So far, April has been very kind to Mainers. The weather has been warm—at times downright hot—and the bugs have been few. The mud is pretty much gone. Accordingly, we have been diligently working on spring chores.
For our wood stove, we get blocks of wood delivered on pallets. Over the past two years, we have acquired quite a collection of them. Time for Handyman Clif to break out his hammer and saw and take them apart. Some of the wood will be used for projects, and some of it will be used in our fire pit when the kids come for a visit this summer.
As for me…my job is to rake the yard and clear the gardens.
Before, in the backyard.
And after.
However hard we work, we are never too busy to take a break on the patio and watch the fluttering beauties that come and go.
Somehow, I never get tired of taking pictures of cardinals. Part of me can’t believe that we actually have them in our backyard. Cardinals are relative newcomers to Maine, and Clif’s mother and my mother died before ever having a chance to view one of these lovelies. How I wish they had lived long enough to see them.
Here is the flashy male,
and his less flashy but still attractive mate.
We do have other birds visit us, including chipper little chickadees, our state bird.
And robins, which we actually don’t see that often. I think they like open areas better.
We have other birds visit us, too, and I will be ready with the camera to take picture of them.
Now, onward to the front yard!
Getting ready for spring and summer — YAY!
Yay is right!
Those cardinals are glorious aren’t they.
They surely are!
Hey hey …. cheers for spring having sprung in Maine. Keep cracking that whip on Tim.
Will do. 😉
I’m pressed with the tidiness you created and the pictures of all the birds that enjoy your garden.
Thanks, Susan. Will try to get pictures of different birds, if I can pull myself away from the cardinals. 😉
We have many cardinals here. I love that if you see the male, you can assume the female will be close by, or vice versa. And after the babies come along you can here them “chip-chip-chip” when they’re learning to fly. They are truly wonderful birds. (I did not know that they arrived in Maine only recently; oh, the surprises of climate change!)
Yes, the surprises of climate change. At least this one is a good surprise.
I saw a Cardinal today happily eating my grass seed. I couldn’t even get upset, he was so handsome. 🙂
Beauty lets creatures, human and otherwise, get away with a lot, doesn’t it. 😉
The only time I’ve ever seen cardinals was in Vermont, so not too far from you – they are so lovely. I wish we had them here.
Very grateful to have them in our backyard.
Good work on the beds and nice to see your garden visitors too.
Thanks, Tootlepedal! Just saw a goldfinch whose feathers are turning. Will try to capture a picture of that beauty.
I look forward to seeing it.
I was really surprised to see the female cardinal. To think all the ones I’ve seen have been the males. We don’t have them over here. Well done on the organising to both of you.
Nice to show you something you haven’t seen. One of the great aspects of blogging.
I agree. I would never have known.
Those cardinals are just lovely – such as national symbol too.
I can feel my West Virginia To-Do list growing longer every day I spend visiting family in sunny California. Pallets are definitely for stacking stuff on. Meanwhile, as I have the luxury of putting my feet up for a nap, I shall indulge with another elf podcast… and maybe some camomile tea when I wake up. – Oscar
Oh, that to-do list! One thing is certain. The chores aren’t going anywhere. Best to grab that chamomile tea and relax while you can. 😉
Just tried some strawberry apple. My nephew and niece gave us some lovely variety’s from Teaforte.com
Enjoy!
What a good feeling it is to create order in our lives! You and Clif are such a great industrious team. Love the birds and I understand about cardinals. I have only seen them at my sister in law’s home outside Washington DC and they are so showy and elegant. How wonderful to have them show up in your yard!💗
A-w-w-w, thanks! Because of the tiny budget we live on, we have to do most things ourselves. We just chip away at things. And actually, I like doing yard work. Not a hardship at all.
Red cardinals are something else. I’ve seen one or two here in the Philadelphia burbs, but it’s been a while.
Interesting. I would have guessed that they were common in the Philadelphia burbs.
