Rain, Birds and a Manicure

It was overcast today. I didn't expect it to be this way. There was no forecast for a cool and cloudy day. As the morning wore on, it began to rain as well. Not the large downpour that is common here. But, rather, a traditional Pacific Northwest type of rain. The temps never got much higher than 50 and it sprinkled off and on until the late afternoon. Then the sun peeked out and the wind picked up.

I was not in the mood to do much because of the unexpected change in weather. I had booked an appointment at a pet groomer I found near by. Emily has to have here nails trimmed about twice a year. Since she is a wimpy clawer, and if not trimmed, her nails will eventually grow to the point where they will embed themselves into her paw pads. Her claws were to the point where she was limping a little after every time she jumped down from the couch.

Just before I left to take her to her appointment, I heard a 'bang' on the window. I opened the door and a bird was writhing in the gravel. I watched, without disturbing it, and it went still. I figured it was a goner and I will have to throw it in the trash when I get home.

I put Emily in her travel carrier and we did the groomer thing. When we got home, the bird was gone! It must have only been stunned. That made me feel better on this cool, rainy day.

Speaking of birds, there has been a bird, at first glance I thought was a female finch, that stops at the hummer feeder and pecks at the artificial flower. I got a better look at it and it was a bird I had never seen before. Okay, out comes the bird book. I spent quite a while and had it narrowed down to a couple of birds.


Then it showed up again and I got a solid ID and a few pics to determine it was a Verdin. A real cutie! :)

Matt Yates left me an email yesterday, asking if I wanted to play golf today. Yeah! I have not played since I left Washington back in October. I really need a golf fix. But, with the groomer booked in the middle of the day, and absolutely needing to get the cat's nails done, I couldn't commit. I was not happy with an email reply of "can't make it!" I'm glad about that now.


(It's the - bad weather and me jinx - I'm sure...)


I watched a Bonanza rerun this afternoon and just piddled around the rig. The hummers that do come to the feeders, I have noticed today, do not stay very long. They don't even roost on the rests. It is probably a tell tale sign my nectar needs changing. It is about a month old now. I have read that you should not keep it more than a couple of weeks, even refrigerated.

I'll be slaving over the stove to make a new batch of hummer food tonight. Oh well, life is rough. :)