LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Bright Spot in a Grey Day

I like rain. I like misty mornings with the fog rolling in. I love the mountains shrouded with fog, and fog lying in the valleys with mountains rising above. Surprising then, that I don't like grey days...days in which there is no obvious mist or fog, no rain...just grey skies completely filled with clouds.

Monday was such a day. There were several factors that made the day more grey than the color outside. It was the last day of November and I got that familiar "gut feeling" that I should be further along with holiday preparations. That afternoon I had to drive downtown to the dentist for a crown prep. When I got home I finished the remaining pages of a really good book. For some reason that puts me in a funk for a short while.

So I was sitting on the sofa, sipping my tea. I sighed and looked out the window. I saw a bright flash of red. It was my friend Mr. Cardinal. (With few exceptions, all the male cardinals are named Mr. Cardinal around here.)


Hello there, Mr. Cardinal. You are a lovely sight to see this afternoon.

Well hello right back, Lady.



It's so nice to see you looking so cheerful on such a dreary day. How's the missus?
I take it you haven't seen her yet. She's over on that tree all puffed up for some reason. You know how they are.

I looked and sure enough, there sat Mrs. Cardinal. And "puffed up" was certainly an appropriate description. She was disinclined to talk so I simply watched.


Suddenly a wind gust blew her topknot in the air.




She looked almost like a cockatiel for a second or two.




She seemed a bit startled by the wind's effect, but she didn't move from the branch upon which she sat.




Then she looked right at me.
Well, Lady. Do you understand why I'm not so pleased with the hair thing? The old man just doesn't get it. It's enough to make any woman huffy.

Yes, Mrs. Cardinal, I do understand. I know exactly what you mean. If it helps, I think you are still lovely. Thanks for dropping by.


24 comments:

Rae said...

That was a perfect way to brighten a grey day with beautiful flashes of red. I love how your birds talk to you. I don't have much success with my cardinals. All mine ever say is cheet, cheet, cheet. Graet post Carolyn.

Cedar ... said...

Ahhh.... men,.. they just don't understand, do they, Mrs. Cardinal! Great photos!

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is so funny. I am happy to know that I am not the only one having conversations with nature.
;0
A bad hair day, can really put you off.

Cicero Sings said...

Finished a good book is enough to put anyone in a funk ... because one wonders when and where one is going to find out to equal it!

Anyway, the cardinals were a great pick me up.

jabblog said...

You could not fail to be cheered by such beautiful birds. Poor Mrs Cardinal - no wonder she was a bit huffy!

Sam said...

I love the red of the birds (of course, particularly the male) against the grey background. A bright spot for a gloomy looking morning!

Cheryl said...

They are my favourites ...I love to see your cardinals, such distinctive birds and we have nothing like them here.

Love the 'hairdo issue' such fun.......

Lovely shots by the way.

Kerri Farley said...

Well you've certainly brightened my day with the antics of Mr and Mrs Cardinal! Great shots!!

Anonymous said...

You are to birds as Zonker is to plants.

Jeannette StG said...

Missus Cardinal looks a little like one of those little old ladies with a feather hat on:) Great pics!

Donna said...

They sure do brighten a gray day, don't they?

Great photos!

Twisted Fencepost said...

I like watching the fog settling, too.
Cute post and beautiful pictures!

LauraHinNJ said...

I understand her huffiness!

(suffering from a bad haircut myself)

;-)

Sweet pics!

abb said...

I had NO idea the wind could cause the top knot of Mrs. Cardinal to go the other way! What a wonderful, wonderful photo capture!
And the accompanying words....surperb!

robin andrea said...

Those two would definitely brighten any day, but most especially a dreary gray one.

Vicki Lane said...

Wonderful captures! What lens are you using and are you shooting from a 'hide?'

We are blessed with cardinals but I have yet to get a really good picture of them.

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Oh, I sure do love the photos of the cardinals. How wonderful for a bright, beautiful cardinals to stop by on a gray day. This posting is so uplifting.

troutbirder said...

The cardinals perked up your gray day and you definitely fixed up mine. Thanks Carolyn!

Dog_geek said...

I know just what you mean about the post-good-book funk. A really good book seems to take me on an emotional roller coaster ride, and leaves me totally drained. I'm glad that you had your cardinal friends to lift your spirits!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

The Cardinals do bring us alot of joy, Carolyn, don't they???? We also had the horribly high winds the past couple of days. Every year, when I decorate outside and put my big red bows on the deck and out front, we ALWAYS have a horrible wind storm. That happens every single year I think... Luckily, this year, there was no damage.

Have a great Friday.
Hugs,
Betsy

Jayne said...

Tee hee hee!! She DID look like a cockatiel!!

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Suz - Not only do I have conversations with nature...I often talk to inanimate objects as well, especially to cars.

Cicero and Dog Geek - I'm not sure why I get in a funk when I finish a good book. I know there are plenty more out there, but it's rather like saying goodbye to a friend.


Science guy - Didn't you love the series when Zonker planted the Georgia O'Keefe bulbs?

Vicki - I used a Nikkor 70-300 mm lens. I don't have a blind. Our birds are so used to my being on the deck they sort of ignore my presence if I don't move too much.

KB said...

What a wonderful bright spot! They are a eye-catching pair of birds. Thanks for sharing!

kanishk said...

. they just don't understand, do they, Mrs. Cardinal! Great photos!

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