Mountain City Montage
by PAULINE TOM
How does a green towel crawl up a tree? Laughter burst out when I saw the squirrel under the towel. The towel caught on a branch about 6-foot off the ground. She peeked around the tree as I snapped a photo.
Within a few days, she pulled the for-wet-dog-paws towel to a fork, another 6-foot higher. Looks like it looks like nesting material to her. She also stole a tablecloth, but didn’t carry it far.
Another backyard tree fork holds a coyote carcass. It provides nesting material for birds and produces laughs. Titmice tug at the tail hairs.
Hummingbird feeders bring delight as gorgeous winter hummingbirds make frequent visits. Once natural food sources froze, at least two appeared on a regular basis. It looks like they’re both rufous hummingbirds, but, according to Mark Klym at Texas Parks & Wildlife, one could be a broad-tailed.
Aspects recently produced a new hummingbird feeder that improves on what I thought already perfect. The perch of the HighView Hummzinger sits above the feeding ports, placing the feeding hummers in clear view. It’s even easier to clean, with no ridges in the clear bowl beneath the red snap-off lid. Five stars.
A few mealworms in the not-needed-in-winter ant moat brought an upside down Black-crested Titmouse ... and, laughter.
Flocks of cedar waxwings rimmed our birdbaths on Sunday. American Goldfinch fill the basin regularly and spill out on nearby branches.
Large flocks of white-winged dove fly around the neighborhood? Remember when a white-winged dove was a sight to see?
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Nancy Waddell sent word, “BIG BIG thank you to Holly Cass for kicking off our PAWS drive. What a way to start! Don’t forget that PAWS needs bleach, laundry soap, dish soap, Fabuloso, blankets, towels, rawhides, puppy and adult dog food, cat and kitten food, toys, kitty litter, paper towels and trash bags.”
Amy Hilton reminds everyone, “This is the week to pick up one or more items to share with our local PAWS as we put a little love in our lives this Valentines. Collection boxes are available until February 20th at the old city hall sign.”
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Yes, this Valentine’s Day, RonTom pulled out the well-hidden tattered and faded and scotch-taped envelope that holds a Valentine he first gave me back in the ’70s. “To My Valentine” it says, with year after year crossed out leading around to “2011.” It grows more precious every year as the memories live again.
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Valentines ... If you hear that Pastor Jonathan Leftwich preached “Intimate Sex” from a graphic portion of Song of Solomon, I can attest to the fact that it’s true. Praise the Lord! Sex!! Listen through ITunes link on www.plumcreekchurch.org
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If you hear that I need tidbits in order to piece together “Montage” each week, I can attest to the fact that it’s true. Please contribute. [email protected] or 512-268-5678.
