Birds & Cookies!

Now I know you are wondering what birds and cookies have in common.....well let me start from the beginning......



Today it is windy and some snowflakes are falling.  A great day for listening to Christmas music and baking cookies to take to my Grandkids.  My favorite is the Candy Cane cookie...First I got all the supplies out....

I haven't made these in a couple of years so I hope they turn out!

Creaming the butter and Crisco isn't my favorite thing to do...it always get stuck in the mixer...

After it is all blended, I divide it into two sections and one I add red dye to and roll them up in wax paper and put in the refrigerator for about an hour.

Then I take a pinch of the white and a pinch of the red and roll them into long, snake like things.

The white dough wasn't as moist as the red and I had a few problems but I am not a perfectionist and all I really care about is how good they taste!  You take these two and twist them together and make it look like a candy cane...

The ones on the right are going into the oven and the ones on the left just came out and the crushed peppermint was added....

This is the bag of crushed peppermint....I understand that the groceries now sell crushed peppermint....I will look for that the next time I make these....but there is something to be said for the smashing of the peppermint...relieves one of any anxiety ......lol....

The recipe if anyone would like to try...I usually get 2 dozen because I like fat cookies.... 

Then I did the sugar cookies....(I cheated...not from scratch)

While working on these cookies, I was also watching my bird feeders.....The birds were out today looking for food!

The Carolina Wren was out there with the rest of his family....Love the sounds they make...you hear them coming before you see them

Four Tufted Titmouse were out there too.....making their sweet little sounds...and of course the unmistakable Chickadee...I think that was my first bird sound that I remembered...

The Downy Woodpecker and her spouse were there too....

Then the cute White-breasted Nuthatch stopped by....

 The Cardinal was hanging around watching what was going on.....

And of course the House Sparrows were there too....but they don't like it when I let Miss Kitty out...the others don't seemed bothered by her but the Sparrows stay away....

This is Miss Kitty......She went in and out several times before deciding it was too cold and windy....

She loves to sit on the porch and watch them... 

So it has been a good day....Got to bird watch and bake cookies....and listen to Christmas music and now I am ready for the family gatherings.....I hope everyone's family gatherings will be filled with love and fun and of course, COOKIES!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!!

December Drive to Deer Creek !

I had a very nasty cold for about 10 days.  Had been inside trying to get well.  Finally I started feeling better and really tired of being home.  My sister called and off we went on a drive to see what was out there.  My sister had been taking care of her daughter and grandson...her daughter had broken her foot.  So you can see we were both ready for a nice long drive.
We first stopped at Charlie's pond.  There we watched an American Kestrel.  He was hunting for food.  He was on the telephone line and would dive down to the ground.  Sometimes he would come back to the line with a tidbit, he would eat and sometimes he would have nothing.

He also kept an eye on us.  We tried to get a little closer so I could get a better picture, but he would fly further away when we had gotten to close.
Was thrilled to see that the rain had helped the canal area that had been dry because of the drought this summer.

We then decided to head to Deer Creek but missed the turn off and turned on Island Rd. off 23.  A new adventure, we hoped.

As we were driving down this road, 3 deer ran out in front of us and we stopped and watched them leaping and running through the field.  Those cute white tails up in the air..was a treat to see. 

We came to this beautiful bridge....

With a nice view...

This was the Commercial Point Road Bridge.  I had never been out that way before.  Always something new to see and learn about.

We finally found our way to Deer Creek and started checking out our favorite places to see wildlife...nothing!  Was so quite and not even a sparrow flying around...very disappointing...

Finally we saw 4 crows and a couple of Killdeer.  So we continued driving around the Lake...then my Sister saw something moving in the tree....yes!  a woodpecker really working on this hole....A Hairy Woodpecker

From the looks of this tree, he has worked on this tree for a long time....

We then went to the Lodge, since we weren't having much luck with birds..

This squirrel greeted us at the lodge and so did this Vulture!

The Lodge was all decorated for Christmas, each tree had a different theme...

Even the deer was all dressed up.....

So we had to get into the picture too.....We have always enjoyed driving to Deer Creek and having lunch at the Lodge (but didn't today)..I recommend it to everyone, if you have cabin fever...

We continued our drive and found some sea gulls and a Heron.

There were a couple of Hawks but of course they didn't hang around....off they flew..Also saw a Northern Harrier hunting..That was fun to watch him flying around and diving to the ground..

So we started our way back to home and in the sky was this neat sight..that my sister called the Care Bear rainbow....

It lasted a long time....of course we headed for Canal Rd. to finish off our drive.  I wanted to see if the rain had helped...

This Red Tailed Hawk was there in the Canal Rd. Park as we pulled in ...and a few sparrows...

On of the Canal ruins...I think this was used to adjust the canal water level from the Scioto River which is just on the other side of this...

As we drove down the road there was more water in the canal then the last time I was by here....the falls are still dry but the pond seems to be coming back....

What is this?  On the ground and blooming in December!!!!

Dandelions!  I was a bit surprised to see them.... ;)

By now it is starting to get dark (can't wait till it starts to get dark at a later time!) and so home we went...but even if we didn't see allot of birds and wildlife...we had fun...

