Furry Friends - Chapter 2

In which the children were conducted on the nature walk on a nice path around this pond. Keeping with the Addams Family spirit of the weather, my brother (and dad of the birthday girl) lowered the video camera as they were leaving the water fowl observation deck long enough to say "this reminds me of the pond behind the Bates Motel, as they were hauling the car out...", literally over the heads of the little peeps.

Once again, a sombre Saturday sonata...

...the day of the "furry friends birthday party" featured one of those mottled platinum skies we sometimes have around here in November. But it was warmer than it looks. This is what happens when you have your birthday in November....The party was held at a Park District Nature Center, and included a short nature walk--try showing 5-year olds a lot of dry prairie grasses--then the opportunity to carefully pet a large bunny and a small fluffy guinea pig (did someone say Fluffy?) a tour of the center's live animal collection, including two huge snapping turtles and a light yellow corn snake. Then the kid's came back, sanitized their hands and ate cake.

Outside my window...

in the office, Hubs' hung the thistle feeder so it hangs just inches from the glass. Mainly, this feeder attracts the goldfinches; once in a while a few other small birds. The goldies aren't so gold just now. In fall the males replace their brilliant yellow feathers with their olive-drab suits, making them look like the females do year 'round.

Recent bird report....

at the feeder the other day, we had a chickadee or two. They are quick little devils, so it is not so easy to snap a photo. Today, we still had the 'dees, as well as a nuthatch and a fox sparrow. And the rest of the usual suspects, like the juncos, cardinals, goldfinches, housefinches and the "flying mice" aka the house sparrows. A couple of blue jays investigated the big pine tree in back. (since west nile virus, we see few blue jays.)

Autumn Salad in the Big Garden Next Door

Who knew there was this much color in November?

Hobbes knows the rules...

she is allowed outside with supervision, but only if she stays out of the grass. (She's elderly, she's de-clawed and we'd rather she not get fleas). She knows we (I) will take her back inside if she starts eating grass; so she coyly keeps paws on the border stones. Once she knows she's observed, she usually just heads for the backdoor on her on. She's a smart cat; always has been.

What kind of sicko....!!?

...but, actually I thought this was great! Not sure whether it's a DIY-job or some Halloween store sells these by the million, but this is the only one I've seen. The photo worked out pretty well, too, considering the light was dim.