A Few Critters Near and Far

Well, it's Saturday, the day Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters.  Click on the link in my sidebar to get to the links to see what critters folks are posting photos of.  I've been seeing cardinals, chickadees, and sparrows eating the safflower seeds yet this week. 

This morning, I vacuumed the dining room, which is really a bedroom that we use for the purpose.  I then set up the wood train tracks that our grandson loves to play with when he comes over.  Usually, we set them up in the living room, but I wanted to do something different, which would allow Heidi to stay upstairs.  When KJ is over, she gets into his space, puts his toys in her mouth, and wants to be the center of attention.  She can't relax and lie next to him or us.

While vacuuming, I noticed the female cardinal on the window feeder, but she flew away while I was reaching for my camera.  Then, while setting up the tracks, the male cardinal and black capped chickadees gave me more opportunities to take photos.  I'm going to have to clean the window when I get a chance.

The little rose Larry got me for Valentine's Day is still blooming, but the blooms are fading.  I suppose I should cut them off so the plant will be ready to go into a bigger pot and maybe bloom again this summer.

About an hour ago, I noticed a squirrel higher up in a tree than this, but it was gone by the time I got out.  This one saw me right away.  My zoom was refusing to move, so by the time I got it to work, it was in the thicker part of the tree, hiding.   Can you see it?  The squirrels had eaten all the corn, so I went out and put another cob in.  

Some folks couldn't find the squirrel, so I went back and cropped the photo.  Can you see it now?  When I got closer, it was too out of focus.

Heidi knows what all critters are making their homes under the deck, and where the main entrance is.  I've mentioned that sometimes it's hard getting her in at night, because she has the opossum  or some other critter cornered somewhere.  I hope they never get into a real scrap.  I think it would mean a trip to the vet for Heidi.

I was so proud of my train track creation, I had to post a photo of it.  I figured the photo is somewhat garden themed since it has dried flowers from my garden in it, and the cool poster of herbs Larry got me many years ago.  Oh, and there's a poster of sunflowers I got at a garage sale.

I quit trying to use the directions for the configurations that came with the main track set because I couldn't tell where to start in order for them to fit in the area we have for it.  I just start at the edge of the space we have, then put tracks where I want them to go.  I have great fun doing it, and sometimes, KJ helps.  He probably will more as he gets older.  If I don't have it done when he gets here, he'll usually just start playing with the trains as I set it up, and add a track here and there. 
 

There was a cat in the back yard today, when we got home from The Mill.  I haven't seen cats around much since the neighbors across the street moved a few years ago.  I suppose it was stalking the bird feeders.  I'd rather have it do rabbit patrol.  There has been a big rabbit living in one of the front curb beds.  At least it spends a lot of time there, because most of the time when I go out that way, it runs out and leaves the yard for awhile.  I've taken to throwing sticks in the general area whenever I get a chance to go out there.  I saw a rabbit in the back yard a few days ago.  I am determined to put rabbit proof fencing along the existing fence in the veggie garden, and figure out a way to block them from the open entrance.  I have always planted extra for the rabbits, but they have gotten more and more greedy, and I am tired of them.

I hope you are having a great weekend.  Oh, someone mentioned using my car as a blind to get some photos.  I am thinking about doing that some time.  Do any of you do that?