Monday's Musings: Continuing to find JOY and PEACE when Visited by a Mourning Dove

MOURNING DOVES HAVE A BACKSTORY IN VOLUME ONE

A few days ago (July 3rd 2020), a lone young Mourning dove stopped by my place and stared into my window before taking in a view of my garden from the vantage point of the string lights that I have hanging over it (evidenced in the photograph atop this entry).

Distinguished by a Visitor

MOURNING DOVES HAVE A STORY IN VOLUME ONE

Whenever any bird type visits my garden, I often think of Henry David Thoreau's musing where he stated, "I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn.”

Although I've never had the pleasure of having a sparrow (or any bird for that matter) alight on my shoulder, even for a moment, whenever I see a bird alight anywhere, especially within my garden, I too, feel "distinguished by that circumstance."

And yesterday was no exception. A lone Mourning dove spent many hours alighting on my bouncer (he/she can been in the image atop this entry) and I felt so honored this bird chose to be here, especially given that there are so many places in NYC where a bird can spend his/her time.

Mourning doves bring a sense of peace with them whenever they visit (as you might surmise from the next set of pictures which also features the one who visited me yesterday).

MOURNING DOVES HAVE A STORY IN VOLUME ONE

MOURNING DOVES HAVE A STORY IN VOLUME ONE

MOURNING DOVES HAVE A STORY IN VOLUME ONE

The peace mourning doves bring lingers throughout their stay, as well as for a bit of time after they fly away. For your information, this bird type has a story within volume one of my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

#turtletuesday is trending on social media! (Tuesday's Truths WK 126)

Hello and welcome to the one hundred and twenty-sixth segment of my Tuesday's Truths series. I realize I am a bit late in my posting here on Blogger today, peeps. Let me confess that it's been one of those mornings (and into the late afternoon) which Jermey (the boy featured in the Zits comic strip atop this entry) can probably identify with.

The fact is I've been very overwhelmed with using social media re getting the word out about my additions to my You Tube Channel (which I hope you will check out) but I believe I will get into a rhythm with the new demands that are on me. I also need to learn a lesson from one of my favorite Central Park reptiles; turtles.

They move slowly but get it done. For as Henry David Thoreau supposedly once declared, "Nature is slow, but sure; she works no faster than need be; she is the tortoise that wins the race by her perseverance."

And speaking of turtles, they are now trending on social media (both Instagram and Twitter) with the hashtag: #turtletuesday. Maybe it’s just me, but the turtle featured in the next image looks like he/she is about to do some pushups!

As I’ve mentioned before, the shells of turtles in Central Park are the inspiration for my kaleidoscopic photographic print titled Turtle Pond.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID, Bible Readers: Scripture needs to say "AS a sparrow..." (Wednesday's Wisdom)

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

The other week I saw a male house sparrow bathing in a puddle that was on the part of a greenway that runs along the Hudson River.

Upon my seeing the little creature I instantly thought of Henry David Thoreau's quote which was in response to how he felt when this bird type was visiting his property.

He is known to have said “I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn.”

Pigeons, and sparrows, and, starlings! OH MY!

The other week, on Wednesday, August 16th 2017, I went to a wake which was held at the Papavero Funeral Home in Queens. The solemn event was in honor of the beloved Angela Mussa, who is the woman in the undated photograph atop this entry. I never met this lovely woman, who died at age ninety-three in her daughter's (Dr. Carla Mussa DDS) arms, however, I had met her daughter on a few occasions at parties that were held by our mutual friend, TT.

When TT told me Carla's mother had died, and that she was planning on attending the wake, I offered to accompany her to support Carla. I knew Carla was an only child, and that any extended family lived in Italy, therefore, I thought attendance might be sparse.

In any event, at the wake a slide show featuring photographs from various stages of Angela Mussa's life was playing, and the picture featured here is one of the images which was included.

Grainy as the image is, if you knew Angela Mussa was born and raised in Italy, you might be able to tell that it was taken in Italy, and that she is feeding pigeons. 

Tuesday's Truths WK 51: (When a Northern Cardinal pays a visit...)

I don't want this Tuesday to pass without announcing another truth for this date of July 25th, which is is something I shared on TLLG's Facebook Page. I've been honored by a visit from a male Northern Cardinal, who stopped by my rooftop garden last night to enjoy a dinner at my wreath-style bird feeder.

Wednesday's Wisdom: A Re-Visited Lesson! (From Thoreau, whose b'day is today)

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

On this day in 1817, Henry David Thoreau was born in the town of Concord Massachusetts. I have written about him a number of times here on Blogger, and if you'd like to refer to those posts, please click here. I think of the wisdom shown in Thoreau's writings on many occasions, but even more so when I encounter a house sparrow, which happens on countless occasions, given the number of this bird type that are living in NYC.

The six photographs atop this entry feature sparrows alighting atop various flora as well as various places (during all season) in my rooftop garden.

Easter Monday Musings

Today is Easter Monday (for the image credit re the picture above, click here). And according to Wiki, "Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is a holiday in some countries. Easter Monday in the Western Christian liturgical calendar is the second day of Eastertide and analogously in the Byzantine Rite is the second day of Bright Week."

In any event, this year's Easter season did not find me participating in organized religious services (other than Ash Wednesday), as I have felt alienated from my parish, and my attempts to worship elsewhere have been futile. Moreover, for the most part, church going folks have been the ones to let me down while those who don't attend services have been supportive of me.

However, this past Friday, which was Good Friday, I had planned to attend a service at a church other than my own. This was because someone who lives out of state had contacted me in early March to let me know that she would be in NYC, and wanted me to go to church with her on that date.

She also mentioned that she intended to introduce me to someone influential who might be helpful to me in advancing my endeavor with my collection of fauna-flora-insect-themed postcards and or my book, Words In Our Beak Volume One. 

In our last conversation, we agreed that she'd phone me on the Wednesday prior to Good Friday, and when she did not do so, I messaged her (via FB) the following day (Holy Thursday) to which she replied saying that she'd phone me later that day.

Thursday went without me hearing from her. And Good Friday went without me hearing from her, which was disappointing. However, on that day, I was truly blessed by an occurrence, which may not have been the case had I not been home!

Faithful friends ARE sturdy shelters.

The photograph atop this entry features a Northern mockingbird alighting on the branches of a shrub known as a Continus Coggygria (Smoke Bush) which has been growing in my garden for a number of years. I took the image when the lovely creature stopped by to spend a good deal of time with me this past Friday evening.

Distinguished by Juncoes

The photo atop this blog entry is of a dark-eyed junco. He is staring at the neighbors who live below me as he stands on a ledge which surrounds my garden that's located on a rooftop in NYC). 

A Visit From Sparrows

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

SPARROWS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

Nearly one week ago, I took these images of house sparrows alighting upon my kiwi vines, vines that were just starting to bloom after their winter nap. Seeing the sparrows enjoying the kiwi vines in my rooftop garden caused me to think of one of my favorite Henry David Thoreau quotes: “I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn.”

One of my kiwi vines acted as a narrator for my first garden-themed movie: The Kiwi Speaks! Fifteen Minutes of Fame...almost.