Birds & Blooms - 6

This is a repeat species in my B & B series, but she just looked so pretty sitting in among what is left of the cherry blossoms that I couldn't pass it up.  And I'm still trying for "the" shot of a finch eating the flowers so I'll give you a near-miss in Extra - you can just see the flower dropping away from his beak.)

A bit chillier today, necessitating a sweat shirt while I was outside, but lots of sunshine.  I'm starting to see leaves popping out on our hickory and maple trees now, as well as the tulip poplars.  The weeping willow is always the first to put on her summer dress so she's full and luscious and green all over now.  Reminding me that I will have to go down with a macro lens and see what I can find on the willow leaves, as they are usually always host to several species of lady bug beetle larva.

I went and got my hair trimmed this morning which resulted in over an inch being removed.  Over the last year, my hair has gotten much shorter.  In some ways I like it better but I miss having the flexibility to just put my hair in a ponytail.  Oh well.  

While Jax and I were out this morning, I saw two Tree Swallows checking out one of my nest boxes - fingers crossed!  The bluebirds that were here earlier in the spring apparently decided to move on so this will be the first spring in quite a few years that I haven't had bluebirds in one of my boxes.  Swallows would be a nice substitute.

Tomorrow I've got an appointment with my pain management doc to get steroid injections in my SI joints which will fix my back up again for another 8 months or so.  Miracles of modern medicine!

Had a really nice easter dinner with SiL, Hubs and bestie Peg last night.  Peg joined us via FT and we all laughed and talked and enjoyed ourselves.  Sometimes holidays can feel a little sad because for quite a few years we hosted the holidays in our home, with aunts, uncles, parents, siblings and cousins.  Now it is just us.  

And the day started with the news of Pope Francis' passing. Although not unexpected, it still feels like a big loss.  I'm not a Catholic although I married  in a Catholic Church, but I felt like Pope Francis was a beacon in this world.  RIP.

xoxo
Debbi