New hobby

So I got a birdfeeder for Christmas.

It was one of those things I always liked at other people's houses and never really thought about buying for myself. So I put it on my list. And my in-laws got me a really nice one.

Not that it is up yet. We need to buy the very complicated hanging device before it can go up. You know. The big metal hook that you can buy at any of the 1000s of garden stores around here. Yeah...that one. If you know me, however, I do not frequent garden stores. They actually have pictures of me behind the counters "Do not let this woman in the store. She kills plants with her mere presence". So I don't get to those stores much.

But Andrew and I made pinecone birdfeeders last week. And boy did the birds come. So now I've been putting birdseed out on a little plate and we watch the birds. Andrew recognizes some now. It is a really enjoyable activity while we eat breakfast. We got a book out of the library to identify them and everything. And today we bought a cheap little birdfeeder that can hang on our little tree near the patio. I'm loving it. Who knew?

I should have known. One of the first things I noticed when we moved back here were songbirds. I missed a lot of things when I lived in California, but I never really thought about missing the birds. I did. No more crows for me! There is an incredible variety of sizes and shapes of birds around here. I love hearing their little songs as we take walks and watching their little bird politics around the feeder. Watching them is a thorougly peaceful experience.

Until Shadow barks at the window and scares the crap out of them. And then all I'm left with is scattered bird seed and that bird crap. :P Until Shadow runs out and eats the birdseed. Apparently bird seed is a preferred snack for Shetland Chi-cockers. Who knew?