Yesterday, we went for a brief walk in the park--a walk that turned out much briefer than we planned, due to the gust front blowing in and chilling the place down with icy winds and lowering dark gray clouds. After feeding the usual suspects, we saw an unusual goose along the shore of the swamp pond. It was much too trim and shy to be one of the big domestic geese; I suspected it to be a wild visitor, like the Canadas that drop by.

( Pictures! )

Our cygnets have almost grown up, and there are hints that spring is not far away.

( Pictures of the big kids )

Sunday was sunnier, and we had a variety of ducks.

( Ducks )

January 9 was bitterly cold, down in the upper 20s/lower 30s. (For here, that's cold. I know about you people up north.) I was worried slightly concerned that the birds would be hungry for lack of park-goers to feed them.

I need not have worried. Apparently rain keeps people away, not cold. Several people were out feeding the birds large bags of bread. I found the cygnets, almost grown now, being feed by a nice lady with a whole bag of crumbs.

( Pictures! )

I mailed one of Rochelle's presents last Thursday, Jan 21.

I mailed Pat's present last Friday, Jan 22.

Let me know if they show up, or seem unreasonably delayed.

Happy New Year!

New Year's day, the whole family went to the park. It was quite cold, and the birds were very hungry. The seagulls attacked in swarms and frenzied whenever there was bread in sight. (This was the first visit I was very glad I was wearing a hat--and I had to wash it afterwards).

( Bird photos )

Happy New Year!

The day after Christmas, we took our left-over bread and went to visit the swans and other birds. This time, we looked for the swans ashore, first--and found them.

( Swans, geese, and seagulls: photos and videos )

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Almost caught up now. Yesterday, we took stale bread to the park and fed the birds again. There's one particular corner of the park where the geese hang out, and are spoiled rotten. They are used to being fed, and get rather demanding about it. So do the seagulls and the ibises.

( Pictures in here )

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Wherein we go looking for cygnets and find them growing up.

( Pictures and video ahoy! )

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Continuing the big batch of bird pictures, except that this one contains mammals instead.

( On to the pictures! )

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Continuing the big batch of bird pictures.

( More pictures )

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I'm putting up several batches of bird pictures today, as a Christmas present to someone I know especially enjoys them.

( On to the pictures! )

We finally found the swans...

( Pictures and video )

Walking around the pond, we spotted a few other things...

( Pictures, lots )

Feeding geese and other things at the park.

( This time, videos and pictures )

We've been to the park several times lately, looking for our black swan cygnets and feeding the birds.

( From November 15 )

The husband and my mother-in-law took an early morning trip up to the wildlife refuge at Land Between the Lakes recently. They lucked out.

( Buffalo and Elk, oh my! )

Sunday afternoon, we went for a walk at the park to check on the baby cygnets, among other things. It's amazing how fast they are growing. While at the park, not only did I take photos of yet more birds, I experimented with my camera's video recording capabilities, trying to capture some of the interesting bird behavior I saw.

( Bird pictures and videos, and cuteness )

I promised Chinese snuff bottles, didn't I?

Snuff bottles were originally made as portable containers for finely ground tobacco mixed with aromatic herbs and spices, known as snuff. Chinese snuff was intended to be inhaled, which caused not only a nicotine 'rush', but also sneezing and a clearing of the nasal passages. The Chinese believed snuff could cure headaches, lockjaw, stomach disorders, coughs, asthma and many other illnesses. Originally brought from the New World by European traders, snuff, and all the accoutrements necessary for 'snuffing' became extremely popular during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). European missionaries, particularly the Jesuits, used snuff, and presented it as gifts and as part of their tribute to the early Qing emperors. The emperors, in turn, had their workshops fashion snuff bottles out of precious materials both for their own use and to be given as tokens of imperial favor....

quote from NOMA placard on the collection of Chinese snuff bottles
( Snuff bottles )