life, nature

Bolt, Fall, Roses

Lori

My very favorite month of the year is October. It has the temperatures that are comfortable for this heat intolerant body. It has vibrant colors that surround us wherever we go. It has my favorite sound—the crunch of leaves under my feet. And it has my birthday, which is the one thing I have not been thrilled about since I turned twenty-one.

I know I mentioned I might be scarce from blogging, but I had something I wanted to share, plus a question for friends out there.

First, my roses are still blooming. It’s late in the year, so I snipped them off and displayed them in a vase in the house. There are still three more buds on the outdoor plant that I couldn’t bring myself to remove before they bloom. I was worried we might get a hard freeze and it would die before I had a chance to cover it.

 

Mother Nature had something else in mind that I hadn’t even thought of.

Snow!

My poor rosebuds.Every time I tell people we usually don’t get snow in October—we get snow in October. Last year it snowed on all the costumed kids on Halloween. At least that was closer to November!

Now, on to my questions for friends. This one is for the birders, like Anneli and Lynette. We’ve had a little bird that flutters back and forth to the feeder like a busy bee. He doesn’t stay there for long, so I haven’t been able to get a good shot. Do my birders know what kind it is?I’ve named the tiny critter Bolt. See if you can figure out why.Take a look at the marking on the back of his head as he is pecking away at the seeds.I’ll be in and out of the blogging world in the coming days.

Hope everyone enjoys what’s left of autumn. Stay safe and well.

 

Published by Lori

Observer, thinker, learner, analyzer, and author. Love dogs. Enjoy cooking, laughing and spiritual centering.

38 thoughts on “Bolt, Fall, Roses”

  2. Hope you had a good October, Lori. Such pretty spring blooms over there. I know you mentioned you aren’t too thrilled about your birthday, but happy belated birthday and wishing you peace and lovely days ahead.

    Those are two very cute looking birds, and it’s nice of you to put some food in the feeder for them. Hope they keep coming back, and maybe even bring little friends along.

    Here in Australia we are in spring heading towards summer. Temperatures are mild and pleasant at the moment. Hope you are doing well and stay safe over there.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. You got snow down your way, too! So did we…8-10 inches. I love the way snow looks on flowers. Not sure if I wished you a Happy Birthday already? How come you’re not fond of your birthdays?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. 8-10 inches!! Yikes. Did it melt yet? We got a dusting that melted once it stopped.

      Yes, you did wish me a happy birthday on facebook, thank you. As far not liking them, well, aging is not for sissies. Chronic pain gets worse with every year. Birthdays are just a reminder.

      Thankfully I’m still here though. Stay warm and healthy up there.

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      1. It still hasn’t melted…but it’s supposed to be 50 by this weekend so…? hopefully…

        Also so sorry about your chronic pain. We have maybe talked about it before. I have had it, too, for the last 2.5 years. Not fun. 😦

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  5. I agree that this is a nuthatch. They move upside down on trees and are very cute. Usually they are “autumn” birds. They spend summers in the far north and fall/winter in southern Canada and northern – to mid US. So cute. 🙂
    Thanks for the mention. I love birds. ❤️

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    1. Hi Lynette. Well, being an autumn bird would explain why they just popped up here recently. They really are cute. This guy has that marking on his head that looks like a lightning bolt. Thus, the name. I think they’re my new fave on the feeder. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

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  6. I agree, the closer one is a nuthatch, but the one on the far side looks like it might be a house finch? Do you think it could be? It might even be a purple finch (which isn’t purple at al but has more reddish than orangey colouring on the front and has more reddish colour on his head than a house finch does. I presume that’s a seed in his mouth, and not a parrot-like beak. Anyway, nice pics, Lori! Thanks for the link, too.

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    2. Yes, the one in the back is the house finch. I’ve got lots of those. The nuthatch is a new one coming around. I hadn’t seen one before. The marking on the back of his head looks like a lightning bolt, thus the name.

      Thanks for the nice comment on the pics. Can you believe it snowed already? Too soon, and my poor rosebuds. Thankfully, it’s still too warm for the stuff to stick.

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Early snow there, too. Huh. 😝

          Also gray here today. But it’s a little more than cool. It’s cold. Forecast is for it to get up into the cool range tomorrow and the rest of the week.

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    1. Hi Jill. I haven’t seen that Nuthatch around here until recently, Jill. He must be hungry. The marking on his head looks like a lightning bolt, thus the name. I think he’s my new favorite.

      Thanks for the bday wishes. It was 10 days ago, and I’d rather forget. 😉

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  10. Hi Lori! It’s a Nuthatch. I called them the Mimes in Missouri. Not because they were silent but because there faces reminded me of mimes. My husband had them follow him to the garage for sunflower seeds and to the small glass feeder with the seeds and mealworms. Happy October Birthday! Just had my birthday the end of September.

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    2. Hi Pix. Thanks for being the first to reveal the Nuthatch. I have never seen them around here before. They recently started showing up, and they are quick. They don’t stay on the feeder long, but they pop back and forth.

      Thank you for the birthday wishes (although I’d rather forget 😉). Happy belated to you for September. I take it you are a fellow Libra?

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            1. That’s interesting. In the photo, the breast looks a little yellow, but I had to zoom in from very far away. The lighting is often times off with this particular camera, too.
              Thanks for sharing what you know about them.

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              1. I love talking about birds. We miss our birds in Missouri. If ever you feel like strolling over to Under the Palm Fronds I have a tag for birds. I have a picture of one of our juvenile Nuthatches under the title Something Floofy This Way Comes. One of these days I am going to get motivated and start blogging again.

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                1. I just checked out the nuthatch at your blog. Did you take that pic? Really cool.

                  You have a whole new set of birds in Florida. Much larger ones, too. Have you seen the Roseate Spoonbill yet? When I lived there, I had to post that bird on my blog to find out what it was.

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                  1. Yes! We have a herd of Roseate Spoonbills. You are right about all the new birds here. The first bird I fell in love with was an Anhinga drying out its wings as we came in to look at homes 2 and a half years ago where we now live. Next were the juvenile Sandhills and then Moorhens. So many birds to love and some of them are goofy characters!

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  11. Happy birthday hugs, Lori! One good reason to celebrate October, despite many others. I will wait to read what your birders say about the type of bird. Hang in there with everything. 🙂

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    1. Hi Erica. My birders have revealed the cute little guy is a Nuthatch. I named him Bolt because his marking looks like a lightning bolt.

      Thanks for the birthday hugs. It was 10 days ago, and I’d rather forget that one. 😉

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