So long Sidney Poitier

I had such a crush on him as a girl, especially after the movie "To Sir with Love" (1967), and then there was "Guess Whose Coming to Dinner" (1969) with Kate and Spencer. It was the 60's, and the height of the civil rights movement, but I was fortunate to be in a family and environment that was pretty darned color blind. No one cared about color when this completely elegant, handsome, Bahamian prince and heartthrob of a man graced the screen. I was but a young girl, but I adored him. And his movie roles impressed and had a huge impact on me in a era where the outside world was so turbulent. "A Patch of Blue", "In the Heat of the Night", "Lilies of the Field", and so, so many others. Too many to cite. So long for now handsome man, at 94, you had a most spectacular run. Thank you for all the memories Mr. Sidney Poitier I truly treasure them. From a star struck fan. 

Sidney Poitier, Feb 20, 1027- Jan 6, 2022

Good Afternoon Jan 7, 2022

Good afternoon! I had some things to do this morning, then decided to be out in the yard awhile, since the weather is so nice. It’s currently 59F at half past moon, and bright and sunny. One of my Christmas presents was a set of photography prisms including this glass ball. I’d bought a large one before but it was so heavy it was impossible to use. Now I need to figure out how to use this one effectively. Lots of birds this morning. Some starlings and seagulls flew over and the feeders and treetops were full of the usual visitors, house finches, house sparrows, lesser goldfinches, Anna’s hummingbirds, Costa's hummingbirds, and a yellow rumped warbler. Lots more blue elf aloe buds showing up, and it’s fascinating that the red yucca has held on to the buds on this bloom stalk. Perhaps the buds will still open in the spring. Pretty day, and the yard needs so much work, but now it’s time to get some other work done. Happy Friday! - Michele

A young male Costa's hummingbird today

And another

Good Morning Jan 6, 2022 Smears of Pink and Peach

Good morning! There were no clouds at all to the east but to the south we had a few smears of pink that morphed into peach. Its a cool 39f here before sunrise. It’s a good day to stay off any news channels. I’ll be working on other projects. Happy Thursday! - Michele

P.S. - I didn't do a blog post yesterday. I still have so many photos to download from the other camera and I'm still deciding how to organize my time and how often to post here in this new year. It may become just twice a week. Meanwhile if you haven't seen the previous posts and photos, just hit the "Blog Home" tab above it it will give you the timeline of posts. -M

Good Morning Jan 4, 2022 -Sunrise, Sunset, Feathers, and Lemons

Good morning. It was all pinks and peach this morning. Not as dramatic as last night’s reds, but still just enough moisture in the sky to give it a good blush. It was warmer at 34f but still cold for me. I saw the hawk land on a lamppost off the side yard and ran to get the large camera. It was still a bit dark but hopefully a few of those shots came out. Then when I went back to the front yard, I found Blackey and another cat having a stand off. The little male Costas hummingbird is still dominating and guarding the patio feeders, and I see him now through the window on his perch on the aloe Vera plant. No little songbirds yet, but they will arrive soon. Time to refill the feeders then back inside for coffee. 

Happy Tuesday! -Michele

This morning's sunrise sky

This morning's Sunrise Sky

A Lesser Goldfinch friends this morning

I've been reluctant to pick the last few lemons of my little tree because they 

look so pretty on it. Perhaps just a little while longer. Amazing how much fruit 

this tiny tree produced in its first year in the ground. the blue elf aloe buds are 

coming along nicely. When they bloom they always provide a

 welcome spot of winter color. 

In case you missed that post earlier, last night's sunset sky was 

pretty spectacular, full of strong red color. This from the front yard.

And from the back yard a few minutes earlier.

Jan 3, 2022 Sunset Sky

We had some lovely strong reds in the sky tonight.

Michele "Mikala" Ross - Artist: Welcome

Michele "Mikala" Ross - Artist: Welcome: Michele Ross - Arts Welcome to my web blog. I have drawn and painted since I was a small girl. I love beauty, beautiful things, b...

