I'm back after yet another hiatus...

Once again I have had circumstances that have taken me away from being present here on Blogger as well as from moving forward with my "Imperfect Strangers" book project.

I feel akin to Mooch, the cat featured in the Mutts comic strip atop this entry and I must confess, the longer I'm away from my book project, the more confidence I lose re any value it might have. 

But I've received an encouraging "note" (email) from an advocate for those who suffer from NF.

It stated:

"Your struggle is real, Patricia. 

Youngsters nowadays are SO lucky to find there's information (re NF), care and acceptance of their differences, at least in safe circles.

You got a very opposite message.

Remind yourself of the courage and strength of character it took to make a new home in New York.

It wasn't the end of ridicule or discrimination, but your determination to educate the uninformed has been a real inspiration.

I'll admit that it seems cosmically unfair that you've been assaulted by so many complications - both painful and cosmetically distressing - at this point in your life.

Why you should be so afflicted I cannot understand.

All I can suggest is to set small goals for yourself each day. 

Celebrate small accomplishments.

Thank each bird who graces your garden. 

You're a good person with a kind soul. 

That's huge.

RM"

I'm not so sure RM is correct in calling me a person with "a kind soul," I can get pretty short tempered, but this is not the time or place for self-deprecation, so onward I shall go with my return to this blog.

Today, 2/02/22, is known as Twos-day! Tuesday's Truths WK 230

Welcome to my two hundred and thirtieth segement of Tuesdy's Truths.  I realize my last  post re this series was published on November 16th 2021, a little over two months ago and that particular post was published soon after I had an accident which resulted in my needing to have a surgical procedure known as Open Reduction/Internal Fixation Surgery.

Upon discharge from that surgery I had to wear a pump for a couple of days...

.... unfortunately something with the pump malfunctioned and I nearly died as a result.

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!

Inspiration From Patrick McDonnnell

Indeed, George Eliot! AND thank you, Patrick McDonnell for publishing another one of your amazing drawings  (a copy is posted directly above) and quotation citing. What a nice way to ring in the first day of fall, in the Northern hemisphere (in states that have Eastern Standard time, it offically begins today at 3:21 PM)!

As many of you may know, I am a huge Mutts fan and I've featured McDonnell's drawings and strips in a number of my blog posts.

On another note, McDonnell and his cast of characters are part of what inspired me to create my photo-comics. They are featured in my digital book, 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. An interactive book for people of all ages to enjoy together and is now available via Apple Books.

BIRD TALES is my second book with Apple. The first one, Words In Our Beak, was published in 2015.

Subsequently, Words In Our Beak's iBook version was published as a soft-cover book (with slight variations) by MagCloud. 

Following this, Ingram Spark published a hard-cover version of Words In Our Beak Volume One  (with slight variations), and they also published hard-cover versions of Words In Our Beak, Volume Two and Words In Our Beak, Volume Three. 

All versions of Words In Our Beak have a goal which is to open readers to a simple understanding of the winged world and their environment. The setting for my books is my rooftop urban garden in New York City, my stories are told in the voice of Cam, a female cardinal, who visits it. Words In Our Beak is directed to children and adults who are curious about birds, and want to learn about them from a unique perspective.

Mourning doves, the bird type featured in  the photograph directly below, where they re sitting on a pumpkin in my garden, are included in this book all my versions of Words In Our Beak as well as in BIRD TALES.

While I believe this bird type likes autumn, I don't think their likely to do the George Eliot thing and fly around in search of other autumns, their interest seems to be invested in sticking around to nosh on seeds during all types of weather, as evidenced in the photograph below.

Life in my garden is for the birds...

 

A very curious Mourning dove (visiting my garden the other day) seemed to be observing a lone American robin, who appeared to be looking for his parents.

Mourning Dove Beating the Heat

Yesterday was an extremely hot day, especially for May, and especially if you have a lot of feathers on your body. A lone Mourning dove spent the day in my garden, while making moves to beat the heat, as evidenced in the photo atop this entry.

My Garden and Visiting Birds Were Violated! Tuesday's Truths WK 216

The photo atop this entry features a very compassionate Mourning dove (visiting my garden today) seemed to be "feeling the pain" of a lone American robin, also visiting my garden and who was staring forlornly at the area where my landlord violently ripped off my Autumn clematis vines this past Saturday. I'm now thinking there may have been a nest there. 

My garden as well as the insects and avian community who come here mean so much to me that it broke my heart to know such violence was done to them.

This is not the first time the landlord has hacked my flora, in 2019 he destroyed a large portion of my kiwi vines which I've had for over ten years. I'm doing my best to recover from the assault and to think of any recourse I might have.

On another note, and as some of you know, my garden is the setting for my three volume series hard-cover book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

They are directed to children and adults who are curious about birds, and want to learn about them from a unique perspective. Over twenty-five bird types are featured in various books of the series, including Mourning doves and American robins.

April Downpours Did Not Deter Visiting Birds (YAY)!

Today's April showers were more like downpours and lasted from early morning throughout the night. Fortunately they not deter a number of birds from visiting my garden, including a Northern mockingbird, the avian creature featured in the photos atop this entry.

Meditation for Easter Sunday 2021

In addition to a lone American robin visiting my garden yesterday (4-3-2021), a pair of Mourning doves spent many hours here. They are featured in the image atop this entry.

