It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is here and I've been publishing a number of posts in the month leading up to the "holiday." I do realize it can be a rough day for some. If that "some" includes you, dear reader, know you are not alone, so find love and joy where you can (there's a lot of it out there).

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.

Did juncoes inspire the article of clothing known as a cape?

It is very cold today The sweet-looking Dark-eyed junco (who visited my garden today and can be seen in the photo atop this entry) is a bird type that loves cold temps. Hence this creature's nickname of "snowbird" seemed to be using his feathers in a way that resembles the way humans wear a cape!

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.

"...Bully bird species are naturally more aggressive and territorial about their feeding areas." (Tuesday's Truths WK 204)

Today I'm offering my 204th segement of my Tuesday's Truths series where I am pointing out this fact: No bird is intentionally cruel." 

But did you know, "bully bird species are naturally more aggressive and territorial about their feeding areas, protecting food sources exclusively for their own use." For instance, "House sparrows, often feed in flocks and can crowd out other birds so more species cannot access the seed. Some bully birds will even guard a feeder they perceive as theirs and will attack or chase away any other birds that try to feed." 

In the picture seen directly above (which was taken in my garden during the 2-1-2021 nor-easter), the sparrow at the left seems to be the one guarding the feeder. The quotes are from an article in The Spruce (which you can read by clickin here). As for sparrows, they are one of many bird types featured within my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak.

By the way, sparrows are featured in my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak.

Monday's Memo: Catch a Falling Snowflake

Sally (seen in the image atop this entry) knows how to find happiness during a snow-day, and so did my visiting starling! When he stopped by during yesterday's snowfall it appeared he was trying to catch snowflakes with his beak (as evidenced in the photograph directly below).

By the way, starlings are featured in my three volume 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.

Saturday's Snippet: "emilia" Is A New Place To Get Food On The UWS!

The other day I received an email saying, “a new delivery-only Italian restaurant called 'emila', has opened on the Upper West Side snd offered to send me some food, so I thought I'd pay it forward as a token of my appreciation for your work.”

I was delighted that someone appreciated my work and that they thought of me. I took him up on his offer and contacted the lovely Anastasiia Kozlovska, who with her husband, Sergio Serafin Spera, collabrated with Luca Di Pietro, owner of Taralluci e Vino, a restaurant that is located at the same location as emilia (475 Columbus Avenue, on the corner of 83rd Street located in the UWS of NYC).

Anastasiia referred me to the menu on restaurant's website, where I read, “At emilia, we're all about satisfying food. Everything we do pivots around the essence of Italian cuisine – simplicity and freshness. We believe every dish should be served with casual warmth and care. Just as Nonna would have done it.”

I chose their Fusilli Cacio De Pepe for an entrée and she suggested I order a scoop of Burrata to place on top. When I received an email of what would be delivered to me (which in addition to the main dish included Butternut Squash Soup and Tiramisu), Anastasiia wrote, “I can send you a bottle of white wine!?”

My “goodies” arrived in a bag that included a bouquet of roses (which cam be seen in the photo atop this entry) and a couple of heart-shaped shortbread cookies, causing me to think if this was far beyond “casual” warmth and care! Their Nonna would be most proud.

I have not been able to eat much of anything due to my tremendous pain and difficult in digesting food (as a result of needing to complete my dental procedure). This meal was a true blessing. It has been a long time since I’ve enjoyed eating any food.

My visiting figurines who posed (seen in a the photo-ops posted below) with some of what emilia sent me...

...concurred with me that if my NYC peeps are wondering what to do for this coming Valentine’s Day (which is a week from tomorrow), get thee to emilia’s web-site and order a meal for your true love. Fyi, they are open (delivery only) from Monday through Sunday between the hours of  9am to 9pm. Their phone number is 315.544.3788. and their email is hello@orderemilia.com

Friday's Follow-Up Re A Visiting Jay

Atop this entry is a copy of a Mutts cartoon created by Patrick McDonnell. It was initially posted in celebration of the 2018 Winter Solstice and I thought of the sentiment expressed by Mooch during the nor'easter which occured in NYC this past Monday (2-1-2021).

As I said in my blog post about the event (which I published the next day) an array of bird types (including a lone American robin, several Dark-eyed juncoes, a number of House sparrows, an entourage of Mourning doves, and a lone Northern mockingbird) spent a lot of time in my garden during this storm. 

The day following the storm, which happened to be Groundhog Day, a Blue jay stopped by my place.

A Bernie Sander's Meme Featuring Cam and Mac! (Thursday's Testimony)

Does anyone happen to remember when a House sparrow alighted on Bernie Sander's campaign podium in 2016? It was adoreable. Here's the link to a recording of the incident in case you missed it and/or want to refresh your memory). My recalling that sparrow plus seeing all the Bernie Sanders mitten-memes inspired my idea to create a meme with him wearing my cardinal-themed face-mask.

2021's Ground Hog Day + NYC's 1st Nor'easter for this Year (Tuesday's Truths WK 203)

Results are in! A couple of hours prior to this seemingly pensive Blue jay (seen in the picture directly above) alighting on the branches of the smoke bush that I have in my garden, NYC's spokes-groundhog predicted an early spring. However, Phil, the spokes-groundhog for nearby Pennsylvania predicts six more weeks of winter.

STOP THE SPREAD (of lovers's quarrels)

HOUSE FINCHES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

The other day was quite cold and I noticed a male House finch puffing up as he perched on a branch within an Ailanthus tree in my courtyard. Puffing up is something birds do to keep warm as I mentioned in this past Friday's posting. 

