Hummer Happenings

Greetings!

Do  you miss me? I sure miss you!

This is a scheduled post which is weird for me because I like sitting in the same room with you when I'm writing and you're reading my writing as if I'm writing while you're reading as I'm writing. Even though I'm not here, I hope you will still feel me, yo. (I've always wanted to say that!)

I want to share with you an update on our resident hummingbirds. But first, since this is a hobby blog about making cards, a card:

The beautiful hummingbird and middle part of the above design are from a purse notebook given to me a long time ago by my dear friend Annie. I used it through two note pads and a dried-up pen, so it was time to make it into a beautiful card. I added the piece to a partial paper doily and glued it over the edge of a tall card base. Simples. QACAS. The sediment is from The Alley Way set "Words to Live By." The duodecuple flat sequins are by PTI.

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A Changing of the Guard

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If you've been a bloggie friend for a while, you know that for many years we have had a dominate male Anna's hummingbird at our feeder. Because he patrolled the feeder with, well, violence, we named him "Hitler." We've been enjoying his escapades for many years. This summer, as happens every summer, he was kept extra busy as new hummers appeared in the yard and made vain attempts to drink from the feeder. Some of them were returning from their winter migration south and some were quite obviously local youngsters.

Weeks went by and then I started noticing that when "Hitler" was on his little swing or sitting on a branch near the feeder, he wouldn't dart off when I got near. Odd. He was always very skittish and wary. So I started talking to him, as one does. And to my surprised delight, one day he threw back his head and started "singing" for all he was worth. It went on for a number of seconds. I complimented him profusely. The more I talked, the more he sang. He fluffed up his feathers and cocked his head. I started to emulate his chirping/singing as best I could. I couldn't get over his friendliness and I thought to myself, "Whatever has gotten into Hitler?!"

Then light dawned. Low and to the east. Hitler had passed on to the Spirit Land of Hummers. Of course! We had, after all, been owned by him for many years.

This little hummer wonderbird is no doubt Hitler's offspring, but how awesome that he obviously tokes after his mother as he is uber friendly, nearly tame! After a few days, he has started coming to the branch or feeder when I "whistle" for him! If you are s(coughing), you can go to YouTube and see videos of people with hummers perched on their shoulders, heads, hands.

Needles to say, I'm all over this and enjoying long minutes communing with my little dude every time I go back and forth between the Playhouse and the Big House! When I return from my vacation, I am going to try holding a container of sugar water in my palm (I saw that on another blog, but I can't remember where) and I'll have Mister take some photos for you if it works. Wish me luck! So beciting!

In the meantime, here is a photo comparison. Many, many photos of Hitler have graced the pages of this blog over the years. Here is one:

And below is a photo of the "new" Hitler. You can see the difference in the neck feathers. The new little guy has undeveloped scarlet feathers along the neck and, in fact, he has a couple of scarlet feathers down low on his left shoulder.

 

 

They are so beautiful and so magnetic! I am amazed by the personality differences that sets the two apart, even more than the markings. In the five or six years that we were owned by Hitler, he wouldn't let us get within five feet of him. This new little guy lets me get within inches while he sits on the swing or drinks from the feeder.

I couldn't end without sharing this related photo, too. 

What? This is a shot of the patio under the tree branch where the hummer likes to sit. If you guessed that those are little hummer poopoos, you'd be correct!

New Guy does display some hitlerlike behavior when other hummers come to the feeder, but so far he seems much more Zen than his papa was! Here is a long shot so you can see him on his little swing "guarding" the feeder.

I haven't quite decided on a name. Do you have any suggestions? Sometimes I call him "Fluffer" because it is soft to say and because when I talk he puffs up and fluffs out his feathers and tail. Please let me know your ideas! Maybe there will be a prize!

I'll keep you posted on my domestication efforts. And if you notice I'm visiting less, you'll know where my time is going! Already I'm picturing the next time I run into old friends and they ask me how I am keeping busy in retirement. Erm. Do you think they will put me in a padded cell if I'm honest and say that I'm trying to tame a hummingbird? Maybe we should just keep that between us!

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New Friends Corner

As promised, here are five more talented and inspiring card artists who have been waiting patiently to meet you! It is my extreme pleasure to introduce you to:

Claire Broadwater of Claire Creates Cards. Claire is an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator who has been blogging since May 2013. She is a wife, mother (of twins!), and grandmother of five. As Claire says, she has been playing with paste and paper for 27 years as a First Grade teacher! In a nutshell, Claire makes HAPPY cards. Even her spooky Halloween cards are happy! I think you'll love your visit and become a fan!

Rebecca of Rebecca's Cookery and Crafting. As you can tell from the name of her blog, Rebecca loves horseback riding and chemistry. I'm kidding, of course. Just seeing if you were paying attention! Rebecca loves to cook and she loves to craft so you get double the goodies when you follow Rebecca. By the way, Rebecca only started blogging in August, as in two months ago! Please do make a special effort to go and welcome Rebecca to this wonderful caring and supportive Blogland community of ours!

Susan Butler of Scrumplescrunch. No, this time I'm not kidding, even though that sounds like one of my made-up words! Sue has been blogging since 2010. She is an artist. In addition to making cards, Sue has enjoyed sewing, cooking, cake decorating, quilting, and scrapbooking. She is a designer and an award-winner. In addition to wonderful inspiration, you will find tutorials on Sue's blog!

Vikki Ryan of Vikki's Stamping Story Take 2. Vikki is from Tasmania and she has been blogging since 2013. Vikki works full-time so she doesn't have time to blog very often, but when she does, it's great to see either the cards she has made or the beautiful photographs she shares!

Kris B. of Created by Kris B. Kris has been blogging since 2012. She met me through my NBUS Challenge, but the pleasure has been all mine! It's no wonder she is a designer! I simply adore all of her card designs and how she interprets the various challenges she enters. I think you'll agree with me after you have visited Kris!

Thank you for joining, ladies, and welcome to the Playhouse!

[If you have joined as a follower and have not been introduced, it's prolly because you did not leave me a comment and I could not find you by doing a Google search. Or it was Operator Error. Please feel free to email me!]

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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

What's My Name?

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

  

 

*Life Is Too Short!

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Mwah!