Happy Hungry Hummingbirds

Okay, first things first, since I have been so sporadic with my posting lately,

be sure and go over to the right and sign up for an e-mail notice when I have a new post.

That way when I finally get around to it, you will know and you won't have that disappointing

blog check that you have already seen before.

Now down to business.

Hummingbirds and what to feed them.

If you live in Oklahoma, you will see our little hummingbird friends from about late March to September/October.

That's when you will need to put out your feeder and keep it full.

If you put out a feeder keep it full.

Oh, did I already say that?

That's because the little guys rely on you, so don't tease them.

Alright, let's make some hummingbird grub.

4 parts water to one part sugar.

So that means 4 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar or any variation thereof.

I'm pretty sure I have never used the word "thereof" until now.

The water is brought to a boil to get rid of all contaminates.

I add the sugar after boiling, but you can just pour it all in at once

and microwave until boiling bubbles appear.

My microwave boils 4 cups of water in about 8 minutes.

Easy and brings lots of hummingbird porch moments that you will enjoy.

I wish I could say that this guy was on my back porch, but no.

This is one of the giant hummingbirds we saw in the rain forrest.

They were very people friendly and allowed some great photos.

Check them out below.

These hummingbirds were at least twice, if not more, as big as the ones I see on my back porch.

Watch out!

Coming in for a landing.

That was the other cool thing about their feeders in Costa Rica.

They provided the little guys with a perch.

So, the old rumour that hummingbirds never perch, untrue.

Now I just have to go on Costa Rica Amazon.com and find one of those

perchy feeders and we will be all set.

Try it for yourself, I promise you won't regret it.

All Hail the Hosta

Hosta Heaven.

That's what I'm trying to create here at the chicken farm.

I really like them.

They are just so....interesting.

They like the shade that we have a lot of around here.

Here's my blue one.

(I've told you before that if you want the real technical names for plants...this is not the place.)

It looks so cool and collected.

This is a transplant from last year.

(It's a green one.)

That is the really great thing.

Once you get these babies going, you can divide them and put them everywhere.

If you look closely there is a bloom shooting up.

Oh yeah, and they bloom.

Another hosta bonus.

Here's my chartreuse baby.

Don't tell the others, but this color is my favorite.

Also a transplant to the back yard.

Another beautiful baby.

So here are the original big daddies.

We planted these about six years ago.

They are looking great.

I like these two colors together also.

These are in the front yard and we are dividing them to add more to the back.

(When I say "we" I mean Daddio.)

See?  It is a plant investment.  Buy the original and they make more for you.

Wow.

A few days later...the little bud I showed you above?

Now a real bloom.

So pretty, just like a snow drop.

Does snow drop? 

Anyway, you know what I mean.

Oh, my gosh, I love plants!

Gorgeous!

And look, my rosie bush is blooming.

Yeah, this has nothing to do with hostas, but I was walking by and it was begging for a pic.

So try some hostas, they are very low maintenance.

I mean, I'm growing them, so you can too!

Birds from the Fern

Remember the Boston Fern?

Last year I had a post about the baby Wrens(?) in my fern.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/08/bird-word.html

I'm not really sure they are Wrens, because I could never find a picture of the birds I'm seeing.

Well, whatever they are, they are back again this year.

I think that is so cool.

So, a few weeks ago I noticed the momma and daddy hanging around the fern.

Hmmm, I wonder if they are building a nest?

A few days later I found these pretty little eggs.

The eggs are about the size of the end of your thumb.

Another few weeks go by and baby birds!

Wow, they are so small and cramped.

I guess it keeps them warm.

Another baby shot.

All beaks, legs and fuzz.

Another week goes by and now I'm seeing feathers along with the fuzz.

They are so jammed that you really can't tell where one bird ends and the other begins.

The next week and they are even more crowded.

Now, you can see some eyes and wings and beaks.

I think it's time for some birds to jump out of the nest.

I'm sure that will be any day now, by the looks of the cramped conditions.

Now there is no choice but to buy a fern every year to keep me and the birds happy.

Lazy Dog Wrestling

I am compelled to share a little portion of what my mornings are like.

Daddio takes off at the butt crack of dawn.

(I love to say that.)

I send 2Groovydude off on the bus, then it's just me and the dogs.

Here is an example of some antics they get into while I am getting ready.

I call it, "Lazy Dog Wrestling", because they are so lethargic.

No, the video is not in slow-motion.

Try not to fall asleep.

It is humorous, however.

Stars of the Show:


Rhubarb the Roughhouser

She's confident.



Belle the Fearless

She's wolfy.


Really?
Do you not wonder what's going through their mind, sometimes?
We probably don't want to know.

Dog Days

My dogs are driving me crazy!

Rhubarb is cranky.

Belle has decided to stay up all night and pant.

Hopefully, a little doggie tribute will get them back in my good graces.

You have to admit, when God designed a Corgi he was appealing to our funny side.

They are just quirky.

Look at the Rhubarb.

She's a sausage with little tiny legs.

I will never get tired of taking pictures of her little feet sticking out.

Today is not her normal rocket dog position.

She has tucked them together into this hilarious little package.

Her little tiny rabbit feet.

Snicker, snicker.

