Great Backyard Bird Count and Spoon-billed Sandpiper

It's nearing that time again for the Great Backyard Bird Count!!

The 17th annual GBBC takes place February 14-17, 2014.

Yes, it's early but get it marked on your calendar so there's no forgetting ;)

And be sure to get your cameras

ready to grab some great shots!

As always there is another free poster available this year to help identify the species in your area.

To hold you over here an update on the Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

"Some unexpected good news has us looking back at this 2011 video of an endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper hatching its young in Russia. The adult male in this video was recently spotted in wetlands near Shanghai. In the intervening years, this one-ounce bird has flown the 3,200 mile journey between Russia and China three times and is still going strong—a symbolic moment of tenacity and hope for this critically endangered species."

Watch the father with his chicks.

 Video includes commentary by the Cornell Lab’s Gerrit Vyn.
Filmed July 7, 2011, near Meinypilgyno, Chukotka, Russia

''Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Hatch

This piece captures the first moments of life at a windswept Spoon-billed Sandpiper nest. When the young finally hatch and emerge from the nest, after 21 days of incubation, they stumble about on well-developed legs and feet and begin to feed themselves. Females lay 4 eggs in a simple tundra nest in a shallow depression, most often in mosses, lined with a few dwarf willow leaves. Both adults incubate the nest, taking half-day shifts. The male most often incubates during the day and the female at night. After the last chick hatches, the male begins his job of leading the chicks as they grow and become independent about 20 days later. The female departs soon after hatching and begins moving south.''

''Published on Sep 14, 2012
Spoon-billed Sandpipers lay 4 eggs in a simple tundra nest comprised of a shallow depression, most often in mosses, lined with a few dwarf willow leaves. The nest is incubated by both adults on half-day shifts -- the male most often during the day and the female at night. After 21 days of incubation the eggs begin to hatch in a process that takes a day or more to complete. When the young finally emerge from the nest they stumble about on well-developed legs and feet and begin to feed themselves. After the last chick emerges, the male begins his job of leading the chicks as they grow towards independence about 20 days later; the female soon departs and begins moving south. This piece captures the first moments of life at a wind swept Spoon-billed Sandpiper nest.''





I'M FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



As those of you who know my children and I have been going through a lot of personal stuff for the last 3 years.

Well, I am happy to say my Divorce came through finally!!

Wanna hear something weird? It came through 1 day before what would have been our 40th Anniversary..spooky huh?



Now it's time to

One huge hurdle over

many more to come

BUT until then!!!

Fall in the Garden

Seems I've been running in place lately and

not getting anywhere.

Do you feel like that too sometimes?

I so look forward to the day when things calm down...

they will calm down won't they??

Needless to say my gardens are still a bit of a mess but

these Sunflowers make me smile at least.

They aren't anything fancy or have large gorgeous blooms, but I do love them. They reseed themselves every year and because the flower heads are on the small side with tiny seeds the smaller birds L♥VE them!

Each plant has tons of blooms.

They do get a little wild and out of control from time to time

 and require some cutting back.

But that makes for a good excuse to gather bouquets

When I do get a chance I get out and prune, prune, prune!

I still have a lot left to do but these bags can attest I am doing my best to get the gardens ready for Winter!

Have you been pruning too?

 Wishing you a wonderful weekend!



Ghoulish Giveaway - Win a Free Subscription to Ladies' Home Journal from Purex!



No tricks this Halloween, just a treat for you! Win a FREE subscription to Ladies Home Journal in our Ghoulish Giveaway. Limited supply, so enter HERE today for a chance to win!

Winners!!

Winners for a coupon for a free Purex UltraPacks Plus Oxi are:

Sandra K VanHoey

and

  Tracy Suzanne

  

   



I've sent you an email for your addresses.

Once I have them I'll get the coupon right out to you!

Animals!



Disappointed...with a BIG D



There are a few things more frightening (in my situation) than arriving home later than expected, in the dark, then fumbling trying to get your key into the lock so you can get safely inside. I hate leaving the front porch light on because that just wastes electricity and raises my PG&E, no one needs that in this economy.  I plan on getting quality solar motion sensor lighting (when all is said and done) for safety reasons. But want to be sure ALL is done before putting out that kind of money.

The other night I couldn't sleep (what's new), turned the TV on and of course what is on at 2 am but infomercials 

What popped on was an infomercial for Light Angel. A motion sensor LED light that will stick to anything with adhesive strips.

 The Light Angel runs on batteries and works both inside and outside: Whenever and wherever you need light. Plus, Light Angel is adjustable: Just shift the light so you can get illumination where you need it.
Light Angel is equipped with a motion sensor. When the sensor detects movement, such as when you approach your back door, the light turns on for a full minute, giving you a chance to find your keys, and the lock, and get back into your home. Unlike some motion sensor lights, Light Angel attaches to any wall, indoor or outdoor, without the use of special tools. Just peel the backing off the adhesive strips and press Light Angel firmly to where you want it to stay. The lights are also battery powered, which means that they operate even if the power is out.

I knew the adhesive strips would turn out to be useless but figured I could figure out a way to attach it where I needed it. The infomercial caught my attention and I was sucked in. Now I know better than to fall for these darn things but it just happened to have an inexpensive price and I thought they would hold me over with piece of mind until I could get quality products. Plus I thought being battery operated I could place them in darker areas outside  than where I plan to place the solar ones I intend to purchase in the future. Win, win situation, right?

WRONG!!!   

Yeah, they work OK. My issue is the price they charged me. The infomercial said  it was $12.99 for one but they would through in a second one free, just pay for shipping and handling...a common practice with these kinds of sales. Also thrown in was to be an "Olde Brooklyn Lantern". More enticement ---if you want to play Geppetto looking for Pinocchio?  I figured even if they doubled then price it would still me less expensive than my future purchases.
When I called I was asked it I would like another one for $12.99 plus shipping and handling. Like a dummy I said yes, still excited about getting these to hold me over at a lesser cost. Of course, the "person" on the other end was automated so heaven forbid if you had any questions. And believe me I tried to get a real live person...pushing O repeatedly didn't get me an operator, neither did pushing any other inappropriate button. All I received is "I didn't understand that request", great.

So I waited with guarded anticipation. I received them several days later, they did have quick shipment. But with what I was charged it should have been overnighted! My bill for 3 Light Angels came to $74.64!

I have yet to receive any answer from all my forms of contact (email, phone, letter, etc.) for an explanation as to these outrageous charges. Great customer service, huh? I didn't even get the free Geppetto Lantern!



So my advice it to NEVER order anything off those darn infomercials - EVER!

But should you so feel inclined here is their website. Maybe there is better luck with it than the infomercial phone number - Good luck, you'll need it.

Disclosure:
 I was NOT compensated for this product review post. I was NOT provided with a sample in exchange for a product review. All opinions expressed here are my own.