Minneapolis Backyard Birds - Jeanasina's Crazy Stuff

Allow me the honor of escorting you to my place ....

2012-01-28T05:59:00.000-06:00

Bucky Armbruster knew what he liked and he liked what he saw that morning, when he stepped up to the Robertson's deck in Minnesota.

"Come with me", said Bucky ... "I'll show you a real good time!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9guDjqGq1nc

Seven Rules to Live by when Taking out TAKE OUT food!

2012-01-24T15:56:00.000-06:00

#1. Arrive at the restaurant in a timely manner to pick up your requested take-out order!

#2. Take a good look at your order before you leave the restaurant!

#3. Do not leave with your order until you are completely satisfied it is the correct order!

#4. Insist on actually tasting the order before you leave the restaurant with your take-out food!

#5. Take an even closer look to make sure everything you ordered is in your take-out container!

#6. Grab a couple of pieces of your take-out to enjoy on the ride home!

#7. Express your delight with the wonderful quality of the take-out food that the restaurant has prepared for you...then head home before your food gets cold!

* * * * * *

If you express a real interest in the quality of the food you order from take-out restaurants, it ensures that your order will be prepared to your expectations every time!!!

A toast to Toast!

2012-01-23T15:31:00.002-06:00

Declan Treesmore was cold. He sat atop a fence post shivering, wondering where his next meal would come from.

He’d been scavenging the yards all morning, searching for small bits of discarded seeds that the birds might have missed.

Then, suddenly, his claws grasped on to something wonderful! He found a perfectly good scrap of TOAST!

He climbed up to his favorite perch where he could eat his prized piece of toast without interruption.

As Declan Treesmore chowed down on his prized food find, he was reminded of a famous squirrel quote from his childhood ...

"The thing a squirrel covets during winter, the very absolute most ...

is a crunchy, delicious, perfectly browned, bit of delectable toast!"

What's your angle on cabin living?

2012-01-20T11:44:00.001-06:00

No matter how you look at it, or what direction you are coming from...The sentiment is the same ...

Birds Against Loggers ...

2012-01-19T11:15:00.000-06:00

Millicent Barkedge took her position as a tree-hugger, seriously.

If you didn’t agree with Millicent on saving trees, she would look you right in the eye and recite her favorite tree poem…

"This tree sits here awesomely

I think you will agree

All healthy trees need to be set free

Listen to these words coming from me

I’m taking a stand, don’t you see

Please don’t cut down a healthy tree

Just let it continue to grow – let the tree be."

Real men wear red feathers ...

2012-01-19T10:40:00.000-06:00

If you are content with 'outdoor seating' while you eat your meal - in frigid temperatures - you are considered a 'real man'.

Snow-Man on a Ledge

2012-01-18T14:50:00.000-06:00

...A wanted fugitive (Sam Snowman) stands on the ledge of a birdhouse rooftop, while two New York Police Department bird negotiators try to talk him down.

Snow-Man on a Ledge

NOW SHOWING AT A BIRD THEATER NEAR YOU!

How to cope with being 'on edge' when you are a bird ...

2012-01-18T12:27:00.004-06:00

When birds are ‘on edge’ from stressful situations, they often sit on the icy edges of birdbaths to cool down.

Many different varieties of birds claim the ‘cooled’ ice crystals on the edge of winter bird baths, brings a sense of calm to their bird brains.

Other species of birds see the crystals around the rim of winterized birdbaths, and assume they are landing on super-sized margarita rims!

Then there is that one illusive character of bird who just plain likes to cool his jets on ice.

Influenced by Norman Rockwell ...

2012-01-17T14:20:00.000-06:00

Sketch Jones loved Norman Rockwell.

His goal, was to someday paint his own triple-self portrait, to share with the world.

Before he got started with the actual painting, Sketch had to do one thing...

He had to purchase the most beautiful picture frame he could find, which he would use to frame his own triple-self portrait, once it was completed.

Ebay Score!

2012-01-17T12:57:00.000-06:00

Millicent Treebacher was positively elated when she found out she had the winning bid on ebay, for the antique blue, birdseed decanter, she had been coveting.

As soon as it arrived in the mail, Millicent unwrapped the lovely antique collectable and proudly perched on the side of it. She couldn't wait to have friends over so she could show it off .

