Feathers Falling From the Sky

Sitting in my chair, enjoying my morning coffee, out my window I see feathers falling from the sky. They are not feathers, of course. They are Mother Nature sticking her tongue out at me, taunting me for having our studded winter tires changed to our non-studded snow tires. Showing me that despite what the calendar says about it being spring, she still has a few things to say. So be it. This will amount to only a short-lived dusting of white flakes.

Because her meager attempts to intimidate me do not counteract the small signs of spring that I see. The bluebirds (again I know, but I do love me the bluebirds), the daffodils breaking ground, the stray crocus or two that were transplanted by some underground critters and the popping up of the crocus I have more recently planted, those that are not yet ready to bloom. The arrival of more birds.

Yesterday spring’s first pair of American Goldfinch posed for me in the tree outside my window. Until I picked up the camera, then they moved to check for seeds on old flower stems. Separately, not near enough for a photo of the two of them together. This is the male, who steadfastly refused to look at me or even turn my direction.

Somewhat more cooperative was the female, who at least let me get a profile photo. Still in their winter plumage, they are not yet bright spots of color, but they are spots of hope.

In a recent post, I said I had much more to learn about using the Rebel. The comment was made in conjunction with a couple photos of my beloved bluebirds where the house on which they sat was in focus, but they were somewhat blurred. One of my bloggy friends, Karma, said she keeps her camera on the “P” setting, which allows for auto settings, but gives latitude in that the photographer can override and set ISO, shutter speed, aperture, etc. I had never tried that, so I checked it out. I find it is the best of both worlds – it gives me the ease of the Auto setting, but allows for bursts of a series of photos which I had previously found only on the sports setting. I still have much to learn, but have made that one little baby step, thank you Karma!

Mornings are chilly and wandering about outside with camera in hand I saw the smoke flowing out of the neighbor’s chimney, which intrigued me with the frame of trees and mountain behind it.

Playing with shots of things I can see from my morning window – I did tell you mornings are chilly, although cold is probably the better term – these were once lovely white berries on the Snowberry Bush – now not so white, not so lovely, having gone through the ravages of winter.

Caryopteris seed heads, although I think I have not spelled it correctly. Last summer these were pretty little blue flowers, now they are food for the birds. And a photo op, when one wishes not to venture out in the cold but wants to play with the camera.

These are my thoughts for this day. How is your day going?