Your chickadee is sitting in the same kind of tree I saw a chickadee at the wildlife refuge. I don’t know what kind of tree that is. Do you?
It is a maple tree.
Really? Wow, I’ve never seen the blossoms like that on my maple trees. Not that I have a bunch of maple trees.
Love their little flowers in the spring!
It’s nice to clean the garden slate in readiness for the garden season. Isn’t it exciting to have all the warm days ahead of us? I love this time of gentle optimism. 🙂
In some ways, this is my favorite time of year for the garden. Everything fresh and green. No marauding mouths to munch plants.
The cardinals would find a space in my camera lens daily too – they are striking looking birds!
They surely are! I can’t resist them.
I think the cardinals are lovely…. so striking! Whatever has sent them to your part of the world is a bonus for you! Your garden is looking very neat, it is satisfying looking at an orderly garden at the beginning of spring.
In part, climate change, I think. An ill wind that blows no good?
well, the silver lining is, at least you get a chance to see them..
You bet!
I’ll bet you both slept well that night.
We’ve been watching the birds flying back and forth with vegetation as they build their nests. Some wood pigeons are building theirs in a pyrocantha bush at the top of the bank and I hope the thorns will be enough to keep the cats out. I’ve decided that, by the end of this month, we’ll stop putting food out for the birds in the hope that they will keep high up in the trees and deep in the hedges instead of coming to the feeding station. My poor cats need to go out a little more than they do at the moment instead of just being let out for an hour or two, wearing a bell, at night. It was easier in the early dark of the winter but now it doesn’t go dark until 8.30 and it will be getting later and later. 😿
Hard to love both birds and cats.
The beauty of your garden is being revealed
Slowly, slowly…;)
Somehow outdoor housework is much more fun than the indoor variety! Enjoy your feathered friends.
You bet! Whenever I go out, I take my camera with me.
Cardinals are one of my favorites. They were as common in my home state of Iowa as they are here in Texas. In fact, our high school sports teams were the Cardinals, and our school colors were red and black. I have a nesting pair somewhere around here. Both the male and female are coming for seed.
Somehow, outdoor work always seems more appealing to me than indoor, and the fine results of your work in the yard and garden are showing. I suspect with your shorter growing season, the urge to ‘get with it’ can be strong.
You bet! In Maine, when spring comes, there is no fooling around. We do indeed have to “get with it.”
I’m glad you and Clif are taking the time to enjoy your fluttering beauties in between the spring clean-up, Laurie. April is a busy month for yard work in Colorado as well. One added benefit of working outdoors is that I hear many more birds than from my desk, even with my window open.
You are lucky to have cardinals visit your home, I would be thrilled to see one here. 😊🐦
Happy April,
Tanja
Your cleaning job looks nice. I love birds and sure enjoyed your photos. I have lots of cardinals at my feeders, they are such beautiful birds.
They surely are! Still amazes me that we have them in our backyard.
I love this time of year when the birds start building nests. I didn’t know that about robins. One year a flock arrived in our garden and stayed for close to a week. They left in small groups, and then one day they were all gone. It was remarkable, having never experienced that before. Your cardinals are stunning. I’m sorry your parents didn’t live to see one. xo
Thanks! Makes me sad every time I think about how thrilled they would be.
I’m sorry. I understand that loss and the feeling of missed opportunities. Arms around you.
A-w-w-w, thanks!
Good work! Cardinals are a favorite of mine, as well.
Such pretty birds!
Love cardinals and wonderful capture of the flashy male! There have been many days already that felt like late May and June.🙂
Same here!
Wonderful team work in your garden Laurie and such a treat to see the cardinals again 💗
Onward, ho!
I never tire of seeing photos of cardinals, either! I do miss them!
Those are nice pallets. Sometimes people make compost bins out of them.
We’re going to use some of the wood for raised beds.
Nice to see all the garden birds. The Cardinals are great, but it was nice to see a Robin too.
All the birds are welcome!
🙂