Selep Imaging Blog: February 2021

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Bluebird Hot Tub Party

Bluebird of Happiness

The phrase "bluebird of happiness" refers to the idea that seeing a bluebird is an omen of good luck, joy or happiness. This concept has existed for centuries in European, Chinese, Russian, Native American and other cultures. I'm hoping this idea is true, because recently I have been seeing a whole lot of bluebirds.

In summer 2020, I put up a bird feeder to add activity outside my dining room window. As summer progressed the feeding birds were fun to watch. They were mostly LBB's as my sister calls them, Little Brown Birds.

Eastern Bluebird at my heated Birdbath

Fall came, and I put up more feeders. When winter came I figured out how to supply electricity to the heated birdbath I had owned for over a decade. (i.e., I purchased a really long outdoor power cord.) Wow, that made a difference once the snow began to fall. Apparently birds like seeing open water.

Bluebird at my birdbath

I now have a large variety of birds in my backyard. Most are still LBB's (little brown birds). But the most exciting sight is a small flock of bluebirds that regularly visit the birdbath.

Bluebird Hot-tub Party

In decades of life in Wisconsin, I've almost never seen a real bluebird, and now 3-5 can show up for a daily hot-tub party.

Bluebirds are Flighty!

But they move fast and are SO flighty! (No wonder they are considered hard to see!) So I used wrapping paper to make a blind on part of my window, put my camera on a tripod, and here are some of the results. (The birdbath is about 6 feet from the window).

Two Male Eastern Bluebirds

My first photos (not shown) highlighted how dirty the birdbath was, so I had to go out in the snow and scrub the birdbath down for better photos. (I had to "style" the birdbath). And I need to add water almost every day when it's zero degrees Fahrenheit out, but the birds make the effort worthwhile.

Female Eastern Bluebird

Despite the blind, the birds seem aware that I am there. The ability to actually stare at my photos (since the actual birds move so fast) makes me feel happy - my bluebirds are looking at me! I want to protect these tiny creatures who can handle -5 degrees Fahrenheit, in a world where the climate is changing faster than we can comprehend.

Bluebird drinking and Reflection

I love how the little bluebird above has a drop of water on his beak. The reflection and spreading water droplet turned out well. He is a male Eastern bluebird. Western bluebirds have blue all the way around the neck.
(I found this site great for bluebird identification and maps, bird song recordings and bluebird information.)

Bluebird head Closeup

Since my post is about bluebirds, I thought I would share two vintage postcards featuring bluebirds that I have in a collection of vintage cards.

Vintage postcard 1 - with Bluebirds and nest

I like the sweet graphics and cute sentiments found on the old cards. One is postmarked 1922, the other says 1920(?).

Vintage postcard 2 - with Bluebirds postmarked 1922

I'm also sharing two vintage porcelain birds I've had for quite some time. I used to think the shape was exaggerated, but now I see what the artist saw.

Vintage ceramic bluebird figurines

My photographs show round fluffed out little birds that seem to match the shape of the sculpted figures.

Eastern Bluebird

I hope sharing my photos of these "bluebirds of happiness" will bring you good luck and joy. After all, you are now seeing them too.

Maybe this is a sign that the pandemic will pass soon? We can only hope... Until then, stay safe and warm!

If you want to see more snow, (yeah, right - who wants to see more snow?!?) check out my Winter Garden.)

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

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I am linking up to these parties:

