A partridge in a pine tree

Actually, it's a ruffed grouse that Jorghnassen first thought was a rock.



O hai!



It was only the second time we spotted the grouse in our backyard - the first back in October. It might not have a nest nearby, but it was welcome to sit under the branches and hang out for a few hours. Still, pretty cute!

Some other feathered friends like to come by and gorge on our backyard buffet, like woodpeckers, yellow and house finches, chickadees, and the occasional junco; but our cardinal friends are quite photogenic and I managed to take a few photos of the male today.

Bird in a Teacup

A chickadee in a tree during winter ate too many fermented berries from the tree, and fell into a teacup lying in a permanent setting on the patio table underneath the branches. The teacup, filled with snow and a layer of frozen water, was shaped just so that the chickadee was unable to fly out. The chickadee struggled to escape the teacup but was unable, due to its inebriate state, leading to many distressing bird calls. The calls attracted the local alley cat, who attempted to pounce on the chickadee; but just at the last moment, the chickadee tipped the cup and tumbled out of it, escaping to freedom. A prize-winning photographer snapped a shot of the scene and it became the picture of the year.

The Maple Leaf Rag

Ragtime can't be defined without the works of Scott Joplin. This is one of his most famous pieces. I'm actually playing it at about 50% the speed but there's only so much one can do in an afternoon, pluck pluck plucking.


If you listen carefully, you might even catch the random motor noises, or chickadees chirping their heads off in the background. Maybe.

And if it's not your cup of tea, then let Orihime drive you nuts.