Happy Birthday to my One and Only

 I'm so sorry you have a cold for your birthday and that you forgot your coffee and that I'm not a party person....you deserve a big old celebration!!  Three birthdays you've been far, far away from us and last year we were just with my parents....having an "early-bird" dinner in Florida...how fitting for hitting mid-century!!  Now you are home and we have medically fragile grandchildren not to mention all the equipment both baby and medical .....but I want you to know what a treasure you are to me.

  When you bring me flowers just because they were pretty, and you didn't even look at the price tag.  I am no fun and all business and you, with the gruff exterior, are such a romantic.  I'm stuck in ruts and routines and practicality and you go to the heart of the matter with so much heart.

I know someone else who is just completely smitten with you as well.  I am so very glad I met you 30 years ago!  Happy Birthday!!

Flashback Friday

Where are my sister's mittens???  And how come I always had to be up front?  This was a train - two sleds held together - and on the dead end/driveway in front of our house.  Not as dangerous as the toboggan which held all of us.  My spot was in the front wedged between my brother's legs and the scoop front of the toboggan.  My eyes were usually shut tight while we screamed downhill, inevitably hitting a bump or the boys would dig their feet in for brakes and send us flying.  Often I was still wedged in the front of the tipped over toboggan with my face sliding through the snow....or ice.   My mother was not too happy on more than one occasion when my oldest brother would bring me home a bit bloody.  I'm sure the older two wished they could have left me home a few times, but I'm grateful they took me along, injuries and all.

Seeing Red

This is how it begins, a glimpse of red standing out in stark contrast to the grays of winter.Cardinals come to the feeder at low light ~ just before dawn and just as dusk rolls in.

 Male

or

female

I find them both striking!....and so easily startled!!

Leucistic American Goldfinch?

This little bird caught my eye out at the feeder this morning.  I'm thinking Leucistic American Goldfinch?