I am comforted being in their presence which is not surprising, given the consensus is that this bird type "represents peace and safety. However, a pair of these doves, in literature, presents a picture of devotion, love, and friendship. The mourning doves are said to encourage healing, after one lets go of emotional baggage. They represent forgiveness, release, peace, and finally moving on, or forward."

I am certainly in need of healing physically (dental wise) but I’m also in need of emotional healing  (due to my feeling broken over re the actions of someone), so I welcomed these doves as well as any healing they can offer.

Tar Beach Officially Opened Yesterday

The sighting of a Mourning dove using my rooof extension garden as his "tar beach" took place in my garden yesterday on the first day of spring. He can be seen in the two images atop this entry.

It felt a little cold to me but then I don't have feathers to keep me warm. However for this avian variety, the moment temperatures start to warm up a bit they lie with their tummy down upon the soil of a garden bed or in this case, being a New Yorker, they are familiar with tar beaches so they improvise. 

They fluff out their feathers, relax their wings, draping them outward to expose fully their "back and rump to the morning sun. A great many birds sun themselves, often in postures that give maximum sun exposure to the head, neck, and upper surfaces of the body and wings. Sunning may drive out parasites from hard-to-reach places or release vitamin D and boost energy reserves with solar radiation. And it may just feel good, too." (To read more re this quoted text, please click here).

This place is the setting for my three volume hardcover book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

The books make a perfect gift for someone who may be in quarantine or lockdown due to consequences of the coronavirus because the stories in them can bring the outdoors into the homes of those who cannot go out and about.

Bird watching: It's a legitimate hobby!

 

Mark Parisi's birds (featured in the carton atop this entry) got this! Birds watching their neighbors (and vice versa) is a legitimate hobby. I love the park and natural areas but I am truly grateful to be able to watch birds from my window as sometimes when I come upon them when outdoors, I feel as if I'm intruding on their territory.

Cinco de Marcho 2021

Happy Cinco de Marcho! A number of bird types stopped by my garden to celebrate the day including a pair of House finches and a lone Northern mockingbird, they can be seen (respectively in the next two pictures).

Other  birds also spent time here today.

Pretty Handsome In Pink

Nearly two weeks ago, here on Blogger, I posted something regarding the fact that the bird type known as Mourning doves (both genders) have blue eyelids, which can be seen in the image atop this entry.

Keeping up an outdoor Christmas tree is for the birds. Tuesday's Truths WK 206

We are still dealing with a lot of snow here  in NYC and as you can see in the set of four pictures atop this enty, House sparrows, visiting my snowy garden appear to have found solace within the branches of my Christmas tree which is still up outside.

I have taken off the lights as well as my tree topper (star) but I've left the tree up so my avian friends can find shelter and warmth during winter storms.

"Spring is just around the corner?"

Atop this entry is a copy of a Mutts comic strip created by Patrick McDonnell. It was initially emailed to me this morning, February 21, 2021. We are still dealing with a lot of snow here  in NYC and as you can see in the next set of three pictures, Mourning doves, visiting my snowy garden appear unphased to know that spring does not seem to be around the corner.

They are a bird type featured in my book series, series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

The books make a perfect gift for someone who may be in quarantine or lockdown due to consequences of the coronavirus because the stories in them can bring the outdoors into the homes of those who cannot go out and about.

The 5th Anniversary of Harper Lee's Passing

The author, Harper Lee, known mostly for her novel, "To Kill A Mockingbird," died five years ago today (2-19-2016). In honor of her memory I'm sharing three photo-ops (atop this posting) of a Northern mockingbird who hung out with a Mourning dove in my garden during yesterday's snowstorm.

Friday's Fact: Birdie's got blue eyelids!

The entertainer Elton John sang a song in which the lyrics included, "Blue eyes. Blue eyes. Baby's got blue eyes" and — as I've mentioned over the years on social media including prior posts within this blog— I often think of those lyrics when Mourning doves visit my garden, as was the case yesterday.

Upon seeing a couple of them (who are featured in the photo-ops atop this entry),  I found myself once again putting a spin on Elton John as I sang softly to this creature, "Blue eye lids. Blue eye lids. Birdie's got blue eye lids." 

Mourning doves are so inspiring on many levels.

Wednesday's Wisdom: Soon (and very soon) it will be Valentine's Day!

Yesterday I received Valentine's Day cookies for myself and valentines (in the form of suet cakes) for the birds who visit my garden, which is the setting for my three volume hardcover book series, Words In Our Beak.

Sunday Brunch in my Garden

This past Monday, here in NYC, we had a nor'easter (which I wrote about in a recent post here on Blogger). Now, six days later wet, heavy snow has been falling since early morning but this did not deter avian creatures from visiting my place, as evidenced in the photos atop this entry.

Patrick McDonnell has got this! "A little bird seed or a source of water goes a long way for wildlife!" (Wednesday's Wisdom)

I completely agree with this bird featured the Mutts's drawing atop this entry (as anyone who reads this blog I'm a huge fan of Patrick McDonnell (the creator of the Mutts strip and related cartoons). Be that as it may,  it has been beyond bitter cold the past few days (and continues to be). I spent much of this last Saturday pouring hot water over the frozen water in my bird baths (that are in my garden) in order for the ice to melt and allow my visiting wildlife to take a drink or two.