Our Heavenly Visitor

A light snow storm came through last week.
It was just enough snow to make it look like a pretty
Currier & Ives scene at Sall Farm.
With no horse or winter sleigh to speak of,
​I picked up the camera and spent the day
bird watching for entertainment. 
And boy they did not disappoint. 

Sall kept the feeders full all day
​ and they just kept coming in for more!

More sparrows than we could count.
So pretty in their fluffy winter coats!

The blue jays were the rulers. 
They would fly in and squawk at all the little sparrows.
They are quite rude for being such a beautiful bird...

My mother always said "never judge a book by its cover",
that applies with birds too I guess.

But then this guy showed up!
The prettiest of them all
AND
​the most well behaved!

He was also the hardest to capture in my lens!
He was in and out quickly, never causing any trouble,
He would grab a mouthful of seeds
and hide under the cover of the spruce tree.
That vibrant red color kept me searching 
​for him all day long!

Then I spotted these two out by the garden fence.  
They have to be pretty desperate to wander 
up close to our house where the bird feeders are.
They know where they are the safest 
and the bushes and fencing gives them
a good shield from two golden retrievers?

What a fun day of bird watching it was at our house.  
Especially when there is a cardinal in our midst.  
I love the saying "When a cardinal appears in your yard
it's a visitor from Heaven."
I'm certain this one is heaven sent.
My mother was an avid bird watcher.
I can remember her squeal like a little girl 
the first time we saw a cardinal in the yard.
We never see cardinals in this part of South Dakota,
so it was an exciting sight to see!
But, you would've thought she spotted a pot of gold.
It was funny to me.
It warms my heart now to think of her
and how a beautiful bird can bring back
​a fond memory.

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