American Kestrel Catches Sparrow

We've had several snow storms coming through our region in recent days, and so many of us have enjoyed watching all the little birds - sparrows, cardinals, blue jays - out in the snow.  Some neighbors keep bird seed feeders outside their apartments, others of us just throw out the occasional bread crumbs.    This particular day I was taking some pictures of the birds outside and suddenly I saw this colorful bird I'd never seen before hopping around on top of the shrub.    Come to find out this is an American Kestrel, a type of small falcon.  He had been hunting the smaller birds feeding on the ground, and I captured his catch.  

  Needless to say, some of the photos below may be a bit graphic as it involves the dying sparrow that the Kestrel caught.

At first, I did not realize that the Kestrel was hunting the other birds since he disappeared into the shrub, but I realized when he came out he was carrying one of the small sparrows. 

The sparrow was still alive, but regardless of whether I tried to shoo the falcon off save the little guy, he was already injured enough that he wasn't going to make it.  I figured the Kestrel needs to eat too, but I did feel a little guilty for throwing crumbs out and that the sparrows had their guard down while they ate.

It was such a neat opportunity to see nature happen at my doorstep.  It is such a beautiful bird, and I'll like him so long as he doesn't stay here and hunt all the little birds that always eat here.

He obviously saw me taking pictures of him, since he looked directly at me several times before he flew to a nearby tree with his dinner.

  While the birds look beautiful in the snow, I'm hoping winter and all these snow storms will die off during March.    How is winter looking where you live?  

Recap Christmas Day

Good morning, dear readers!  Happy New Year to you!  

Since I'm doing some early spring cleaning and some other chores that need to be done, and I work nights (aka I don't have a life), I don't really see much good blog content in the near future.  

Since that seems to be the case, I thought I'd recap our Christmas day.  This year was our year to spend Christmas on my side of the family.  We have kind of started a flip flop tradition where one year we'll spend Thanksgiving on one side, Christmas on the other, and then the next year we flip flop which families get which holiday.  That way we get to see both every year.

My grandma decorates a beautiful tree.

This year my family did Christmas a little bit different.  Usually we all show up Christmas day around 10:00 am, and eat Christmas lunch around 11:30.  After lunch we typically spend the day together, open presents or play dirty santa (differs every year), and then most everyone leaves around 4:00 pm.  

All the above stayed the same this year, except some of us stayed the night on Christmas night.  

When I was a kid, the house used to be so packed that all of us kids would have to sleep on the floor, and the couches were taken.  Nowadays most of my cousins either have Christmas with their own families, or live out of state and can't come, so it just seems a little too small and lonely each year.  But we are thankful to be together, and had a great time spending the night and part of the next day with my grandparents.

Many people who have visited my grandma's house have told her it is "like a museum."  She collects all kinds of antiques and rustic decorations, so her house is full of interesting items.  Her attic is basically the same square footage as the rest of the house, because she all-out decorates for pretty much all the major holidays or seasons.  At Christmas time, we play a game called "count the Christmas trees" because she has so many tiny, small, medium, and large Christmas tree decorations throughout the house.

The "dessert bar" is in the laundry room that is off the side of the kitchen.  The best spot in the house, if you ask me.

 My grandparent's lost their cat of about 15 years earlier this year, and have since 'acquired' two little neighborhood cats that come visit them.  I think they do a little more than 'visit' these days since they come inside, get fed there, and sleep inside at night.  Maybe they're just in denial that they now have two new cats.

 This is how Tom says that he wants inside.

And this is Syll.  Her name was Sylvester, until they realized that 'he' was actually a 'she' and so she became 'Syll.'  I think she feels like a queen in my grandma's fancy animal print themed spare bedroom.

My mom and my great grandpa before lunch!

My dad is always the life of the party, telling his crazy work stories (whether you asked to hear them or not).  We're not sure if my cousin asked for it or just ended up in the conversation.

After lunch, we all opened gifts.  Tyler and I didn't get a chance to have our traditional Christmas with just us this year, so I brought his stocking to family Christmas.  He is always fun to watch opening gifts (yep, he was the fun kid that ripped all the packages open - the opposite of me).

Family Christmas is also the time to make sure everyone is practicing good health, so the blood pressure monitor made its way out and got passed around.  (You think I'm kidding?  There's the picture to prove it!)

 A Christmassy mantle.  How many Christmas trees do you count in just this one frame?  Now imagine an entire house.  No one gets the same number of Christmas trees in the count the trees game.

This shot here is just the top of the refrigerator.  I count 5 mini trees.

My grandma and her dad, my great grandpa.

