Seven Sparrows

Family of Seven

::Today was our first real snowfall-that-stuck of the winter season. We've had a fairly mild winter--most of my scarves and mittens have stayed in storage, and there have only been a few days when my eyeballs felt like they were freezing in my head. I needed to get a few things from Coolidge Corner this afternoon so I bundled up and headed into the storm.

My neighborhood is filled with folks who keep their bird feeders well stocked, year round. Excellent for the birds, not so great for the skunk that lives somewhere in my hood nor the squirrels who frolic on my roof when I'm trying to sleep. {Well, good for them, but not for me!}

I stumbled upon a bird feeder hidden behind a sparse hedge up the street and came upon about 50 house sparrows buzzing and flapping and flinging themselves through the snow and each other to get to a full container of seed.

To the right of the feeder was a simple garden urn, with seven sparrows standing sentinell 'round the rim. I hoped they'd stay still so I could pull my camera from my pocket and take their photo, but they flittered away. I stood very still, and they came back. I kept snapping away and after about 50 shots I got the one above. Good thing because two frames later the neighbor woman opened her front door to get her mail and they all fluttered away.

I love the number seven. There are seven people in my family immediate family. It's always represented a symbol of love and hope for me. I'll take these little darlings as a sign of good things to come.

Happy New Year!

Stay warm!

XO Terez

And Cut!

PS here are the little guys one frame later, breaking their mark. I love the little guy hidden in the lattice under the porch. Can you see his little head peeking out?

Saturday Stroll

Starling Sitting

Lunch Buddies

Canadian Invasion Formation

Too Shy for the Camera

After finishing some Christmas errands I decided to walk from Park Street to Hynes through the Common and Public Garden. I was treated to a show of starlings gobbling up red berries and Canadian Geese participating in a glamorous synchronized swimming performance. The ice skaters cutting away at the Frog Pond looked a little out of place with the green grass and balmy temps. Will we have another record snowfall this year? {I hope not!}

XO Terez

Herons and Turtles and Coons, Oh My!

Toll Troll

Nest Bandit

I'm Taking The House With Me

Mama?

Sunday Swim

Spotlight Stealer

Yesterday my Bird Buddy and I spent Mother's Day morning at my local bird sanctuary. The blustery wind and gray skies kept a lot of our usual tiny birds hidden but we had a terrific show put on by:

--A raccoon making a big to-do about climbing into a huge nest in the tree-tops,
--A heron that could not get enough of us,
--Mr. and Mrs. Goose and Six Goslings out on a Sunday stroll, and
--A finale by Mr. Turtle ascending the half-submerged log. 

We also had special guest appearances by morning doves, chickadees, warblers, red-winged blackbirds, blue jays, mallards, robins,  catbirds and too many squirrels to count.


XO Terez

Sunrise at Hall's Pond

Watching

Here it Comes!

Morning Constitutional

Breakfast Forage

Morning News Swap

Rest Your Weary Wings

Friday morning, Opening Day at Fenway, found me wide awake at 4 a.m. Local news coverage of the Sox and Fenway Park started at 5 and by 5:30 I gave up all hope of going back to sleep and was in my Sox gear, just waiting and watching all of the updates on the revamped park, including a sushi bar (?!) and three giant flat screens where the Jumbotron used to be. We're nearing the start of my eighth year in Beantown. I have the amazing opportunity to do work on a few charity collaborations with the Sox and I work within spitting distance of the park, so I suppose the transition from transplant into mega fan was just a matter of time.

At 6:45 I was too excited to stay home, so I headed out and picked up an extra-large french vanilla, regular, from Dunkin', and paid a visit to my feathered friends at Hall's Pond. I only intended to stroll by but the birds were going crazy at 7:15, urging the sun to rise with their pips and chirps and caws. I decided the Sox can wait, the office will still be there at 8 a.m. and when nature is putting on such a to-do you don't dismiss it. I parked it on the beautiful stone bench and watched the birds watch the sun and then waddle around hunting for their breakfast in the grass. A terrific start to a beautiful day that ended with the first Sox win of the season, thank goodness.

