What's outside of your picture window today?

Posted by John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop, Nov 25, 2020

As we get ready for the real winter to show up and COVID-19 still playing a major part in our lives I like to spend moments of my day de-stressing about what's going on in the world today. All I have to do is look out the window and observe some of natures beautiful creatures, how they interact and ponder how small it makes my troubles seem. Sometimes I may even get the opportunity to take a photo or two. How about you? Anything going on outside of your window(s) that you want to share?

For those members that have the ability to size your photos before you upload them to the discussion, may I suggest using the following sizes:
– 500 x 335 pixels (landscape)
– 210 x 210 pixels (square)

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Mom and Dad teaching the littles to garden. Not technically my window I guess, but teaching a 5th generation!
One of the day lilies in my Jean Garden - in honor of my 95 year old friend and mentor.
A different view of my pond and patio.
This morning was dedicated to thinning and weeding 5 garden beds. Only 2 more to go!

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@merpreb

Have you not taken down your feeders yet? My state has asked that people not feed or offer water for birds due to the virus that's going around.

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I just learned about the illness this morning! Wisconsin DNR is following the progress of the disease from eastern states. It’s as near as Indiana now. Wildlife sanctuaries in WI are removing their bird feeders and recommending taking a proactive approach to the spread. If an ill bird is at the feeder it can quickly spread the disease. Apparently it’s young fledglings which are coming down with crusty eyes, discharge, neurological symptoms and ultimately death. No known cause yet. That’s really sad. I’m old enough to remember when our songbirds died off from DDT. It’s been such a treat or is that tweet, to have them serenading again.

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@sueinmn

Can you tell us what virus? My birds and I would be very unhappy. I checked with my sister-in-law a Master Naturalist and she hasn't heard anything in MN.

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Sue, from what I’m reading it’s an unknown illness that’s not been seen before.
“This is absolutely different from what we’ve seen in our wildlife community before, so it’s a lot of the unknown factors and it’s affecting birds that are typically not impacted by something like this,” said Bankson.” (She’s the curator of birds at a local wildlife sanctuary.)

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@loribmt

Sue, from what I’m reading it’s an unknown illness that’s not been seen before.
“This is absolutely different from what we’ve seen in our wildlife community before, so it’s a lot of the unknown factors and it’s affecting birds that are typically not impacted by something like this,” said Bankson.” (She’s the curator of birds at a local wildlife sanctuary.)

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Okay, I bet it will be in the birders section of our paper tomorrow- I'll follow local recommendations.
Sue

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Hi @artist01, @ess77 @lioness @jakedduck1 and everyone! Looky who was peeking inside my kitchen door this morning! Aww little Bambi. She was also helping herself to the breakfast buffet of hostas and stargazer lilies! Her mom was sniffing the silk flowers in the window boxes!

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@loribmt

Hi @artist01, @ess77 @lioness @jakedduck1 and everyone! Looky who was peeking inside my kitchen door this morning! Aww little Bambi. She was also helping herself to the breakfast buffet of hostas and stargazer lilies! Her mom was sniffing the silk flowers in the window boxes!

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They are so beautiful! Too bad they are always hungry when they visit us.
Sue

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@loribmt

Hi @artist01, @ess77 @lioness @jakedduck1 and everyone! Looky who was peeking inside my kitchen door this morning! Aww little Bambi. She was also helping herself to the breakfast buffet of hostas and stargazer lilies! Her mom was sniffing the silk flowers in the window boxes!

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Our deers are dwindling because of too much building. Rhode Island has a large shoreline so there is only so far to push either in or out. It makes me so damn mad. Did you know that Bambi was a male?

REPLY
@sueinmn

Mom and Dad teaching the littles to garden. Not technically my window I guess, but teaching a 5th generation!
One of the day lilies in my Jean Garden - in honor of my 95 year old friend and mentor.
A different view of my pond and patio.
This morning was dedicated to thinning and weeding 5 garden beds. Only 2 more to go!

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What a gorgeous patio!

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@merpreb

What a gorgeous patio!

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Thank you - Now I need to get to work out front. Since we spend our time on the patio, I didn't realize some of the other beds were so unhappy looking until I weeded.
Sue

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@artist01

@loribmt. Hey Lori! So happy to read your joyous post with all those super numbers!! Happy dances all 'round. Yaaay! You are so brave to have gone through all that you have, and glory be, to have that wonderful man at your side ( or behind your wheelchair) for all those years. You deserve no less. He's a lucky man.
I'm still in the hospital, recovering from my Myocardial Ischemic Heart Attack. My numbers aren't yet behaving as well as yours yet. Plus my IBS, my GCA, etc. Good care here though, and the nurses and staff are wonderful. My "team" have scheduled a big meeting for Tuesday a.m. to plan what in the world to do with me, where to put me, etc. I'm feeling somewhat like a homeless person just now, but I also look upon it as an adventure to be lived through with great interest and curiosity. My family are wonderfully supportive and caring. Hugs. Laur

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@artist01 Good morning, Laurie! Somehow I didn’t see this message yesterday! Thank you, yes there were some happy dances. If I could still do cartwheels without irreparable damage, I’d be flopping around all over! Not that we were expecting anything untoward but until the biopsy and blood results come back of course there’s always that bit of anxiety. Mostly for my poor husband. Not sure how, but over the years I’ve developed incredibly good coping skills and, for better or worse, tend to compartmentalize everything. That way I only allow myself concern over what is happening that needs immediate attention. Maybe it’s more like being an ostrich with my head in the sand. Either way, it works and I sleep like a log nightly. LOL
Back to you, little lady! Sigh… Well, gosh, I love your attitude too! You are able to roll with the punches and I’m so proud of you for that. Always looking on life as one adventure after another keeps us sharp and more adaptable I think. I always joke about my bone marrow transplant and what is required…a sense of adventure and a sense of humor!

Will you be in that meeting on Tuesday when all these decisions about YOU are being considered? I’m not too worried because it does sound as though you are getting incredibly personalized care and you have your family to support and step in if there’s anything NOT in your best interest. Wherever you go, I know you’ll be the bright spot and will help lift the spirits of everyone around you. It just has to be so hard for you these next few days not knowing where, what…but in the meantime you’re in a safe environment and receiving the special attention you deserve. I hope that you are finally getting some relief to get healthy from your other symptoms.

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