Kathleen: Bloggers Pit Stop 258 Th 8p (L Entry 3 of 78.)
Two Chicks and a Mom: Funtastic Thur 320 8p (i Entry 4 of 113.)
Shelbeeontheedge: On the edge 233 Fri (Entry 52 of 84.)
The Painted Hinge: Farmhouse Fri 192 (L Entry 16 of 84.)
Chic on a shoestring: Flaunt it Fri 490 (s Entry 37 of 56.)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters Fri 319 (s Entry 74 of 92.)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 24 (L Entry 8 of 57.)    I was featured here!
Shabby Art: Create-grow-gather 458 Fri a (L Entry 52x of 98x.)
Busy Being Jennifer: Fri Favorites 120 (m Entry 5 of 64.)
Our mini family: Our mini party 318 (s Entry x of 57x.)
Pennys Passion: Fri Favorites (Entry 5 of 64.)
** Eye Love Knots: Snicker Doodle 373 Sat 5pm (m Entry 46 of 104.)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 1 of 78.)
Weekend Reflection: reflections (Entry 2 of 27.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 85 Sun 3p (l Entry 17 of 132.)
3 little buttons: Dream Team Linky Sun 6am (Entry 4 of 22.)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 25 of 170.)
Franca: Keep Calm and Carry On (Entry 12 of 31.)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (m Entry 24 of 112.)           I was featured here!
My Random: Anything Goes 274 Sun 6p (Entry 4 of 71.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 9 of 46.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 5x of 47x.)
Anitaojeda: Inspire Me Mon 4p (s Entry 32 of 41.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 123 Mon 2-4p (m Entry 22 of 112.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me 580 Mon 3p (l Entry 19 of 114.)
Common Ground: All About Home 80 Mon 6p (l Entry 6 of 126.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 360 Mon 6p (l Entry 27 of 123.)
Mersad photography: Through my Lens M 8a (Entry 14 of 128.)
Our World Tues: Our World (Entry 20 of 61.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up Mon 8a (Entry 6 of 73.)
Sharon Wagner: Sharon's Souvenirs 8a (Entry 2 of 7.)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday 275 (Entry 16 of 16.)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home 203 Tue 9a (m Entry 9 of 52.)
Ohmyheartsiegirl: Fri Feature Party 247 (s Entry 46 of 128.)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 14 of 71.)
Peabea: Pictorial Tuesday (Entry 5 of 14.)
Jesh studio: All Seasons Tues (Entry 25 of 26.)
Poinsettiadr: Classy Flamingos 142 Tue (l Entry 1 of 28.)                     I was featured here!
Thistlekeylane: Tuesday Turn About 88 5p (s Entry 4 of 165.)
Also My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About 88(s Entry 4 of 165.)
LeCultivateur: Wonderful Wed (m Entry 102 now site gone.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tue with a twist 409 2p (l Entry 40 of 61.)
Lets Add Sprinkles: Keep in Touch 188 Tue 4p (m Entry 3 of 56.)
Gingersnap crafts:Wow me 493 Tue 7p (Entry 7x of 96x.)
Girlish Whims: Whims 499 Tues 8:50p (Entry 6 of 83.)
Applestreetcottage: Party-in-your-pjs 347 (Entry 11 of 102.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 425 Tu/Wed 5p (l Entry 3x of 102x.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 232 Wed 2p (m Entry 47 of 73.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 293 Wed 6p (Entry 4 of 64.)
Imparting grace: Grace at home 414 (Entry 66 of 100.)
Artsy mama: Artsy party 243 Th 7a (Entry 18 of 126.)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 19 of 21.)
My Slices of Life: Hearts+Home Handmade Th 6a (Entry 35 of 112.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 413 Th 8a (L Entry 36 of 120.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Thurs Favorite Things Th 7a (Entry 43 of 205.)        I was featured here!
Also KatherinesCorner: Th 7a (Entry 43 of 205.)
Also Follow the yellow brick: Th 7a (Entry 43 of 205.)
My Thrift Addiction: Vintage Charm 273 Wed (m Entry 18 of 69.)
My hubbard home: Fri with Friends 10 (Entry 11x of 24x.)
Life beyond Kitchen: Creatively Crafty 264 Th 4p (Entry 52 of 77.)
My Hubbard Home: Friday with Friends (l Entry x of 22x)                     I was featured here!
Viewing Nature: Saturdays Critters 375 Sat (Entry 38 of 44)
Birding: Viewing Nature Sat (Entry 10 of ??gone.)
Natalie: Coffee Share Th (Entry 40 of 44.)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 30 (Entry 27 of 84.)
Comedy plus: Awww Mondays 179 (Entry 31 of 40)
Love my Little Cottage: Little Cottage 91 (Entry x of 77.)

424038

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Valentine Vignette and Mosaic Birdhouse

Mosaic Birdhouse: View 1

A narrow table on my stair's landing adds a little bit of Holiday into my foyer.

Winter Valentine Vignette

I decorate the table top seasonally, and the decorations for a specific holiday or season change every year. I arranged this Valentine/winter vignette last year.

Hearts made from Repurposed Books

If your returning to my blog you might guess I made the mosaic bird house. You would be right. (I've made many mosaic projects.)

Mosaic Birdhouse: View 1

I created this to be a actual outside bird house for birds. But then it ended up looking like a snowy chalet, and I decided to use it inside as a decoration. Besides, I thought the golden roof tiles might not last well outside.

Mosaic Birdhouse: View 2 showing roof

Its funny how my project results are often unpredictable. A "Valentine" ball I made using hearts and words like "love" and found objects ended up looking spooky and Goth like. The "striking" red and black ball I intended to make became a Valentine ball. And my "summery" birdhouse resembles a snowy chalet. Go with the flow I guess. Creation is an unpredictable process.

Mosaic Birdhouse: Front View

Miscellaneous notes: I found the red hearts (made from repurposed books) at an artsy vintage store. (Support these creative retail stores!) I've been collecting the glass trees from rummage/estate sales when I see them at a low price. The birdhouse rests on a vintage cake stand. The marble topped table was a cherished vintage find because it fit so well in the landing.

Mosaic Birdhouse: View 3

The picture below shows the full view of the table on the landing. (Help me out - would this piece of furniture really called a table? Otherwise, what is it?). Sometimes I arrange the oversized books I display in the base for the time of year, but not in this photo. (I would have for the photo if I had noticed it in time. In this view it has oversized books I had recently referenced.)

Table on my stair's landing

I'll show you my Christmas arrangement using many of the same elements from the Valentine vignette above. I thought a simple arrangement would showcase the three button trees a friend made and gave me as a gift. (She has an astounding button collection.)

Mosaic Birdhouse in a Christmas Vignette

The sign on the table is a stone engraved souvenir (I paid full price!) that I bought in San Diego. The sentiment has been a favorite for years, but now it has a darker irony(?) when you think about the pandemic.

"Life
is not measured by the
number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that
take our breath away."