Birds Do It For Me

I am sitting home these days feeling isolated as I am sure most of you are as well. I have three close relatives working in healthcare. My 22-year-old granddaughter in an ICU unit has seen more death in the past three weeks than I have seen in my lifetime. My daughter-in-law, an ER doctor, has to make decisions of who receives healthcare and who she turns away. My 20 year old granddaughter is cleaning covid units as a CNA. All of them are overwhelmed and frightened by what is happening. We will be spending Thanksgiving alone so that next Thanksgiving we can be with each other. Please wear a mask and social distance. I get messages from each of these people begging me to be careful. I am asking each of you to be careful as well.

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So besides sewing I have been noticing nature a lot more. We live across from a lake. This is the first year we have been here. For the past three weeks we have had thousands of Canadian geese on the lake. It is amazing! Each day they land and sleep for a few hours and then about 4:45 each evening they leave enmass and fly right over our house to find dinner

The noise is incredible and they are close to our rooftop when they pass. It has been several weeks of this. It is all rather thrilling. They don't bother us in any way, they just sit on the lake and then take off and return later in the evening. They honk a little loud but other than that they are not a nuisance. Really fun to watch.

So that's what is happening in the front of the house and in the back we have a little bird preserve going on.

Canada Geese on Lake Alice in Fergus Falls, MN

This morning a Piliated woodpecker dropped by. Talk about your prehistoric looking bird, this is it. Picture is a bit light as it is taken through a screen.

I have a clear birdhouse on my window and the cardinals and chickadees are having a great time. I am too. Hey, it whiles away the hours. Birds are pretty calming right now.

I can easily pass forty-five minutes just staring at these creatures

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If you have lost someone to Covid please accept my most sincere condolences. My wish is for each of you to have a safe and quiet Thanksgiving. Come Spring I am hoping we can all party together. Until then.

I give you my Irish goodbye.

Rita

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RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Pumpkin Bars

Bars

4 eggs 2 c. flour

2 c. sugar 2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon 2 tsp baking soda

2 c. pumpking 1/2 tsp salt

1 c. oil

Combine all ingredients together and mix with mixer until smooth.

Bake @ 350° for 25 minutes in a jelly roll pan, Cool before frosting.

Frosting

8 oz cream cheese, softened. 2 tsp vanilla

3/4 c butter 31/2 c. powdered sugar

2 tsp milk

Combine and spread over the top.

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An Irish Blessing

May you always have work for your hands to do.

May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.

May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

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