Category Archives: Angie’s Smorgasbord

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A Haven of Life

Bushtits mass on a birdfeeder in Salem, Oregon. A Haven of Life

By Angie Brown, Guest Author

            “There, there in the hickory tree. Do you see them?” I was telling my neighbor about the additions to my “bird sanctuary”: two scarlet cardinals. My back yard has a large stream that flows at the southeastern border of my property, called the Haskell Creek. This side of the water, between the house and the stream, there is an abundance of low bushes, some elderberry, sumac, and others I can’t identify. Several large hickory trees grow along the northern boundary of the three and a half acre lot.

Bird watching is relaxing and fulfilling. I spend many moments watching these interesting creatures that God has provided for us to enjoy. Their cheerful chatter and singing lightens the heart.  I try to identify the different ones. You can tell what they are, not only by color, but by their shape, their behavior, and the sounds they make. With the help of my son, I have set up a bird feeder on the large back lawn. The feeder is filled with only sunflower seeds, as I want to attract the smaller birds. Cracked corn and mixed birdseed tend to bring the larger birds, which I don’t particularly want.  Nevertheless, the crows do come to the compost pile at the far edge of the lawn. As I looked out my window one day, I saw a crow walking across the grass, dangling a used tea bag in his beak. He reminded me of Minnie Pearl’s hat with the hanging price tag. That gave me a chuckle and brightened my day.

Yonder in the pasture, as I refer to it, two or three decaying trees lie flat, felled by past storms. These trees make a good cover for the birds. They snatch a seed and hurry to crack and devour it. Birds need food, water, and a cover. What is here seems to be the elements for their survival. If you study birds closely, you’ll notice that they eat differently. The small ones take a seed and fly off to work on it. The large blue jays fill their beaks, jamming them full before leaving. Some like to eat on the ground, some in the feeder, and some in the tree or the tree trunk.

Directly to the south of the area, a luscious swamp has settled in, made by a small stream coming from a pond area across the street. This swamp gives the roaming mallards a place to feed on slugs and water weeds that are a part of their diet. Through my binoculars, which I keep handy at the window, I have observed hawks circling overhead, then lighting on top of a tall hickory tree. They watch patiently for a chance to assault the ducks as they leave the swamp.

I’ve also noticed other animals as well, around the foliage; for instance, a woodchuck or two squeezing under the pile of dead tree branches. Hopefully they will stay there and not raid my garden!  Further along are clumps of grasses, where I’ve seen rabbits frolicking. How fast a young rabbit can move when frightened!  They can also strip a garden of young shoots in no time. I’ve seen deer browsing nearby and have also heard that a bear was sighted in the area not long ago. Not surprisingly, two kinds of squirrels appear often, all year long — the small red squirrel and the larger fox squirrel. It’s a joy to see some life out there on a sunny day in the dead of winter. The hickory trees provide food that the squirrels store somewhere in a cozy nook to sustain them.

Above all, though, the birds are my favorite interests. Someone once said that birds, not rooted to the earth, are among the most eloquent expressions of life. The return of the birds each spring means renewal, confirming the continuity of life.

(For more stories by Angie Brown, click HERE)

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A Harmless “Cat-a-Clysm”

Kittens nursing

A Harmless “Cat-a-Clysm”

By Angie Brown, Guest Author

Our beloved cat, Feemy, was two years old and the mother of Squeaky, who was one year old.  Squeaky gave birth to four lovely kittens.  We had fixed her a box a few days before the event, and she seemed content with our nest for her little ones. In the meantime, we had to prepare another box for Feemy, who was also expecting.

A few days after Squeaky’s arrivals, we discovered Feemy had performed her task.  We looked for her kittens but couldn’t find them.  Shortly thereafter, we noticed Feemy going into Squeaky’s box, so we took a look inside. Sure enough, Feemy’s three beautiful newborn kittens were there, along with Squeaky’s four older ones.

Wanting to make things more comfortable for them, we transferred Squeaky’s four kittens into a larger box.  But, the next time I went out to inspect the litters, Squeaky had carried one of Feemy’s kittens into her box. So, I picked it up and put it back into the “right” box (where Feemy’s other babies were).  This process was repeated over and over, until finally, all the kittens, somehow, ended up in one box, all mixed up.  That’s when we decided to let the cats handle the situation their own way!

The arrangement now is that all the kittens – babies and grand-babies — are together in one box, along with mother and daughter, who take turns “kitten sittin’.”  I guess you could call it an “extended family”!

(For more short stories by Angie Brown, click HERE)

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THE BIG BLACK BUILDING

Old-school phoneTHE BIG BLACK BUILDING

By Angie Brown, Guest Author

Being gifted in sketching and painting, my sister and I decided to enroll in an evening class of oil painting.  Thrilled to be back in school, we completed the first year.  My sister dropped out then, but I started my second year.

After class on this one particular evening, the students seemed to be in a hurry and left, leaving me the last one of our class to depart. The stairs to the first floor were dimly lit, but I could still make my way down. I had to get to the telephone, which was located in the lobby, to call my husband to pick me up.

Suddenly, all the lights went out, and the building was in total darkness. I was familiar with the first floor, so I knew my way there. By placing my hand on the wall I could slide it along slowly past the closed classroom doors. Reaching the lobby, I saw a streak of light coming through the main door from an outdoor street lamp.

Fortunately, I could also make out the outline of the telephone booth. As I approached it, I could see that the inside of the booth was completely dark.  Now, how was I to see the numbers on the rotary wheel?  After feeling around for the dial, I trustingly hoped I would hit the right numbers. I only had one dime of change in my pocket, one chance to get the right numbers. I carefully dialed the numbers and waited anxiously. Success: I heard my husband’s voice!  With great relief, I desperately shouted, “Please hurry. The lights are out. It’s dark in here, and I’m scared to death.”  Now I would have to retrace my steps along the wall to the door where I would be picked up. I stood near the door trembling for fear that someone else was still in the building and would snatch me in the dark. The outside was just as dark.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, I saw my husband’s car. I dashed out and jumped into the waiting open door.  It was then that I realized I had been all alone in the big, black, building.

(For more articles by Angie Brown, click HERE)

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The Friendly “Ghost”

Spooky lightThe Friendly “Ghost”

By Angie Brown, Guest Author

 “Hey, Chum, come here a minute.” It was my husband, Henry, calling to me from the next room and looking out the window.  As I approached, he said, “What’s that white thing out there in the yard?” In the dark, it looked like a blurry white area, the size of a basketball, suspended in the air.  We stood at the window trying to figure it out, having never noticed it before. It was night time, and the moon was partially concealed by a cloud. The apparition moved slightly every now and then, giving an eerie appearance to the atmosphere.

“What can it be?” Henry continued.  I replied, “I haven’t the slightest idea.” “At least it’s not bothering us.” “Nevertheless, I’m putting my jacket on and taking a flashlight to find out what it is,” Henry replied. “Maybe you’d better take some protection just in case,” I suggested.  I was too “comfortable” inside the house to accompany Henry.  “Better if he has to just take care of himself,” I thought. Watching from the window as he approached the apparition, I was prepared to use the phone, if necessary. Who knows what that thing is? What if it’s a ghost?!

The beam of the flashlight traveled along the grass, then to a pole, and was then slowly raised to focus on…a newly-built and installed white bird house which the “man of the house”, himself, had completely forgotten about!  Henry walked sheepishly back to the house, red faced and grinning. “I’ve just had a senior moment,” he said, laughing.

(For more articles by Angie Brown, click HERE)