Pine Warbler, a New-to-me Bird!

We went to lunch with Bobby and Joy Smith after church today.  When we got back home I noticed a different bird at the suet feeder that I had not seen before.  So I hurried into the house to get my camera.  Of course the bird was gone when I came back out.  But, I decided to wait to see if it would come back.  It did!  This is a Pine Warbler.  Beautiful!

The thing I have enjoyed about having 3 snows and frigid cold this January is that there seems to be different-than-usual birds visiting my feeders and suet feeder!  

I got the following information about this bird from birdadvisors.com:

Pine Warblers are common yellow birds in North Carolina all year. However, their numbers also swell during March and September, with migrating Pine Warblers passing through.

Pine Warblers are small plump yellow birds with olive backs, yellow throats, chests and upper bellies and white lower bellies, and gray wingbars.  Females can appear browner and have more white on the belly.

Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)

Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-15 g) This is amazing to me!  I think my pinkie finger weighs more than this!

Wingspan: 7.5-9.1 in (19-23 cm)

They breed in Northeastern US states before heading south. Some remain all year in Southeastern US states.

Pine Warblers can be found in pine forests, as their name would suggest, often high up in the trees. They eat caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and other insects and larvae and when the weather is colder, they will eat fruit and seeds.

You can attract more Pine Warblers with tube feeders and platform feeders with millet, cracked corn, sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, and suet.  Also, plant native fruits and vines such as bayberry, grape, sumac, and Virginia creeper.

Friday, January 28th, 2022

Mark is usually up before me, even when he is off work.  First item of business is to feed Asher and let him out and then let Piper out.  On this day Mark saw two hawks in the back; a small one and a bigger one.  The first picture is of the bigger one sitting on the shed.  The second one is of the smaller one perched in the tree.  The third one shows a view of both of them, the bigger one on the shed and the smaller one in the tree.  The fourth picture is of the smaller one but moved from the tree to the top of the sawmill shelter Mark is constructing.

I looked at several different places, but here is a video showing the difference between a Red-shouldered hawk (as seen in our yard) compared to a Red-tailed hawk that has a white breast and a definite red tail.  HERE.  Beautiful creatures!

Here is a scrapbook page I did of our third snow of the month, which is more snow than I think we usually get ALL year here in NC!  I think I've got all of the snow pictures I need!  Let's move on to SPRING!!  

Let it Snow

Journaling reads:  This is our 3rd snow so far this year!  I don’t remember it even snowing 3 times in one year since moving to NC 14 years ago!

Here's the kit information, in case you are interested! 

I placed the dark bg first and layered it with a lighter color and blended it with the overlay mode to make the area lighter behind the photo.  I used one of the paint elements as a photo mask. 

52 Inspirations 2022  https://www.oscraps.com/shop/52-Inspirations-2022/

52-2022-02 Fancy Flakes by Vicki Stegall (snowflake in title) https://www.oscraps.com/shop/52-Inspirations-2022-No-02-Fancy-Flakes-by-Vicki-Stegall.html

52-2022-04 Today Scrapbook Kit by Vicki Stegall  https://www.oscraps.com/shop/52-Inspirations-2022-No-04-Today-Scrapbook-Kit-by-Vicki-Stegall.html

Font for title is Beautiful Regular

Photo is mine

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

 

Whose Woods These Are

Mark took half a day off today and we went to the tri-state preacher's meeting at Shallowford.  It is like a mini Bible conference.  Wonderful messages.  Wonderful fellowship.  They had supper catered by Little Richard's BBQ.  It was yummy!  The ladies of the church made desserts!  

The meeting begins at 2:00.  One man preaches and then there is a break for some refreshments.  Two more men preach and then there is a break for supper.  One more man preaches and the meeting ends around 8:00.

There were not as many preachers in attendance today due to weather and sickness.  The meeting includes preachers from West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina and is held every other month, skipping the summer months because of camps and retreats, etc.

Whose Woods These Are

I love taking photos of the snow.  Mark was going to walk his dog in the woods when it snowed a week ago this past Sunday and I had him take the camera along to get some pictures.  He got some good ones!  We've had enough snow for the year for me!  But, there is a chance of more snow this weekend, I believe someone told me!  OY VEY!   

Journaling reads:  Whose woods these are I think I know.  His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. – Robert Frost (1874-1963)  The beauty of the snow falling silently to the ground is a wonderful thing to watch.  It seems to bring a halt to everything.  And in that halt of activity comes a peace.  A pure, white peace. 

All products used are by Anna Aspnes

ArtPlay Palette Inkling https://www.oscraps.com/shop/ArtPlay-Palette-Inkling.html

MultiMedia Winter No. 3 https://www.oscraps.com/shop/MultiMedia-Winter-No.-3.html

Artsy Layered Template No. 284 https://www.oscraps.com/shop/Artsy-Layered-Template-No.-284.html

Inkling WordART Mix No. 1 https://www.oscraps.com/shop/Inkling-WordART-Mix-No.-1.html

ArtsyTransfers Inkling https://www.oscraps.com/shop/ArtsyTransfers-Inkling.html

MultiMedia Winter No. 2 https://www.oscraps.com/shop/MultiMedia-Winter-No.-2.html

  

 

Winter Snow

It got warmer yesterday than I thought it was going to get.  LOTS of the snow melted and the snow plows had the road that runs in front of our house cleared.  A few of the back roads as we drove to church today had some icy spots, especially in the areas that are shade-covered for most of the day.  And today is to be in the upper 40's - 50's, I believe, so that should take care of most of the snow!  Yes, it is 45 as we speak!  ;)

Believe it or not, the daffodils have popped through the ground at church!  I'm surprised they didn't die with the frigid temps and snow and ice of the past week!