I snapped the sunset as we were coming into town.  What a wonderful day for a drive.

Hope everyone has the Merriest of Christmas and the Happiest of New Year!  I would also like to thank all of you that read my little blog..... Hope to have some new and interesting and exciting tales to share with you in 2013! ;)

Looking for Fairies

I was washing dishes a few days ago when I heard this sound, like tiny bells.  I looked around and this Fairy, I have hang in the kitchen was motioning to me!

 She put her finger to her lips and softly said, "Shhh, Listen closely"  I was totally amazed!  I went closer and She said I felt your feelings of thoughts of magic and fairies.  I suggest you visit the Gnome house out back."  And in a blink she was back to .....

That was very strange...so I walked out to find the Gnome house....and found it!

I stood there for a moment just looking at it wondering what I was doing... Really..a fairy said visit the Gnome.........

What is happening?  Everything was spinning and I heard this gruff voice "Find the Big One"   I had no idea what that meant either but walked around the yard until I found.

There he was where he has stood all summer..only different.   I heard him say "Go out to the woods and you will find the entrance to Fairyland"    Ok now I am beginning to think I am going crazy...but what did I have to loose?????

So here I am in the woods and thought I better ask for some directions...

 I asked this pretty creature, "Are you a fairy?"  His reply was "No, I am a "Fiery Skipper! Why did you think I was a fairy?"  I said, "You have wings and you are sitting on a flower"   The Fiery Skipper laughed and said "Oh, you have allot to learn.  Why don't you ask the birds, they fly high and get a great view of the countryside."

This Baltimore Oriole flew into the tree and I asked him if he knew where I can find the fairies?  He looked closely at me and said I should look for the turtles who line up and wait to give the fairies rides...  That was interesting as I thought Fairies could fly wherever they wanted...He asked me if I ever rode on something to get somewhere when I could walk...Yes I said and that did make sense....

Off I went to find the turtles.....

It didn't take long and I found the Turtles....I asked them if they were the Turtles waiting to give Fairies a ride?  They looked as me with such shock and the little one yelled "That is a Big Fairy...too big for me." and dove into the water and was followed by the others.  Oh dear what now!?  I was flattered that they thought I was a fairy...so on I went looking for the Fairies.....

Then I heard this chirping and behind some blades of grass was a Cardinal.  He said, "I suggest you ask a butterfly.  They know all the secret places"

While looking for a butterfly, I saw this Raccoon and asked him if he knew where the Fairies are?  He said "Follow the mushrooms" and disappeared from sight.

Mushrooms, Ok...that shouldn't be too hard....or so I thought!

 I found these and then these...

 And then I stumbled on this ...well...like a village...


Well I must be getting closer but wasn't sure.

I found this group of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and asked them for help...All they could do was argue about following the frog.  Follow the frog...No don't follow the frog...What is one to do?

Then there was the frog..."Follow Me!!"  "Follow Me!!"  He lead me to this!

Oh my this could be the Rabbit's hole (and we know what happened to Alice) or it could be a trap?  I said you go in first and he just croaked and hopped away...Now what...

Mr. Groundhog came by and asked if I had come to visit...I said No, I am looking for the Fairies.  He told me to ask the butterfly and down the hole he went.

Then this Deer whispered from the tall grasses, "I saw the Butterfly a few minutes ago in the field."

Then I saw him, The Red Admiral.  I asked him if he knew where the fairies are?  He said go under the bridge of branch to the tree with the hole and close your eyes and call for the Fairies to show themselves.  I finally found the bridge of branch, it was beautiful....

How did I miss this? I walked under and there in front of me was the Tree with the hole.

 There was this mist around it and the air spelled sweet like honeysuckle.    I closed my eyes and called for the Fairies and waited....when I open my eyes the tree had changed!

Wow...I approached it and got down on the ground to look inside.....

And the next thing I knew I was here....

How did I get here?  What happened? It was getting late, where had the time gone?

This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail said that if you see a fairy, the fairy will not let you remember. 

The Red-bellied Woodpecker laughed at me and said "Did you really think the fairies would show themselves to you."

The Great Blue Heron told me not to worry.  No one has seen the Fairies but we all know they are out there.  

The Common Buckeye said that every time you see a bird, butterfly, bug...that you have seen a Fairy.  So instead of looking for something that will never show itself to you, enjoy the sights that you can see.  There is wonder and magic in every flower that grows and blooms...

and every bird with all the different colors....

Like the Indigo Bunting.

And the insects like this Eastern Amberwing....

The Heron flew by on his way home and I knew it was time for me to go home too....

Wait, what is that movement on the ground! Maybe a Fairy!!!!

No just a Dark-eyed Junco....

The Purple Martin's were bedding down...but this one asked me... Do you see the guy sitting there?  Something is wrong with him...he never moves.....LOL...

The Moon has risen and after this adventure I am ready for a good night sleep......

                                          Or.....have I been sleeping and dreaming all this?????  

                                  Maybe I should have started my tale with "Once upon a time"..............