Our family picture with Tyler - before I figured out how to use self timer, so we took turns.

And now Tyler taking our family picture for us with me in the picture.

After my Great Grandpa left, I had some time to figure out how to use self timer, and so we took another picture where Tyler and I were both there.

Another aspect that makes my grandma's home "museum-like" are these photos, which she had restored several years ago.  They are of my Great Great Great Great Grandparents (I think, don't hold me accountable to the number of 'Greats').  I just think they are amazing.

Do you see the family resemblance???  I'm not sure if I really can tell any traits for sure or not, but it is still neat to see what my grandparents so many generations ago looked like.

How did you spend your Christmas Day?  

Belated 2014 Christmas Home Tour

December is almost over, but while we're still here, I'd like to share our Christmas apartment once again.  Life got away from me this December, and so as it should the blog was one of the first things that went to the backburner.

This December has been hard.  Between sheer busyness and normal chaos that comes with the season, we were hit with an unexpected loss of a dear family member.  While we are still processing the loss, we are so thankful for the time we were able to spend with our families this year.  

When we began to decorate our tree in late November, I decided to use the grapevine from a grapevine wreath as a garland around the tree.  Although our tree is a $25 as-fake-as-can-be Walmart tree, the grapevine really helps the tree come to life.  All of our decorations are either those that were given to me by my grandma on my first Christmas in a college apartment, or ornaments that I've made, or that others have made for me or given me.  

My mother-in-law taught me to make the swirly looking ornament on the left out of fabric, we made those this year together.

This ornament, however, she made us last year for our first Christmas.

This little bird was an ornament I made while living in China to decorate my little tree.

My pearl ornament I made in 2012.

This pine pearl ornament from 2013.

Tyler's aunt sent us this adorable little bird house ornament this Christmas.

And his sister made us this beautiful ornament.

She also made this one, but my picture doesn't do it justice.

Once again, we hung garland across the window and attached a large bow to the middle with lights.

But my absolute favorite detail for 2014 are these adorable pinecones hanging in the kitchen pass through window to the livingroom.  My love for pinecones is one thing, but these mini-chandeliers are simply the best simplistic but chic decoration that I'm into this year.

Don't you feel their charm?  I love pinecone charm.

Once again, we hung our kissing ball in the livingroom.  

I added some pine branches and my snowman scene with a tree made out of a...guess what...PINECONE!  (I actually refer to myself as the crazy pinecone resident at my complex.  I'm sure that's what other residents have secretly named me as well.  I have a real obsession.)

I added some pine branches that I found on the ground after a storm to a vase with cranberries floating to make the perfect winter centerpiece for our table.  It is surprising how long pine branches will look good indoors.

I like having a little Christmas at the coffee bar.  This year I went shopping with my mom and grandma, and after going our separate ways we all ended up telling each other about the same tree.  Needless to say, we checked out one by one, at the same register, each purchasing the same tree.  The clerk was slightly confused.  But that rustic tree was perfect for the coffee bar.

Snowy Saturday

Saturday morning we had some snow come through Oklahoma.  At first it sounded like we wouldn't get very much, but even around noon it was still snowing.  By the time it stopped snowing, we had several inches of white, untouched snow.  

After finally convincing Tyler to venture to the cold outdoors with me, we had a great time seeing the nature near our apartment and playing in the snow.

There's nothing quite like duck prints in the snow...

We are always surprised how the ducks don't seem to be bothered by the snow and ice, but their tracks are just too cute.

Tyler's new hat from his sister is great!

Mischievous husbands have many mischievous faces.

Perfect snowball snow, unfortunately for me!

I'd say he hit the target a few times.  

If it isn't a snowball thrown at me, then I should obviously balance one on my head.

Tyler was not excited to go outside at first, but after I got him out the door he was having a blast running, throwing snowballs, and building snowmen!

Using the bridge to the gazebo at his own risk.

The beauty of snow makes the amount of cold almost worth it!  ...almost.

Tyler enjoyed making a snowman by the gazebo.  

He decided to move him under the roof on the interior rails.  We named him Fred.

Fred looked like he was missing a head, so Tyler made him one.

I guess Fred has antennas?  I didn't ask...

Now Fred has some arms.

After a morning full of falling snow, the sun came out and began to melt it all away.

Tyler with Fred the snowman, and his arms, antennas, and a nose?  Or a pipe?  Or sticking his tongue out?

Winter is pretty, but by the time we finished the snowman I was too cold and ready to go back inside.  I wish the cold didn't bother me so much so I could enjoy the pretty scenery more. What is your sentiment toward Winter?