“Goooood morning!” Thalia’s sotto voce greeting does not frighten their jelly loving pal. Cal raises her camera with the fluidity of a lazy brook. “Got the shot…” she whispers as the finch takes flight. “She’ll be back —” Urania looks up, “— with friends.”
The hummingbirds are not fans. Sometimes one flies up to look, but I never see them drink. I stopped putting sugar water in because it gets gross when not touched.
In contrast, the jelly cups are a huge hit with orioles, grosbeaks, and this year… finch! The unexpected delights!
What a delight, Loveletterist, in today’s post! Yesterday you examined ambition and work in Emerson’s quote of the day. In the spirit of connectication, today’s author has a productive life story. In addition to having written 10 books of poetry he’s also written 3 books of prose... on Work! And lots more that can be found at his website: davidwhyte.com. At the beginning of his site are 3 quotes. One informs us: “Poetry is a language against which we have no defenses.” He illustrates that in having written more than three times as many books of poetry than prose. 🤷🏽
On the topic of feeders, jelly or sugar water, and ants. Beth’s dad devised a do-it-yourself solution: cut the bottom off a plastic 1-liter soda bottle about 2 inches above it’s actual bottom. Then drill a hole, centered, the size of the cord or cable from which the feeder hangs. If the line is detachable at either end, do so, and route through the hole you drilled. Re-attach the line or use a very small cable clamp if cutting the line was necessary. Seal around the line where it passes through the drilled hole. Silicone is ideal, hot glue can work in a pinch but likely will lose connection from the bottle bottom. Once sealed, rehang the feeder and fill the guard with water!
A trained mechanical engineer is likely to find such “answers” to everyday situations. Work? Or an interaction or conversation with the materials? In Joe’s case it provided an opportunity to strike up a conversation with me. It gave me the opportunity to comment on his problem solving (praise) and for him to share his activity on some other solutions. Nearing 90 and now having lived alone for almost 10 years since his wife passed, I believe he is self conscious about very obvious tremors (resting and intentional) with both hands as well as his lips. His doings were perhaps presented as his way of saying, “No big deal.”
As with much in our lives I was afforded the choice to focus on his abilities, not his body’s protests. And as you likewise do, Loveletterist and Muses, your posts focus on the good around us, ways to grow our skills that allow for better relationships, with others and ourselves. The latter though, probably in reverse order. And offer beauty from your everyday world
Thank you for the link to David Whyte's site. I believe I was first introduced to him through his poem about El Camino... a TED talk. I was unaware that he's published so many books!
What a great trough tip to keep ants at bay. Even more, I appreciate the magical math of relationship you shared about your connection with Beth's dad.
Oh! The spots on my face… an invitation to meet Dr. C. I am happy to share they are nothing more than an aesthetic nuisance.
Great news!
What sort of feeder is that? It looks like a hummer feeder, based on color. But it holds jelly?
We’ve heard of those, but I’m worried about ants.
Combined hummingbird/oriole feeder.
The hummingbirds are not fans. Sometimes one flies up to look, but I never see them drink. I stopped putting sugar water in because it gets gross when not touched.
In contrast, the jelly cups are a huge hit with orioles, grosbeaks, and this year… finch! The unexpected delights!
Ants… some, but not problematic.
What a delight, Loveletterist, in today’s post! Yesterday you examined ambition and work in Emerson’s quote of the day. In the spirit of connectication, today’s author has a productive life story. In addition to having written 10 books of poetry he’s also written 3 books of prose... on Work! And lots more that can be found at his website: davidwhyte.com. At the beginning of his site are 3 quotes. One informs us: “Poetry is a language against which we have no defenses.” He illustrates that in having written more than three times as many books of poetry than prose. 🤷🏽
On the topic of feeders, jelly or sugar water, and ants. Beth’s dad devised a do-it-yourself solution: cut the bottom off a plastic 1-liter soda bottle about 2 inches above it’s actual bottom. Then drill a hole, centered, the size of the cord or cable from which the feeder hangs. If the line is detachable at either end, do so, and route through the hole you drilled. Re-attach the line or use a very small cable clamp if cutting the line was necessary. Seal around the line where it passes through the drilled hole. Silicone is ideal, hot glue can work in a pinch but likely will lose connection from the bottle bottom. Once sealed, rehang the feeder and fill the guard with water!
A trained mechanical engineer is likely to find such “answers” to everyday situations. Work? Or an interaction or conversation with the materials? In Joe’s case it provided an opportunity to strike up a conversation with me. It gave me the opportunity to comment on his problem solving (praise) and for him to share his activity on some other solutions. Nearing 90 and now having lived alone for almost 10 years since his wife passed, I believe he is self conscious about very obvious tremors (resting and intentional) with both hands as well as his lips. His doings were perhaps presented as his way of saying, “No big deal.”
As with much in our lives I was afforded the choice to focus on his abilities, not his body’s protests. And as you likewise do, Loveletterist and Muses, your posts focus on the good around us, ways to grow our skills that allow for better relationships, with others and ourselves. The latter though, probably in reverse order. And offer beauty from your everyday world
that brings a smile or illuminates our minds. 🙏🏽
Thank you for the link to David Whyte's site. I believe I was first introduced to him through his poem about El Camino... a TED talk. I was unaware that he's published so many books!
What a great trough tip to keep ants at bay. Even more, I appreciate the magical math of relationship you shared about your connection with Beth's dad.
Thank you for your appreciation of 3mm. 😊