Zippy and I went snowshoeing on Sunday
after we got about 10 inches of snow.
It was a beautiful day and our tromp through the snow was lovely.
However, I did announce to the universe
that I’d prefer a cessation of snowfall for the rest of the week.
Well, guess what?
More snow!
And frigid temps!
Dude!
© Tracy Abell 2011
Wonder if this Northern Flicker has a direct line to the powers that be . . .
Hello, Monday!
© Tracy Abell 2011
This Sharp-shinned Hawk stopped by yesterday,
and watched as I photographed it from my deck.
“A serious writer is not to be confounded with a solemn writer.
A serious writer may be a hawk or a buzzard or even a popinjay,
but a solemn writer is always a bloody owl.”
~ Ernest Hemingway
Apologies to Barb ( ), but I’ll strive for hawk-writer this week.
I love my home but didn’t always love the ugly power lines
visible from our south-facing windows.
I considered them an obstruction of the open-space-aesthetic.
Well, I eventually adjusted my attitude with the realization that
without those unsightly, thick black cables, I wouldn’t see nearly as many birds.
Case in point: this Red-tailed Hawk that stopped by yesterday.
© Tracy Abell 2011
Today the sun is shining
but two days ago, snow was falling.
© Tracy Abell 2011
“Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.” – Unknown
I’m working on it.
Again, I just glanced out the window and was puzzled to see
the newly-replenished feeder abandoned.
Where did everybody go?
Then I looked up . . .
© Tracy Abell 2011
Notice the balancing act.
I suddenly realized all the finches and towhees had left the yard.
Why?
American Kestrel in the ‘hood.
© Tracy Abell 2011
As I snapped photo after photo, a few brave finches perched on the wires above,
and a squirrel ran along the fence behind the kestrel.
They aren’t exactly interacting, but it’s a peaceful coexistence.
We should all do so well.
2010 didn’t work out the way I’d thought and hoped,
but that’s why it’s called Life.
I’m headed into 2011 with my healthy, mostly-happy family,
and a brand new project that makes me grateful to be a writer.
I have hopes and dreams for 2011 and will try my hardest to make them come true.
Just like this blue jay.
I wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year,
and look forward to cheering you on in 2011 as you reach for your dreams.
It’s hard to wallow in the doldrums when there’s such exquisiteness in the world.
© Tracy Abell 2010
Wishing everyone a glorious day!
I’ve been looking forward to this day for quite some time.
We’re going to start gaining daylight again!
And what better way to celebrate than with a House Finch Party?!
© Tracy Abell 2010
I’m nearing the end of BIRD BRAIN revisions,
and have called upon my spirit guide.
Image from morguefiles.com
Methinks I’m home free.
Today is my birthday.
I’m 48 years old.
Today is also Thanksgiving.
There will be pumpkin-pie with candles.
Today I give thanks for my friendships
and the abundance of love we share.
I wish everyone a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving.
© Tracy Abell 2010
(Apologies for the mammoth image. I’ve devoted some time to shrinkage but cannot crack the code. I am giving up. Call it a birthday indulgence.)
I’ve been thinking about my writing process lately,
and how I need to be in different spaces/places
at different points in a project.
A while back, wrote about walking on the beach
and how that inspires her writing.
I commented that I was currently working in a closed room,
back to the window,
facing my whiteboard,
earplugs inserted.
It felt a bit pathetic to admit that,
but it was what I needed at that point in my BIRD BRAIN revisions.
No distractions.
Just me inside my head,
But for the past week, I’ve been sitting in my chair in front of the
sliding glass door, watching as
birds fly past,
land on the wires,
or hop about the plum tree branches.
Eurasian Collared Doves © Tracy Abell 2010
I’m still doing BIRD BRAIN revisions
but maybe it’s because I’m so much closer to being done
that I need the visual inspiration that got me started on this project.
I need birds.
A couple weeks ago, I did not.
And I’m not sure why.
Do you have different work spaces for each stage of your projects?
Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.
It was lovely here and we had many feathered visitors.
© Tracy Abell 2010
I’ve received helpful feedback on BIRD BRAIN
and am madly revising. The book is already so much stronger!
Hugs and smooches to , , and ![[info]](https://i0.wp.com/l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
lorrainemt!
You guys are the very best.
So I’m headed back into the revision cave,
but wanted to extend wishes for a glorious Monday filled with
happy writing and maybe a bird friend or two.
A new week, a new month.
Shiny new possibilities.
I have plans for September!
(Here I go again, another oversized photo.
This time I didn’t have trouble uploading it to LiveJournal,
but I can’t resize it; when I click on the corner, the photo goes blue.
