SPRING HAS SPRUNG

.Very few birds are visiting the feeder these days, but I'm always on the lookout. One day I was looking through the window when I saw a whitish ball perched far away in a tree. I imediately zoomed in with my camera and when I looked at the photos on my computer realised it was a Wood Pigeon, and here are the photos I took. They are usually very shy birds, and often fly away if I get too near to where they are well hidden in a tree, so I was pleased to get just three photos  I took a few photos in the garden after lunch on the first dry day we had had in ages, although we did have a mini shower which lasted about 5 minutes in the morning.

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I will be linking up to Saturday's Critters.

SUE'S CAT TINKER

Sue's Cat is a house cat and never goes outside to catch or kill birds. He is very affectionate and always greets me with purring noises and rubs his head against my arm or hand. After I have made a fuss of him, and scratched his head he leaves me alone and when I decided to take some photos he was most cooperative, or was just doing his usual routine.either way, my shots turned out OK and in the absence of any wildlife imagesI thought I would share both his photos and story. I'm not much of a cat person, but having said this over the years I have had three cats of my own, and my dogs and cats always got on well. Tinker did not have a good begining to his life, and I have a soft spot for him, and now he could not have a better forever home.

  

Tinker was found by Sue's daughter in a trash container. She had been waiting for a bus when she heard his feeble little cries and opened the lid and to her dismay  discovered the helpless tiny creature, not more than a week old. She wrapped it in her scarf and walked as quickly as she could to her mother's house. They both went to the vet, and he perscribed a milk especially for premature kittens, to be given in drops every few hours. Sue did this dilligently.it wasn't an easy task as Sue explained later, but she couldn't in all consiousness abandon this weak kitty, so small it fit into the palm of her hand.

With all the care in the world, as the vet exclaimed, "This one's a fighter".

I will be joining Eileen at "Saturday's Critters" a fabulous blog where you can see

different creatures from around the world. Just click on the icon "Saturdays Critters" and it will take you there, and you could even join in the fun and share a

creature of your choice, a pet, or wild animal,

HAPPY TO BE BACK

Dear fellow blog friends, and loyal followers,

You will be surprised to see a post from me, but circumstances have changed since my last post and I want to explain the reason for my return. In January I had a consultation with a neurologist  to see the result of a brain scan, (which is fine by the  way) and my lack of balance was also discussed. The neurologist perscribed a medication which she felt would help with my equalibrium. but my behavior had to be monitored, because in the elderly there was a possability of developing depression. Eva phoned me every day to find out how I was, and I told her that I felt extreme tirdness and that my vision had worsened so much that I had stopped blogging. Eva knew how much it meant to me, and could hardly believe what I had done.All this time,it never occured to me that my mood had altered because of the new medication, I just thought that endless rainfall and dark grey days were the reasons for my down hill behaviour. I just wanted to sleep and the thought lingered that I may be going blind. Fortunately Eva came one day and took out the paper inside the box of medication and read out the side effects. there was a long list but what was instantly apparent was I had been spiraling into depession, Depression was one of the side effects, but vision alterations and exesive fatigue were two more, and inpulsive actions another. I imediately stopped taking the medication, and gradually began to recover. My eyesight is no longer blurred and I feel that a great weight has been lifted from my mind. I am so releived and happy to be returning to blogland. Thank you again for your support and friendship- I shall treasure all your kindness for ever. Hugs to everyone. Until next time,

TO MY FRIENDS

To all my friends in blogland I want you to know that I have a deep regard for all my followers, and making a decision to leave my blog was extremely hard, as over the years I have come to think of you as my friends, and it made me very emotioal reading your kind,  caring, and also helpful comments. Yes, I cried, after all it's been fourteen years since I started my blog and since then have felt part of a lovely, group of people and you have shared so much of yourselves and I have valued being part of your lives,

For those of you who don't know why I am leaving it's because of failing eyesight caused by Macular Degeneration which has not been too much of a problem until recently when my sight became blurred and although I use a magnifying glass it's difficult to focus with such impaired vision I know there is no cure, but believe that injections in the eyes can help improve vision. My next appointment to see the ophthalmologist is in June, when I should find out what can be done and if I improve will be back to see you all and make a post now and again, until then I´ll say Até à próxima, dear friends In case you are wondering how I made this post my answer is with great difficulty-

Warm hugs

Your friend Sonjia.