A Personal Word About the Black-Capped Chickadees ...

2012-01-17T09:36:00.000-06:00

As you may have noticed, the black-capped chickadees are major stars in many of my bird blogs.

The reason is, they are the most consistently willing to take part in my photo opportunity set-ups! Of course they don't sit perfectly still, waiting for me to take their photo - I have to be patient as well as 'quick' in order to get the shot I am going for. It usually takes me several shots to get just one that I want.

I absolutely LOVE those chickadees and the best days are the days that they come and feed out of my hand! Even in the cold winter, they come and take a treat out of my hand! Sometimes I have gloves on, sometimes I have a little tiny cup in my hand, however... a great deal of the time, they land on my bare hand for the delicacy I have for them!

It's completely euphoric to me when those tiny little feet grab on to my fingers and hold on so they can grab a treat! They are light as a feather and SO very sweet! It's a magical moment when they trust me enough to land on my hand!
A lovely friend gave me the cup in the photo above and it SO epitomizes how I feel about my back yard! It is my sanctuary, my peaceful place AND ... the place where I get to interact with the birds every single day!

I have many feeders and MANY birds and for me, that's all I need for a great day!

Thanks to ALL OF YOU who read my blog ... I hope you'll keep coming around to see what new fanciful photo and storyline I have thought up since your last visit!!

And... a Special Thank You big time, to my lovely friend, for the perfect cup to enjoy my morning coffee in! How cute is THAT?

Can You See What I See?

2012-01-16T17:20:00.003-06:00

Maynard Ogilvie immediately flew down from a tree, to have a look, when he saw one of the popular “I Spy” books sitting open, out on the deck.

What Maynard saw … was a tiny gold spider, and he planned to eat it.
(Can you see the gold spider?) Double-click on the photo to make it larger to help your hunt!

Something to contemplate ...

2012-01-16T16:56:00.002-06:00

According to Eastern European folklore legends and the writings of Bram Stoker…Vampires do not cast a reflection in the mirror.

Can the same be said for Vampire Birds?

Look closely, and then decide for yourself.

(Again, let me emphasize ... this photo is not photoshopped or created with some type of photo altering software; I took this photo exactly as it appears.)

Why black-capped chickadees don't migrate out of Minnesota ...

2012-01-13T13:14:00.002-06:00

It’s a well-known fact that black-capped chickadees do not migrate out of Minnesota before the cold/harsh winters begin.

Instead they tend to hang around. Many bird experts have pondered the reasoning behind this behavior.

Today, while looking out my window, I discovered the REAL reason that the black-capped chickadees hang around Minnesota, even in the winter.

I interviewed this particular black-capped chickadee and he shared with me, the following details ...

"During the spring, summer and fall in Minnesota, black-capped chickadees save their seed money and purchase large screen television sets."

"Every morning we perch in front of our televisions and make our happy ‘chicka-dee-dee-dee” sounds as we wait in eager anticipation for our favorite television personalities to appear on the Buzz!"

" In Minnesota, black-capped chickadees are all hooked on Fox 9's Buzz in the morning ,with Alix Kendal, Jason Matheson & Keith Marler!"

The black-capped chickadee I was interviewing said he didn’t want to talk any longer because his ‘show’ was about to come on.

As I turned to go back inside my nice warm house, I noticed that the little black-capped chickadee was already riveted to his television set.

2012-01-12T17:09:00.000-06:00

Sinclair Sutton, considered a Casanova in the bird world, loved two things…

Blue River Riesling

Female Birds

Every evening, Sinclair Sutton would cozy up to a bottle of Blue River Riesling and day-dream about flying over the river with a beautiful female bird by his side.

Tell it to the hand ...

2012-01-12T16:37:00.000-06:00

Nobody ever listened when Glenn Bryden talked.

Every time Glenn started up a conversation with somebody, that person would inevitably say to Glenn;

"Tell it to the hand!"

So that is exactly what Glenn did!!!!!

Biker Chick ...

2012-01-09T17:59:00.000-06:00

Sapphire Harlow was born to ride a motorcycle.!

It took Sapphire only one look to know which bike would suit her personality.

On January 9th, Sapphire Harlow, a black-capped chickadee, walked into Fast Freddie's Miniature Motorcycle Dealership, and left with her first bike.

