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Posts Tagged ‘Squirrel’

Up until two weeks ago I wasn’t really thinking it was winter yet!  After all the calendar says it’s not winter yet BUT after Hurricane Sandy followed by a Nor’easter which blanketed us in snow…Uhmmmm I think it has arrived!  The birds at our feeders are there ALL day long and their day begins just before dawn!  The squirrels are right there along side the multitudes of sparrows, hanging on the squirrel-proof feeder.  We have put ears of dried corn out for the squirrels thinking that might dissuade them from the bird seed and suet.  Well it hasn’t, but we’re cutting everybody some slack because we think they’re storing up for, what else, winter!

Murray captured some feathered friends in the parks of New York City.  As always,many of his photos capture the personality and attitude of the species.  Even when he is photographing the very common, very ubiquitous House Sparrows, the pictures are excellent.

Central park, New York City, house sparrow

A perky tri-color House Sparrow

purple thrush, central park, New York Cit

Male Purple Thrush Berry Happy

lovely lady cardinal, central park, red cardinal

Lovely Lady Cardinal

An In-Your-Face Sparrow

Camera-shy Woodpecker

Female Purple Thrush

 

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I always maintain that La Vie en Rose is in work in progress but perhaps this confection of a cottage is almost done since we both swear we certainly can’t add or put another thing into the house.   Murray was here on Sunday, he opted to come even though the weather was bad and he hadn’t seen Stacey and Matt who had arrived on Saturday, in a long time.

Murray took some great little snippet photos of what I refer to as Life in Pink;

The front porch is pinker than ever! My friend Jane, who owns the Lilligaard Hotel has been doing some redecorating and I’ve been the lucky recipient of some cast-offs!  The new pink wooden rocker  as well as some beautiful pink and turquoise floral cushions have definitely enhanced the front porch.

Ocean Grove, La Vie en Rose

Pinking Up the Porch

Finally my birthday present to myself bike was put together by my brother-in-law, Matt.

Schwinn bike, pink and white petunias, Ocean Grove

My Birthday Bike

The hydrangeas in the front yard are in full bloom and gorgeous.

pink and purple hydrangeas, Ocean Grove

Pink and Purple Hydrangeas

Squirrels are the official mascots at La Vie en Rose.  Peter feeds them all year round.  On the rare occasion when a live squirrel isn’t on the porch looking for a hand-out, we always have our ornamental friend.

statuary

Our Mascot

And here is the real live version chomping on a treat from Peter.

ocean grove, Peter Press

Yum yum! A peanut

Looking at So Cute from the front porch.

Nash Metropolitan, American Flag, Ocean Grove

A View From My Porch

All the floral beauty isn’t just in the front of the cottage.  This year I put a huge planter of pink and white petunias in a white wicker planter next to the shed.

wicker planter

Pink and White Petunias

By the way, squirrels aren’t the only wildlife that get fed on a regular basis.  The birds have feeders in the backyard a couple of Blue Jays show up from time to time for a peanut treat also.  Bold and brazen, they are not fazed by humans, at least not when there’s a peanut in sight.

Blue Jay, Fourth of July

In Pursuit of a Peanut

All photos by Murray Head

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With a really good  camera, a super lens, the patience of a saint (not Latter Day) and the eye of  a wonderful photographer, we can see just how one clever little squirrel builds his new home in Central Park.

Step 1.  Location, location, location-this squirrel knows the first rule of real estate

Central Park, New York City,

Location, location, location

Step 2. Start with a solid foundation.  In this case, oak leaves and twigs.

 

central park, Murray Head, new york city

Putting in a good foundation

Step 3.  Making sure the footings and foundation are set.

 

central park , bushy tail

Inspecting the foundation

Step 4. Double checking the work before continuing.

 

Double Checking

Step 5.  Looking to see if any home invaders are casing the neighborhood.

Anyone watching?

Step 6.  Re-enforcing the studs and joists.

Studs McGee - Master Builder

Step 7.  Installing dry wall.

Putting in the dry walls

Step 8.  Shingling the roof.

Hauling up shingles

Step 9.  Inspection before the C.O.

central park

Home Inspector

Step 10. Home Sweet Home

squirrel nest, cental park

Home Sweet Home

All photos by Murray Head

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