BIRDS AT THE FEEDING STATION:

 Hello everyone, I'm back after three months of devastating rainfall and winds reaching 202 kilometers per hour causing a trail of distruction. Trees fell down on the farm and branches are strewn everywhere. On Wednesday 28th of January, Storm Kristin wreaked havoc in Portugal, causing widespread damage as Porto came to a halt, when all power lines came down and these power cuts persist in much of  the country.The tempetuous event left me without power for several days, but the people who are suffering the most live in the center of Portugal,they  felt the full force of Storm Kristin.They have had their rooves ripped off, and their homes flooded with mudded water caused by landslides, cars washed away as streets became rivers, all this whilst persistant rainfall and severe winds hinder attemps to clean up, and drench those affected. If it's not heavy rainfall we are subjected to, it's hailstones and thunder and lightening and dark days which seem like.nightfall. At this moment I can hear hailstones hitting the glass of the balcony doors and I'm worried that a power cut could happen at any time. Every morning I feed the birds, and there is a flurry of activity. Even in the rain, they come, eager to quench their hunger, as it can't be easy to hunt for food in extremely bad weather.

I saw something unusual not long ago, a Great.tit was feeding another Great.tit. Surely it's too early in the year for this kind of behavior, especially in the deplorable weather conditions we have been having

Most of my bird visitors are Great-tits and Coal-tits with the occasional visit from the Creasted- tit and the Blue -tit but the Blue- tit seems afraid of the other birds and is very shy, so I haven't been successful in taking a photo. It's been difficult to take any photos in such weather conditions  and I have deleated many cloudy images. Normally I don't feel any ill effects from a lack of daylight, but even I have felt "under the weather" with a lethargy possibly from a lack of fresh air, but it's not just that, my eyesight has deteriorated and I'm having a hard time reading and focusing on any image. My blurred vision is the main reason I haven't been blogging for a while and I think that perhaps it's time for me to stop blogging. For many reasons this post was difficult to write. I won't say goodbye, I hate goodbyes  but I will say that I will miss you all, and hope that one day if something can be done to aid my failing eyesight, hopefully I will return.

KIKA WAS HER NAME

Just one photo today taken on the farm. The dog belonged to my forman and his wife and I made a copy to keep for myself because it gives me a sense of peace just looking at it. It's still pouring down here, with little chance of me getting outdoors.

Kika at rest

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Before I share some photos I want to thank those of you who left lovely get well comments which I really appreciated. I feel much better and my leg is healing. I had a new dressing yesterday and the nurse feels confident that I will only need a couple more, dressings.  Although we are now in the new year, I would like to take you back to Christmas when all the family came for lunch and afterwards exchanged presents. My daughter Eva gave me a large package and explained that it had to be assembled before I could use it, which she did the next day.

It's screwed onto my balcony railing and I couldn't be happier with this gift for it is a much better arrangement. The plates which I had been using before on the balcony floor were trip hazzards, and I can even see the birds from my bed which I couldn't do before, and here are a few birds I captured. some in sun and some in shade

These are the birds waiting their turn at the feeders. perched in nearby trees. The birds are quite posessive of the feed station and until they have had their fill  won't let newcomers join them,, 

Our Christmas Tree

It wouldn't be a Christmas tree without birds.

Now for something a little different. Below are four Portuguese tiles that are hanging in the library in a group of four. They each have wooden frames, and I have included one with the frame. My late husband was very fond of these tiles and they were a Christmas gift from Eva to her father many years ago, so I thought you might like to see them, and I have included a little about Portuguese tiles.

Portuguese tiles, known as azulejos are widely considered beautiful, for their intricate designs,vibrant colour, (especially, blue and white)  and story telling narrative that cover buildings, churches and public spaces making them a defining

and artistic cultural treasure. They transform simple surfaces into rich artistic expressions of Portuguese history, faith, and daily life appealing to many for their unique beauty and craftmanship. My laundry room for example is covered from  floor to ceiling with blue and white tiles, and they make the space a more pleasant work place.                                                                                                

 

I will be visiting as soon as possible. I did try before, but could only make a few comments before I was unable to continue. I am looking forward to seeing what you have all been doing. All the best dear friends,see you soon.