I love this picture Mark took of the neighbor's cows last Sunday while he was back in our woods.  They sure were curious about him taking their picture!  I'm sure they did not really feel the cold or pay attention to the snow collecting on their backs, but it makes me thankful that I am not a cow!  It's the little things!  ;)  Thank You, LORD!

Praying you have a safe and healthy new week!

Winter Snow

My process by layers:

1. Solid paper base first
2. Painted paper next
3. Photo Masked Photo next
4. Coffee Stain Circle added over masked photo
5. Snowy edge next
6. Clear overlay word art next
7. Snowflake elements, word strip and beaded word

 

Credits List:

October 2021 Color Play items by Palvinka Designs

First Snow Elements

First Snow Papers

First Snow Overlays and WA

First Snow Photomasks

First Snow Edges

First Snow Solid Papers 

Photo by my husband, Mark Whittemore

 

Winter Birding Fun!

I have had so much fun watching and capturing pictures of the birds at my feeders this winter!  I'm wondering where some of them have been!  I rarely ever see towhees or dark-eyed juncos.  And even the house finches have been sparse!  Maybe the colder-than-normal, snowier-than usual winter has brought them around!  Whatever the reason, I'm glad to oblige and feed them!

Today we have maybe 2 inches of added snow to the icy layer beneath (or what's left of it after mostly melting the last couple of days).  It was SUPER cold last night while it was snowing, so the snow is "crunchy" beneath your feet!  We are talking low 20's!  BRRRR!!!!!  And, it is not going to get very warm today, even though the sunny sky is a beautiful blue!

Here's a few pictures I took last night.  I couldn't get the flash to work and it was too cold to stand outside and mess with it, so this is what I got.......

And, today, with the beautiful layer of white against that wonderfully blue sky!

Here's a few pictures Mark and I've taken this week in the woods and around the bird feeders.  I love the pictures of the neighbor's cows with snow on their backs.  I got a picture of the Wolf Moon from Monday night, too!  And there are a few pictures of a squirrel digging up buried treasure before making his way to the ground beneath the bird feeders and a video of him, too.

Here's some scrapbook pages I have done this week using a few of the bird pictures I have taken.  (I have included the links to the kits below the layouts, in case you are a scrapbooker and are interested!)

Bird Watching

Journaling reads: I love seeing the different kinds of birds that come to my feeders. Seeing this Red-bellied Woodpecker was a lovely sight!

Credits list

Life After 50 by Karen Schulz
Font Arial Narrow
Photo is mine

 

Dark-eyed Juncos

Done for the January 2022 Anna Aspnes Color Challenge
Journaling reads: The dark-eyed juncos move quickly across the iced snow beneath the bird feeders to gather up the scattered morsels of seeds.

Credits list

ArtPlay Palette Family by Anna Aspnes
Fonts Arial Narrow and Franklin Gothic Bold
Photo is mine

 

Red-bellied Woodpeckers

Done for the January 2022 AnnaLift - My inspiration from Life is a Story: 1930 Road Trip by NanaJ were the multiphotos and the larger blended photo.

Process:
I grouped all of the artsy layers from the template together, except for the top photo mask, and clipped my background photo to the combined layers, using a miscellaneous brush to give more fill and definition. To add more red to the background, I used the different layers from the artsy transfer, changing some of the layers to the color I picked from the woodpecker's head.

Journaling reads: I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the red-bellied woodpeckers enjoying themselves at my feeders this winter. They not only are hanging out at the suet feeder, but the bird seed feeders, too! And I have been able to get clear pictures of both the male and female. The female looks as though she has a receding hairline!

Credits list

MultiMedia Winter No. 3 https://www.oscraps.com/shop/MultiMedia-Winter-No.-3.html
ArtsyTransfers Inkling https://www.oscraps.com/shop/ArtsyTransfers-Inkling.html
MultiMedia Winter No. 2 https://www.oscraps.com/shop/MultiMedia-Winter-No.-2.html
Artsy Layered Template No. 244 https://www.oscraps.com/shop/Artsy-Layered-Template-No.-244.html
Photos are mine

 

Life After 50

Journaling reads: Mark and I love spending time with Ilene. She may be 15 years older than me, but, as Mark says, "age is just a number!" We have a wonderful time sharing a meal together and playing games or working on puzzles.

Credits list

Life After 50 by Karen Schulz
Font is Arial Narrow
Photo is mine

Have a wonderful Lord's Day!  It hasn't been decided yet if we will be going to the church or if the weather will cause us to watch on line!  Stay warm and I'm praying for your safety as you travel the roads this weekend!