Male House finches are red and the females have brownish tones thus they blend in with nature, which is helpful in them being able to protect a nest.

The one seen here (lower left) blends in with the branches so much that I may not have noticed her had I not wondered what the male was looking at. Their distance reminded me of the social distancing, a "task" that folks around the world have been asked to keep to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Friday's Fact: Mourning doves have their love to keep them warm!

MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

It's been very cold and I've been wearing layer upon layer, but Mourning doves don't have to bundle up when the temps are so low, all they do is puff up (as evidenced by the image atop this entry which was taken in my garden the other day). Another way they may be keeping warm is by their love for their partner.

Tu B’Shevat 2021

Just four days ago on January 24th 2021, I published a blog post (where I included a copy of the snapshot above this entry) in which I discussed my maternal grandfather's apppreciation for trees, something I seem to have inherited.

Then last night I had a conversation with a neighbor (LS) about the recent vandalism which occurred in my building and my roof extension garden, I mentioned that a main concern I had experienced during that crime was for the birds who visit my place and who have enjoyed the trees that I have planted over the years.

Knowing my love for trees, LS kindly told me that Tu B’Sheva had begun at sunset then explained that it would end at sunset tonight (1-28-2021). She went on to say Tu B’Shevat (or the birthday of all fruit trees) is s a minor holiday.

My knowedge of many aspects of Jewish holidays is minimal, even though I have a somewhat famous paternal Jewish ancestor, Rosa Sonnenschein, whom I've written about on this blog and who is featured in the image below).

After I spoke with LS, I did some research. I learned (from a writer re Jewish learning who calls him/herself MJL) Tu B’Shevat's name "is Hebrew for the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat. In ancient times, Tu B’Shevat was merely a date on the calendar that helped Jewish farmers establish exactly when they should bring their fourth-year produce of fruit from recently planted trees to the Temple as first-fruit offerings." 

Now, honor of Tu B’Shevat, I will share photo-ops of birds enjoying the trees in my garden (during by gone years and at this present time).

I will also include photographs of them enjoying the Ailanthus Trees in the courtyard and trees. I will start with the trees that are no longer with me as a way of honoring their memory.

"Birds are like teenagers They don't write. They don't call." (Wednesday's Wisdom)

CARDINALS ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

CARDINALS ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

Cardinals used to visit my garden on a frequent basis but lately not so much and I was thrilled when one stopped by a few weeks ago. He is featured in the images atop this entry. I never know the reason for their absence. When I expressed this concern to a neighbor, he told me, "Birds are like teenagers They don't write. They don't call."

In the spring, becomes the geranium....

When I am in my garden on a cold January day and notice few geraniums who are poking their heads through the mulch (as that flower type is doing in the photo directly above) that was put there to protect them during a cold winter days, I think of some lines from a The Rose, a song written by Amanda McBroome. 

Her song was made popular by Bette Midler and the lyrics I'm thinking of go like this, "...just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes the rose."

In this instance, my geraniums weren't lying beneath the bitter snow (although they were doing that last month), they are lying beneath layers of mulch put in their container when iI did my annual garden winterizing ritual.

N'tl Bird Day 2021 has come and gone! However, one can continue to celebrate! (Tuesday's Truths WK 201)

MALE HOUSE FINCHES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

This two hundred and one segement of Tuesday's Truths is to alert you to the fact that National Bird Day has come and gone for the year 2021. It was celebrated three weeks ago on 1-5. Information re this holiday can be found in a number of places on the web including a page for National Day. 

In bygone years, I've published posts about this occasion as I certainly appreciate any occasion that aims to raise awareness about members of the animal kingdom and I don’t think it needs to be limited to one day.

But this segement is also designed to let you know that if you missed this year’s National Bird Day, just make it a point to do something that will benefit our feathered friends, such as making sure any bird feeder you have is clean as well as replenished. 

They will truly appreciate your efforts as evidenced by this male house finch (in the photograph directly above) who is enjoying a snack from a feeder in my garden.

Another thing you can do is to make sure your bird bath is clean and if winter temperatures are prevailing, make sure the water isn't frozen.

“A new day. A blue jay. A new beginning...."

Blue jays visit my garden frequently and the other day was no exception. My latest visitor can be seen in the image atop this entry as well as in the ones directly below.

Upon my seeing this creature, I thought of some lines from a poem by Eleanor Farjeon which go like this, “A new day. A blue jay. A new beginning...."

You may recognize her name as she wrote the hymn, "Morning Has Broken," which is usually associated with Cat Stevens whose recording of it popularized the song.

This bird type, which sometimes gets a bad rap, has influenced me from an early age when I drew (albeit not very well) the creature's picture.

Taking a Cue From Mourning Doves

MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

The other evening after the sun went down, I noticed at least seven mourning doves sitting in my rooftop garden. Due to their coloring and the darkness of the sky, they nearly blended in with the blacktop surface; so it was hard to observe their behavior and impossible (given the constraints of my camera equipment) to photograph them.

Valentine's Day 2020

A SIMILAR IMAGE IS FEATURED IN MY HT  ARTICLE

My visiting Cupid figurine featured in the image atop this entry (where he is standing amongst succulents that grow within my indoor garden) joins me in saying Happy Valentine's Day from my place to your place.

He has been coming to my place annually for a number of years now, therefore, you may recognize his face from prior entries here on Blogger or from an on line HT article that I wrote for in bygone years.