I recently started working on this painting of a Merganser and her two chicks. I just love the 'wild' feather head of the female.

Several years ago we had a garden on our property. It was beautiful and we had an abundance of veggies. The next year we planted again. We had company, we were busy, the garden was a wee bit neglected. One day I was walking down the driveway to get the mail and I noticed there was something unusual looking about the tomato plants. I wasn't sure what it was but I knew I needed to go look at them.

The Hummingbirds, that is! About two weeks ago I saw the first one. I had just put the small tube feeder out. The males always come in first - I imagine the females are on the nest because I never see them until after the first chicks are born. And now I saw two males dancing around the feeder so I thought it was time to put the big feeder out. As soon as I put it out and I was turning to go into the house, a male swooped in and sat on it. It was as if he was telling me that he knew the feeder was for him. 

I love this time of year when all of our birds start coming back. A little over a week ago the Phoebes were singing in our tree, checking out the nest they used successfully last year in the crook of a drain pipe, safe from any predators (in particular, our neighbor's cat). The Ruby-Throated hummingbird hasn't shown up yet - I'll wait another week or so before I put the feeders out for them. And the Bluebirds have been checking out the various houses we have for them in our yard. So far I saw two males but there might be three.

A few years ago I decided it would be a fun project to go hunting for the waterfalls in New Hampshire. So I searched online for the best ones to look for and my husband and I took day trips to find some of them. And then we didn't.