Friday, July 13, 2018

Nature in the city,

Even though I have been living in a cement monstrosity for the last six months, I have  appreciated deeply the little corners of green that I can  access  here  at the hospital.   There is a fair amount of green grass around the Hospital buildings and quite a few planted semi-mature trees.  There are three gazebos we take advantage of.   If we're lucky it's sunny, cool and a nice breeze.

A family of House Sparrows took over the biggest gazebo as their territory in the spring, so even though they were just squawking House Sparrows, we were surrounded by birdsong.  We watched the parents nest-building, feeding their, and then dispersing to raise second broods.

Did you know that the young appear bigger than their parents because they still have fluffier feathers and they hold their wings out wider appearing quite fat when begging for food?  We've seen as many as three fat, fluffed out yougsters following a slim hard working adult.  Today two were having a dust bath.

Those aren't the only birds we've seen.  Earlier in the spring the Canada Geese control the morning ramparts, honking to let the world know they're here.  Once the goslings are born, the adult males act as traffic cops while the females lead the young ones across the roads.  Now we don't hear them much, as they've dispersed learning to fend for themselves.   The hospital is located close to the valleys of Medway Creek and the Thame River, so there's lots of natural habitat for them to explore.

At other times our lives have been enriched by the red flash of a cardinal or the long musical song of a House Finch.  We regularly see Turkey Vultures soaring outside the windows.

 After spending several hours over several days trying tp insert pictures for this post directly fjrom my ipad, I have given up.  If I figure it out  I'llshare, them with you. . Cheers!


31 comments:

  1. Good to hear about your birds away from home. I use Blog Touch Pro on my Ipad to write a blog, I think I could only use photo that were on my Ipad, it has been a long time since I have used it to write a blog...it is my away from home emergency blog writer:)
    I hope you are improving everyday:)

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  2. So good to read your words. An iPad is so handy to have in hospital or when away, but I struggle to use Hugh's.Green areas in big cities are a wonderful bonus.A nice change from white walls. Keep on improving each day.

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  3. Good to hear from you. Nice that you can have some contact with the natural word while in hospital. I was given an iPad to use at work, I locked it in a cupboard and for all I know it could still be there.

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  4. Good morning this is a nice surprise. Birds probably never sounded sweeter to you than now.

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  5. It is good to hear from you FG.

    I put photos into my posts using my Ipad FG. I couldn’t explain how to do it but if I can do it, so can you!

    Take care!

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  6. So good to hear you are able to get outdoors and enjoy the wildlife a bit. Keep up the good work. Best wishes to you Stew, and the Mrs.

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  7. Thanks for this new posting so glad that you can get outside and enjoy some nature and the birds at least. the fresh air and scenery sure is welcome. Keep up the good work.

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  8. The sounds of birds would have a recuperative effect!

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  9. I attended an interesting lecture about how gardens and green areas help those in hospitals and institutions to heal faster or at least be better while there! Green is essential.

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  10. Cheers to you too!! By golly it's good to hear from you again. Being in the hospital, no matter how good the care or the facilities is no fun and you've certainly spent much more time hospitalized than most of us. Hope you can get outside with some regularity to see birds and plants and sunsets.

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  11. Great to hear from you! I never did figure out how to download pictures directly from my iPad, so I bought into paying 99 cents a month and have all my pictures show up on all my devices. Still, I cannot make a post with pictures on my iPad! If you find out how, let me know. :-)

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  12. Good to hear from you again. I had the same luck with my ipad. When you learn how to post photos , let me know.

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  13. Nice that you can enjoy life where ever you are. : ) You may not have been able to post any pictures but I could see the 'pictures' just fine as you described them.
    A happy day to you my friend.

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  14. Glad to read tat you are able to enjoy being around nature even while being around the Hospital. With the passage of time we are hoping that you will be fully recovered and return to your old surroundings.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  15. Well it is Friday the 13th---woooooo! Birds no matter what or who are always fun to watch. You sound like you are recovering---I can tell haha. Keep on keeping on--as they used to say back in the day.
    MB

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  16. I've noticed big fluffy birds hanging around and apparently begging from slender Sparrows hereabouts. I always wondered what type of bird those fluffy ones were, and assumed they were not Sparrows. My gosh, there's always something to learn, isn't there? Thanks FG. :-)

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  17. Great to see that you are posting again. Stew, you are thought of often and in our prayers every night.Looking forward to your recovery and return home.

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  18. I'm so glad to see you again! Glad that you have found some birds to keep you company in the concrete place. I had a house finch at my birdbath yesterday.

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  19. Hearing and seeing the birds will certainly lift your spirit!

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  20. Oh my goodness! I haven't visited in ages and here I find you've been in the hospital for such a long time and so very ill. I'm so sorry to hear of your illness but glad to hear of the progress you've made so far. I'm glad you are able to enjoy your surroundings at the hospital by getting outside some and enjoying the nature that you so love. A belated 70th birthday to you as well! I pray you will have a full recovery and all the best help from the specialists. Take care. Pam

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  21. It’s so good to hear from you. I always enjoy your nature stories.

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  22. Hello, I am glad you have some nature around you to enjoy. I wish you a speedy recovery! Happy Sunday, enjoy your day and new week!

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  23. We live just a 40 min drive slightly southeast of the London Hospital near lake Erie and Port Burwell . I have been to that hospital for some medical things . I am glad you are able to enjoy some of the wild life that's close by the valley of Medway Creek and the Thames River area it is quite lovely there in the city of London . Wishing for a speedy recovery for you . Good to have ya back in blog land ! *smile *

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  24. I can’t post from my new iPad...they don’t offer an app any longer!🙄
    Good to know you are enjoying Nature...best medicine ever!
    Take care...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  25. We all feel like singing like the birds to have you back, posting again. I've truly missed your writings and details of nature.
    Enjoy the grass, the birds and continue on the road to good health.
    The birds are singing "get well, Furry Gnome!"

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  26. It is so good to read a post from you! Knowing that you were observing nature and recording it while in a place that gave you little opportunity for such activities makes my heart happy. Wishing you the very best as you continue on the road to recovery. Blessings.

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  27. You almost fell through the cracks on me Stew but in Goderich this morning on my way up from the harbor I thought about you and remembered I had forgot to comment on your last post. Being of a like mind when it comes to nature I understand very well how important it is to one's frame of mind, well being, and enjoyment to seek out and find those spiritually soothing precious moments of nature wherever they can be found. If I were in your shoes I would be doing exactly the same thing. All the best Stew, we nature folks out here are holding down the fort for you until your well enough to return............

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  28. Enjoy those House Sparrows. They make great little companions. Glad to hear that at long last there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.

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  29. Lovely to see this post from you.
    Enjoy the house sparrows.

    Take care

    All the best Jan

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