Good Morning Jan 3, 2022. Another Cold One, and a visit from the Hawk

Brrrr, good morning.  Its great to see so many snow photos from friends this morning. No snow for us here but another cold one at 29F and the bird baths were frozen again. The clouds were too far west to give any sunrise color, and the little birds have been very skittish again this morning so there must be a predator about somewhere. Our internet is down again so I have another project on hold till it’s back up. Lots to do so I’ll get onto other things, but first coffee. Happy Monday. - Michele

House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches at the feeder then a sudden exit

I think I found what has kept the feeders mostly empty this morning. 

This hawk was up there for a good two hours, and left just now.

 I’d been watching it through the window. What’s interesting is the pigeons,

 doves, and songbirds seemed fairly unconcerned with it being there. 

The pigeons stayed on the rooftops, a dove was cooing nearby, 

and the little songbirds would sometimes land above it in the treetop. 

I’d not seen that before. Perhaps they knew it had recently fed or something. 

Anyway, it was a pleasure to watch him up there preening and watching. 

I think it was a sharp shinned hawk again. I got some shots with the

 bigger camera that I’ll download soon.

Memory post: on this day 11 years ago it snowed in Las Vegas

 on the west side of town where we lived at that time

Good Morning Jan 2, 2022- Frozen Birdbaths this morning

Brrrrr. Clear and Cold this morning at 26F when I got up, and both outer bird baths were frozen solid. Lots of mostly Costas hummingbirds about and at least 2 juveniles. So were the lesser goldfinches. I came inside to get coffee and saw a hawk strike while watching through the window, so of course all the little birds are gone again for awhile. We’re supposed to have several nights of freezing temps so we’ve been checking on the pool pump and the drip system. So far okay. My most vulnerable plants are covered or I’ve brought them inside. Winter it is. Not complaining at all. It’s relatively mild here and I prefer it to our roasting summer heat. Happy Sunday, enjoy your day! - Michele

A Male Lesser Goldfinch in one of the chaste trees this morning

A male Costa's hummingbird in the pomegranate tree this morning

An adult male Costa's hummingbird at one of the other feeders this morning.

I think this is a female Costa's I saw through the window this morning. 

Right afterward, I went outside to check on something and a female Anna's

 (much larger and a little coloration at the throat) buzzed me, 

checked me out in front of my face, and went to this same feeder.

I've noticed that sometimes the hummers feel safer with a 

large creature (human) near the feeders. Bird behavior is so interesting.

Good Morning Jan 1, 2022- and Happy New Year!

Good morning. Happy First Day of the New Year. The day dawned, cold, clear and windy here. Brrrrr again! In fact the wind blew much of the evening and night last night. I assume fireworks went off as planned. I certainly heard plenty of them in the neighborhood. This morning the hummingbirds were buzzing before sun up as usual, including this little female at the feeder. The house sparrows were next to arrive out at the millet feeder, soon followed by the house finches at the sun chip feeder and the ground scavenging pigeons. Just now some thing has sent them all a fluttering again, but I’m sure they will be back. Ahhh , I see the sparrows returning already. That wind makes it a bit too much for me to sit outside very long for any bird watching. I think I’ll tuck back inside and warm up again with some coffee and heat. Today I’ll take down our little Christmas tree, and get some cleaning and organizing done, and perhaps another pot of soup for this cold day. 

Happy Saturday, and again, Happy New Year! - Michele

Female Hummingbird at the patio feeder this morning. 

Pretty and snowy scenery at my brother's house in northern Arizona this morning. 

Happy New Year 2022!

 Just want to wish you all a very Happy 2022! 

After all we've been through the last 2 years, 

let's make it a great one. Flourish and prosper my friends!

With all our love, - Michele and Bob

I wish this for us all. It will take work on our part, happiness and peace are not passive,

 it must be fought for and maintained. Happy new year my friends.