Plus, I can’t put text beneath it.
What’s going on?! And does anyone have advice?)
This is what I saw out my window a bit ago,
American Goldfinches against a backdrop of asters.
Now.
Can someone please explain what happened to Photobucket and
LiveJournal image insert since I last posted a photo?
It took forever to get this photo here and I’m not even sure how I finally succeeded.
Plus, I can’t resize this photo which is why it’s of the ginormous variety.
I used to feel a bit savvy about this stuff but now I’m back to feeling confused.
Sigh.
I’m supposed to be working on BIRD BRAIN,
but keep getting distracted by three juvenile Western Scrub Jays.
I saw one hopping around my patio table this morning,
checking out the umbrella turn-handle as if hoping it would yield food.
Fortunately, she came around the house and found the motherlode of peanuts.
© Tracy Abell 2010
The youngsters aren’t able to extract the whole thing the way adult jays do,
but they peck at the shells until they can pull out one peanut at a time.
(This qualifies as research, right?)
Working hard on BIRD BRAIN
and feeling good about making progress.
The cool thing about this project
is that most anytime I look out the window,
I see my inspiration.
These Grackles visited me almost a year ago
but they still make me smile.
© Tracy Abell 2010
I might have to take a break and belly up to the feeder for a snack (or two).
This morning Zippy dropped Wildebeest and Zebu at the bus station
where they got on a bus headed to Albuquerque.
They will be with Zippy’s sister for the weekend.
Which means….
I get to write and write and write.
So, in honor of my BIRD BRAIN focus,
here is a blurry pic of two birds huddled together on a branch in Kiowa.
I felt their watchful gaze as I took wildflower photos with my macro-lens,
and turned to see them in the tree.
The photo quality is poor but I still think they’re darned cute.
Whatever they are.
Happy writing day to everyone!
Today is the end of Zebu’s school year.
His last day of eighth grade and middle school.
The last day to ride the school bus
and witness kids throwing plastic soldiers out the windows at cars,
and other acts of idiocy.
He’s happy.
Happy, happy.
So in honor of his accomplishment
and also to brighten this overcast day,
I bring you a festive American Goldfinch:
© 2010 Zippy
We have a new thistle feeder, and this bird swooped in on the second day.
Haven’t seen him since, though, so if he shows up in your yard,
please tell him Tracy says hello.
Yesterday I wrote about being grumpy as a result of not writing.
Later, I wrote some fast fiction that excelled in its suckiness.
However, I felt better for doing it,
and this morning, resolved to write something else.
Without censoring myself for additional suckiness.
Ladies and gentlemen, behold the uncensored product of Tracy’s mind:
MARKING TIME
I just saw a flicker poop
on the railing.
After he lured me to the window
with his urgent, chirpy call.
He pooped right in front of me,
then just up and flew away.
Without looking back.
Without acknowledging his audience of one.
And I’m left to wonder
what it is I’m supposed to do
now.
Oh, wait.
I know.
© 2010 Tracy Abell
"Orange is the happiest color."
— Frank Sinatra
It’s a gray and gloomy day here
but just after Zebu left for school, I saw a flash of color in the bushes.
And then to my delight, this Western Tanager landed at the feeder:
© 2010 Tracy Abell
And this is one of the Black-Headed Grosbeaks that has been visiting all week:
© 2010 Tracy Abell
It doesn’t look as if we’ll get any sunshine but all the glorious plumage has already brightened my day.
Maybe I’ll put on some Sinatra . . .
I’m fighting feelings of overwhelm right now,
mostly political and environmental concerns.
I need to harness good feelings to carry me through.
And there’s nothing like a bird to make me feel better,
so I’m going to share in case anyone else needs a little boost.
Female Downy Woodpecker © 2010 Tracy Abell
Wishing everyone a groovy weekend filled with lovely birds
and whatever else makes your heart go thumpa.
I meet with Claudia on Thursday to go over revisions.
You may remember my glee at the progress I was making.
At that point in time, I was confident I’d fly through the rest of the revisions.
I told Claudia we were going to celebrate Earth Day together by reviewing all remaining chapters.
As in, every single chapter through The End!
Well, soon after shooting off my mouth I slammed right into a Wall of Doubt.
There is no way I’ll have the revisions finished by the day after tomorrow.
There’s only thing left to do: Get as much done as possible and hope Claudia isn’t overly disappointed.
Two American Kestrels sitting on a wire above my yard.
How lucky am I?
© 2010 Tracy Abell
The male is on the left and the female on the right.
Care to read their body language and write a little script?
Tracy Abell 