It's Halloween...

I enjoy seeing everyone's decorations.

I keep things pretty simple at my house...

- a cute flag -

- some simple accessories by the front door -

- and a giant pumpkin by the light post -

The candy bowl is full and I am ready for all my little ghosts and goblins!

I am going to see Addie and Lorelei today, for their Halloween Parades at school!
I am so excited!

Local Scarecrows...

We have not been taking our usual Halloween/Fall trips.

We have not driven around town to look at Halloween Decorations.

We were going to drive out to Peddlers Village, Pa. to see their scarecrows 

but I just didn't feel like it - it takes about an hour and a half.

Instead, on Sunday, 

we took a very short stroll around Manasquan

 to see how the local people are scaring things up, I thought there would be more.

We didn't vote, it was after 5 pm and most of the stores were closed.

This was my favorite...

I liked all of the detail and art in the green pumpkin head!

Manasquan Cheerleader...

and yep, I have no idea what this is!

We also stopped for ice cream, which we really didn't need but the hubs insisted!

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

I heard her first...and the first time I tried to photograph her, she flew away.

She is shy and skittish, 

she had not eaten anything so I knew she would come back.

Lights out, window open, 

I stood as still as I could...and I heard her again.

She landed on "the branch" and that's right where I had the camera pointed.

I clicked 10 times before she flew off and I about wet my pants,

I knew I had a couple of good ones.






This woodpecker has a very distinctive call, a harsh churrrr.
I know it as soon as I hear it.
This is a female,
the males red patch extends to the forehead, the female only has red on the back of her neck,
and gray above her eye.
I see both males and females daily, 
of the birds that visit the feeders, this is the most difficult to photograph.
They only eat suet in my feeding area, but they also like fruit and hulled sunflower seeds.

Home Chef

I am back in full swing with my Home Chef meals.

It feels great to be spending time in the kitchen, especially during these cold evenings.

And cold it has been, it feels like we went right from summer hot,

to winter cold overnight!

Last week we enjoyed...

Pizza with Shaved Brussel Sprouts and Prosciutto 
with Shallots, Honey and Ricotta Cheese 

Ingredients prepped for

Lemon Parmesan Chicken Orzo

There is a lot of prep involved but I have been enjoying that aspect...

Lemon Parmesan Chicken Orzo with Kale and Grape Tomatoes, this meal was delicious!

Ingredients prepped for

Butter Roasted Tomato Spaghetti with Burrata

Butter Roasted Tomato Spaghetti with  Burrata and Garlic Toast, this meal was also delicious.

And this was one of my own meals...

I have been dying for Roasted Chicken, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Can anyone say comfort food?

This was so good!

And I had enough chicken left over to make a big pot of 
Chicken and Potato Chowder
it was awesome.

Saturday Critters ~ 254 ~

There is a spot in a tree by the window, a favorite "branch" for all of my birds.

It's where they land and wait for their turn at the feeders.

Here are a few of my "frequent flyers"...

Tufted Titmouse

Male House Finch

Female House Finch

White-Throated Sparrow

American Goldfinch 

Chickadee

Blue Jay

and here is one of the young cardinals.
Mom and pop and all the young ones seem to be doing well, 
feeding themselves at the feeders.

These are just a few of the birds I see every day!

Sharing today with

Eileen at Viewing Nature With Eileen
and 
Anni at I'd Rather B Birdin

At Day's End

This may just be the best part of the day!!

October 23, 2018

New York Sheep & Wool Festival 2018

We've talked a lot about the Sheep and Wool Festival itself, here and here.

But what about the stars of the show, 
The Sheep

 

Andee and I spent some special alone time in this area, the sheep were adorable,
and one was pretty loud!