Oh yeah, and I got my first hot dog of the season!

CC and Terez at the Sausage King, Landsdowne Street

Let's go Red Sox!
XO Terez

LollyCake Ladies

Cake Chick

Ooooh I am thrilled to tell you about a new (ish) venture undertaken by my friend Marielle and her cousin, Jen. I have a hint for you. It involves cake, buttercream frosting, chocolate and sprinkles. And it tastes really, really good. And it comes individually wrapped on a stick!

Last summer our mutual friend, Grandma Rue, offered me a delicious bite of cake bliss after dinner one night.

"What in the heck is this? I love it!" I said.

"It's a LollyCake, my friend Marielle makes them."

Easter Egg Cakes

A few dinners and a few samples later, I knew I needed to see Marielle and learn more about what this was about.

With two brisk cups of Irish Breakfast tea and the studio table cleaned off, Marielle unpacked her bags and spread out her creations:

Welcome Spring LollyCake Assortment

We then got down to business and she shared her story with me.

Last year Marielle and her cousin Jen, both of the South Shore, made a batch of cake truffles for a family gathering. Everyone oohed and ahhed and they were quite the hit, a couple of folks wondered if they took orders. It sort of snowballed from there and before they knew it, Marielle and Jen were fulfilling orders for birthdays, showers, kid parties, family gatherings, etc.

Here's the thing. These are cute (so cute) and they taste really, really good. No lipservice here!

The LollyCake Ladies are open for custom orders; traditional chocolate and vanilla are always on hand. I've had the Oreo and I think that might be my favorite (although I'm waiting for a peanut butter sample, hint, hint). They have a full listing of flavors and decorating ideas on their website here.

LollyCake Bunnies

Marielle said that kids looooove these, obviously, because they are so cute and taste so good. Moms and dads love them because they are a smaller, portion-controlled bit of deliciousness they can feed the kids without worrying they'll overdo it on a regular cake. Party guests love them and are quick to grab their favorite favor and enjoy on the spot or save for later.

If you are in the Boston South Shore area or in Boston-proper, give the LollyCakes Ladies a call. You won't be disappointed.

Sprinkle-Spring LollyCake

XO!! Terez

Meet Me on the Equinox: Spring Super Inspiration Sunday

Apartment Gardening

Test Eagle II

Bead Boxes I

Yellow Bloom Boom

Bead Boxes II

Bluebird Colorburst

Backyard Hawking

Super Moon Rising

Sunday Blue-Birding in Five Parts

I'm Very Busy and Important:
A Story by Mr. Blue Jay

"Ahhh...Sunday morning, finally. But, it is sooo
lonely in this leafless tree. I feel so...exposed."

 

"Wait a second, wait a second, I think someone's watching me.
I think it's that bird brain lady on the fourth floor."

"Affirmative. It's definitely her again."

"Beg your pardon? My best angle is what?"

"Sigh. The things I'll do in the name of art!"

Last Day of February

Mr. Red Bird, Standing Sentinel Outside My Window

Little Shop of Pathos Starts

Prince Charming

Saucy

Six Pots of Sauce

Cranberry Orange Cream Scones

Dove

Sunkist

XOXO Terez

Harvard Museum of Natural History Inspiration Sunday

Harvard Museum of Natural History Inspiration Sunday:
Flora, Fauna, Rock, Crystal

Transcontinental Collaboration

Mamacat's Fine Feathered Friend

Remember My Fine Feathered Friends post from 12/13/10 ? (Hint: click here if it sounds familiar but you can't quite put your finger on it.)

This might help you:

And Then There Was One (taken 12/13/10)

Mamacat decided to paint the little guy and mail him to me as a surprise!

Mamacat's Friend painted Jan. 2011

What a delightful surprise to find in my mailbox! Hurrah for blogging and artistic colloboration with Mamacat, across an entire continent!

XO Terez