Our version of retirement: Living a childhood dream

Pizza run.....?
iu
 
So, I was on another site, showing some old tools
and my semi-finished tiny abode caught my eye

The desk lamp was shining into the little room
exposing the inside perch
I sometimes put a root thru the roof to sorta make a 'loft'
along with an outside perch
Anyway, never thought to take a pic with half the roof open before

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Oh, and my lady made a pie

a cherry pie
my favorite since I don't know when

Dinner

pie 2.jpg



Saved her the other piece
 
While carving on tiny abodes in the shop
I noticed the routine of a Jay, when grabbing a sunflower seed from the feeder
He'd touch down
grab a seed or two
cruise over to the tiny abode on the post
and bash those seeds against the weather cap of the abode

Now, I've watched this happen all summer
Last week I considered a few pics

I really don't know how professional photogs do it
I have no patience for it

However, today, it happened
several times

I had the Nikon at hand

You think I had the right settings?
The right lens?
The sun was just right?

None of that

Can't even tell if there even is a feeder

sigh

Tomorrow's another day

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feeder clsoe up.jpg

close up.jpg
 
While carving on tiny abodes in the shop
I noticed the routine of a Jay, when grabbing a sunflower seed from the feeder
He'd touch down
grab a seed or two
cruise over to the tiny abode on the post
and bash those seeds against the weather cap of the abode

Now, I've watched this happen all summer
Last week I considered a few pics

I really don't know how professional photogs do it
I have no patience for it

However, today, it happened
several times

I had the Nikon at hand

You think I had the right settings?
The right lens?
The sun was just right?

None of that

Can't even tell if there even is a feeder

sigh

Tomorrow's another day

View attachment 244273



View attachment 244275

View attachment 244276
I can see him and the feeder. Keep at it.

I'm wondering why it's not full of squirrels. I'm inundated with them!
 
I live trapped most of them, and let 'em out at their new home
In the huge park a couple miles away

Now, if they'd have been Golden Mantled, I'd have changed everything I had to turn the yard into their little kingdom

View attachment 244291
I had to look up Golden Mantled. This side view shows how different and cute these critters are. I thought it was a chipmunk. We don't have these in New England:(.

callospermophilus-spermophilus-lateralis-golden-mantled-ground-squirrel.webp


There are 3 types of squirrels in CT, Gray, Red, and Flying squirrels.

I have never seen a Red squirrel here. Only Gray. Never saw a flying one either.
iu
 
Kind of a neat thing about these little guys

They have some pretty wicked claws

You can see 'em in this pic where he looks like he's hollering at me about breakfast being late
hollering.jpg

But, as much as they pretty much climbed all over me, never got a hint of a scratch

I'd get a bit nervous when they'd go for the peanut
But they were so very careful
Could barely feel their ever so gentle touch

finger food 1.jpg
 
While carving on tiny abodes in the shop
I noticed the routine of a Jay, when grabbing a sunflower seed from the feeder
He'd touch down
grab a seed or two
cruise over to the tiny abode on the post
and bash those seeds against the weather cap of the abode
I remember the crows at the little corporation I worked
Had a window by my desk
With a nice view of the drive
Watched the crows grab an acorn
Soar into the air
and drop it
I thought, well, they're not all that bright
Those shells won't break like that


Then a car drove thru the cul-de-sac
Drove right over the acorns
smashing them

....then came the crows

gotta love that
 
Been running all over town today

By the time I settled into the shop, the sun was beginning to set

Got a tiny abode in semi finished

semi fin side.jpg

Going easy on the twisty roots
Centering on highlighting the rays of wood grain coming from the entry

semi fin.jpg



We'll see how this goes
 
While carving on tiny abodes in the shop
I noticed the routine of a Jay, when grabbing a sunflower seed from the feeder
He'd touch down
grab a seed or two
cruise over to the tiny abode on the post
and bash those seeds against the weather cap of the abode

Now, I've watched this happen all summer
Last week I considered a few pics

I really don't know how professional photogs do it
I have no patience for it

However, today, it happened
several times

I had the Nikon at hand

You think I had the right settings?
The right lens?
The sun was just right?

None of that

Can't even tell if there even is a feeder

sigh

Tomorrow's another day

View attachment 244273



View attachment 244275

View attachment 244276
Well
'Tomorrow' became today

feeder save.jpg

feeder zoom.jpg4.jpg

My little Jay friend cooperated
But only thru several minutes of dogged attention
Camera in hand
Setting set
I really admire professional photogs
I just don't have the patience for it

anyway

the pics became redundant

but here they are

I was finally able to capture him beating the sunflower shell on the weather cap of the tiny abode

weather cap 1.jpg

weather cap.jpg

weather cap.jpg2.jpg
 
So, I'm sittin' in my director's chair in my shop yesterday
Sipping coffee
Notice occasional dust floating down in the late afternoon rays of sunlight
Then it goes away
Then there it is again
Never noticed it before

Then a rustling up top in the rafters

'Mouse?'

Then.....a fluttering

'Bird'

'Tiny bird'

It's panicking, but won't leave
Doesn't leave the rafters
Trying to find a way out......thru the roof

I encountered this in my shop up in the mountains
Sparrows
three times
Herded one out with a long extension smelt dipping net
The other two didn't quite catch on
After two/three days, found 'em on the shop floor, one morning

I'm determined to usher this one to freedom
Just laid out some feed and water on the table saw
The exterior light by the door is on
It's 6a something, and still dark
Hope he flits down for the food and drink
Then notices the light at the door and makes a break for it

It's a hope

Thinking this is how God deals with me

Well, time to study the Word this morn
It's my food and drink
There's light in there too
 
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I like this one so well, tomorrow I'll get out the Nikon with an appropriate lens and setting, and do an actual photo shoot (might go in my brochure)
I just can't seem to do this one justice

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The roots project a bit too long to frame the pics

I'll take more pics with the fisheye when I'm more rested
 


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