Oh, my Belle, Belle!

We love her, but she is in that really annoying puppy stage

where she has forgotten everything we have worked so hard

to teach her.

She has gone rogue.

She does love her bone chew. 

At least this keeps her entertained for hours,

so she can't think of other mischievous things to try. 

She gnaws for a while then stops to look adoringly at the bone, then

attacks again. 

After a fun filled day of making us all crazy, she finds her blankie,

runs around the house like a psycho dog,

then collapses on the floor for a nap.

What a life! 

Dual dog chew. 

This is about as calm as it ever gets.

They both have a bone this day, but normally they just get one,

because they end up fighting over the same bone anyway.

Belle chews for hours, then Rhubarb snatches it away.

I don't think Rhubarb really wants it.

It is just fun to take it away from Belle, in true sibling fashion. 

Bellie even has 2Groovydude annoyed with her

night-time shenanigans.

I will have to remind him of his faithful puppy who braved the blizzard with him

to check on the chickies. 

We love them.

They are keepers.

But, boy, sometimes, I wonder.

Snow! Man!

Here are some good things about snow days.

2Groovydude gets to dress in many clothes and go out and tear it up.

Captain Snow Boy

And this is before I made him add a stocking cap and wrapped a scarf around his face.

Mom's can be over protective.

The first assignment was to get those Christmas thank you cards to the mailbox.

(Because we had a snow day, we finally finished the cards.)

Another good snow day activity accomplished.

Yeah! He made it!

Captain Snow Boy has returned!

Belle was assigned snow-melt, clean-up duty.

She was very enthusiastic.

Belle and Captain Snow Boy

preparing for snow angel mission.

Go snow angel!

Belle adding her paw prints to the angel wings.

Not bad.

Think of abstract art.

Rhubarb checking out some tracks.

You've heard about yellow snow?

Don't go there.

Okay, so that is a bad thing about snow days.

Along with the fact that Captain Snow Boy

came down with a fever the next day.

I'm sure it was unrelated, but I did my best to over dress him.

2hipchick 2010 Year in Review

Well, here we are at the end of another year.

I have been watching all the year-end top countdowns for 2010

and decided to do my own.

(Click on the links below the pictures to see the complete post.)

2Groovydude at his artsy-fartsy class

at Gilcrease Museum.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/family-art-class.html

What else would you be inspired to make at the cowboy museum?

Cow skulls.

The mind of a little boy always amazes me.

Rainy day shot of Gilcrease campus.

My artsy-fartsy project for Daddio's birthday.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/05/daddio-gift-for-fathers-day.html

He is still at those lessons.

We actually recognize the songs he is playing now.

Okie sunset.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/beautiful-sunset.html

My favorite veggie dish.

Yum!

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/roasted-veggies.html

Dan and Jeff getting the projects done on our

Down Home Ranch

mission trip.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/down-home-ranch.html

2Groovydude on his bunk at the ranch.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/down-home-projects-pics.html

Daddio and the 2Groovydude taking a break in the giant boot chair.

Rhubarb really loves to help with the gardening.

Crocus means spring!

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/signs-of-life.html

2Groovydude likes to help me cook.

We have made lots of great goodies together this year.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/2hipchick-and-2groovydude-bake.html

For all of our favorite treats click on Flips.

Mmm....chocolate!

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/coop-has-arrived.html

Now, I would have to say that the arrival of our newest family members

has been quite the project and oh, so much fun!

Baby chicks!

You can't beat 'em.

So fluffy and cute.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/2new-chicks.html

Of course, they are all grown up now, but I'm sure we will have more new

babies this spring.

We are hooked on our pet chickens and the eggs are a pretty nice bonus also.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/daddios-chili.html

Since Daddio can also cook, I give him a little blog time.

Right now, with the cold weather would be a great time for

Daddio's famous chili.

Give it a try.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/scrumptious-tea.html

I have been hitting the tea pretty hard this week.

Warms you right up!

I discovered a new tea company this year that's worth a look,

if you are a tea lover.

We got in on a church ramp project that turned out to be a lot of fun.

This group really worked together well.

Snap, snap it was done in half a day.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/04/ramp-it-up.html

2Groovydude really gets into these projects.

He's a hammering fool.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/its-bees-knees.html

Oh yeah!  I almost forgot about these new pets.

The Mason bees should be coming around in a few months to

pollinate our garden.

Thanks Bees and Lulu!

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/04/chicky-update.html

The chicken whisperer.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/05/hummingbird-haven.html

My hummingbird friend.

I still can't believe my luck.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/06/dewey-destin-seafood-paradise.html

Fun family trip to Destin, FL

And as always a stop at Dewey Destin for our favorite food.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/06/florida-finally.html

Fun at the beach.

Can't wait to go back.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/06/down-by-bay.html

My tiny children.

Our newest human family member, Cole.

Baby Belle.

Our new puppy.

She's five months old and (I'm knocking on wood, here.)

hasn't had a pee-pee in the house for about a week now.

Rhubarb, Rocket dog.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/12/spooky-shmooky.html

Tales from the Crypt, I mean Neighborhood.

I hope all of you have a wonderful New Year

with joyous memories to come.

Keep up with the 2hipchick

http://www.2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/