A pair of house finches discovered my birdfeeder last week. And now, at last, the birdword is out. It’s a grand party, with five often on the feeder at a time and one on the branch impatiently waiting its turn. Squirrels have been on the ground (they seem to have realized that trying to land on the feeder directly is a kamikaze experience) busily playing mop-up crew, taking turns with the jays and the occasional graceful mourning dove that walks in delicate steps among the spilled seeds.
News flash (an hour after typing the above):Â I just got my mail, and there was a surprise package.
Marian and I had already decided that for her last evening here tonight, we had to take her to go see the peregrines flying around City Hall in San Jose.
It turns out my friend Margo Lynn had listened to my wishing out loud that I had something other than lace scarves to hand out to the group of falcon watchers–maybe something to keep their hands warm in the cool brisk evening air, something the men too could enjoy. I was thinking for Eric, who takes and shares so many of his photos, (there are some new ones up) and Craig, who writes up beautiful reports and lately has even showed up at 4:30 am to observe the falcons’ dawn risings. For Glenn, the biologist at UCSC who has been caring for these birds for thirty years and has played an integral part in bringing them back from near-extinction.
Margo Lynn knitted four pairs of fingerless gloves for me to go share. (Those three will know better than I who most deserves the fourth pair.) It was a total surprise. They’re gorgeous. Three pairs are Noro Kureyon or Kureyo Patora, one is a Berocco superfine merino: they’ll all be nice and warm, without getting in the way of one’s fingers nor one’s dexterity while holding a camera. Perfect.
I dearly hope they will be as gobsmacked as I am. Wow. Thank you, Margo Lynn!
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Waiting in line to get to the feeder, wow, wish I were so lucky these days.
How great to receive the mitts in time for your visit.
Comment by Joansie 06.29.09 @ 3:21 pmSeems that your blog is of the birds, by the birds, and for the birds!
Humor:
CHURCH DICTIONARY
AMEN: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows.
CHOIR: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the congregation to lip-sync.
HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY.
HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation’s range.
INCENSE: Holy Smoke!
JONAH: The original “Jaws” story.
JUSTICE: When kids have kids of their own.
KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most churchgoers recognize besides gyros and baklava.
MAGI: The most famous trio to attend a baby shower.
MANGER: (1) Where Mary gave birth to Jesus because an HMO didn’t cover Joseph. (2) The Bible’s way of showing us that holiday travel has always been rough.
PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass consisting of altar servers, the celebrant,and late parishioners looking for seats.
RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of Mass led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot.
RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at a service, often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left.
Comment by Don Meyer 06.29.09 @ 5:20 pmBe grateful for the mop-up crew. I had a friend who ended up with a crop of new plants growing from the dropped seed. (Hey – it’s seed. What did she think – roasted peanuts?)
Comment by Barbara-Kay 06.29.09 @ 5:46 pmThe Wild Bird Center (it’s a chain) sold me seed specifically that would not sprout. This was definitely a plus.
Comment by AlisonH 06.29.09 @ 6:20 pmAren’t you just the smarty? Non-sprouting bird-seed plus squirrel un-friendly feeder. Enjoy!
Comment by Ruth 06.29.09 @ 7:43 pmThose are just beautiful and I’m sure the guys will be very grateful to you and Margo Lynn!
A belated Happy Anniversary, by the way! Hope it was lovely 🙂
Comment by Cathy (catsandyarn on ravelry) 06.29.09 @ 9:12 pmCongrats on the crowd of bird visitors!
Wow, Margo Lynn.
Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 06.30.09 @ 5:13 amYou must be smiling in your sleep, with such wonderful events in your life these days!
Bravo to Margo Lynn for being able to help you with this AND actually helping you with it. I’ll send her a message about this personally.
Do let us know what the giftees’ reaction is. 🙂
Comment by Suzanne 06.30.09 @ 5:18 amWhat a beautiful, thoughtful gift – or should it be plural? Margo Lynn gifted you with gifts for… never mind. It’s not important.
Comment by Channon 06.30.09 @ 6:52 amWhat a surprise for me: my sister and my niece are both named Margo Lynn. Neither of them knit, though…. but it’s lovely to hear of a Margo Lynn who does. (And my Margo Lynn is very tolerant…. when we do our annual “Sisters Weekend” she spends a lot of time listening to me talk to yarn shop owners!
Comment by Barbara M. 06.30.09 @ 7:00 amWell, there she is for you! She’s a very good person – and good knitter to boot!
Comment by afton 06.30.09 @ 7:18 amLovely, lovely Noro Mitts!
Comment by LynnM 06.30.09 @ 8:34 amGo Margo Lynn!
Comment by RobinM 06.30.09 @ 5:16 pmmy husband claims fingerless gloves are useless. I wear em at work and find them lovely. I get cold hands easily and they warm me righ tup. It’s just that little extra coverage you need.
Comment by Carol 07.04.09 @ 9:12 amLeave a comment
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