Infomercial Product That Works!

2012-01-07T18:19:00.003-06:00

Elwin Thornsby, bird home-owner, had problems with humans constantly wandering around on his property.

No matter how many "Keep Out! - Private Property!" signs Elwin put around his land, humans still trespassed.

Then one day, Elwin saw an infomercial, on bird TV, for a 'deadhead'. According to the advertisement, "...Just one deadhead, strategically placed in your yard, will scare the living daylights out of up to 25 humans!" When Elwin heard that, he ordered one immediately!

Elwin could hardly stand to look at the thing but it worked perfectly!

Every single time a human set foot on Elwin's property, they would come across the deadhead and run screaming away, never to return again.

Elwin ordered 25 more and wrote several elated testimonials on the company's website.

The truth about Sherlock Holmes' sidekick ...

2012-01-07T11:03:00.003-06:00

Few people know that Sherlock Holmes had a pet bird. Sherlock's pet bird went by the name of “Watson”.

Whenever Sherlock Homes needed help with a case, he would call upon his faithful sidekick and friend, “Watson” to solve the mystery.

One day Sherlock Holmes arrived at his living quarters only to discover that his ‘day-of-the-week’ tobacco dispenser had been rifled with! He immediately called upon his bird companion, “Watson” to come and have a look.

Watson peered intently at the pill dispenser box and deduced that only the Thursday section appeared to have been tampered with.

“Sherlock!” tweeted Watson... "I believe it is Thursday today! ... and I did observe you, smoking your pipe, earlier today!

Sherlock nodded and said "Brilliant deduction Watson!"

The Legend of the Secret Bird Elixir...

2012-01-06T12:21:00.003-06:00

Legend has it, that there is a secret location that only the black-capped chickadees of England, know about.

Well hidden, in this location, is a bottle of secret elixir.

The elixir is prominately displayed, on a ancient mirrored table which has magical powers.

The elixir is invisible to the naked eye.

When the elixir is inhaled by black-capped chickadees, it brings this particular breed of birds blessings, in the form of a lifetime of safety in their homes ... as well as … vast amounts of wealth in the form of jewels and crystals.

At the end of one year, the black-capped chickadees hold a House of Bird Lords meeting, in a secret tree location.

It is there that they each vote to elect the one black-capped chickadee, who has proven himself to be most worthy of guarding the Elixir and it’s contents for the following year.

The favored black-capped chickadee who is elected, takes this honor and responsibility seriously, and seldom leaves his post.

If I could turn back time....

2012-01-04T17:31:00.002-06:00

When interviewed ... most black-capped chickadees will agree …

“Time passes slowest, during the winter months.”

The Mother of Cushy Jobs...

2012-01-03T16:37:00.006-06:00

Percival Olgovee couldn’t believe his good luck, when he landed the job of night watchman at FAO Schwarz’s, surplus stuffed animal warehouse.

Part of Percival’s job was to remove the shrink-wrap off of stuffed animals, as they arrived just outside the warehouse.

He would then place the stuffed animal into a specially designed, stuffed animal holder, and then, Percival would ‘fluff’ the stuffed animal up!

Nobody ever checked on Percival, so many nights he'd just snuggle into a 'fluffed' stuffed animal and wait for his shift to end!

Imaginary Friend ...

2012-01-02T11:54:00.001-06:00

Adolescent birds have been known to have imaginary friends that they spend years sharing everything, including their food, with.

Owner of Pink Flamingo Coffee Bar Seeks Male Companion

2012-01-02T10:12:00.001-06:00

In January of 2012, Ted put his profile up on BIRDMATCH.COM. His profile said..."I am looking for a compelling, highly exotic, sultry female bird companion, to spend quality time with."

On her profile, Simone had written… ..."My signature color is hot pink and I like flying on invigoratingly cold days! ... My absolute favorite thing ... is to start the day, sharing a steaming hot cup of roasted mealworms with an intriguing male bird."

When Ted arrived at the coffee shop to meet Simone for the first time, he landed on her coffee cup and it was love at first sight!

Getting into the Christmas spirit...

2011-12-12T12:18:00.001-06:00

There was nothing Cedric enjoyed more, than getting his home ready for entertaining during the holidays.