Condiments Anyone?

Checkout my vintage Dachshund knick-knack.  Came across this bad boy while trying to clean and get organized.

Interestingly, this is not your ordinary Dachshund, no sir!

A closer inspection shows holes at the top of it's head and the top of it's behind, hmm!

Care to take a guess at what this jewel is?

Two holes on the head -

Three holes on the behind -

The view underneath, two larger holes -

This is a vintage salt (head) and pepper (behind) shaker!

And it's in very good condition.  Sounds like one of the belly corks is stuck inside the critter and unfortunately the second one is long gone.  However, still a pretty cool item from my childhood.

Just Hanging

A couple of nice photo of visiting birds.

Both calmly perched and enjoying the afternoon with seeming not a care in the world.

Interesting note, the trees these birds are perched in, Boxelder, are no more!  The abutting neighbor cut down 90% of the trees in his backyard, which sadly backs to our backyard.  It's WIDE open now, no privacy any longer.  Sad really.

**Photo cred to Emilie Frye

Home Sweet Home

One shore bird I like is the Osprey! 

Who doesn't like birds of prey, c'mon!

The picture below is of an Osprey nest atop a telephone pole.  A typical sight along the shore.

**Photo cred to Emilie Frye

Name The Breed

Can you tell me the breed of cattle in the picture below?!

Very unique markings, so easy to identify.

It's a Scottish breed.

Established as a separate breed in 1921.

Known for their maternal ability and high quality beef.

They're well adapted to cold and rugged climates

The answer is:

Belted Galloway Cattle!

**Photo cred to Emilie Frye

Brenton Point, RI

The gulls look like they were placed there as a part of the signage.

To set the record straight I'm not a fan of shore birds.  Sea gulls to me are akin to pigeons in the city; dirty, messy and loud.

**Photo cred to Emilie Frye

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

Came across this seed pod (or balls) on our URI tour.  There were oodles of them on the ground around this one tree.  I pocketed this one to aide in my investigation in identifying.

Lo and behold I present to you what's known as the Sweetgum tree balls, which are spiny brown balls of fruit that drop off the tree over time.

Apparently, they're more of a nuisance than beneficial with most Sweetgum tree owners complaining.

I Call It Beaver Birch

We came across this birch tree many years ago now while visiting Frye Island on lake Sebago in Maine.

As you can see this tree was chewed over by a beaver!  If you look close enough you can see the teeth marks - those were not made by an axe.

Thought it was pretty cool, so sawed off both ends and took her home.

Get's Nippy At Night

Bubba Night-Night!

Shhh, don't wake the sleeping, spoiled rotten baby.

This is how I tuck Trixie-dog in each night before I head off to bed.  That is, if she isn't already in bed with Emilie.

Breakfast Anyone?!

A blast from the past, Building 19!  Who remembers?!

A box of Jerry O's.  Certainly a collectors items...

Spring (Bird House) Cleaning!

Finally finished cleaning out the old bird house we having hanging.

As you can see this one was quite full!  Several years of chick rearing in there with the last several years, and multiple clutches each year, a wren called this bird house home.  Hoping they return and approve of the cleaned up residence!

URI Tour!

We visited and toured the University of Rhode Island last Saturday.

What a beautiful old campus.  Spread out over 1200 acres!

I'm fairly certain URI moved into Emilie's top spot following the tour.

Very exciting.  Just waiting to see what they're going to provide in grants, scholarships, etc.  Fingers crossed we can make it work.

Missing You!

No matter how many years go by, the pain of your death never diminishes. Dad, I miss you so much.

Happy 18th Birthday!!

 A great BIG Happy 18th Birthday to my daughter Emilie!

Where has the time gone?  All my love!

Happy 18th Birthday!!

Happy 18th Birthday to my amazing Niece Alyssa!

Hmm, Who Woulda Thought?!

Why?!

And this right here is just one example of why I friggin hate people!!

Look at ALL the available parking in the lot, LOOK!  But for some reason the tool-bag in the pickup just needed to park right beside me.

Why?!

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Hmm, and I thought all the turkey's I worked with were inside the building...

Oh WOW!

A lovely sunset the other evening!

Scientific name: Baeolophus bicolor

Here's a pic of a handsome Tufted Titmouse sitting atop one of our weeping cherry trees.  It was a warmer than usual day with the sun popping in and out, and oodles of song birds darting about.

He was good enough to change positions, so I could get a pic from both sides.

Do You Know?!

Who remembers what delicious treat came in these vacuum sealed jars back in the 70's?

Bottled by Sun Giant

The treats needed to be shelled.  Remember?

The treats often turned your fingers red!  How bout now, anything?

The answer is PISTACHIOS!

Here's a Googlemachine blurb - 

Red pistachios became scarce by the 1980's because of a limit on pistachio imports from the Middle East, and a huge increase in American grown pistachios produced through advanced harvesting methods. There was no longer a need to dye the pistachios red because they no longer had unappetizing stains.

And now you know...

Mora Blue Birds...

There were a dozen or so Blue Birds visiting the other day.  Several were checking out the bird houses like they do; in and out, in and out.  Oddly, and all of a sudden, the scurrying about stopped and for the longest time the birds perched in groups just peacefully resting.

As I've been saying, hoping they decide to come back in the spring and setup house in one or more of the bird houses.  It's always nice to see them rear their young.

Jordan Marsh

Ah, the good ole days!

Who remembers Jordan Marsh?!

Shopper's World in Framingham, MA.?!

Downtown crossing in Boston?!

Their bakery chocolate chip cookies?!  To die for!!

Thirsty?

Good thing we have a safety cover...

At one point there were about 20 Robins sitting atop our pool cover the other morning, taking advantage of the melting snow to get a drink of water.

Relax!

I Feel "Thrush"...

One of my favorites, the Eastern Bluebird, comes and goes constantly throughout the winter.  Often times they come in groups and always to feed and always to check out the bird house we have about.  

Hoping their looking for Spring residence and staking their claims now.

Suet Feeder Visitors

A variety of overwintering birds take advantage of the feed we put out when the weather turns and the cold rushes in.

A European Starling -

A Wren and a Red Bellied Woodpecker -

A Wren - 

A  Chickadee -

A White-breasted Nuthatch -

Berry Gorging Time

This time of year is when we typically have Waxwing stop by.  The typically arrive in large numbers and gorge on berries, e.g. Bittersweet, Holly and ornamental pear.

Unfortunately, we removed our big, berry producing Holly shrubs but there's still plenty of the other berries, so obliged again this year and stopped in.

Zoom Zoom Zoom

A couple American Robins resting after filling their bellies on Bittersweet berries.